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

[Sweeping Strings 2,357]

On 14/08/2016 at 6:22 PM, BloodBoal said:

 

Henry Cavill should be the next Bond!

Could happen ... apparently last time around, it came down to him and Craig.

Hiddleston seems most likely, though.    

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Superman and 007? I doubt it.

[Sweeping Strings 2,357]

On 19/08/2016 at 0:37 PM, Stefancos said:

 

Thanks to Kevin McGlory every one after Diamonds Are Forever. Though I think You Only Live Twice might even be the last one where the name SPECTRE is even mentioned.

Yep ... apart from a cheeky little bit of 'business' in the pre-credits sequence of For Your Eyes Only SPECTRE are absent from the franchise right through the Moore, Dalton and Brosnan eras and for Craig's first 3, before finally resurfacing in last year's movie.       

[A24 4,331]

1 hour ago, Sweeping Strings said:

Hiddleston seems most likely, though.    

 

Hiddleston is not enough a man's bloke.

[Bespin 8,480]

1 hour ago, Sweeping Strings said:

Could happen ... apparently last time around, it came down to him and Craig.

Hiddleston seems most likely, though.    

 

No.no.no. There should be a non written rule that an actor can't play both Superman and James Bond.

 

EDIT: but Of course, James Bond can play in Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

17 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

 

Hiddleston is not enough a man's bloke.

 

Craig didnt appear too manly when he was announced as Bond, but they beefed him up a bit.

[A24 4,331]

Craig isn't manly or rather a man's bloke? Interesting that you don't see that (or that you think it has to do with muscles).

 

 

This place is so ... wonderful!

[Bespin 8,480]

Just now, Alexcremers said:

Craig isn't manly? Interesting that you don't see that (or that you think it has to do with muscles).

 

Craig was the only true James Bond since Connery.  All the rest are just gigolos.

[A24 4,331]

Very good, Bespin!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

3 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

Craig isn't manly or rather a man's bloke? Interesting that you don't see that (or that you think it has to do with muscles).

 

 

This place is so ... wonderful!

 

I never said that. But it was the common perception at the time. "James Bland" is what the headlines said.

 

I agree with Bespin. Craig is actually me favourite Bond, before Connery even.

[Bespin 8,480]

There are only 007 essential James Bond movies:
 

- Dr. No
- From Russia with Love
- Goldfinger
- Thunderball
- You Only Live Twice
- Diamonds Are Forever
- Casino Royale (2006)

[Naïve Old Fart 9,516]

Hiddleston has the physique (ffi, see "High Rise", thee best film of the year!), bit Hardy has a glint in his eye, and an edge, that suggests an unpredictability.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Bespin said:

There are only 007 essential James Bond movies:
 

- Dr. No
- From Russia with Love
- Goldfinger
- Thunderball
- You Only Live Twice
- Diamonds Are Forever
- Casino Royale

 

 

Interesting list, Bes. All'n'all, the best Bond is probably "FRWL".

 

Of course, everyone knows the real truth, that the PROPER top-5 Bonds are:

" Never Say Never Again"

"A View To A Kill"

"Die Another Day"

"Quantum Of Solace" and

"Casino Royale" (1967)

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

OHMSS would be in there if it had a better actor as Bond. Lazenby really lets the side down.

[Romão 2,274]

Even so, it's still my favorite bond movie

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

I never thought there was anything wrong with Laz.

[A24 4,331]

Not enough star charisma, I think. See, there was nothing wrong with the captain of the first Star Trek episode either, but he lacked Shatner's twinkle.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Exactly. Connery had enormous screen presence and charisma and compared to him Lazenby comes off as a pretty boy.

 

Last time I watched OHMSS i noticed how well this film would be suited to Craig's interpretation of Bond.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Craig would have hopped back into the driver's seat, hit the gas and rammed Blofeld's car off the cliff.

[Sweeping Strings 2,357]

21 hours ago, Stefancos said:

OHMSS would be in there if it had a better actor as Bond. Lazenby really lets the side down.

A little harsh ... sure his inexperience shows at times, but he's probably the last properly 'tough' Bond until Craig and he is brilliant in the film's closing scenes.  

[A24 4,331]

 

 

 

Hmm, why not? If only he was more likeable ...

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Dalton wasn't properly tough?

[A24 4,331]

Nope!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

But don't Bond nerds usually say he represents the closest on-screen portrayal of Fleming's book!Bond, at least until Craig?

[crocodile 8,006]

Pick an unknown.

 

Karol

[Bespin 8,480]

For me the character of Bond is a true male, a little bit macho, but not too much.  He's not a brute, he's smart and he have self-control. He's a gentleman in public. He has a good sense of humour and unfortunately, he lost his mind when he sees a woman. We he fights he's not afraid to get dirty and tear his shirt.

