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

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Jay 46,244]

Not any more!

[Wojo 2,458]

That's not very nice. What if someone had blocked you before you had gotten to post 2? I'm sure your post 1 was as equally memorable as theirs...

[Jay 46,244]

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about

[Wojo 2,458]

Jokes that are funnier in Wojo's head?

[Quintus 6,496]

I caught the second half of Batman Returns on tv last night, first time I've seen it in maybe twelve years. What an absolute eye gouge of a movie it has become. Unwatchable. And the score? It's a lunatic ensemble of street musicians going crazy in the background, which even in a circus act of a movie like this, pays little regard to what is happening on screen - since when did indecipherable and hugely overly-confident noise constitute as score?

-oh wait

[crocodile 9,724]

Oh, Quint, you're losing points, mate.

Karol

[Quintus 6,496]

I'm swimming in them like Scrooge McDuck here. See it as charity.

[crocodile 9,724]

No, seriously. I love the film. It is incomprehensible (plot-wise) and weird, but part of its charm. I see it less as a Batman film, and more of a social satire and a big, big homage to German silent movies. And the score is an important part of that. One of my favourite scores of all time, I might add.

And I love Michelle Pfeiffer in her role. She's amazing in this film.

In short, we won't reach an amicable conclusion here,

Karol

[Quintus 6,496]

I loved it years ago, watched it endlessly when it first came out and the opening cue is an epic, that can't be taken away. But I think Robocop has been unseated as the most dated movie I've ever seen, but at least that movie loses none of its wit the older it gets. This Batman movie is the movie equivalent of city bankers during the boom: undisciplined, tastless and unrelenting.

[crocodile 9,724]

How is it dated? It always looked somewhat fake and artificial, if that's what you're referring to.

Karol

[Quintus 6,496]

Its sensibilities.

[crocodile 9,724]

Hmmm, interesting. You, this is one of the films of my childhood. I was 7 when it came out. My love for scores originates from this film (as well as Jurassic Park, Hook) We wouldn't have this conversation if not for Batman Returns. I've watched it not so long time ago and I don't quite understand what you mean...

Karol

[Quintus 6,496]

It's one of my childhood movies, too, Croc. (I almost recited every word before it was spoken onscreen). I'm just seeing it through vastly more experienced and cynical eyes. It doesn't hold up well, in my view.

[crocodile 9,724]

I shall watch it again then sometime soon and we'll get back to that.

Karol

[Brónach 1,330]

If you're saying that I have a tendency towards more serious and dramatic films, you're absolutely right. I was never a huge fan of Spielberg's adventures in the blockbuster. That's why stuff like Empire Of The Sun, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, and Schindler's List top my list of my favorite films of his.

I love that Spielberg can go from something crazy like The Secret of the Unicorn or The Temple of Doom to something really serious like Munich without minding a bit.

[Quintus 6,496]

It's what makes him the greatest living director.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Koray Savas 2,260]

It's what makes him the greatest living director.

Malick is, for me. I'd also probably rank the Coen brothers above him when it comes to new output.

[Quintus 6,496]

That's because you don't know your arse from your elbow!

[Brónach 1,330]

It's what makes him the greatest living director.

Malick is, for me. I'd also probably rank the Coen brothers above him when it comes to new output.

Although I think Malick made a cooler war film back in 98' (and I still have to see The Sugarland Express to compare road films), Spielberg has a faaaar bigger filmic range, at least so far.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

tree is life is like death, you really fear you'll die of bordom.

It's what makes him the greatest living director.

Malick is, for me. I'd also probably rank the Coen brothers above him when it comes to new output.

Although I think Malick made a cooler war film back in 98' (and I still have to see The Sugarland Express to compare road films), Spielberg has a faaaar bigger filmic range, at least so far.

Spielberg is 3 years younger than Malik, has directed well over 3 times as many films. There is no at least so far concerns.

