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


Mr. Breathmask

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3 hours ago, filmmusic said:

Has anyone seen part 2? Is it worth seeing it?

 

12 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

No.

 

The third film is much better, in which Macaulay Culkin's character is reincarnated and returns as...well, you'll see. It's called The Good Son.

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Back in the day as a kid, I liked both My Girl films a lot.  I haven't revisited either as an adult, so can't really say how the second one holds up to an adult viewer

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7 hours ago, filmmusic said:

Delightful score also by James Newton Howard, but unfortunately it hasn't got a release.

 

I know, and it desperately needs one.

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On 29/05/2023 at 1:26 PM, Naïve Old Fart said:

I remember seeing BLACK ANGEL, as a support to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

 

Fun fact: in the UK, THE SNOWMAN was going to support E.T. Spielberg, however, viewed it, and vetoed, saying that it was too similar to his film 


I think I did too ... it rings a vague bell. 

Ah, supporting features ... those were the days. Nowadays cinema screenings are preceded by about 20 minutes of ads and 5 minutes of trailers. 

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On 29/05/2023 at 7:59 PM, Nick1Ø66 said:

Have you seen the Wagner vs. Verdi debate w/Stephen Fry? Quite entertaining.

 

That's interesting, if a bit unfair, with such a biased host. Although the Verdi advocate really doesn't do himself (or Verdi) any favours by building almost his entire argument on what a cool guy Verdi was compared to Wagner's rather vile character - when most serious fans of Wagner are very much aware of that and are fans of his music (and story conceptions) *despite* the man. The argument about Verdi being the precursor to film music (including a JW namedrop) is a dangerous one, and Fry didn't miss his chance to point out that there's a lot of basis for the usual argument that this is very much Wagner's role. I wouldn't rule it out entirely; at least Puccini was clearly a big influence on Korngold, and verismo is obviously much closer to many Hollywood dramas than Wagner's epics. At the very least, I suppose Verdi is the immediate precursor to all that. But as an argument *against* Wagner it remains quite suicidal.

 

I must say though that Tomlinson is pretty painful to listen to in that video - maybe it's the setting, combined with the fact that Wotan usually sings that after hours of other stuff and doesn't have to worry about being sufficiently warmed up (much rather having some voice left at all). And even with an orchestra pit (which he lacks in this situation) it's hard enough for a singer to remain audible about the full orchestra, unless the conductor takes extra care to keep the orchestra in check (few do).

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1 hour ago, Marian Schedenig said:

I must say though that Tomlinson is pretty painful to listen to in that video

 

If there's anything unfair is that Tomlinson gets to pitch-in with an (honestly not that insightful) addendum to the argument. I'm sorry, Sir John, the music isn't ecstatic because Wotan "sees his plan working." Its ecstatic because its a moment of great reconciliation between father and daughter.

 

As for his singing, I find it good, but as much as it grieves me to say this, I was never fully sold on his Wotans and Gurnemanzes. He plays and sings them - and this is also true here - with a lot of jittery, nervous, explosive energy, whereas I feel the nobility of these characters lies exactly in them being a little more reserved. His Wotan for Kupfer, especially, feels more like a rogue.

 

Its partially what I like about the Syberberg film: Robert Lloyd is so suave and noble-seeming as Gurnemanz!

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3 hours ago, Sweeping Strings said:


I think I did too ... it rings a vague bell. 

Ah, supporting features ... those were the days. Nowadays cinema screenings are preceded by about 20 minutes of ads and 5 minutes of trailers. 

 

Gives plenty of time for getting late and having a supporting toilet visit.

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13 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

That's interesting, if a bit unfair, with such a biased host. Although the Verdi advocate really doesn't do himself (or Verdi) any favours by building almost his entire argument on what a cool guy Verdi was compared to Wagner's rather vile character - when most serious fans of Wagner are very much aware of that and are fans of his music (and story conceptions) *despite* the man. The argument about Verdi being the precursor to film music (including a JW namedrop) is a dangerous one, and Fry didn't miss his chance to point out that there's a lot of basis for the usual argument that this is very much Wagner's role. I wouldn't rule it out entirely; at least Puccini was clearly a big influence on Korngold, and verismo is obviously much closer to many Hollywood dramas than Wagner's epics. At the very least, I suppose Verdi is the immediate precursor to all that. But as an argument *against* Wagner it remains quite suicidal.

