What is the Last Film You Watched? - Part II

[Morlock 11]

Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives Of Others): Impressive, very touching. Loved the photography. Amazing debut.

Totally agree. I loved the ending- I was afraid he'd have the two guys meet up. But he found the perfect balance. We get our catharsis, without having something too gushy.

Office Space. It's kinda like Ferris Bueler's Day Off, in the sense that, if you've been there, it's practically impossible not to like the film.

[Romão 2,274]

The Prestige, for the second time.

I know some of you had some problems with this movie, but I found it even better and the plot structure even more well executed the second time around. My favorite movie of 2006.

[Morlock 11]

BIG problems for me. Certainly holds some interest, but amounts to very little. Nolan's 5th was also his weakest. (That reminds me- I've been wanting to see Insomnia again).

[Hitch 57]

It (INSOMNIA) put me to sleep the first time I saw it and it'll probably have the same effect on me if I saw it again.

Watched 4 in a row last night: BEERFEST (God-damn-awful), OVER THE HEDGE (near perfect but enjoyable), THE MONEY PIT (I don't think Hanks has been funnier. OK SAVING PRIVATE RYAN doesn't count!!) and HOSTEL 2 (I won't comment as it's not worth the time and effort).

Got my DVD copy of HARRY POTHEAD AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX today so gonna watch that tonight with Alma and 3 kegs of Miller.

[Morlock 11]

Sorry man, I don't think it's Alma's kind of movie (Mother's never apporved of her, you know).

Magnolia. Despite Neil and has English teacher's impressions of the film, I still love it. Out-Altmaning Altman. One of my favorites, from that special year of 99'. ****/****.

[Jeshopk 8]

I just watched the CGI Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. I didn't like it, but it was neat to see the turtles hanging out in their sewer lair again, eating Pizza. The story was too EPIC for my tastes, and the animation direction was not as good as Pixar. The music was really distracting and there were also too many music videos. I liked the fact that Casey Jackson was with April O'Neil and I liked the Raphael as a vigilante idea. It was a missed opportunity, though. If the score could be redone, the new characters redesigned, and with about 45 minutes of editing, it might be ok.

[Jacob 0]

Watched The Magnificent Seven again. Love it. Favorite western and one of my favorite movies generally. A great cast even if taking Yul Brynner as anything but a king or pharaoh is a bit odd. The underdog story with the oppressed villagers really gives one something to cheer for. And of course the magnificent score.

As I was watching with family there was a remark that these guys aren't all that magnificent, and it got me thinking. They weren't magnificent particularly because of who they were. The film makes clear they weren't the most upstanding citizens. They had their personal weaknesses and vices. But they put it behind them and gave their all for the freedom of the village. I suppose it's obvious, but that's why they where magnificent.

I really need to see Seven Samurai now.

[Red 75]

I just watched the CGI Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. I didn't like it, but it was neat to see the turtles hanging out in their sewer lair again, eating Pizza. The story was too EPIC for my tastes, and the animation direction was not as good as Pixar. The music was really distracting and there were also too many music videos. I liked the fact that Casey Jackson was with April O'Neil and I liked the Raphael as a vigilante idea. It was a missed opportunity, though. If the score could be redone, the new characters redesigned, and with about 45 minutes of editing, it might be ok.

I thought it was okay, but some characters and especially the storyline needed some redoing.

It's not better than the first Turtles film, but then again, nothing in the series film-wise has been.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Meyers

After being shot and trown in a mineshaft in the last film, it seems the Shape is still not dead.

He's in coma for exactly one year, and on Halloween night he goes back to Haddonfield to try and kill his niece.

The 4th film was actually pretty good, but this one really is a step down.

No interesting characters, just the usual bunch of horny teenagers, a confusing script, and a dissapointing ending.

A few nice tense scenes though, especially the scenes in the laundry chute, were Jamie is desperatly trying to get away from Michael.

