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

[Jurassic Shark 16,423]

How young were you?

[filmmusic 3,260]

5 minutes ago, Jill Sandwich said:

 

My parents knew that I knew that it was all make-believe.

Even so..

I don't think I ever believed that films are real! 

[Jill Sandwich 11,156]

6 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

How young were you?

 

Primary school age. As young as five. I was obsessed with Fangoria magazine and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine at the time, too, especially if there were articles about Godzilla.

 

1 minute ago, filmmusic said:

Even so..

I don't think I ever believed that films are real! 

 

I was really into Making-of documentaries about films when I was really young, so my parents felt cool about letting me watch anything I liked.

[filmmusic 3,260]

I think the first somewhat "gory" film I ever watched, was The Terminator, in 5th-6th grade of primary school, at a friend's party.

I remember like it was now, that my father didn't let me watch the VHS tape he had recorded from TV, and I was so happy I could at last see it!

Of course, I was surprised at the eye-removal scene! 

[Jill Sandwich 11,156]

4 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

I think the first somewhat "gory" film I ever watched, was The Terminator, in 5th-6th grade of primary school, at a friend's party.

I remember like it was now, that my father didn't let me watch the VHS tape he had recorded from TV, and I was so happy I could at last see it!

Of course, I was surprised at the eye-removal scene! 

 

I had that on the same tape as Halloween II when I was five.

[Tom Guernsey 3,859]

My mother was appalled that my uncle (dad's brother) let me watch Gremlins when I was probably about 12... but seemed less bothered that I'd seen Jaws at a similar age, which is a considerably more harrowing watch.

[Sweeping Strings 3,419]

I avoided horror (couldn't see where the fun was in being scared) until I was 13 when I let a friend talk me into renting Psycho 2 ('it's more of a thriller, really'). I thought that it wasn't too bad, and so (suitably indoctrinated) the next horror rental was ... the somewhat more graphic Evil Dead  . 

[filmmusic 3,260]

20 minutes ago, Sweeping Strings said:

I avoided horror (couldn't see where the fun was in being scared)

Apparently, most people like horror, that's why we have labels appearing here and there, releasing horror films on blu-ray/UHD.

And we get so many wonderful 4k restorations of films that are even bad or second rate, just because it's horror (and horror fans are the most ardent ones), and we don't get restorations (or we get bad ones) of great and important films in other genres!

This is so frustrating for me, who I am not a horror fan..

[A24 5,153]

1 hour ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

It all depends upon where you live.

In the USA, most of those horror films mentioned, were rated 'R' which meant that children could see them, if accompanied by an adult.

In the UK, most of them (THE OMEN, DAMIEN: OMEN II, THE FINAL CONFLICT, POLTERGEIST, ALIEN, THE EXORCIST) were rated 'X' which meant that no-one under the age of 18 years was admitted.

 

In Belgium we had KNT (Kinderen Niet Toegelaten - Children Not Admitted) so everyone under the age of 16 wasn't allowed to see Alien.

[Jill Sandwich 11,156]

4 minutes ago, A24 said:

 

In Belgium we had KNT (Kinderen Niet Toegelaten - Children Not Admitted) so everyone under the age of 16 wasn't allowed to see Alien.

 

We always had (M)15+ but kids under 15 were still allowed to watch. It was just a recommendation. Movies only got an <R>18+ if they had some real hardcore shit in them, and I watched them anyway, like RoboCop 2 or Halloween 5.

[Edmilson 12,365]

2 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Hey, I haven't seen any of them

Norway, mid 90s.

 

A couple arrives at home...

 

"Look, son. We bought you a VHS of the new Disney cartoon! Every kid is loving it!"

 

A young Jurassic Shark grabs the Lion King VHS, looks at it for a few seconds, and then violently throws the VHS at the ground.

 

"No! Hans Zimmer wrote the score for this movie! I HATE HANS ZIMMER! He's a fraud and a hack, and he has ruined film music!"

