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

[Matt C 605]

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. What a train wreck of a movie. What an absolute mood killer. I wish I could just pretend it doesn't exist, but then there it is rearing its ugly face into my memory. I can't say enough bad things about it. Why they even bothered making it, I don't know.

Now to watch the originals.

Shia just kills this movie -- CGI Tarzan antics and monkeys included. I don't know what Spielberg was imbibing when he decided to bring Shia on... why he couldn't go the normal casting route and get a better actor? That alone would've made it far more palatable.

And I think Spielberg needs to cut ties with Janusz Kaminski, and mix up his visual palette. I'm pretty sure Roger Deakins or Dion Beebe would be happy to work with him.

[Brónach 1,330]

I actually like Kaminski in KOTCS. If everything else in the film was up there it would look amazing.

[Matt C 605]

I actually like Kaminski in KOTCS. If everything else in the film was up there it would look amazing.

I know he and Spielberg were trying to recapture that lush look Douglas Sloacombe did so well with the first three films, but I don't think he nailed it. Had Spielberg still worked with Dean Cundey, Cundey would've nailed it.

Speaking of which, Cundey's career floundered after Spielberg left him for good. He's still working, but not as many feature-length films as I'd like.

[Delorean90 47]

If the rest of the film looked as good as the graveyard sequence, we would've really had something. There are shots in there that look like they could've been in Raiders, and there's a couple of shots in the Orellana's Cradle scene that could've been in TOD. But then you have so much other stuff that's not there. The shots of the gang in the truck going down the tree and floating down the river just look absolutely turrible.

[Romão 2,473]

The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1

Surprisingly good and much better than Year One. They understood much better this time what makes a good adaptation different from a complete transposition

[MSM 194]

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. What a train wreck of a movie. What an absolute mood killer. I wish I could just pretend it doesn't exist, but then there it is rearing its ugly face into my memory. I can't say enough bad things about it. Why they even bothered making it, I don't know.

Now to watch the originals.

Shia just kills this movie -- CGI Tarzan antics and monkeys included. I don't know what Spielberg was imbibing when he decided to bring Shia on... why he couldn't go the normal casting route and get a better actor? That alone would've made it far more palatable.

And I think Spielberg needs to cut ties with Janusz Kaminski, and mix up his visual palette. I'm pretty sure Roger Deakins or Dion Beebe would be happy to work with him.

Spielbergs actors, no matter how good they are, always feel a bit wooden in his movies. I don't think Shia was worse than average.

[Taikomochi 1,460]

Spielbergs actors, no matter how good they are, always feel a bit wooden in his movies. I don't think Shia was worse than average.

I agree. I never look for acting in one of his films. Has anyone even won an acting Oscar for a Spielberg film? I don't think so, and, if not, that's kind of embarrassing for a two-time best director winner.

[Brónach 1,330]

I disagree entirely. I think Spielberg is a very good director od actors.

[Taikomochi 1,460]

I can't really think of any performance in a Spielberg film that has stuck with me except maybe Harrison Ford in any of the Indy films or Roy Scheider in Jaws. I guess maybe Dustin Hoffman in Hook.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Liam Neeson in Schindler's List? Bale in Empire Of The Sun?

[Jay 46,241]

Avengers

wtf!??!?! what a disappointment. sure, it had its moments but I quickly lost interest. surprisingly uninteresting plot, slow, ridiculously predictable, no interesting dialogue and just... thin. what's the damn hype about? I think I enjoyed Thor more than this one, and that's saying a lot.

6/10

I agree with EVERYTHING you just said!

[Romão 2,473]

Spielberg gets consistently great performances from his actors. I can't even begin to agree with someone who says otherwise

[Taikomochi 1,460]

Liam Neeson in Schindler's List? Bale in Empire Of The Sun?

Nah, I've never been impressed by Neeson on Schindler's List. I mean, he's good, but it's not really that memorable of a performance, to me at least. Actually, if I had to pick a performance I did like, it would be Ralph Fiennes. I would chalk that up to Fiennes being scary as shit, not Spielberg, however.

I don't really remember Bale that well in EotS, and, considering he was the main character, perhaps that says something about the quality of his performance. I'm sure he's not bad, but I don't really remember it as sticking out.

[Romão 2,473]

Ben Kinglsey in Schindler's List, Robert Shaw in Jaws, Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins in Hook, Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, Leonardo Di Caprio and Christopher Walken in Catch me if You Can, Sean Connery in Last Crusade, hell, even Mathew Mcconaughey in Amistad, I could go on and on. I actually think it's one of Spielberg's greatest strengths, how naturalistic he makes his actors look

[Taikomochi 1,460]

See, your listing some of the better performances in Spielberg's films, and they are definitely good, but I don't think any are stand out. Robert Shaw in Jaws I should have mentioned earlier, but, otherwise, none of those stick out to me.

In any case, i think Anthony Hopkins and Djimon Honsou were the best performances in Amistad.

