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

[publicist 4,484]

Kind of...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYrsn_JzfIM&feature=related

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Btw, Oldman's voice for Smiley certainly seemed to be inspired by Guinness.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

If the scene from Drive that I posted here is boring then I like boring. The scene managed to pull me in from the get-go. I hope the whole movie is like that (it won't be, of course).

As you already said, it isn't. It's actually quite slow until the third act.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I like movies that take the time to build a mood, and establish their characters before going into action mode.

[Quintus 5,391]

Depends.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Don't be so nuanced, Lee. It doesn't suit you.

[AC1 3,565]

Well, Star Wars started right in the middle of the action ... and it worked. Gaspar Noé's Irreversible starts with gruesome action only to get slower and slower towards the end of the film ... and it worked!

Alex

[publicist 4,484]

Well, Star Wars started right in the middle of the action ... and it worked. Gaspar Noé's Irreversible starts with gruesome action only to get slower and slower towards the end of the film ... and it worked!

Alex

If you're into taciturn guys, this movie is for you...

[Quintus 5,391]

Nuanced.

I like that.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Do you like ALL nuanced films?

[Quintus 5,391]

Yeah, Die Hard 4 being my favourite in that regard.

[crocodile 6,294]

We Need To Talk About Kevin

A very well made film (with fantastic performence from Tilda Swinton), but, for all its apparent social commentary and drama, it is ultimately nothing more than a plain horror flick. It is gripping and all that but, on a deeper level, I felt more and more detatched as the story progressed. And that thanks to the kid (or many kids playing him), where the film went over the top for me to really care.

Karol

[Admiral Holdo 16]

Matinee

Joe Dante's finest film. If you've never seen it, please do. It's not a laugh-a-minute riot, but there's a lot of warmth, and the Mant! movie-within-the-movie is uproarious.

Great score too, I love the nostalgic theme and Woolsey's theme that Jerry came up with.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

I saw it awhile ago randomly on TV, but I really liked it. Score is great too.

Annie Hall

A much more solid film than Manhattan, in my opinion. Near perfect. Abstract realism at its finest.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

Sucker Punch, which was pretty entertaining. Not too much to say. It's very dumb, but it's got babes to stare at.

[Delorean90 32]

Annie Hall

A much more solid film than Manhattan, in my opinion. Near perfect. Abstract realism at its finest.

I agree. As I think about it, it's really delightful--the childhood vignettes are some of the best, with the kid playing young Alvy really knocking it out of the park ("The universe is expanding."), and of course, the Marshall McCluhan scene is great. I definitely liked the story better here, but Manhattan's pairing of Gershwin and Gordon Willis's delicious cinematography melts me. If you blended the story of Annie Hall with the aesthetics of Manhattan...man, oh man.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

Agreed 100%. Manhattan has the visuals and Annie Hall has the story.

[AC1 3,565]

Perhaps that's why I prefer Manhattan. Anyone can tell me the story but only film can give me the visual information. However, I would say both Manhattan and Annie Hall aren't about story but rather about characters, dialogue and the atmosphere of New York City. That being said, Annia Hall disappointed me the last time I saw it, which was right after revisiting Manhattan. With its blend of Manhattan matureness and the more goofy humor and caricatural representation from his first films, I felt it wanted to go in two different directions. Although, I must admit that, when I was young (er), I too preferred Annie Hall. Now Manhattan is one of my favorite movies. Annie Hall is not.

Alex

[crocodile 6,294]

Speaking of Manhattan, I happened to watch it for the first time five years ago on big screen by mistake. It was a small cinema and I thought I bought a ticket for Planet Terror, but then Woody Allen's film started. That was a fortunate mistake, though. Enjoyed the hell out of it.

Karol

[Koray Savas 2,095]

A theater showing Planet Terror and Manhattan side by side? Interesting!

[Quintus 5,391]

I'd happily see either.

