What is the Last Film You Watched? - Part II

[robthehand 3]

Yes, both Dalton and Lazenby could have been really, really great if things had worked out differently.

I just can't stand Roger Moore as "Bond". As a fan of the novels and the Connery Bond films, I think he goes against everything they were about. And I just don't think he's all that funny, and a lot of his attempts at delivering the would-be funny lines is more embarassing than amusing.

Diamonds are Forever is the ultimate "guilty pleasure" Bond film for me. It's got far more humour than any Bond film ever should have - but at least the humour is actually funny, which in some ways puts it immediately above most of the Moore films, which hinged around unfunny humour. It's definitely a very quotable film.

[crocodile 8,012]

I think Casino Royale is a very good film, but it can't touch From Russia with Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service for the top spots in my rankings.

I can't rank them specifically, but I'll group them into ratings out of four:

****

From Russia with Love

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

***1/2

Dr. No

Goldfinger

Thunderball

The Living Daylights

Licence to Kill

Casino Royale

***

You Only Live Twice

Diamonds are Forever (I'll be executed for rating this so highly, I'm sure)

For Your Eyes Only

Octopussy

Goldeneye

The World is Not Enough

**1/2

Live and Let Die

Tomorrow Never Dies

**

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Spy Who Loved Me (I just don't "get" this one)

Moonraker

Die Another Day

*1/2

A View to a Kill

Only **1/2 for TND and *** for TWINE? Weird. They would switch places on my list. The latter is rather tedious.

Karol

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

TWINE is underrated.

[Marian Schedenig 8,193]

Not as good as Connery (but then who is?)

Craig is, I think. Of course, that's based on just one film, an Connery has done many. But so far, I don't think Craig has to hide behind Connery.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I would agree with the last 2 posts here.

[crocodile 8,012]

You're talking about this film with no climax?

Karol

[robthehand 3]

TWINE is underrated.

Agreed.

TWINE has a few serious problems (namely, Denise Richards and some lame dialogue), but Tomorrow Never Dies is just a bit dull. There are some nice moments, but it really falls apart in the second half. If only the rest of the film lived up to the pre-title sequence...

[Neimoidian 14]

I believe if Lazenby had stayed with Bond he could have been one of the best. Not as good as Connery (but then who is?) but he would have been one of the top Bonds.

I liked Dalton, Moore and Bronsan but the material they had to work with and the films didn't bring out their best.

Moore and Brosnan had the charm but lacked the hardness. You could say the opposite was true for Dalton.

Brosnan had the right hardness when was in action, but he didn't have this machismo-attitude that both Connery and Craig expressed all the time. Brosnan's Bond was rather more emotional than any other (except Lazenby) while still maintaining the proper charisma that Lazenby lacked.

Concerning Moore, I like his preformance in first two of his Bond movies and can't stand the one in "The Spy Who Loved Me" where he was more like Johnny English than James Bond.

About "CR" ending - the finale scene is one of the best endings in the series since ... eee... It is the best ending in the series! I can't wait to see the continuation.

[robthehand 3]

You're talking about this film with no climax?

Karol

Casino Royale? No climax? It had about five!

[crocodile 8,012]

I was referring to TWINE. It wasn't clear, I admit.

Karol

[Ollie 1,059]

TND's problem was a lame villian and his goal.

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

I agree, although Jonathan Pryce is fun to watch while he milks the character for all it's worth.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Actually I really enjoyed Jonathan Pryce's performance. And his goal was to become even more rich, influential and therefore powerfull. What's wrong with that?

[Red 75]

Lots of things.

[crocodile 8,012]

Actually I really enjoyed Jonathan Pryce's performance. And his goal was to become even more rich, influential and therefore powerfull. What's wrong with that?

My God! I actually agree with you!

The whole premise may be over the top (it's Bond after all), but somehow I found it more relevant than your average grand scheme. Espacially in our dear world of mass-miscomunication.

Karol

[Morlock 11]

I loved Pryce in it- one of my favorite Bond villains ever.

I saw The Prestige again. A bit better this time, but still, not very good. **/****. Story is better than The Illusionest, production is nowehere near as good looking or interesting.