 

Did I described Sean Connery?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

And he has to be lucid enough to joke about the baddie scratching his balls.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Rambo: First Blood Part II

 

A classic 80's action film that doesnt really realize it's an 80's action film. While the Die Hards, the Lethal Weapons, Robocop, Commando The Running Man,  etc were all self-aware to some extent Rambo: First Blood Part II plays it completely straight and has no idea how ridiculous and over the top it is.

It aligns itself more with old-fashioned WWII thrillers like Where Eagles Dare and serious and contemplative Vietnam films like Deer Hunter and especially Apocalypse Now then it does with blood and guts action cinema of the decade. This was 1985, when Sly was at the peak of his fame and power. Not only would his Rambo free POW's when Uncle Sam was just sitting back and letting them rot, his Rocky Balboa would also be defending the Unites States of America in the boxing ring that same year.

 

As a film maker Stallone has poor judgement, questionable taste and lacks finesse. But makes up for it with absolute sincerity.

The script has a load of poor and obvious lines, but they aren't intended as such. The scene on the boat where Rambo and Co are swapping stories has dialogue that reaches Prequel levels of badness (think any scene with Anakin and Padme talking to each other) but there's something simple and earnest in Sly's laconic delivery. Most actors would have leaned into a line like "To win a war, you gotta became a war" His Rambo just mentions it casually.

 

While Stallone's talent may not always be a match to his ambition, that certainly doesnt apply to the rest of the cast and crew. Crenna returns from First Blood as Kauffman. Still the only officer in the world worth trusting. He breathes life into dialogue which seems to advertise how bad ass Rambo is. Charlies Napier is perfect casting as the government scumbag who leaves Rambo and the POW's to die just because it's easier and character actor Steven Berkoff was right in the middle of an impressive stint of bad guy roles. Playing the Alan Rickman role a few years before Rickman himself would.

The behind the camera credentials are impressive too. Director George P. Cosmatos is an underrated director with a strong technical skill and the DP was no one less then the great Jack Cardiff, who made the jungle look hot and humid and nasty. (at times visually the film recalls Dark Of The Sun, Cardiff's own 1968 war/action film)

And of course the skill of Jerry Goldsmith to deliver a rousing score hardly needs to be mentioned.

 

This combination of a script/story that is rather low rent and without much depth or dimension, but with a certain heart to it, and made with remarkable technical and artistic integrity makes Rambo: First Blood Part II something of an oddity. The film doesnt avoid a single cliche, but also doesn't revel in them. So it doesnt wink at us when Rambo is firing hundreds of rounds without ever changing the ammo on his AK47. (This is one of those films where the heroes never ever run out of bullets)

The film has a romantic scene and then kills the girl seconds after. Which is an appalling scriptwriting cliche. Yet it's played completely straight. Which somehow makes it palatable.

 

I guess this film could have been made with a sort of knowing nod, like Die Hard. It would have been considered a more intelligent film. But I dont know if it would actually have been a better one. Some of the sincerity of the film and heroes final message would have been lost.

 

Trautman: The war, the whole conflict may have been wrong, but damn it, don't hate your country for it.

 

Rambo: Hate? I'd die for it.

 

 

Trautman: Then what is it you want?

 

Rambo: I want...what they want...and every other guy who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants! For our country to love us as much as we love it! That's what I want!

 

Trautman: How will you live, John?

 

Rambo: Day by day.

 

*** out of ****

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

1 hour ago, Stefancos said:

 

Rambo: I want...what they want...and every other guy who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants! For our country to love us as much as we love it! That's what I want!

 

Goldsmith helps Sly out during this line where he makes a dramatic hit that accentuates the weight and the heartache in what Rambo is saying. Very dynamic and intelligent scoring.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The whole film is helped enormously by the score to be honest.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

3 hours ago, crocodile said:

Pick an unknown.

 

Who?

[Quintus 5,399]

7 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

The whole film is helped enormously by the score to be honest.

 

So Rambo 2 is as good as Jaws? 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The film? Not even close, but it thinks it is, it tries to be.

 

The score? Both Jaws and Rambo II in my personal top 10 and have been since I was a spotty pasty faced teenager.

[Quintus 5,399]

Really? And to think I was joking! 

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I see.

 

English humour?

[Koray Savas 2,251]

2 hours ago, Stefancos said:

Rambo: First Blood Part II

 

A classic 80's action film that doesnt really realize it's an 80's action film. While the Die Hards, the Lethal Weapons, Robocop, Commando The Running Man,  etc were all self-aware to some extent Rambo: First Blood Part II plays it completely straight and has no idea how ridiculous and over the top it is.

It aligns itself more with old-fashioned WWII thrillers like Where Eagles Dare and serious and contemplative Vietnam films like Deer Hunter and especially Apocalypse Now then it does with blood and guts action cinema of the decade. This was 1985, when Sly was at the peak of his fame and power. Not only would his Rambo free POW's when Uncle Sam was just sitting back and letting them rot, his Rocky Balboa would also be defending the Unites States of America in the boxing ring that same year.

 

As a film maker Stallone has poor judgement, questionable taste and lacks finesse. But makes up for it with absolute sincerity.