[Taikomochi 783]

Watched Empire Strikes Back with buddies. After mentioning it was J Dubs' birthday(it had just turned midnight), we all waited through the credits to hear his masterpiece, something my friends never do.

[Score_Fan 36]

The Woman in Black

[Quintus 5,391]

Any good? It's difficult to gauge the trailer.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

it's a decent horror film, fits the Hammer name well. The Ending.....oh the ending....

10 years from now the film will be more respected when people forget that a 21 year old is playing a mid to late 20 something and not quite looking the part.

[Quintus 5,391]

Sounds like it ends the same as the old BBC version judging by your reaction. If they managed to top that for scares then I'm impressed.

One word: 'bed'.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Blade Runner : The Final Cut

A dark and rainy L.A., were light in less a relief then an intrusion. Often diffuse, or glaring in oppressive shafts of white peering though windows. Or paranoid beams of blue light emitted from blimps that both spy on people and advise them to move to "Off-World Colonies".

Blu-ray was created for this film and this film alone. There is an amazing depth in the films images that transcends it's genre's. It's not just sci-fi, it's not just noir, it's not just cyberpunk. Even though 2019 is coming fast and L.A. will not look like this is any way, watching this we still feel that it should. There is something completely natural about how the film looks, feels and sounds. It's an enviroment rather then a bunch of brilliant set designs.

In all of this sumptuous visual appeal many actors would be either overwhelmed or feel out of place, but Harrison Ford has always been very good in making himself feel at home in enviroment of his films. He walks though futuristic and rainy L.A. like he's never done anything else. Also he doesn't try to be a star here. (or Scott did not allow it). It's a hell of a performance, because you can't quite put your finger on what Ford is doing.

Rutger Hauer has always been a handsome man, blue eyes, striking features. In this film he looks better then ever. Lethal yet sensitive. With a mocking grin yet eyes that pierce deep.

I wonder is Sean Young launched the square shoulder look in this film, which would be a style feature of the 80's. Like Ford her performance is elusive. I'm never sure if she is a good actress. A lot of her other work seem to suggest she is not that great.

Vangelis' score is almost as important as the visuals in setting the impact for the film. It's not something I would ever listen to on CD, but it's gives the film a dreamy, philosophical quality that an orchestral score could never hope to accomplish.

Doug Trumbull takes the trick of putting models in smoke and darkness disguise perspectives and adds seemingly millions of tiny lights and turns his craft into a real art form.

The film raises many questions, some deliberate, other probably not. It answers none of them. It leaves the more mature viewers with something to think about.

Hope the sequel won't answer any of them for us....

**** out of ****

[Quintus 5,391]

Seems like there's a review of this film once a week here.

[crocodile 6,294]

Strangely enough, I never get tired of it.

Karol

[Wojo 2,442]

Blade Runner? I've seen it once. If I had grown up with it, I might think it were something special. It's pretty underwhelming so many years after the fact.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I saw it once in the early to mid 90's and was not so impressed. I saw it again last year, and it was as if I saw a new film.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I'm not sure you can grow up with it. When I saw bits of it as a kid, it was just Han Solo on a rainy planet. None of that really factored into the masterpiece I discovered when I grew up and realised what it was about.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

I could not care less about Blade Runner. It will never be part of my collection. I'd rather add another Harryhausen film.

Quint I have not seen the BBC production, but there were several good scares in the new film, and the mood and atmosphere works to the films advantage. Now after considering it and thinking about Blade Runner again, I'd rather add several Hammer films to my collection than BR.

[Score_Fan 36]

Any good? It's difficult to gauge the trailer.

I quite liked it, alot. It had a little bit of horror cliches that you would expect, but very little. I also think it had a better ending than the 1989 version (in my opinion), so I'd recommend it.

Any good? It's difficult to gauge the trailer.

I quite liked it, alot. It had a little bit of horror cliches that you would expect, but very little. I also think it had a better ending than the 1989 version (in my opinion), so I'd recommend it.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

Wait for Hammer, they're currently restoring the series starting with HORROR OF DRACULA.