[Romão 2,473]

Indeed they were, I just singled out Mcconaughey because he usually sucks

[A24 5,155]

I actually think it's one of Spielberg's greatest strengths, how naturalistic he makes his actors look

Generally, I don't think that's true (certainly not for Dustin Hoffman in Hook) but it certainly was true for the kids of ET. I simply don't think "naturalistic" is the right word for a Spielberg movie. For a Ken Loach movie, yes.

[Romão 2,473]

The smaller, more intimiate scenes in Jaws and Close Encounters, all the actors in ET, even the kids in the first half of Hook. In more grounded settings, he gets very natural performances from his actors. Naturally one shouldn't expect such a thing from an actor playing Captain Hook

[Brónach 1,330]

Akira (1988)

That was... weird.

Most of the film is a cinematic wonder, but I just didn't understand it. I'm thinking I should read the books.

[Matt C 605]

Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas

Okay, this film is very overrated. It's not enchanting and very mean-spirited in parts... like those icky kids who kidnap Santa Claus and the 'presents' Jack Skellington leaves for the children. Several of the songs are good, but I fail to see the appeal of this film -- aside from Tim Burton's rabid cult following. Give me something that really captures the mystery and allure of Halloween, like "The Halloween Tree" or Carpenter's Halloween.

[MSM 194]

Ben Kinglsey in Schindler's List, Robert Shaw in Jaws, Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins in Hook, Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, Leonardo Di Caprio and Christopher Walken in Catch me if You Can, Sean Connery in Last Crusade, hell, even Mathew Mcconaughey in Amistad, I could go on and on. I actually think it's one of Spielberg's greatest strengths, how naturalistic he makes his actors look

Certainly not bad, but as soon as the actors have longer monologues, it really doesn't feel so natural. It is difficult to point out, but I think it is the way Spielberg directs the mannerisms, the gestures, but it might also be the scripts. Actually Hopkins performance in Amistad is a good example of what I mean. And it maybe more so in his more recent movies. Anyway, it is not a big deal. But I have always regarded Spielberg more a storyteller than an actor's director.

[publicist 4,650]

Nah, I've never been impressed by Neeson on Schindler's List. I mean, he's good, but it's not really that memorable of a performance, to me at least. Actually, if I had to pick a performance I did like, it would be Ralph Fiennes. I would chalk that up to Fiennes being scary as shit, not Spielberg, however.

I don't really remember Bale that well in EotS, and, considering he was the main character, perhaps that says something about the quality of his performance. I'm sure he's not bad, but I don't really remember it as sticking out.

You watch films because you like to see actors hamming it up?

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Spielberg films are full of great performances. Joan Crawford, Dennis Hooper, Goldie Hawn, Roy Schieder, Richard Dreyfus, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfus, Melinda Dillon, Harrison Ford, John Rhys Davies, Denholm Elliot, Karen Allen, Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, okra Winphrey, Christian Bale, John Malkovick, Sean Connery, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Walken, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day Lewis. I'm sure there are names left out.

[alicebrallice 134]

Wedding Crashers

my favorite frat pack movie.

8/10

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas

Okay, this film is very overrated. It's not enchanting and very mean-spirited in parts... like those icky kids who kidnap Santa Claus and the 'presents' Jack Skellington leaves for the children. Several of the songs are good, but I fail to see the appeal of this film -- aside from Tim Burton's rabid cult following. Give me something that really captures the mystery and allure of Halloween, like "The Halloween Tree" or Carpenter's Halloween.

The film is underrated when it comes to people that aren't Hot Topic shoppers. Otherwise it's a masterpiece.

[Brónach 1,330]

I really enjoyed that film.

very mean-spirited in parts... like those icky kids who kidnap Santa Claus and the 'presents' Jack Skellington leaves for the children.

...exactly!

[Koray Savas 2,260]

For the record, Matt said that. It's not mean-spirited really, since they think they're doing good and spreading gifts people will love. That's the whole point of the story.

[Brónach 1,330]

...exactly!

[Xander Harris 9,672]

Speaking of Spielberg, Tintin was on last night. I'd seen it in the theater and forgotten all about it. It's just not a good movie. I'm not really sure who it's for. It's 1 1/2 totally uncaptivating hours of Tintin repeating things for himself and the benefit of the audience and really boring direction from Spielberg. You want to give him a pass since it's his first animated flick, but it sadly just reaffirms that the old guy has lost it. This guy made Jaws, E.T., Raiders etc.?

[Marian Schedenig 11,694]

In my opinion, Tintin is a worthy successor to Raiders. It's everything KOTCS should have been (sans Harrison Ford).

[Brónach 1,330]

I'm not really sure who it's for.

Kids. Adults. Comic book fans. People disappointed at how bad KOTCS was.

really boring direction from Spielberg.

?????? It's Spielberg on steroids!!

[Jay 46,241]

Tintin is very Spielbergian. Get past the overuse of exposition and just enjoy the ride, man!

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I watched a film called Boy Wonder yesterday.

