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

[Jim 6,125]

Well that's me totally screwed then isn't it. I can't even read.

[crocodile 9,484]

Oh forgot to say, it has some operatic solo arias over long wordless montages. And it uses the same music (well a different section of a piece) that Tree of Life does.

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

So it does have montages?!

LOOOOOOL! I'm such a savvy fucker sometimes I even impress myself.

Do they have the blu on Amazon?

[crocodile 9,484]

It comes out tomorrow, I think.

Karol

[A24 4,998]

I bet filmmusic is downloading the film right as we speak!

[Sharkissimo 1,977]

Oh Alex you need to watch this:

Karol

Not worth it.

Ten minutes into Sorrentino’s “decadent” montages (partiers, groupies, tourists, Rome in EDM flames), a cinephile must ask himself “Had enough La Dolce Vita yet?” From there, The Great Beauty is sunk; a “masterpiece” for the willfully naïve. Nothing in this blank display of “pseudo-decadence” matches the powerful ending of La Notte where Mastroianni and Moreau hump each other in a ditch, the end point of mankind seeking oblivion through sex–like zombies. Today’s pop audience readily recognizes and romanticizes itself–and its existential condition–as zombies. Sorrentino is behind the curve. Thank God that La Notte and Dormant Beauty exist to insist that humanity and cinema art are alive and powerful.

http://cityarts.info/2013/11/12/what-is-the-best-film-of-2013/

[crocodile 9,484]

Whoever wrote that must have seen a completely different film. Or just wasn't their cup of tea.

I know what they're trying to say, but that was not how I saw it. In my opinion, they completely miss the point.

They seemed to have completely missed the intention and focused on (very hip indeed) superficial aspects.

Karol

[Glóin the Dark 1,712]

The back cover of the US Bluray says 139 minutes.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Tree-of-Life-Blu-ray/25528/

the UK one says indeed 133 minutes:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Tree-of-Life-Blu-ray/27959/

i wonder if the UK version is censored or anything..

Hmmmmm:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/tree-life-2011

THE TREE OF LIFE Video 133m 9s Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. 13/09/2011

THE TREE OF LIFE Film 138m 45s 20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd 10/06/2011

edit: Alex, do you have the UK edition?

If it's not much trouble can you check the BLuray and tell us if the duration of the film is 139 or 133 minutes?

133m 9s is almost exactly 24/25 of 138m 45s. The apparent loss on the UK DVDs is probably just a result of the PAL format.

[Jim 6,125]

As I said, it's definitely more a KarolCremers movie than it is mine.

Whoever wrote that must have seen a completely different film. Or just wasn't their cup of tea.

Hmm, probably the latter. Yes, that has to be it.

[crocodile 9,484]

Ten minutes into Sorrentino’s “decadent” montages (partiers, groupies, tourists, Rome in EDM flames), a cinephile must ask himself “Had enough La Dolce Vita yet?” From there, The Great Beauty is sunk; a “masterpiece” for the willfully naïve. Nothing in this blank display of “pseudo-decadence” matches the powerful ending of La Notte where Mastroianni and Moreau hump each other in a ditch, the end point of mankind seeking oblivion through sex–like zombies. Today’s pop audience readily recognizes and romanticizes itself–and its existential condition–as zombies. Sorrentino is behind the curve. Thank God that La Notte and Dormant Beauty exist to insist that humanity and cinema art are alive and powerful.

http://cityarts.info/2013/11/12/what-is-the-best-film-of-2013/

If the films is pseudo-decadent (whatever that means), how do you call that piece of writing up there?

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,977]

Ten minutes into Sorrentino’s “decadent” montages (partiers, groupies, tourists, Rome in EDM flames), a cinephile must ask himself “Had enough La Dolce Vita yet?” From there, The Great Beauty is sunk; a “masterpiece” for the willfully naïve. Nothing in this blank display of “pseudo-decadence” matches the powerful ending of La Notte where Mastroianni and Moreau hump each other in a ditch, the end point of mankind seeking oblivion through sex–like zombies. Today’s pop audience readily recognizes and romanticizes itself–and its existential condition–as zombies. Sorrentino is behind the curve. Thank God that La Notte and Dormant Beauty exist to insist that humanity and cinema art are alive and powerful.

http://cityarts.info/2013/11/12/what-is-the-best-film-of-2013/

If the films is pseudo-decadent (whatever that means), how do you call that piece of writing up there?