[indy4 152]

Bowling for Columbine: A great documentary. It's very easy to pay attention to, and the points it makes are very important ones. Moore's ironic use of music is very effective.

Michael Moore Hates America: A documentary that does a good job proving that some of the entertainment factor from Bowling is false. It might make you hate Moore, but it doesn't really attempt to attack the substantive issue that Moore is criticizing in Bowling. Watching this film didn't renew my faith in America at all.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

Eyes Wide Shut.

I really dig it. It's definitely the Kubrick film I've connected the most with.

[Wojo 2,442]

Yes, it reminds me of every orgy I've ever been to.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

[Koray Savas 2,095]

Last night I watched...

Minority Report

Finally decided to start watching my Spielberg collection in blu. The film has a good story and acting, and the great Spielbergian action that he delivers on so many occasions, but it's brought down by Kaminski. I think this is his most overdone film, everything just glows too much and too bright. His lighting makes Spielberg's films feel artificial most of the time. The Spielbergian humor didn't bother me this time around, as the film was much more lighthearted than I remembered. It instills that "fun" that you get from his films. I forgot William Mapother was in this one and his scene with Cruise made me laugh. Peter Stormare might be my favorite thing about the film.

Tonight I watched...

Jurassic Park

No better way to celebrate John's birthday than with the first film I saw in theaters, which is my earliest memory. While it's riddled with production errors that take you out of the film, I think it's Spielberg's best blockbuster. A lot of that has to do with Williams' score, which is what really brings life to the dinosaurs. Goldblum is awesome, as are the rest of the cast. It's endlessly quotable, and a lot more thrilling since the last time I watched it full swing. Worst part is Cundey's cinematography and the set design. Spielberg needs to use better cinematographers. The lighting in this film is atrocious, a lot of the jungle pieces are fake beyond belief and the sets really cause continuity errors with the plot. Most of the attention seems to be put on the effects in this film, which still stand today and are even better than some recent films (I Am Legend, I'm looking at you). From a technical standpoint this really isn't a great film, but the things that make it great really pull it up and make it a classic. The new transfer and sound mix are fantastic. Loved the subwoofer pulsing throughout the room as the T-rex approached.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

A relatively good follow-up that doesn't retread the first film. Kaminski outdoes Cundey with this one, making it feel like they are actually in a jungle, but there are still moments of his excessive lighting. If you're in the woods in daylight, you don't need more lights. Work with the natural light! Unfortunately not all of them can be Deakins. Williams' score sounds really repetitive in the film, as if it's just the same percussion rhythm from The Hunt until they leave the island. I enjoy it more on album. Goldblum and the child actress really work well with each other. The transfer for this one isn't as clean as JP for some reason.

I watched the new documentary for the Blu release and didn't know that Spielberg came up with the endings to both films on set. The raptors in Jurassic Park were supposed to be killed by the T-rex skeleton handing in the entrance hall, and Spielberg said the live one should come in. In The Lost World, there was supposed to be a pterodactyl attack on the helicopter, and then Spielberg tacked on the Visitor In San Diego sequence instead.

[Score_Fan 36]

The addams family / family values.

I forgot how fun these movies were. Raul is perfect as gomez, and Huston is extremely sexy as Morticia. Hopefully, our friends from LLLR can also re-release Shaiman's wonderful scores in expanded/complete form, as there is some great music missing.

[indy4 152]

Minority Report

it's brought down by Kaminski. I think this is his most overdone film, everything just glows too much and too bright. His lighting makes Spielberg's films feel artificial most of the time.

I think the lightning works really well. Makes the whole film feel dreamy, like we're seeing a vision of the future.

I watched the new documentary for the Blu release and didn't know that Spielberg came up with the endings to both films on set. The raptors in Jurassic Park were supposed to be killed by the T-rex skeleton handing in the entrance hall, and Spielberg said the live one should come in.