And I saw The Paper again. I just love this film (well, I know Alex hates it, and that used to be a dead givaway that I'd like it). Fantastic cast playing off each other marvelously- I love every performance in it. I think it is the most perfect role ever devised for Michael Keaton, Randy Quaid is wonderful, as are Robert Duvall and Marisa Tomei. A lot of actors give small but memorable performances. So, damn everyone else, I love this film, and the screenplay, and the contrivances, and Randy Newman's score. Call it a guilty pleasure (Though I have no guilt about liking it). One of my favorite Ron Howard films, after Parenthood and Apollo 13. ***1/2/****.

[pixie_twinkle 48]

Last films I saw:

Tideland: 4/5 It's a very VERY strange film, but the fact remains that I haven't been able to get it out of my head for a week! Ultimately I think it's a mixed success, but an unforgettable film. The score is gorgeous. I spent today figuring out how to play the main piano tune. It's lovely and eerie.

The Butterfly Effect: 4/5 I never saw this on initial release but I thought it was excellent. Clever and compelling storyline which felt a little like it could have come from the pen of Stephen King.

The Butterfly Effect 2: 1/5 My fiancee and I switched this off after the first 45 minutes. It just never got going, and had no characters of interest.

Casino Royale: 4/5 The more I see this the more I realise how brave it was of the producers to make such an un-Bondy, non-action driven film. Ok so there are a couple of superb action set pieces, but they are few and far between. The film is slow-paced and really allows the characters to shine through. The poker game is excellently filmed and stands as the film's true "action" sequence! If future Bonds are more thriller than dumb action I'll be very happy. Now how about getting Roman Polanski to do the next one? I'm deadly serious! He'd make a cracking thriller!

[crocodile 8,012]

The Butterfly Effect 2: 1/5 My fiancee and I switched this off after the first 45 minutes.

Good choice. You have a life to live an you just saved those few precious minutes of it from oblivion.

Karol

[Morlock 11]

I wish I'd turned the first one off after 45 minutes.

[Red 75]

I never liked The Butterfly Effect. It had a great concept, but it just didn't flesh it out like it should've. Plus, the theatrical ending was pretty contrived.

[Morlock 11]

The theatrical ending was just terrible.

[Red 75]

Very much so. It basically ignored the entire concept of the "brain hemorraging" that was happening throughout the film.

[Ollie 1,059]

Any film with Ashton Kutcher should be a warning to stay away.

[robthehand 3]

Any film with Ashton Kutcher should be a warning to stay away.

I avoided it for that very reason.

- Rob, who suffered through Dude, Where's My Car,

[HPFAN_2 0]

300

A pretty movie with not much substance. Fun to look at once. Entertaining yes, but I won't be getting this on dvd.

[Morlock 11]

As the trailers suggested. Ah well, should be a fun enough time in the theater.

[crocodile 8,012]

I heard it's pretty tedious in its relentlessness.

Karol

[Morlock 11]

I saw two Denzel movies.

Crimson Tide. Ejoyable Tony Scott film. Watching Hackman and Washington play off each other is fun, and the situation is not uninteresting. Score is very good. ***/****.

The Inside Man. I saw this when it came out a year ago, and didn't like it. I don't know why. I thought it was a terrific film this time around. Great slick urban feel, loved the cinematography. Cast was very good. I liked seeing Washington in a role where he is for most of the movie several steps behind Clive Owen. Jodie Foster was a bit annoying. Always nice to see Christopher Plummer.

Dynamic thriller that never drags. I liked the score, especially the cue near the end, when Foster confronts Plummer. I also liked the opening Indian music.

***/****.

[nightscape94 965]

Seven. It's always good to revisit this movie every couple of years. Fincher's best, although I really, really dug Zodiac. However, other than Alien 3, I don't think Fincher has made a bad film, even though I feel the last part of Fight Club doesn't work as the ending of the novel did. Seven (and I refuse to spell it with the number 7 replacing the 'v') is a terrific film with clearly drawn characters, great dialogue, a great villan, and a great sense of style and direction.

Tim

[Red 75]

Se7en (I refuse to spell it with a v) has one of the best endings I've ever seen.

[HPFAN_2 0]

Dead Silence.

I am surprised that I enjoyed it. Maybe it was because the person I saw it with was making fun of it with me.