 

"Okay, son, calm down! Don't need to cry! Here's some more classical music CDs, but please stop destroying all of your toys, they're not this Zimmer person you hate so much!"

[BloodBoal 8,691]

Smart kid.

[Jurassic Shark 16,423]

I guess I was too old to find animated kiddie films attractive. 

[Marian Schedenig 11,679]

6 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

WEST SIDE STORY (the good one),

 

The Spielberg? 

[Naïve Old Fart 13,016]

For the record, I regularly watch 'animated kiddie films', as JS put it, using the ancient tongue.

Some of them (FANTASIA; SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES; PINNOCHINO; SLEEPING BEAUTY; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; YELLOW SUBMARINE; ALLEGRO NON TROPPO; FANTASTIC PLANET; POCAHONTAS; THE LORD OF THE RINGS) are, visually, among the best and most beautiful films that I have ever seen.

[Nick1Ø66 8,312]

Spirited Away is one of the greatest films ever made.

 

And I challenge anyone to watch Grave of the Fireflies and not ball your eyes out. If you don't at least get a lump in your throat, you have no heart and I'll have nothing to do with you.

[BloodBoal 8,691]

I have no heart and you'll have nothing to do with me.

 

That being said, Spirited Away is excellent, yes.

[Edmilson 12,365]

12 minutes ago, Nick1Ø66 said:

Spirited Away is one of the greatest films ever made.

It is. And whoever says the opposite is wrong.

 

20 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

I mean, some early 2000s CGI could look cartoony, but I wouldn't say the entire trilogy is animation, though. 

 

The Hobbit trilogy, on the other hand...

 

Spoiler

 

[Mr. Hooper 8,903]

3 hours ago, Jill Sandwich said:

Primary school age. As young as five. I was obsessed with Fangoria magazine and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine at the time, too, especially if there were articles about Godzilla.

[Nick1Ø66 8,312]

3 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

I mean, some early 2000s CGI could look cartoony, but I wouldn't say the entire trilogy is animation, though. 

[Chen G. 6,137]

5 minutes ago, Nick1Ø66 said:

 

Ah, Panto-dalf!

 

Gotta love his evocation of the Ring-verse. "Twirl, twirl, twirl, hug self."

[Rachael Foley 10,155]

Fab-dalf.

[filmmusic 3,260]

2 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

YELLOW SUBMARINE; ALLEGRO NON TROPPO;

Still haven't seen these 2.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,016]

30 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

Still haven't seen these 2.

Rectify.

[Edmilson 12,365]

48 minutes ago, filmmusic said:

Still haven't seen these 2.

Not a Beatles fan?

[filmmusic 3,260]

17 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

Rectify.

I'm not sure I like the animation visual style of Yellow Submarine.

Plus:

Quote

 the basic plot and nonsensical narrative disappoint many, with tedious stretches between musical numbers. The film's surreal, hallucinatory style proves divisive—some find it charmingly bizarre while others consider it overwhelming. 

 

Just now, Edmilson said:

Not a Beatles fan?

Nope..

[Naïve Old Fart 13,016]

Horses for courses, my friend.

I like YELLOW SUBMARINE, and The Beatles, but I appreciate that others don't.

ALLEGRO NON TROPPO is a must.

[Quintus 6,483]

I love post B&W Beatles but I could never bring myself to watch one of their movies. Of their time.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,361]

6 minutes ago, Quintus said:

I love post B&W Beatles but I could never bring myself to watch one of their movies. Of their time.

 

Like the Carry On films and Monty Python.

[filmmusic 3,260]

33 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

ALLEGRO NON TROPPO is a must.

One other little grumble: 

I think those comedic (?) live-action interludes, will take me out of the film.

