What Is The Last Film You Watched? (Older Films)

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

My mum just cackles like a hyena whenever she sees the 1978 outfit and he's got this bulging red package in front.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

I guess that makes you half hyena.

[Ii2 210]

14 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I love Jurassic Park.

Jurrasic Shark loves Jurrasic Park!

 

hehe

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

It's 100% serious.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

3 hours ago, dougie said:

My mum just cackles like a hyena whenever she sees the 1978 outfit and he's got this bulging red package in front.

 

1978 Superman is very manly!

[Naïve Old Fart 9,508]

@Stefancos, was this the 40th anniversary, Steef? 70mm? 35mm? How was the new sound mix?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I don't think its a new transfer, it was digital anyway.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,508]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Steef. It's a cracking film, so full of heart, and...yes...love, that, currently, resides at #3 on my all-time top-ten favourite films list.

[A24 4,328]

 

 

Way too superficial. A ten-part TV series (produced by Gaumont International Television, for example) had been a better medium to tell this true story. 5/10

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Walt!!!

[A24 4,328]

 

While We're Young (2014)

 

A married forty-something couple gets befriended with a young hipster couple. It's okay. Yes, while it's sharp and dead-on-accurate, the problem is that you know where it's all going to. As a result, the second half is much weaker. I much more enjoyed The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), also directed/written by Noah Baumbach and featuring Ben Stiller. 5,5/10

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Gone Girl

 

This reminded me of a 40s film called Leave Her to Heaven. I could see Gene Tierney playing the Rosamund Pike role easily if it was made back then. Tons of mind bending twists. Not quite as exciting as The Game, but good effort from Fincher. Now I just have his dragon girl movie to go...

[Sweeping Strings 2,346]

On 2/2/2019 at 6:32 PM, Stefancos said:

Superman: The Movie was playing in Amsterdam tonight. Decided to check it out. Still the best Superman film. I like how they actually didn't try to update the character and kept him as the world's biggest boyscout. The 1930/40's screwball comedy actually works to the films advantage. Its super endearing, it doesn't ask you to take it a too seriously. Which is good when you have a character running around in colourful spandex.
What also works is the cast. Reeve sells both the hapless and clumsy Clark and does a fantastic Superman. He actually plays the role completely straight, and makes the "aw shucks" morality of the character wonderfully idealistic. An interesting thing to do in post Vietnam, post Watergate America. Also, despite not having the sculpted torso of later actors, Christopher Reeve is one hunk-o-man!  Margot Kidder is great too and has genuine chemistry with Reeve. Their "date" is really romantic and Kidder hides well that her character has zero function without the lead actor.

What a fun, timeless movie! 

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes ... Supes as he should be. You absolutely shouldn't be asked to it too seriously, which is why the current Superman-featuring movies suck. 

[JoeinAR 1,949]

28 Days Later. 28 Weeks Later. Contact. Dr. Zhivago. TiTanic.

Sunday viewing is fun.

Alan Silvestri is a nice composer but all his music sounds exactly the same.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

His D sounds exactly the same as his A#!

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

On 2/2/2019 at 7:59 PM, dougie said:

My mum just cackles like a hyena whenever she sees the 1978 outfit and he's got this bulging red package in front.

 

Shouldn't you say "my mother" when you're past 30?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Ya gotta problem wid me mum?

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Your mother!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Hold it! Hold it!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Mum? Is she Egyptian? 

 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

You see... my father... was a very famous explorer... and he loved Egypt so much, he married my mother, who was an Egyptian.

[Wojo 2,453]

41 minutes ago, dougie said:

You see... my father... was a very famous explorer... and he loved Egypt so much, he married my mother, who was an Egyptian.

 

That's a first dynasty right there. 

[JoeinAR 1,949]

We also watched Avatar upscaled on the 4k player. Incredible GREAT score. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

So the player upscaled the score from decent to great?

[SteveMc 2,674]

Imagine what it would do to Krull!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Make Avatar Great Again!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

39 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

So the player upscaled the score from decent to great?

Did you mother drop you on your head on purpose or by accident. 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

The Mountain Between Us

 

Wind River

 

Both movies set out in the icy cold remote wilderness and both very different. Neither were all that crash hot, but at least the latter had some of that Twin Peaksiness to it.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Phenomenon

 

This is one of those early Touchstone DVDs with that big grey and purple "WIDESCREEN" graphic at the top of the cover, along with Armageddon and Con-Air. Anyone else remember that? Anyhoo, this was pure schmaltz, but sort of amiable in an old Hollywood sort of way. Felt like a more family version of The Lawnmower Man. Contains a real ASMR moment when that sourpuss chick gives Travolta a shave and a haircut.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Its not a tuma

[Johnnyecks 33]

Saw several movies over the weekend.