 

I must say though that Tomlinson is pretty painful to listen to in that video - maybe it's the setting, combined with the fact that Wotan usually sings that after hours of other stuff and doesn't have to worry about being sufficiently warmed up (much rather having some voice left at all). And even with an orchestra pit (which he lacks in this situation) it's hard enough for a singer to remain audible about the full orchestra, unless the conductor takes extra care to keep the orchestra in check (few do).

 

Well said.

 

I'll just add, along with the fact that his points just weren't that well argued, it really wasn't fair putting Norman Lebrecht up against Stephen Fry to begin with. Fry, in addition to being a conspicuous Wagnerian, is one of the UK's most beloved entertainers, is famously well-spoken, very funny and charismatic, and he was right at home in this milieu. My guess is, had Fry taken Verdi's part, he would have had that audience eating out of his hand and still would have won the day (and I say this as more of a Wagnerian myself).

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2 minutes ago, Chen G. said:

As for his singing, I find it good, but as much as it grieves me to say this, I was never fully sold on his Wotans and Gurnemanzes. He plays and sings them - and this is also true here - with a lot of jittery, explosive energy, whereas I feel the nobility of these characters lies exactly in them being a little more reserved.

 

A bit too much energy for my taste too, but mostly he barely hits any of his notes here - there's almost always an upwards glissando until he finds the right pitch. The premiere of the latest Ring cycle in Vienna (now some 15 years ago) had a Brünnhilde with the same problem (in an otherwise stellar cast; the first act has been released on CD). For Siegfried, Nina Stemme took over the role, brilliantly. She was supposed to do the whole Ring during the 2020 season and I was much looking forward to that, but of course COVID prevented that.

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15 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

he barely hits any of his notes here - there's almost always an upwards glissando until he finds the right pitch.

 

Well, he is a bass...

 

I don't mind if I feel the overall impression is good: did Waltraud Meier (a mezzo) always hit her high notes as Isolde? and what about Gwyneth Jones shrillness? But the overall package was so compelling, it didn't matter.

 

17 minutes ago, Nick1Ø66 said:

it really wasn't fair putting Norman Lebrecht up against Stephen Fry to begin with.

 

And putting, as the "voice" of the two composers, some up-and-coming soprano against a British icon, who as I said also took the liberty to pitch-in with some words of his own. Even just the way Fry introduced the Wagnerian "vessel": "Oh, look at this girl, isn't she adorbs...oh, and on the Wagner corner, we have one of this country's finest international singers!"

 

15 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

For Siegfried, Nina Stemme took over the role, brilliantly.

 

When Stemme and Theorin hang-up their Wagnerian repertoire, I truly fear for the state we'll be in for Brunnhildes and Isoldes...:( There are some satisfactory Wotans around, and Siegfrieds and Tristans almost always disappoint anyhow, but Brunnhilde...

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5 minutes ago, Chen G. said:

Well, he is a bass...

 

Hey, I'm a bass, too. ;) On an entire different level, of course.

But as I said, circumstances for this performance may not have been very favourable.

 

5 minutes ago, Chen G. said:

When Stemme and Theorin hang-up their Wagnerian repertoire, I truly fear for the state we'll be in for Brunnhildes and Isoldes...:( There are some satisfactory Wotans around, and Siegfrieds and Tristans almost always disappoint anyhow, but Brunnhilde...

 

I've seen some solid Wotans and Siegfrieds, but yes, the weak point in any Ring was usually the Brünnhilde - except for Stemme, who was the highlight. (In the abovementioned Walküre premiere, she was Sieglinde)

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3 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

In the abovementioned Walküre premiere, she was Sieglinde

 

I think I saw that one. There was also an amazing Walkure from La Scala with Stemme's Brunnhilde, Tomlinson's Hunding, Meier as Sieglinde, I damn near fainted.

 

3 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

I'm a bass, too.

 

Bass-Baritone here.

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11 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Gives plenty of time for getting late and having a supporting toilet visit.