[Andy 7,703]

7 hours ago, Sweeping Strings said:

Second is sword-and-sorcery shenanigans in which Marc Singer (blessed with the ability to telepathically communicate with animals, including a 'black panther' which is actually a tiger that they dyed black because tigers are apparently 'easier to work with') goes on a mission of vengeance against eeeevil wizard Rip Torn. Along the way, he teams up with John Amos and Tanya Roberts (who sportingly first appears naked and then wears very little for the rest of the movie). The main theme distractingly and unashamedly rips off the one for the original Battlestar Galactica.   

Such a fun movie, from the guy who brought us the Phantasm series.  Agreed on all counts, including the BSG ripoff. I like the score, but my brain just can’t shake the similarity.  I loved Mark Singer in “V”. He brought such goofy intensity to his roles. He looks great in Beastmaster, truly a great specimen.  And on that note, I’ll watch anything with Tanya Roberts.  Beastmaster makes a good double feature with Sheena. 
 

7 hours ago, filmmusic said:

I kinda of liked this. What do you think about The Sword and the Sorcerer? Haven't seen that one.

 

It’s just okay. A bit of a slog. It’s got some decent bits, but is somehow not all that coherent. 
 

4 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

For the record, I regularly watch 'animated kiddie films', as JS put it, using the ancient tongue.

Some of them (FANTASIA; SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES; PINNOCHINO; SLEEPING BEAUTY; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; YELLOW SUBMARINE; ALLEGRO NON TROPPO; FANTASTIC PLANET; POCAHONTAS; THE LORD OF THE RINGS) are, visually, among the best and most beautiful films that I have ever seen.

Some great titles there.  I think Sleeping Beauty is one of the most gorgeous things ever put on film.  Bakshi’s stuff is hit or miss with me, but his LOTR is jaw droppingly beautiful and surreal.  Anyone who likes that should enjoy the equally impressive Fire and Ice.  I’m sad that traditional animation for adults is a thing of the past.  It’s either CG animation for kids, or Anime for adults.  I would love to see cel animation for all ages or for adults make a return. There are things that can happen, nuances of imagery that CG can’t do.  I’m the type of person unimpressed by the stylish whatever you call it animation of Into the Spider-Verse that people fawned over.  Just give me some human painted backgrounds and cels popping with color and depth that shows that artists can still illustrate without help from technology. 
 

Oh and I love horror films too.  The more colorful and visually interesting the better.  

[Jurassic Shark 16,423]

4 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

For the record, I regularly watch 'animated kiddie films', as JS put it, using the ancient tongue.

 

Oh yes, I do too. I'm just saying that in the mid 90s, when I was in my 70s, other films were on my radar. 

 

5 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Okay, son, calm down! Don't need to cry! Here's some more classical music CDs, but please stop destroying all of your toys, they're not this Zimmer person you hate so much!"

 

Well, all my toys were Zimmer figures...

[Rachael Foley 10,155]

24 minutes ago, Andy said:

artists can still illustrate without help from technology. 

So... finger painting?  

[filmmusic 3,260]

1 hour ago, Andy said:

 I would love to see cel animation for all ages or for adults make a return. There are things that can happen, nuances of imagery that CG can’t do.  I’m the type of person unimpressed by the stylish whatever you call it animation of Into the Spider-Verse that people fawned over.  Just give me some human painted backgrounds and cels popping with color and depth that shows that artists can still illustrate without help from technology. 

Thank you!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,361]

Ai will soon be able to replicate that in every detail 

[Edmilson 12,365]

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Well, all my toys were Zimmer voodoo dolls...

Fixed.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,016]

11 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Well, all my toys were Zimmer figures...

Don't you EVER say his name!

[Xander Harris 9,661]

 

Happy Mother’s Day

[Quintus 6,483]

 

Another one of those terribly unlucky movies that came out during the pandemic lockdowns and failed to find an audience, but I watched it tonight and I loved it. Edgar Wright has the rare Spielbergian gift of grappling cinematic fantasy and somehow just making it feel right; there's a shared intuitive cohesion and fimic sense in his story editing and flow and it's great to see. I find it rather reassuring. Wright is definitely one of my favourite contemporary directors, if not my chief favourite full stop.