[Brónach 1,330]

I was let down by that one.

[Quintus 6,496]

Terence Malik isn't even as accomplished as Michael Mann, let alone Steven Spielberg.

[jimmycarry 0]

Guy's Recently i have seen The Amazing Spider Man. Its really amazing movie as its name. I enjoyed it so much. I will Definitely watch it again........................

[indy4 160]

Oh, are you a fan of action movies?

[KK 3,313]

These johncena, shanerobbed and johnsmith members... They share something in common, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

I think you'll have to add jimmy carry to that list.

[Ren 77]

These johncena, shanerobbed and johnsmith members... They share something in common, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

I think you'll have to add jimmy carry to that list.

Do we have confirmation? And can we spam here

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Terence Malik isn't even as accomplished as Michael Mann, let alone Steven Spielberg.

Eh, I seriously doubt it. Mann is known for Heat and The Last Of The Mohicans, and even then I don't hear those talked about much anymore. Miami Vice is trash, Public Enemies is meh, Collateral is great. Either way his films aren't in the public conscious whatsoever. Malick is in the same boat, but I think The Tree Of Life made some waves, and won the Palm d'Or no less. Critically, Malick gets the upper hand.

I can confidently say Malick has never made a bad film, and can happily say all of his films are essentially near perfect. Can't say the same for Spielberg, but then again what's the point in comparing the two at all? They're opposites. Malick is a poetic perfectionist, Spielberg likes making movies.

[A24 5,156]

Of course, it's all extremely subjective (a lot of people will say it's Martin Scorsese, others say it's David Lynch, and so on), but if I had name the greatest living director, then it's probably Paul Thomas Anderson.

[publicist 4,650]

Let's just say it's Charles Laughton: made just one movie (Night of the Hunter) which became a classic...plus, it has Robert Mitchum in the lead, a mighty fact that dwarfs all those Manns, Spielbergs, Andersons and Lynchs.

[Quintus 6,496]

Orson Welles in The Third Man says hi, from the shadows.

[Brónach 1,330]

Spielberg is the one remaining alive director of my three favourites. And oh boy do they dwarf Malick!

[A24 5,156]

Oh heck, I'm coming out, it's Paul W.S. Anderson!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Oh heck, I'm coming out,

It was never a secret, Alex.

Maybe Joe can show you the ropes....

X-Men

After seeing First Class last week, and probably going through the Batman films this weekend I thought it prudent to go back to the genesis of the modern era superhero film. X-Men.

Singer had the good fortune that Marvel did not have a style and system in place, so he could do his own thing. It feels like a singular film, rather then part of a product line.

The film is well structured. The opening scene at the concentration camp not only introduces Magneto, but also clearly established his main motivation, and gives us a real world parallel of what mutants are. Without hammering the point in. The rest of the film does a good job introducing characters one after another AND actually having something of a plot.

This is an ensemble film. Casting is important. Each character has a limited amount of screen time so the actors need to get their point across straight away. Overall the cast is very good. Patrick Stewart was probably born to play Xavier and when we first see him and McKellen together in a very brief scene, they are able to tell us more about their past then X-Men: First Class did in more then 2 hours. McKellen is a joy to watch. There's a measures flamboyance to his Magneto, but he doesn't ham it up. He understands that Magneto is a hero is his own mind, fighting on the front line to prevent his race from being outcast again.

Hugh jackman became a star overnight because of this film. and the few scenes he was with Anna Paquin provide the films emotional centre. Famke Jansen and Rebecca Romein are strong in their roles

Less successful is Halle Barry as Storm. Angela Basset was considered and would have made a more forceful impression.

Also Magneto's 2 henchmen, Toad and Sabertooth are not very interesting.

Singers direction is very good, but the film suffers from studio politics. The release date was pushed forward 6 months and parts feel rushed. (for instance Xavier gets poisoned by Cerebro, get hospitalized, Famke Jansen fixes Cerebro and uses it all in a couple of minutes).

