What Is The Last Film You Watched?

[Demondm810 366]

Watched Fellowship Extended on Blu last night. Goddamn, that movie is a masterpiece.

[Koray Savas 2188]

How's the transfer?

I forgot to mention that I watched Fish Tank (Criterion Collection). Probably familiar to the UK folk here, but I thought it was a strong film.

[Demondm810 366]

It's stellar. Really, really great. The coloring issues people bitched about didn't bother me one bit. Was noticeable in some scenes, though.

The picture depth and clarity is amazing.

[crocodile 6862]

The one thing I don't like about LOTR movies is the extensive color grading. It makes it look like a TV movie.

Karol

[Morlock 9]

For a Few Dollars More. I always forget just how strange these Sergio Leone films are. They're are so genuinely and delightfully eccentric. Not the sharpest of the bunch, this is still one hell of an entertaining film. I was surprised to realize that Clint Eastwood isn't even the main character! He's really Van-Cleef's side-kick.

Johnny Guitar. Another genuinely eccentric film, this time from Nicholas Ray. It's no wonder he is one of the greatest inspirations for one of the greatest film waves in history, every Ray film I've seen so far has been rather remarkable. It's one of the most venal films ever- everyone around the main character is driven by sex, sex, sex. A strange, marvelous film that should totally be a train-wreck but is totally thrilling. Great Victor Young theme, too.

I'm a non-believer, very proud to be one, but I think The Passion Of The Christ is a good film.

Anti-semite!

Morlock- who also kinda thinks that The Passion is good

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10254]

It's a very potent, well-directed film, and keeps me interested even though I have no real interest in the subject matter.

Kinda like Santa Claus: The Movie.

[Morlock 9]

Too much of the torture for my tastes. But I recall being quite involved in it, particularly liking the performance of the guy who played Pilate.

[crocodile 6862]

Sure, if people enjoy Pan's Labyrinth then why not this one? If you remove the religious angle from it the two are pretty much of the same genre (fantasy/horror). And they are both as manipulative.

Karol

[Morlock 9]

I fail to see the connection. Thematically, they have practically nothing in common.

[crocodile 6862]

No? Symbols, ultimate sacrifice through death, violence, temptation?

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10254]

Yes basically Pan's Labyrinth is Santa Claus: The Movie in Spanish!

[Morlock 9]

No? Symbols, ultimate sacrifice through death, violence, temptation?

Karol

Symbols, maybe. The rest? I don't see them as themes in del-Toro's movie.

[crocodile 6862]

I do. But this isn't relevant. What I meant is that I find the two films just as manipulative.

Karol

[Quintus 5394]

None of the have a Bowie mullet though, do they?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10254]

All good films are manipulative.

Actually, most of the bad ones are too...

[crocodile 6862]

Yeah, but good ones do it in a way that you're not aware of it.

Karol

[Morlock 9]

Most films are manipulative. It's not that the good ones are necessaily better at hiding it, I think it's that we allow ourselves to trust the artists at work enough to be manipulated by them.

[crocodile 6862]

Then something went from with these two for me.

But I can appreciate the guts to make a film like The Passion of the Christ. It is bold, for a mainstream.

Karol

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10254]

Yeah, killing the lead character like that. That came out of nowere for me...

[Richard Penna 2506]

Megamind.

Enjoyed it a lot - story was refreshing. Not quite as sharp as Pixar, and not every line was spot on, but still a damn good effort.

I remember maybe one sequence of the score. Made no impression apart from that. Couldn't even tell you who wrote it; it was that generic.

[Koray Savas 2188]

For a Few Dollars More. I always forget just how strange these Sergio Leone films are. They're are so genuinely and delightfully eccentric. Not the sharpest of the bunch, this is still one hell of an entertaining film. I was surprised to realize that Clint Eastwood isn't even the main character! He's really Van-Cleef's side-kick.