*/12 out of ****

Halloween 6: The Curse Of Michael Meyers

The Shape has dissapeared for 6 years, so has his niece Jamie, who was kidnapped by a mysterious man in black.

But at halloween both turn up again and no-one is safe in Haddonfield.

To it's credit this film has more plot then any of the other Michael Meyers Halloween films, and it even attampts to give a halfway decent axplanation of why The Shape does what he does and seems to be pretty much immortal. (something about an ancient celtic curse, a secret society, baby-sacrifices and runes and stuff)

The problem is that's it's all so messily and clumsily directed that you just can't be bothered with it, and instead just hope The Shape will turn up and do some killing.

This film rather desperatly tries to envoke Carpenters original, by foicusing on The Strode family, and Tommy, the kid Jamie Lee Curtis was baby-sitting. Also Alan Howarth's score stays closer to the one Carpenter scored.

Ultimatly it just does not work.

Donald Pleasence's career ended with another turkey!

* out of ****

[Hitch 57]

Wait till you get to Halloween Water, Steef.

[nightscape94 965]

No Country For Old Men. For me, I've felt that this has been a great year for movies, especially the last couple of months. I don't have a lot of time to write about it, but this is the best movie I've seen this year, hands down. It's everything I expected it to be, and more. One of the best films I've seen in a while. The Coen's knocked this one way out of the park. Their direction, their writing (great adaptation from the novel), the acting, the photography...this was a splendid experience. A very taut thriller with unbeliable dialogue and deliveries. See this one as soon as you can. I'm going to see it again once it opens to wide release on the 21st.

Tim

[Koray Savas 2,251]

No Country For Old Men. For me, I've felt that this has been a great year for movies, especially the last couple of months. I don't have a lot of time to write about it, but this is the best movie I've seen this year, hands down. It's everything I expected it to be, and more. One of the best films I've seen in a while. The Coen's knocked this one way out of the park. Their direction, their writing (great adaptation from the novel), the acting, the photography...this was a splendid experience. A very taut thriller with unbeliable dialogue and deliveries. See this one as soon as you can. I'm going to see it again once it opens to wide release on the 21st.

Tim

Couldn't have said it better myself. Indeed the best movie of this year, despite there being so many great films.

[Morlock 11]

I wouldn't say so many....but certainly, the dismal first half of the year is not the one to judge by. Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford, Across The Universe, 3:10 to Yuma, Stardust (for me), Eastern Promises......there's been some good stuff this year. And I haven't even seen No Country fo Old Men, and I'm a huge Coen fan. And, of course, There Will Be Blood is still waiting on the horizon, in addition to several other potential goodies. 2007 may not be as bad as all the threquals seemed to imply after all.

[Red 75]

I'm hoping There Will Be Blood will win Daniel Day-Lewis the Oscar he is owed. He was robbed for Gangs of New York.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I hope Javier Bardem gets a nomination. He really deserves it, his role in No Country was haunting.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Meyers

After being shot and trown in a mineshaft in the last film, it seems the Shape is still not dead.

He's in coma for exactly one year, and on Halloween night he goes back to Haddonfield to try and kill his niece.

The 4th film was actually pretty good, but this one really is a step down.

No interesting characters, just the usual bunch of horny teenagers, a confusing script, and a dissapointing ending.

A few nice tense scenes though, especially the scenes in the laundry chute, were Jamie is desperatly trying to get away from Michael.

*/12 out of ****

Halloween 6: The Curse Of Michael Meyers

The Shape has dissapeared for 6 years, so has his niece Jamie, who was kidnapped by a mysterious man in black.

But at halloween both turn up again and no-one is safe in Haddonfield.

To it's credit this film has more plot then any of the other Michael Meyers Halloween films, and it even attampts to give a halfway decent axplanation of why The Shape does what he does and seems to be pretty much immortal. (something about an ancient celtic curse, a secret society, baby-sacrifices and runes and stuff)

The problem is that's it's all so messily and clumsily directed that you just can't be bothered with it, and instead just hope The Shape will turn up and do some killing.