 

Die Tur (The Door)

 

Terrible poster, but a ridiculously fun movie. Interesting twist on a time-bending formula. 

 

Noises Off

 

The theater company I am working with is putting this show on, opens Friday, and watching tech and rehearsals made me want to go back and watch this comical farce. What a cast! Caine, Burnett, Hagerty, Henner, Ritter, Reeve!!! Produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall!

 

This play-within-a-play is a riot. The play is better, and this drags on a bit and looses some steam in the third act, but a really funny funny movie

 

Deathtrap

 

Because one story about a playwriter that stars Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine isn't enough, there's another! Brilliantly casted, and wonderfully scripted twisting thriller directed by Lumet. The cinematography in this is masterful, as is with most of Lumet's films. Long sweeping takes with very, very, little cuts. I love this deviously wicked movie.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Johnnyecks i agree 100% about Deathtrap. 

I always like to read your posts

[Johnnyecks 33]

1 hour ago, JoeinAR said:

Johnnyecks i agree 100% about Deathtrap. 

I always like to read your posts

 

Thanks JoeinAR!

[Matt C 452]

Everest

 

It probably would've been more impactful had I seen this in IMAX 3D, but on TV, it's pretty decent. The film is blessed with a killer ensemble cast, especially Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright and Emily Watson. Baltasar Komakur keeps things moving at a good clip, without losing the emotional depth of the tragedy. Knightley and Wright definitely make the most out the small amount of screentime they get, while lead Jason Clarke is rather bland as Rob Hall.

 

Definitely see this on a large screen.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,508]

@JoeinAR, I agree with you 100% about agreeing with @Johnnyecks!

DEATHTRAP is, indeed, a fine film that was derided by critics, and ignored by the great unwashed the public.

I'm not sure how such a successful play could become such an unsuccessful film, but, hey ho.

Cannon is great as the victim, and Caine and Reeve pull out the stops. One of my favourite character actors, I. Q. Jones puts in a memorable appearance, and the whole this g is delivered with tongue firmly in cheek.

Best line: "I want to be remembered as Sidney Bruhl, the man who wrote THE MURDER GAME, not Sidney Bruhl, the faggot who bumped-off his wife".

[mrbellamy 6,273]

On 1/30/2019 at 4:01 AM, mrbellamy said:

 

I haven’t seen any updates on Fincher’s Strangers on a Train for a few years.

 

His producers said in October that he’s still on WWZ2 with Pitt and they’re filming this June. 

 

 

 

 

Welp never mind 

[Matt C 452]

Spider-Man 3: Editor's Cut

 

I didn't even realize this existed until I stumbled upon it, which is actually a few minutes shorter than the theatrical edition. The main problems in the film are still present (like Peter Parker jive dancing), but there are a few plot holes filled in. A few scenes are removed or placed elsewhere, which marginally improve the film. Young's score also gets more airtime, replacing a lot of the tracked-in Elfman material from the theatrical cut.

 

Still, those who hated the movie aren't going to change their tune.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

The Machinist

 

Holy fuck! This was really good. A true mind-bender in the spirit of The Game, only more bleak and dour. Apparently it's similar to Lost Highway too, which I haven't seen yet. Bale looks worse than I did in high school. I'll have to watch this again sometime. I can't believe the director went on to make Beirut and the writer wrote the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror, because those were all terrible!

 

 

Witness

 

Ford is the only real drawcard for this. Okay crime drama with the Amish angle but a bit slowish. Some Simpsons references suddenly made sense.

[crocodile 7,991]

On 2/7/2019 at 5:59 AM, Matt C said:

Spider-Man 3: Editor's Cut

 

I didn't even realize this existed until I stumbled upon it, which is actually a few minutes shorter than the theatrical edition. The main problems in the film are still present (like Peter Parker jive dancing), but there are a few plot holes filled in. A few scenes are removed or placed elsewhere, which marginally improve the film. Young's score also gets more airtime, replacing a lot of the tracked-in Elfman material from the theatrical cut.

 

Still, those who hated the movie aren't going to change their tune.

It's a mess, sure, but not a complete trainwreck. There's a certain slapstick quality to Raimi films anyway so I sort accept that.