Informed.

[crocodile 9,484]

Mwaahaha!

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

Look, gentlemen, there's an easy way to solve this. What does publicist think about it?

[A24 4,998]

It's the best directed film he has seen in a long time so I'm interested. It also gets a 93% at RT.

Oh, you said pubs, I thought you said crocs.

[KK 3,310]

Look, gentlemen, there's an easy way to solve this. What does publicist think about it?

[crocodile 9,484]

But there's one thing I agree on. The film is about zombies indeed. That's the point - it is empty and music video like. That's what I meant when I said "overdirected". But Kubrick films were also over-directed, weren't they? And critics also called them vacuous, at least upon each and every release. Sometimes style over substance is quite misleading. That's all I'm saying.

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,977]

And critics also called them vacuous, at least upon each and every release. Sometimes style over substance is quite misleading. That's all I'm saying.

From THE SHINING onwards, they pretty much were.

[crocodile 9,484]

There's more to them than meets the eye. I've grown to love Eyes Wide Shut, one of my favourite pictures at the moment.

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,977]

You're right though, in that the cult of Kubrick has influenced such vacuous, hip, self-romanticising art films.

[filmmusic 2,904]

I bet filmmusic is downloading the film right as we speak!

I don't watch recent films.

Gravity was an exception to see what was the fuss about.

And I may see some Oscar nominated ones, to keep my interest in the Oscar night.

The back cover of the US Bluray says 139 minutes.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Tree-of-Life-Blu-ray/25528/

the UK one says indeed 133 minutes:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Tree-of-Life-Blu-ray/27959/

i wonder if the UK version is censored or anything..

Hmmmmm:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/tree-life-2011

THE TREE OF LIFE Video 133m 9s Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. 13/09/2011

THE TREE OF LIFE Film 138m 45s 20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd 10/06/2011

edit: Alex, do you have the UK edition?

If it's not much trouble can you check the BLuray and tell us if the duration of the film is 139 or 133 minutes?

133m 9s is almost exactly 24/25 of 138m 45s. The apparent loss on the UK DVDs is probably just a result of the PAL format.

if we're talking about the DVD.

the Blurays don't have a PAL/NTSC difference.

All are in the same frame rate.

Apparently they used the duration of the back cover of the UK DVD for the back cover of the UK Bluray.

[crocodile 9,484]

You're right though, in that the cult of Kubrick has influenced such vacuous, hip, self-romanticising art films.

Not expecting you to agree with me here, but I'd like to think there's more to cinema than so-called "authentic humanity".

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

There's more to them than meets the eye. I've grown to love Eyes Wide Shut, one of my favourite pictures at the moment.

Sometimes, when I think about it, EWS in my favourite Kubrick film. But make no mistake there is a great depth of content there, to match the images. But that's Kubrick for you.

[publicist 4,650]

Look, gentlemen, there's an easy way to solve this. What does publicist think about it?

Worst movie i've ever seen.

[A24 4,998]

There's more to them than meets the eye. I've grown to love Eyes Wide Shut, one of my favourite pictures at the moment.

The first two times, I fell asleep during the night scenes in New York (with the loud piano staccato notes). The third time I decided to watch the movie like I watch 2001: ASO and it literally changed everything. Many people, even critics, don't really like a Kubrick movie at first.

I don't watch recent films.

Any particular reason?

[crocodile 9,484]

Look, gentlemen, there's an easy way to solve this. What does publicist think about it?

Worst movie i've ever seen.

Why?

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

Look, gentlemen, there's an easy way to solve this. What does publicist think about it?

Worst movie i've ever seen.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are done here.

[publicist 4,650]

I had silently hoped you were going to rent it.

[BloodBoal 7,740]

Oh, OK. I thought that was "coup" as in "a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force".

That's why I thought: "That's insane!"

That's a coup d'état, like what happened in Egypt last year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

No Shiite!

[crocodile 9,484]

I had silently hoped you were going to rent it.

No, seriously pub. Have you seen it?

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

The first two times, I fell asleep during the night scenes in New York (with the loud piano staccato notes).