I agree, it's essentially a blueprint for Once Upon A Time In The West. Still a brilliant film in its own right, though.

Yeah, killing the lead character like that. That came out of nowere for me...

Megamind.

I remember maybe one sequence of the score. Made no impression apart from that. Couldn't even tell you who wrote it; it was that generic.

Hans Zimmer of course!

[JoeinAR 1851]

Yeah, killing the lead character like that. That came out of nowere for me...

uh SPOILERS, I've yet to see it.

[nightscape94 965]

True Grit. Very good film, quick and to the point. The Cohen Brothers' dialogue, derived heavily from the novel, is classic. The best sign of a movie to me is when you could listen to the characters talk endlessly and not get bored. I could watch a one-scene conversion between LaBoeuf, Mattie and Cogburn for 2 hours and I would have been perfectly fine with that.

Tim

[AC1 3805]

The Last Temptation Of Christ:

The film starts by stating it's fictional and not based upon the gospels but to me it rings more true than any other Jesus movie out there. Peter Gabriel's score is outstanding and so are all the performances (even the child in the last part of the movie).

Alex

[crocodile 6862]

I like the film and the music. But at the same time I think it doesn't age well, visually.

Karol

[Jilal 439]

War of the Worlds (2005, Steven Spielberg)

No one would have believed in the early

years of the 21st century, that our world

was being watched by intelligences greater

than our own. That as men busied themselves

about their various concerns, they observed

and studied. Like the way a man with

a microscope might scrutinize the creatures

that swarm and multiply in a drop of

water. With infinite complacency men

went to and fro about the globe, confident

of our empire over this world. Yet,

across the gulf of space, intellects,

vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded

our planet with envious eyes. And slowly

and surely, drew their plans against

us.

A great film about our world being taken over by aliens, who millions of years ago buried big machines under the ground. Tom Cruise does a great job in this film as Ray Ferrier, as well as Dakota Fanning (Rachel) and Justin Chatwin (Robbie).The film ends (and begins) with a narration by Morgan Freeman:

From the moment the invaders arrived,

breathed our air, ate and drank, they

were doomed. They were undone, destroyed,

after all of man's weapons and devices

had failed, by the tiniest creatures

that God and his wisdom, put upon this

earth. At the toll of a billion deaths,

man had earned his immunity, is right

to survive among this planet's infinite

organisms. And that right is ours against

all challenges, for men do not live

nor die in vein.

[AC1 3805]

I like the film and the music. But at the same time I think it doesn't age well, visually.

I sometimes had problems with the quality or with the condition of the film itself, which is not unusual for Scorsese (see Goodfellas or Taxi Driver). It's like he's constantly using inferior film stock. Casino looks very good though and has a different aspect ratio as well. I had no problems with the sets or costumes. Anyway, the way the story is told, all the performances (even the child in the last part of the film), Peter Gabriel's score, little elements like the hand gestures of the man standing in the crowd during the crucifiction or the long slow motion shot when Jesus is carrying the cross in a very narrow street all more than make up for the lack of beauty in the look of the film.

Somehow the music during the end credits gives everything a very fitting resolution.

Alex

[crocodile 6862]

Yeah most problems revolve around the picture quality. I have no problems with everything else. The story itself I find to be very interesting take. Not as controversial as they made it out to be in 1989. Ultimately this is the same tale, but told in a more human and convincing way. And Dafoe is great in the role, with his almost manic approach.

Karol - who always wanted to read the book

[Romão 2067]

It is a very striking movie, and it doesn't rely on set design to achieve this. It just feels so...primordial. The Lazarus scene after he is brought back to life I have found to be very haunting

Great score too, but I was never a fan of Keitel as Judas.

[AC1 3805]

I thought Harvey was superb but the character gets a little bit neglected after a while.