 

Karol

[Koray Savas 2,251]

2 hours ago, dougie said:

The Machinist

 

Holy fuck! This was really good. A true mind-bender in the spirit of The Game, only more bleak and dour. Apparently it's similar to Lost Highway too, which I haven't seen yet. Bale looks worse than I did in high school. I'll have to watch this again sometime. I can't believe the director went on to make Beirut and the writer wrote the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror, because those were all terrible!

This is one of my favorite thrillers. Baños’ Herrmannesque score is also excellent. 

[SteveMc 2,674]

11 hours ago, dougie said:

Witness

 

Ford is the only real drawcard for this. Okay crime drama with the Amish angle but a bit slowish. Some Simpsons references suddenly made sense.

Kind of schizophrenic as a movie, but quite well made.

[SteveMc 2,674]

The Last Jedi (2017)

A couple of points.  First, the positives.  This is an exquisitely shot movie.  The special effects are top notch.  The acting is not bad at all (generally), even if the dialogue still leaves things to be desired.  I have no qualms about the movie's treatment of Luke.  It is spot on, and the dynamic between him and Rey is very engaging.  Interesting also is the dynamic between Rey and Kylo and between Kylo and Snoke, even though not knowing who the latter is at all is indeed pathetic.  

I really like the movie up until the rather stupid Leia flying through space bit.  After this, it is hit and miss.  Mostly miss.  The screenplay starts to display marked weakness.  Events begin to form for convenience's sake rather than naturally.  Holdo is not a well written character.  She feels like a plot device, as many characters start to feel.  We feel little for her and her sacrifice.  The coup d'etat subplot is rushed.  The way the rebels are written, they should by all rights be crushed by the First Order.

Then, there is the detour to Monte Carlo.  The way it is directed, it feels like another movie altogether, and a generic one at that.  Also quite naive.  In a week, the casino will be repared and the fathiers recaptured.  I don't really have any problem with Rose.  Still, the female characters are not as strongly written here as they could have been, especially considering how well, in my view, Johnson treats Rey.  In TFA, she was too powerful, too soon,  Here, she is more grounded, and thus, more relateable, realistic.  Now, I do have a problem with the hacker guy.  Almost 90s TV show levels with that guy.  Why couldn't Maz just come and do the hacking anyway?  Poor stuff, here.  

And, it painfully distracts from the really important elements of the story, the engaging, serious themes brought up by Luke's feelings of failure, Rey's certainties and uncertainties, Kylo's inner conflict.  We keep jumping from one thing to another, causing us to lose focus.  It also makes the movie too long.  In short, Johnson should have had a co writer on the project.

 

Anyway, to wrap up.  The conclusion is quite good, if a tad rushed perhaps.  Can't think of a better way for Luke to go.  I do wonder how Abrams will resolve everything.  As I have said before, Johnson did not leave much material for him to work with.  And as for the movie's humor, maybe it could be taken a couple of notches down, but I don't find it as bad as others do.

 

Overall, a decent movie.  I am not a big Star Wars fan.  I will note, however, that the movie does not have the same sort of feel that the OT has and that TFA clumsily tried to recapture.  Johnson tried to go in a new direction, but I'm not sure he is enough director to make it work perfectly.  This movie is not going to superbly stand the test of time.  Too much dross.  But, the silver shines nicely.  

3/4

 

Also, Kylo Ren being shirtless is completely needless.

[bollemanneke 3,341]

Terminator 3.

 

Meh. It's not that I didn't want this story to be told, it's just that this movie didn't do it very well. I wanted to see the machines rise all right, but not in a third movie that involved rehashed action scenes and cheesy, sentimental dialogue, but I'm sufficiently intrigued to watch the next entry.

Marco Beltrami's score is predictably generic and doesn't even use the excellent Terminator main theme. Only some choral passages written for reflection scenes are interesting.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Expectations ran too high on that film. It's just a cheesy Summer blockbuster.

 

The fourth one is just bland, but the fifth is schlocky fun.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I liked the 3D show at Universal Studios that's no longer there.

[A24 4,328]

7 hours ago, dougie said:

Expectations ran too high on that film.

 

Do you blame the fans? 

 

11 hours ago, SteveMc said:

The Last Jedi (2017)

A couple of points.  First, the positives.  This is an exquisitely shot movie.  The special effects are top notch.  The acting is not bad at all (generally), even if the dialogue still leaves things to be desired.  I have no qualms about the movie's treatment of Luke.  It is spot on, and the dynamic between him and Rey is very engaging.  Interesting also is the dynamic between Rey and Kylo and between Kylo and Snoke, even though not knowing who the latter is at all is indeed pathetic.  