Hmmm, interesting. I think I might prefer the original ending for Jurassic Park. There's something wonderfully ironic about an attempt to glorify nature that ends up destroying it. Although it's difficult to say without seeing it.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

By original, you mean theatrical? Your wording there confuses me a bit. You're saying it's ironic that the creation of the dinosaurs is what ends up saving them from it?

[indy4 152]

Nah, I mean Spielberg's original intention (to have the skeleton kill the raptors). My mistake.

[AC1 3,565]

Blade Runner : The Final Cut

A dark and rainy L.A., were light in less a relief then an intrusion. Often diffuse, or glaring in oppressive shafts of white peering though windows. Or paranoid beams of blue light emitted from blimps that both spy on people and advise them to move to "Off-World Colonies".

Blu-ray was created for this film and this film alone. There is an amazing depth in the films images that transcends it's genre's. It's not just sci-fi, it's not just noir, it's not just cyberpunk. Even though 2019 is coming fast and L.A. will not look like this is any way, watching this we still feel that it should. There is something completely natural about how the film looks, feels and sounds. It's an enviroment rather then a bunch of brilliant set designs.

In all of this sumptuous visual appeal many actors would be either overwhelmed or feel out of place, but Harrison Ford has always been very good in making himself feel at home in enviroment of his films. He walks though futuristic and rainy L.A. like he's never done anything else. Also he doesn't try to be a star here. (or Scott did not allow it). It's a hell of a performance, because you can't quite put your finger on what Ford is doing.

Rutger Hauer has always been a handsome man, blue eyes, striking features. In this film he looks better then ever. Lethal yet sensitive. With a mocking grin yet eyes that pierce deep.

I wonder is Sean Young launched the square shoulder look in this film, which would be a style feature of the 80's. Like Ford her performance is elusive. I'm never sure if she is a good actress. A lot of her other work seem to suggest she is not that great.

Vangelis' score is almost as important as the visuals in setting the impact for the film. It's not something I would ever listen to on CD, but it's gives the film a dreamy, philosophical quality that an orchestral score could never hope to accomplish.

Doug Trumbull takes the trick of putting models in smoke and darkness disguise perspectives and adds seemingly millions of tiny lights and turns his craft into a real art form.

The film raises many questions, some deliberate, other probably not. It answers none of them. It leaves the more mature viewers with something to think about.

Hope the sequel won't answer any of them for us....

**** out of ****

Agreed with everything ... except ... about the film not giving answers. I never felt that the unicorn link was meant to mean anything else other than telling us something about Deckard's status. And as it turns out later in interviews and so on, it never was meant to be ambiguous, vague, mysterious or what have you. Scott only meant it to be 'subtle'. I would like to know what other answer would make more sense than the logical one that is right in front of us. It's probably the only answer the film is giving us. Of course, I suppose that each viewer is still free to accept this or not. I think that I accepted it because I felt the same issue was perfectly open to ambiguity in the Theatrical Cut. To me, the adding of the unicorn scene in the DC/FC is too definite in construction. OTOH, without this particular sequence (like in the Theatrical Cut), the Deck-is-a-rep issue would be lost on most viewers, unless they happen to be scrutinizing maniacs who watch the film many times, of course.

Alex

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

That scene certainly stacks the deck in Scott's favour. But it's far from an answer.

[AC1 3,565]

Far from an anwer? Wow! Explain. Like I said, the deliberate construction of the link (the tie between two scenes) is an answer. The next thing would be saying it flat out loud.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

It's an answer from the director, but not from the actor. (and probably the screenwriter)

The whole thing hinges on who one considers the true auteur of a character. The director or the actor playing him.

[Quintus 5,391]

I find the story more satisfying when i think of Deckard as a replicant; but only right at the end. Before that I think of him as he does himself - human.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

But the point is that you have a personal choice, the film does not force-feed it to you.

Apart from the scene in the Tyrell building were Deckard interrogates Rachel, is there any natural light (daylight) in the film?