Yes, toilet visits before rather than during the movie are to be encouraged, as during is highly irritating (especially if they cross your eyeline on their way).   

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1 minute ago, Sweeping Strings said:


Yes, toilet visits before rather than during the movie are to be encouraged, as during is highly irritating (especially if they cross your eyeline on their way).   

 

Especially if you have to go yourself.

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A commode that slides out from under your seat at the push of a button and then retracts when you're done is clearly the way forward (although attempts to use them for defecation will result in patrons being thrown out without refund). 

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On 29/05/2023 at 3:59 PM, Chen G. said:

 

Nobody, and I totally don't have a 250-page writeup with footnotes about it all... :whistle:ROTFLMAO

 

Chen in the bar: Would you like to come home with me and see my massive footnote?

Potential date: ...

Chen: I mean it, it's real.

Potential date: ...OK then.

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Just now, Jurassic Shark said:

Chen in the bar: Would you like to come home with me and see my massive footnote?

 

That's not what I do at the bar! I'll have you know the last time I was in the bar with mates we....umm, we did a duet of "The Internet is for Porn." ROTFLMAO

 

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Innerspace (1987)

 

I haven't actually sat down and watched this film in 35 years. (I may have watched the DVD with the commentary?) I'm glad I still love it. Joe Dante's most successful film across the board. I love Gremlins 2 but that feels more like they gave Dante a bunch of money and he shrugged and said "Let's play with it!"

 

To say that Robert Picardo is "audacious" does a disservice to the word. Nice to see the Joe Dante Players well represented. (I missed the Chuck Jones cameo.)

 

Funny to think that Ryan and Quaid met on this film. They really only have two or three scenes together. Movie magic at it's best: Quaid and Short are a hilarious team and they're on screen together for a few minutes.

 

The effects are still amazing. ILM in it's magic shop heyday.

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Had a double-bill (via the ITVX streaming service) of 'how the hell did I not end up renting these on VHS back in the day?' last night - Days Of Thunder and Weekend At Bernie's.

The former was clearly an attempt by Simpson and Bruckheimer, Tony Scott and Cruise to replicate the success of Top Gun with stock cars in place of fighter jets. It's well-paced and the plentiful race action is thrillingly staged. With Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Michael Rooker, Randy Quaid and John C. Reilly.

The latter is a knockabout black-comedy farce, with 2 employees of an accountancy firm (Johnathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy) invited to their boss' Hamptons home for the weekend only for him to be murdered just before they arrive and they have to pretend that he's still very much alive. Probably not a classic, but there were enough gleefully bad-taste gags in it to keep me chuckling.

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b331b756-5301-4777-a7e0-616d9437d5a6.jpg

 

I was bored a bit in the actual football game parts, because I don't know how it is played.:P

And, isn't Burt Reynolds the sexiest actor ever?

I think so..

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23 hours ago, Tallguy said:

Haven't seen it in years and years but Days of Thunder is amazing. And (IIRC) arguably a more coherent movie than Top Gun.

 

And Zimmer's score is one of my definitive "Gotta get stuff DONE" scores.


It made for a great 'Saturday night with some beers' movie. 

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I don't see many people here watching anime or animation films.

Anyway, I just watched this:

MV5BNGQ0YzM5YjYtMTJiYy00M2RhLWI5YTYtZWY0

 

A nostalgic, coming-of age, slice of life Chinese anime, involving a love triangle.

Very good animation, reminding in detail the Makoto Shinkai films, but I felt it had too much score and too many songs, for this kind of film.

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2 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

Was that what prompted the "middle-aged man and bleary eyed piss"? :lol:


A combo of being a chap of a certain age, being type 2 diabetic and due to said condition being on a pill that removes excess sugar from your system via your pee have created something of a 'perfect storm' you might say. lol.  

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5 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:
19 hours ago, filmmusic said:

And, isn't Burt Reynolds the sexiest actor ever?

I think so..

 

He's kinda dead, so I doubt it...

 

giphy.gif

I see what you did there!

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3 hours ago, Sweeping Strings said:


A combo of being a chap of a certain age, being type 2 diabetic and due to said condition being on a pill that removes excess sugar from your system via your pee have created something of a 'perfect storm' you might say. lol.  

 

Empagliflozin, I assume?

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