[Quintus 5394]

Just watched True Grit. Very disappointing. Ah well, never mind. Found it really hard going right up until the last thirty minutes or so - everything prior was torpid as hell - made even more difficult by Bridges' thick drawl which I simply struggled to understand - authentic though it may be. I got his gist (which was probably the point), but picking out the details of his ramblings grew tiresome very quickly indeed. I just wanted him to shut up and get on with it. But then again: this is a Coen Bro movie, so...

I much prefer their older stuff. Oddly, Claire really loved it - she very rarely thoroughly enjoys movies, so I guess she saw what the critics did.

[crocodile 6862]

Pity, I was actually looking forward to watch True Grit, but heard not-so-good things about it. Might put this off.

Karol

[Quintus 5394]

Don't take my word for it, Croc. I almost feel unlucky for not "getting it", as the critics apparently did.

Still, the John Wayne original can rest safe in the knowledge that the remake doesn't touch it.

[crocodile 6862]

No, I trust you on this one for some reason.

Karol

[Quintus 5394]

Well, I'm sure one or two will pipe up in here soon to convince you of otherwise

[Demondm810 366]

Don't take my word for it, Croc. I almost feel unlucky for not "getting it", as the critics apparently did.

Still, the John Wayne original can rest safe in the knowledge that the remake doesn't touch it.

I think the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, and I find it funnier than the John Wayne version.

But I very much like them both, but definitely couldn't recommend one over the other. Wayne does trump Bridges, though. Obviously

[Morlock 9]

Once Upon a Time in The West. No matter how many times I see it, I'm always surprised by the way the story unfolds. It was also smaller than I remembered. I don't think it's Leone's best, one loses sight of the relationships and motives, and the idea of Henry Fonda in the role is slightely better than Fonda actually is in the role- he isn't half as compelling as his employer, the crippled Morton. Still one hell of a magnificent movie, with a an amazing collection of brilliant cinematic moments, most of which I'd forgotten about, or at least forgotten the details of.

It seems apropos in light of the recent conversation here to part with the best exchange from the film:

Harmonica: "The reward for this man is 5000 dollars, is that right?"

Cheyenne: "Judas was content for 4970 dollars less."

Harmonica: "They were no dollars in them days"

Cheyenne: "Mmm. But sons-of-bitches, yeah."

[Demondm810 366]

War of the Worlds (2005, Steven Spielberg)

No one would have believed in the early

years of the 21st century, that our world

was being watched by intelligences greater

than our own. That as men busied themselves

about their various concerns, they observed

and studied. Like the way a man with

a microscope might scrutinize the creatures

that swarm and multiply in a drop of

water. With infinite complacency men

went to and fro about the globe, confident

of our empire over this world. Yet,

across the gulf of space, intellects,

vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded

our planet with envious eyes. And slowly

and surely, drew their plans against

us.

A great film about our world being taken over by aliens, who millions of years ago buried big machines under the ground. Tom Cruise does a great job in this film as Ray Ferrier, as well as Dakota Fanning (Rachel) and Justin Chatwin (Robbie).The film ends (and begins) with a narration by Morgan Freeman:

From the moment the invaders arrived,

breathed our air, ate and drank, they

were doomed. They were undone, destroyed,

after all of man's weapons and devices

had failed, by the tiniest creatures

that God and his wisdom, put upon this

earth. At the toll of a billion deaths,

man had earned his immunity, is right

to survive among this planet's infinite

organisms. And that right is ours against

all challenges, for men do not live

nor die in vein.

Very much a fan of this. Watched it last week again on Blu-Ray. This one took time to grow on me, but perhaps I had high expectations. But after the last six years, I'm very much in love with it.

[Quintus 5394]

Once Upon a Time in The West. No matter how many times I see, I'm always surprised by the way the story unfolds. It was also smaller than I remembered. I don't think it's Leone's best, one loses sight of the relationships and motives, and the idea of Henry Fonda in the role is slightely better than Fonda actually is in the role- he isn't half as compelling as his employer, the crippled Morton. Still one hell of a magnificent movie, with a an amazing collection of brilliant cinematic moments, most of which I'd forgotten about, or at least forgotten the details of.