[Morlock 11]

That would certainly do it. I love watching Attack of The Clones in the theater, as the entire audience was laughing at the same things. One of the great film-going experience of my life.

[robthehand 3]

The Shining

There's a lot more to this film than meets the eye on first viewing. It does shift "gears" quite dramatically in the second half, though. This is the third time I've seen it, and I've seen more in it every time. Kubrick's most successful film is also one of his most underrated, or at least under-appreciated. ***1/2 / ****

The Third Man

Definitely one of my top ten favourites. Everything about it just "clicks", and Orson Welles turns in what is, to my mind, his best performance - it's particularly amazing considering that he only speaks in one scene. The score is totally unique (I'm surprised - but glad - that it didn't start a trend of imitators), and very effective. The ending is just perfect. **** / ****

The Fury

My view hasn't changed. Perhaps the most enjoyable and engaging trash I've ever seen. Everyone involved seems to be enjoying themselves. John Cassavetes was fun to watch, as he always is. The slow-motion "Gillan's Escape" sequence rises above the rest of the film, and stands as one of De Palma's most tense and brilliantly pulled-off sequences. And that score... wow. Still my second-favourite Williams score (after CE3K). Not a great film by any means, but an enjoyable one. *** / ****

In this case I completely agree with Ebert's review, particularly the first paragraph: Brian De Palma's "The Fury" is a stylish entertainment, fast-paced, and acted with great energy. I'm not quite sure it makes a lot of sense, but that's the sort of criticism you only make after it's over. During the movie, too much else is happening.

Funeral in Berlin

Very nicely done thriller that is a worthy (if definitely not superior) sequel to The Ipcress File. I'm not generally keen on films that are quite this heavy on plot twists, but they're nicely done and for the most part kept under control. The score was a bit weird, mostly effective, only occasionally slightly intrusive. Nice film, but definitely not "great", but it doesn't rank too highly on the "re-watch" scale. A very solid **1/2 / ****.

The Italian Job (original)

Campy fun with a good cast. Very nicely photographed by Douglas Slocombe. Every character is a hilarious stereotype, but who cares? It's good fun. I've always liked the Quincy Jones score, and Noel Coward proves himself a master scene-stealer, not to mention nabs all the best lines ("Camp Freddie, everybody in the world is bent!"). Fun movie, but not something I find myself wanting to revisit very often. **1/2 / ****

[Goldsmithfan 6]

Dead Silence.

I am surprised that I enjoyed it. Maybe it was because the person I saw it with was making fun of it with me.

I found it entertaining too, but for a different reason. I went with a couple of women friends of mine who decided, at the last minute, to see it instead of Premonition. About forty minutes into the movie, I was disgusted at how terrible a film it was. Then I looked to my left and realized that both ladies were slouched down in their chairs, terrified. I slouched too and decided to tease the girl closest to me. She kept telling me not to laugh at her, but it was hysterical to watch her hands creep from her mouth up to her eyes, before parting her fingers so she could watch what was happening on screen. I was more entertained by that than the movie!

[A24 4,333]

The Shining, along with Full Metal Jacket is in my view a Kubrick film that usually clicks with non-Kubrick fans. I believe that Kubrick's genius sorta ended after Barry Lyndon.

Wow, Morlock, still enjoying The Paper? You sure are persistent, my friend. Personally, I can no longer seriously watch a Ron Howard film again. Like his Happy Days character, he just wants to be too much everyone's friend and that's never a good thing.

Flushed Away: Hmm, strange concept ... The digitalization of clay! The story itself was sadly enough the same old, same old. Granted, the mobile phone/ mime sequence made me laugh really hard.

[robthehand 3]

The Shining, along with Full Metal Jacket is in my view a Kubrick film that usually clicks with non-Kubrick fans. I believe that Kubrick's genius sorta ended after Barry Lyndon.

Hmm, interesting, because I would definitely describe myself as a Kubrick fan. 2001 is my all-time favourite film, with Strangelove and Clockwork Orange not too far behind. Only ones I didn't much care for were Spartacus and Killer's Kiss.