I really like the movie up until the rather stupid Leia flying through space bit.  After this, it is hit and miss.  Mostly miss.  The screenplay starts to display marked weakness.  Events begin to form for convenience's sake rather than naturally.  Holdo is not a well written character.  She feels like a plot device, as many characters start to feel.  We feel little for her and her sacrifice.  The coup d'etat subplot is rushed.  The way the rebels are written, they should by all rights be crushed by the First Order.

Then, there is the detour to Monte Carlo.  The way it is directed, it feels like another movie altogether, and a generic one at that.  Also quite naive.  In a week, the casino will be repared and the fathiers recaptured.  I don't really have any problem with Rose.  Still, the female characters are not as strongly written here as they could have been, especially considering how well, in my view, Johnson treats Rey.  In TFA, she was too powerful, too soon,  Here, she is more grounded, and thus, more relateable, realistic.  Now, I do have a problem with the hacker guy.  Almost 90s TV show levels with that guy.  Why couldn't Maz just come and do the hacking anyway?  Poor stuff, here.  

And, it painfully distracts from the really important elements of the story, the engaging, serious themes brought up by Luke's feelings of failure, Rey's certainties and uncertainties, Kylo's inner conflict.  We keep jumping from one thing to another, causing us to lose focus.  It also makes the movie too long.  In short, Johnson should have had a co writer on the project.

 

Anyway, to wrap up.  The conclusion is quite good, if a tad rushed perhaps.  Can't think of a better way for Luke to go.  I do wonder how Abrams will resolve everything.  As I have said before, Johnson did not leave much material for him to work with.  And as for the movie's humor, maybe it could be taken a couple of notches down, but I don't find it as bad as others do.

 

Overall, a decent movie.  I am not a big Star Wars fan.  I will note, however, that the movie does not have the same sort of feel that the OT has and that TFA clumsily tried to recapture.  Johnson tried to go in a new direction, but I'm not sure he is enough director to make it work perfectly.  This movie is not going to superbly stand the test of time.  Too much dross.  But, the silver shines nicely.  

3/4

 

Also, Kylo Ren being shirtless is completely needless.

 

Agreed with many if not most points. Maybe it's because I'm not a big Star Wars fan either ... 

[Chen G. 3,946]

I'm not a fan either: I saw no Star Wars film before 2015, so I have exactly zero nostalgia for it. They just interest me as part of my fascination with serialized cinema.

 

The Last Jedi's is a good film, there's no way around this: its well-photographed, and its got writer-director Rian Johnson's love for interesting transitions. Some of the action is exhilarating, and there are couple of stirring moments, mostly pertaining to Luke Skywalker.

 

However, the style (complete with extreme close-ups, speed ramps and unusual angles) is so strong, that its sometimes distracting - it feels directed. Part of the issue (and this extends to the film's hit-or-miss sense of humour) is that its so unlike the rest of the series. When you undertake an entry in a series such as this, you don't just need to ensure continuity of plot, but also - to some extent - continuity of form.

 

The pacing is a tad off. To quote Chris Hartwell: "that the Resistance cruiser remained just out of range of the First Order for the first hour of this film, turned what started out as a very tense plot-thread into something rather undramatic." The film peaks too early, as well, with all three plot-threads colliding, a half-hour before the film's actual climax and denoument.

 

But the main issue is a subplot with Finn and Rose. Its not so much its outright screentime: its that - thematically - its a non sequitor. Class, animal abuse and the morality of arms-trade are fine themes, but they have absolutley nothing to do with the film's overarching themes, much less with those of the series as a whole. If anything, they often clash: what's the point of debating the morality of arms-trade in a black-and-white conflict such as this one? Regarding those overarching themes, too, I found the film only superficially subversive. I for one, would have found it so much more interesting if the film landed upon the conclusion that The Jedi should indeed end.

 

So no, The Last Jedi doesn't deserve people's hate, but I don't think it deserves people's glowing praise, either. Its just a good movie.

 

***0.5 out of *****

 

There, I've said my piece.

[Naïve Old Fart 9,508]

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back, MATTRISfan.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

3 hours ago, Chen G. said:

***1/5 out of *****

 

Sorry, but three and one-fifth?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

The Bells of St Mary's

 

Nice flick. Had no idea it was a sequel to another movie. Ingrid Bergman is the most adorable nun ever, and she was especially great when she's teaching a kid how to fight. Very manly!

 

 

The Man Who Came to Dinner

 

Suddenly, My Stepmother is an Alien makes sense (referring to Jimmy Durante). Bette Davis seems like a supporting character in her own movie, but the main dude is a scene stealing old bastard and he's great!