Really? In some ways those obnoxiously threatening notes make the film for me. I love the whole uneasiness I feel throughout the film, due in no small part to that piano. It's like Jaws learned to play another tune.

I had silently hoped you were going to rent it.

I still might. Could be good for some forum banter.

[crocodile 9,484]

It's not really another tune, though. Both "themes" are based on half step interval.

Karol

[Jim 6,125]

Sigh, yes. I know...

It was a just playful analogy made up on the spot, Croc. With an entirely different point to the way you interpreted it.

[crocodile 9,484]

My Kilar avatar just looked at your Cranston with contempt.

Nah, I got you the first time.

Karol

[A24 4,998]

Really? In some ways those obnoxiously threatening notes make the film for me. I love the whole uneasiness I feel throughout the film, due in no small part to that piano. It's like Jaws learned to play another tune.

It had nothing to do with the music. I thought the piano was very striking and effective.

[crocodile 9,484]

It's Ligeti! Of course it's effective.

Karol

[publicist 4,650]

I had silently hoped you were going to rent it.

No, seriously pub. Have you seen it?

Karol

No.

[Jim 6,125]

Whether publicist had seen it or not is irrelevant to the discussion. What mattered was what he thought of it.

[A24 4,998]

It's Ligeti! Of course it's effective.

I wish Kubrick made one more film. At the age of 71, he was still great, perhaps even better than ever.

[crocodile 9,484]

And he has spoken.

Thank you, publicist. You may now return to your quarters.

I wish Kubrick made one more film. At the age of 71, he was still great, perhaps better than ever.

They're making his Napoleon now aren't they?

It's probably not a good idea.

Karol

[publicist 4,650]

Whether publicist had seen it or not is irrelevant to the discussion. What mattered was what he thought of it.

I will send you the bill for my services asap.

[Jim 6,125]

It won't be the film Kubrick would have made. But that's not to say it won't be a worthwhile biopic in its own right.

Whether publicist had seen it or not is irrelevant to the discussion. What mattered was what he thought of it.

I will send you the bill for my services asap.

Mates rates I hope!

[A24 4,998]

They're making his Napoleon now aren't they?

It's probably not a good idea.

Very bad idea. It's never going to be a Kubrick film. Remember A.I.?

[Glóin the Dark 1,712]

the Blurays don't have a PAL/NTSC difference.

Ah, yes; I forgot about these modern contraptions going around nowadays!

It's like Jaws learned to play another tune.

Jaws going forwards and backwards and forwards and backwards...

[Sharkissimo 1,977]

PAL. One of the nastiest STDs I've ever contracted. It makes your hear everything a semitone higher.

[publicist 4,650]

It won't be the film Kubrick would have made. But that's not to say it won't be a worthwhile biopic in its own right.

Whether publicist had seen it or not is irrelevant to the discussion. What mattered was what he thought of it.

I will send you the bill for my services asap.

Mates rates I hope!

I will try not to overstretch the loan limit.

[Jim 6,125]

Good lad.

[publicist 4,650]

PAL. One of the nastiest STDs I've ever contracted. It makes your hear everything a semitone higher.

Dumb question bur do modern flatscreens even use Pal/Ntsc standards?

[filmmusic 2,904]

I don't watch recent films.

Any particular reason?

Many..

I have mentioned them a couple of times.

1) the music (i like better the older concept of film music)

2) 35mm vs the clean digital look

3) puppets, live sets, miniatures, stop motion and traditional techniques of special effects vs. CGI

4) general aesthetics and values which have changed substantially comparing to old films (this is a TV example but: I was watching previously the first episode of the 1987 TV series Beauty and the Beast, and I was thinking that in absolutely no way you could see something like that today!)

5) genres that I love that don't exist today (eg. the classic Hollywood musical)

and some psychological reasons..

[Jim 6,125]

Fair enough.

[mrbellamy 7,832]

They seemed to have completely missed the intention and focused on (very hip indeed) superficial aspects.

That's Armond White in a nutshell.

They're making his Napoleon now aren't they?

It's probably not a good idea.

Very bad idea. It's never going to be a Kubrick film. Remember A.I.?

Yes, and it was a great Spielberg film, which is what Kubrick wanted.

That said, not so enthused about the Napoleon film, particularly now that Baz Luhrmann is apparently getting his hands on it...