It seems apropos in light of the recent conversation here to part with the best exchange from the film:

Harmonica: "The reward for this man is 5000 dollars, is that right?"

Cheyenne: "Judas was content for 4970 dollars less."

Harmonica: "They were no dollars in them days"

Cheyenne: "Mmm. But sons-of-bitches, yeah."

Glad to have you back, Morley. Glad to have you back.

[Quintus 5394]

The film does indeed look lovely; in a cold sort of way. Quite the contrast really compared to the unmistakably warm hues of the original.

[Koray Savas 2188]

Well, I'm sure one or two will pipe up in here soon to convince you of otherwise

Like me!

I thought it was quite average when I saw it in theaters, but absolutely loved it when I watched it last week on Blu. Deakins does what he does best, and the acting in this film is simply phenomenal. Barry Pepper is so underrated.

[Koray Savas 2188]

There's a plethora of great exchanges and lines, but my personal favorite is:

Jill: What's he waiting for out there? What's he doing?

Cheyenne: He's whittlin' on a piece of wood. I've got a feeling when he stops whittlin'... Somethin's gonna happen.

[AC1 3805]

Alice In Wonderland (2010): I stopped watching because the film made me fall asleep. What a common kids movie! I was hoping it would be bizar and dreamy, but when I saw the Blu-ray for 10 eur, I momentarily forgot it's a Disney movie. And the actrice who played Alice was seriously miscast (but I loved her in In Treatment). Her British English sounded so very, very forced. Her face constantly had a blank expression. She simply didn't know how to react to all the imaginary blue screen characters. Danny Elfman is a limited and non classical composer and should be making pop music instead of orchestral film music.

Alex

[publicist 4635]

Alice In Wonderland (2010): I stopped watching because the film made me fall asleep. What a common kids movie! I was hoping it would be bizar and dreamy, but when I saw the Blu-ray for 10 eur, I momentarily forgot it's a Disney movie. And the actrice who played Alice was seriously miscast (but I loved her in In Treatment). Her British English sounded so very, very forced. Her face constantly had a blank expression. She simply didn't know how to react to all the imaginary blue screen characters. Danny Elfman is a limited and non classical composer and should be making pop music instead of orchestral film music.

Alex

Elfman was the only one coming out of this smelling like roses. The marketing strategists obviously hostaged Burtons kids to ensure he'd produce an "audience-friendly" LORD OF THE RINGS-sized spectacle about another 'Chosen One' out to rescue the world.

In essence, it was a travesty, up to Depps inane dance sequence at the end.

[AC1 3805]

The whole movie feels as if Burton has sold his soul to Walt. Couldn't they find an English girl for Alice? Did Disney demand the lead must be 'homemade'? Why such an ordinary story?! Why was Burton attracted to this?! Elfman has been making the exact same music for the last 25 years. I can't listen to it anymore. I'm so glad he wasn't involved in Ed Wood or Sweeney Todd.

[Quintus 5394]

The sight of Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter on the poster was enough to put me off that movie for life.

Lee - who's just realised he was talking about True Grit last night in the wrong thread.

[crocodile 6862]

If you want a different Danny Elfman, Alex, don't watch Tim Burton's movies. He's doing actually a pretty varied stuff elsewhere.

Karol - who didn't bother to watch Alice

[Docteur Qui 1418]

Also listen to Serenada Schizophrana. His best work for the last decade I reckon.

[Marian Schedenig 6220]

Also listen to Serenada Schizophrana. His best work for the last decade I reckon.

But not so different from Alice. Which is why I liked that score more than I expected; I'm not generally an Elfman fan.

[Elmo Lewis 6]

Never Say Never Again is on TV.

I had heard bad things about this film and only now do I begin to grasp just how bad it really is. (Bond is playing an 80's videogame for world domination right now.)