The script has a load of poor and obvious lines, but they aren't intended as such. The scene on the boat where Rambo and Co are swapping stories has dialogue that reaches Prequel levels of badness (think any scene with Anakin and Padme talking to each other) but there's something simple and earnest in Sly's laconic delivery. Most actors would have leaned into a line like "To win a war, you gotta became a war" His Rambo just mentions it casually.

 

While Stallone's talent may not always be a match to his ambition, that certainly doesnt apply to the rest of the cast and crew. Crenna returns from First Blood as Kauffman. Still the only officer in the world worth trusting. He breathes life into dialogue which seems to advertise how bad ass Rambo is. Charlies Napier is perfect casting as the government scumbag who leaves Rambo and the POW's to die just because it's easier and character actor Steven Berkoff was right in the middle of an impressive stint of bad guy roles. Playing the Alan Rickman role a few years before Rickman himself would.

The behind the camera credentials are impressive too. Director George P. Cosmatos is an underrated director with a strong technical skill and the DP was no one less then the great Jack Cardiff, who made the jungle look hot and humid and nasty. (at times visually the film recalls Dark Of The Sun, Cardiff's own 1968 war/action film)

And of course the skill of Jerry Goldsmith to deliver a rousing score hardly needs to be mentioned.

 

This combination of a script/story that is rather low rent and without much depth or dimension, but with a certain heart to it, and made with remarkable technical and artistic integrity makes Rambo: First Blood Part II something of an oddity. The film doesnt avoid a single cliche, but also doesn't revel in them. So it doesnt wink at us when Rambo is firing hundreds of rounds without ever changing the ammo on his AK47. (This is one of those films where the heroes never ever run out of bullets)

The film has a romantic scene and then kills the girl seconds after. Which is an appalling scriptwriting cliche. Yet it's played completely straight. Which somehow makes it palatable.

 

I guess this film could have been made with a sort of knowing nod, like Die Hard. It would have been considered a more intelligent film. But I dont know if it would actually have been a better one. Some of the sincerity of the film and heroes final message would have been lost.

 

Trautman: The war, the whole conflict may have been wrong, but damn it, don't hate your country for it.

 

Rambo: Hate? I'd die for it.

 

 

Trautman: Then what is it you want?

 

Rambo: I want...what they want...and every other guy who came over here and spilled his guts and gave everything he had, wants! For our country to love us as much as we love it! That's what I want!

 

Trautman: How will you live, John?

 

Rambo: Day by day.

 

*** out of ****

I've never seen the Rambo films but I've just watched Hot Shots! And Hot Shots! Part Deux this past week and it's hilarious that they got the same actor from your screen caps to play the same character

[Naïve Old Fart 9,516]

Geez, Koray, is that all you can say? The man opened his soul to you, and you stamp all over it with cheap jibes about Col. Troutman. Begone with you, until you learn to behave.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

42 minutes ago, Koray Savas said:

I've never seen the Rambo films but I've just watched Hot Shots! And Hot Shots! Part Deux this past week and it's hilarious that they got the same actor from your screen caps to play the same character

 

Sylvester Stallone was not in Hot Shots, Koko, it was Charlie Sheen...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Richard Crenna, and he plays the character exactly the same in both the Rambo trilogy and Hot Shots 2

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Are you sure this is the actor Koko was referring to?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Of course. Koray has poor taste, but he's not an idiot.

[bollemanneke 3,342]

LOTR2. I just LOVE what Shore does in Glamdring at 03:07-10. For me, that's the best portrayal of Gandalf's sheer power in the entire saga. So magical. The ads started in the middle of The Last march of the Ents. Treebeard would not approve! Great film.

 

[Matt C 452]

Restoration

 

I enjoyed this one, the Oscar-winning art direction and costumes have held up quite nicely over the years. Robert Downey Jr is quite good here, but James Newton Howard's score is even better. Absolutely lovely.

[Sweeping Strings 2,357]

On 22/08/2016 at 0:05 PM, Shatner's Rug said:

Dalton wasn't properly tough?

Moore, Dalton and Brosnan were all fine in fight scenes (well, Moore maybe not so much towards the end ... you can spot the stunt doubles during a couple of the fairly standard punch-ups in A View To A Kill) but Connery, Lazenby and Craig are the ones I get the sense of physical intimidation from.   

[Naïve Old Fart 9,516]

WWTLFIW (OF)?

 

"Hmm. Pork bellies".

 

Still bloody funny!

[Muad'Dib 1,802]

 

Under the Skin (2013)

 

Or how to narrate visually: the movie.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Great film!

[Jay 37,351]

Indeed!

[A24 4,331]

1 hour ago, Muad'Dib said:

 

Under the Skin (2013)

 

Or how to narrate visually: the movie.

 

Personally, I don't think its storytelling was very descriptive or expressive. It was just 'filmed'. After all the raving at this board, I thought it was very disappointing.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Interesting? What do you mean?

[A24 4,331]

It means that I didn't find the language rich and eloquent enough.