[A24 4,333]

Well, if you roam around the internet a lot you'll know that I'm not just telling you things. I repeat, non-Kubrick fans usually embrace or make an exception for The Shining and Full Metal Jacket.

Alex

[Morlock 11]

The Italian Job (original)

Campy fun with a good cast. Very nicely photographed by Douglas Slocombe. Every character is a hilarious stereotype, but who cares? It's good fun. I've always liked the Quincy Jones score, and Noel Coward proves himself a master scene-stealer, not to mention nabs all the best lines ("Camp Freddie, everybody in the world is bent!"). Fun movie, but not something I find myself wanting to revisit very often. **1/2 / ****

I had very little fun watching. I think it was too British for my taste. And I couldn't stand that stupid song.

Wow, Morlock, still enjoying The Paper? You sure are persistent, my friend. Personally, I can no longer seriously watch a Ron Howard film again. Like his Happy Days character, he just wants to be too much everyone's friend and that's never a good thing.

Even Apollo 13? I think he did a hell of a job there. And Parenthood, my favorite. Although he has made some terrible, terrible movies. The Missing and Willow are two of my least favorite films.

Flushed Away: Hmm, strange concept ... The digitalization of clay! The story itself was sadly enough the same old, same old. Granted, the mobile phone/ mime sequence made me laugh really hard.

I totally agree. Forgettable film, but that scene with the cell phone was very funny.

[Red 75]

That would certainly do it. I love watching Attack of The Clones in the theater, as the entire audience was laughing at the same things. One of the great film-going experience of my life.

The only thing that the audience laughed at when I saw it (myself included) was the Yoda/Dooku fight. It was pretty rediculous, and basically crapped over the original Yoda character.

[Ollie 1,059]

Yeah that scene got the most laughs.

[nightscape94 965]

The scene that got the most laughs at my viewing was the scene where Anakin is having a nightmare and is crying about his mother.

The loudest single laugh, however, happened right before the arena scene, where Padme says "I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life." That person was me.

Tim

[Morlock 11]

We all lauged at so many moments. I think the biggest one was when Padma is dying in the sand and gets up the second a storm trooper asks her if she's okay.

[Red 75]

The scene that got the most laughs at my viewing was the scene where Anakin is having a nightmare and is crying about his mother.

The loudest single laugh, however, happened right before the arena scene, where Padme says "I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life." That person was me.

Tim

Lucas can not do romance scenes. They play out like a bad soap opera (redundant).

[robthehand 3]

I watched Nick Meyer's Time After Time. I hadn't seen it before. It's an odd film, with some nice performances, and lots of nice ideas, but overall it didn't really do anything for me.

[Morlock 11]

How's the score?

I saw Stranger Than Fiction again. Terrific film, one of the best of 2006. It's the kind of film that makes you believe there is hope for the artform yet. Original- a breath of fresh air. Love the script, performances, cinematography. ***1/2/****.

Also rented Casino Royale again. Haven't seen it yet. I'm surprised by how excited I am to see the film, even though I've already seen it twice in the theater.

[robthehand 3]

How's the score?

Very nice music, but I felt it clashed (slightly) with the film.

[A24 4,333]

Munich: Few movies can withstand the siege that is known as "multiple viewing". Alas, Munich, too, reveals its shortcomings more clearly during a second run. Without the thriller element, which is the film's main focus, the foundation of Munich suddenly feels too thin, too weak to justify its substantial length. Now that wouldn't be a real problem if Spielberg somehow would've compensated for these "failings" with other "movie magic" (definable or indefinable) but, regretfully, I didn't detect too much of that either. Take away the shark in Jaws and you still got a terrific movie. But take away the assassinations in Munich and you're left with a bunch of people you do not care about.

Alex

[fommes 153]

So your definition of a good film is a film that makes you care for the characters?

[A24 4,333]

So your definition of a good film is a film that makes you care for the characters?

I would say that's a major plus but it's not the end-all definition. I know it lifted Jaws to a higher level. BTW, with "care" I mean that characters should evoke an emotional response in the viewer. That doesn't mean you have to sympathize with them.

Alex

[Morlock 11]

I knew you'd see the light. I liked Munich the first time and admired some things about it, but the second time it revealed it's shortcomings far more clearly. I think the film is an interesting mess.