Another issue are the special effects, which even for 2000 standards feel a bit rough and unfinished. (is there even a cool shot of the X-Jet?) The action scenes are well done, but suffer a bit from the Matrix syndrome (fancy swivelling cameras in slow motion).

Michael Kamen was a great composer but his music was butchered in this film. Mixed too low most of the time. Techno added by Klaus Badelt.

Despite these niggles this is far better then the average Marvel fare. Pity it would be followed by only one other really good film.

[A24 5,156]

Good review, Steef. I agree with many points.

[Wojo 2,458]

I never thought Toad was very interesting, that there were better, less obscure Brotherhood characters they could have used. I had read (or remember hearing from someone who this angered) that Storm's comment to Toad before she bug-zapped him was meant to be (or should have been) a joke, rather than the deadpan serious way that Halle Berry presented it.

Sabertooth was a wasted opportunity. Say what you will about X-Men: Wolverine, but I really enjoyed the relationship and backstory that Logan and Creed shared. Singer's first X-Men movie had none of that. It was if they never knew each other. This same idea would manifest itself in X3, when Juggernaut pays no heed to Xavier, when in the comics, they are related. I suppose the X-Men universe is so vast that concessions had to be made.

I still love Logan's joke about wearing yellow spandex costumes. Nice nod to the comics.

[A24 5,156]

It was if they never knew each other.

It was like they were each other competitors, which kept me alerted and intriguid. X-Men Wolverine felt like such an upteenth sequel. The movie has nothing that I nothing I would or could defend.

[Wojo 2,458]

Well to be honest, Logan would not remember Creed. It took him a long time to remember all the Project X stuff that leads into X2.

It would be up to Creed to remember and deliberately tease Logan, which he does not. Wolverine painted a back story that is not supported by Singer's original, which it can be argued it was not right to do, but I maintain that Singer's original betrayed the character of Sabertooth in that regard by making him a dull and glassy eyed cat-man.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

I like that you didn't have to know the comics to enjoy X-Men. Wojo...

[Wojo 2,458]

Yes, because as everyone can plainly see, I clearly stated that I did not enjoy the movie...

[KK 3,313]

Saw Insomnia last night. I liked it a lot and thought it was a well crafted thriller. It could have made greater use of all the big acting talent on screen though.

[Jay 46,244]

Yes, because as everyone can plainly see, I clearly stated that I did not enjoy the movie...

I think you misinterpreted Stefan's statement

[Wojo 2,458]

Probably.

[Delorean90 47]

Love and Death

Very funny film. Allen's fondness for the Marx Bros. is perhaps most evident here, as I kept thinking that it's almost like Groucho Marx and Mel Brooks teamed up to tackle some of Allen's usual subject matter. The tone is still pretty light, even in times of war and death, but you can also see the transition happening from the more straight comedy of his earlier period to his arrival of Annie Hall/Interiors/Manhattan. And speaking of Annie Hall, you get some touches of the more surreal elements of that film and Stardust Memories. Interesting place in Woody's filmography, and consistently entertaining. I recommend it.

EDIT: Ah, and I almost forgot: It has R.K. Maroon as a Russian officer, James Tolkan as Napoleon, and the guy that read the inscription from the headpiece to the Staff of Ra in a bit part as a horny pianist! Don't miss it!

[Matt C 605]

Bachelor Flat

This 1961 comedy is just bizarre, lengthy, and I barely laughed at all. Williams' score is the best thing about this film... not bad for his one of his early efforts.

[Hurmm 104]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

I'd like to think this is one of the truest, most sincere love stories ever written, despite the whole thing being pretty warped up. I love it to bits. Jon Brion's score is really good too, a little somber and yet quirkily playful at the same time.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

It's one of my personal favorites of recent times.

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

Indeed.

[A24 5,156]

Haha, I'm watching Death Sentence right now. It's pretty intense.