 

Film is also notable for being Dame Diana Rigg's final performance before her death in 2020, and it's quite sad that she did not live to see the finished production. She had a terrific part. Apparently Wright was with her and filming her scenes right up until the very end, and he has described it as a beautiful experience.

 

..

 

Coincidentally, I am also making my way through The Running Man this week. It feels like a completely different filmmaker. Very odd, but I don't know what happened there.

[Edmilson 12,365]

I really liked Last Night in Soho. Brilliant movie, with a great script, directing and acting. Though I was a bit surprised that the main character was played by Bard's daughter.

 

I still want to see The Running Man one of these days. It's consensus that it's Wright's worst movie, but it can't be THAT bad... Right?

[Rachael Foley 10,155]

1 hour ago, Edmilson said:

I really liked Last Night in Soho. Brilliant movie, with a great script, directing and acting. Though I was a bit surprised that the main character was played by Bard's daughter.

She played Braga's daughter, not Bard's 

[Edmilson 12,365]

43 minutes ago, Rachael Foley said:

She played Braga's daughter

The guy who ruined Star Trek?

[Rachael Foley 10,155]

7 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

The guy who ruined Star Trek?

Kind of surprised you didn't go with Sonia or Alice Braga.....

[Xander Harris 9,661]

If it’s a Brannon Braga script, you can count on a bunch of horrendous shit happening, and all of it being undone by the end. Unless it’s the Enterprise D being wrecked and Captain Kirk dying.

[Jill Sandwich 11,156]

I watched that Soho movie a few years ago and I've forgotten almost everything about it other than it being colourful to look at. Wasn't much there for me.

[Sweeping Strings 3,419]

11 hours ago, Quintus said:

 

Another one of those terribly unlucky movies that came out during the pandemic lockdowns and failed to find an audience, but I watched it tonight and I loved it. Edgar Wright has the rare Spielbergian gift of grappling cinematic fantasy and somehow just making it feel right; there's a shared intuitive cohesion and fimic sense in his story editing and flow and it's great to see. I find it rather reassuring. Wright is definitely one of my favourite contemporary directors, if not my chief favourite full stop.

 

Film is also notable for being Dame Diana Rigg's final performance before her death in 2020, and it's quite sad that she did not live to see the finished production. She had a terrific part. Apparently Wright was with her and filming her scenes right up until the very end, and he has described it as a beautiful experience.

 

..

 

Coincidentally, I am also making my way through The Running Man this week. It feels like a completely different filmmaker. Very odd, but I don't know what happened there.

Great movie, Thomasin McKenzie's lead is a very appealing character and as for Matt Smith it's always interesting to watch a former Doctor playing a wrong 'un.  

The Running Man ... simply put, it's just less fun than the Arnie version. 

[Quintus 6,483]

10 minutes ago, Sweeping Strings said:

The Running Man ... simply put, it's just less fun than the Arnie version. 

 

The biggest indictment of it from my own point of view is that it is taking me all week to get through it.

 

It's a weird movie though, from the point of the view of the director - whose usual distinct trademarks are nowhere to be seen. It feels more like your typical manufactured studio flick managed by some hack. Jan de Bont could have well been the director.

[Sweeping Strings 3,419]

It's his second flop in a row ... perhaps a return to Blighty and a step back from 'blockbuster' attempts would be the way to go. 

[filmmusic 3,260]

2 hours ago, Sweeping Strings said:

simply put, it's just less fun than the Arnie version. 

Of course it would be! 

[Mr. Hooper 8,903]

2 hours ago, Quintus said:

 

The biggest indictment of it from my own point of view is that it is taking me all week to get through it.

 

It's a weird movie though, from the point of the view of the director - whose usual distinct trademarks are nowhere to be seen. It feels more like your typical manufactured studio flick managed by some hack. Jan de Bont could have well been the director.

When you graduate to big-budget movies, you're more likely to encounter studio interference and a demand to make the product more vanilla and less idiosyncratic, for mass consumption.