It wants to be more than it is, trying hard to make a statement, and ultimately crashed down upon itself with it's weighted story.

The ending should be a surprise but it's just a rubber stamp of the failure of the story.

[Wojo 2,458]

Boy Wonder, eh? What is the secret of your power?

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Boy Wonder, eh? What is the secret of your power?

vigilante thugishness

[Jay 46,241]

Boy Wonder, eh? What is the secret of your power?

He takes people far away from the mucky muck

[Wojo 2,458]

Riggah-goo-goo, riggah-goo-goo!

[Marian Schedenig 11,694]

Tintin is very Spielbergian. Get past the overuse of exposition and just enjoy the ride, man!

I love exposition. Too many films start out with great exposition only to throw it out of the window halfway through. Those are usually disappointments, because they look so promising at first.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

It's Spielberg unbridled .

[MSM 194]

Just saw The Red Violin. The idea of the story is original and attractive, but the story as it unfolds onscreen fails to truly engage the watcher. The flashbacks to the fortune teller are unnecessarily distractive, and the stories of bidders at the auction as well as the repeated scenes at the auction don't turn out to be very effective. The end is kind of predictable...and a bit cheap as well. It doesn't help that all of the history is fake, from the violin, to the violin maker, the English virtuoso to the music played. Corigliano's music is good, but in no way can compare to its big examples (Bach, Paganini, Ysaye, Ernst), no idea why they didn't chose classical music. But more important, why didn't they tell a real story about a real violin? Any Stradivari, Amati or Guarneri would have sufficed for a wonderful movie script.

[A24 5,155]

Tintin is very Spielbergian. Get past the overuse of exposition and just enjoy the ride, man!

I love exposition. Too many films start out with great exposition only to throw it out of the window halfway through. Those are usually disappointments, because they look so promising at first.

Of course, I haven't seen the film but I think the word "exposition" is used here when it works negatively, Marian, when a movie explains itself too much. Here's a perfect example: Lack of 'exposition' is what made Alien (1979) great. People have to fill in the gaps themselves and this speaks to the imagination. Too much exposition is what made Prometheus a disappointment. It treats the viewer as if he can't think for himself. A lot of people like it when when not every question is answered.

Again, I haven't seen Tintin so everything is out of context for me. I just want to say that lack of exposition isn't always a bad thing. On the contrary, many movies thrive on it. A very recent example is Drive.

Alex

[Brónach 1,330]

Too much exposition is what made Prometheus a disappointment.

What made Prometheus a disappointoment is that it was retarded to the point of being insulting.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Brónach 1,330]

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

Tintin is very Spielbergian. Get past the overuse of exposition and just enjoy the ride, man!

I love exposition. Too many films start out with great exposition only to throw it out of the window halfway through. Those are usually disappointments, because they look so promising at first.

Of course, I haven't seen the film but I think the word "exposition" is used here when it works negatively, Marian, when a movie explains itself too much. Here's a perfect example: Lack of 'exposition' is what made Alien (1979) great. People have to fill in the gaps themselves and this speaks to the imagination. Too much exposition is what made Prometheus a disappointment. It treats the viewer as if he can't think for himself. A lot of people like it when when not every question is answered.

Again, I haven't seen Tintin so everything is out of context for me. I just want to say that lack of exposition isn't always a bad thing. On the contrary, many movies thrive on it. A very recent example is Drive.

Alex

Tintin is a plot driven movie Alex, with a treasure hunt and everything. So it's probably not your type of thing.

[Jonesy 55]

A Belgian dude who haven't see Tintin? Sounds weird. Like an American dude who wouldn't have seen Superman. Or a Spanish guy who wouldn't have seen Tadeo Jones.

LOL. I haven't seen Tadeo Jones.

[Brónach 1,330]

Of course, I haven't seen the film but I think the word "exposition" is used here when it works negatively, Marian, when a movie explains itself too much. Here's a perfect example: Lack of 'exposition' is what made Alien (1979) great. People have to fill in the gaps themselves and this speaks to the imagination. Too much exposition is what made Prometheus a disappointment. It treats the viewer as if he can't think for himself. A lot of people like it when when not every question is answered.

Again, I haven't seen Tintin so everything is out of context for me. I just want to say that lack of exposition isn't always a bad thing. On the contrary, many movies thrive on it. A very recent example is Drive.

Tintin is a plot driven movie Alex, with a treasure hunt and everything. So it's probably not your type of thing.

Prometheus, by contrast, is a film driven by NOTHING,

[publicist 4,650]

Too much exposition is what made Prometheus a disappointment.

What made Prometheus a disappointoment is that it was retarded to the point of being insulting.

No, it was just a clever re-imagining of GALAXY OF TERROR. And that's a worthy cause, if there ever was one.

[A24 5,155]

I'm one of the few people who as actually seen Galaxy Of Terror in cinemas.

[Brónach 1,330]

SciFi suspense thriller in which a rescue space ship crew meets up with horrors projected by their own imaginations.