This film rather desperatly tries to envoke Carpenters original, by foicusing on The Strode family, and Tommy, the kid Jamie Lee Curtis was baby-sitting. Also Alan Howarth's score stays closer to the one Carpenter scored.

Ultimatly it just does not work.

Donald Pleasence's career ended with another turkey!

* out of ****

I thought the fourth and fifth films in this series took some interesting directions, but all of that was shat on in the sixth. I swear that movie looked like a half-arsed cable TV movie.

[nightscape94 965]

I'm hoping There Will Be Blood will win Daniel Day-Lewis the Oscar he is owed. He was robbed for Gangs of New York.

He won for My Left Foot, of course.

Tim

[indy4 155]

Saw ToD for the billionth time. Even though I consider it the worst of the Indy films, I still love it. Shame all that music, particularly from the nightclub and the whole bridge scene, wasn't included in OST.

Also saw AotC for the (I would guess) fifth time. It really isn't that bad. I acting is corny, but the story is great. Still the worst of the SW films, no where NEAR the originals or RotS, but defenetly not bad. I think that when it isn't compared to the genius work that was the originals, it seems like an average movie, better than a lot of the stuff that comes out today. Same as above, there was some great music unreleased, particularly in transitions from scene to scene.

[A24 4,326]

Goodbye Lenin: I bought the DVD without knowing the movie. Wish I bought Das Leben Der Anderen instead. I expected more from this famous German film. I was glad the movie was over and that is never a good sign. The flying statue of Lenin is one great scene though.

[Morlock 11]

Eh, it was amiable enough (at the time, at least. Haven't seen it since it came out).

I saw Lion for Lambs. Terrible! Probably the worst film I've seen this year. Adds absolutely nothing new to any convesation (aside from how bad this specific screenplay is), most of the film is two people in a room talking, and both of them going around in circles saying generally quite stupid things.

Damn. It really, really sucked. I guess Isham's score is appropriate, as it was almost as bad as the film.

How the mighty have fallen. 1/2*/****.

Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1958). Saw this at the cinemateque. This nonsense is what started the French new wave? Aside from a weak main character, her undefined lover, seeming satire that is never clear on what it is satirizing.......I found thid film to be quite abhorent in it's setting and title. Leave it to the French to compare a doomed love affair to an Atomic bomb going off, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of people. Rubbish. Gimme Truffaut.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Saw ToD for the billionth time. Even though I consider it the worst of the Indy films, I still love it. Shame all that music, particularly from the nightclub and the whole bridge scene, wasn't included in OST.

Is it the "worst" or just the one you like the least?

[Morlock 11]

I think it can be said that it is the "worst", in a certain sense. It isn't as tight or consistant as the others. But that is part of what makes it so good.

[A24 4,326]

I think it's the ROTJ of the Indiana Jones films. And the third installment isn't much better either.

[Morlock 11]

Works for me, what can I say.

[A24 4,326]

I know it's one of your all time favs. You even prefer it over the first one, right? I compare it to ROTJ because I felt cheated when I first saw it in theaters. I couldn't believe the course the series had taken. It went from a classy adventure story to a restless slapstick where people are constantly running, yelling and screaming. With the third one Spielberg tried to bring back the classy adventure feel of the first movie but he ultimately failed because this time everthing felt too conceived. The spontaneity was gone.

[Hitch 57]

LIONS FOR LAMBS. Total US propaganda. Oscar-worthy come nomination time. Nice to see Redford aging gracefully .

[Elmo Lewis 6]

I know it's one of your all time favs. You even prefer it over the first one, right? I compare it to ROTJ because I felt cheated when I first saw it in theaters. I couldn't believe the course the series had taken. It went from a classy adventure story to a restless slapstick where people are constantly running, yelling and screaming. With the third one Spielberg tried to bring back the classy adventure feel of the first movie but he ultimately failed because this time everthing felt too conceived. The spontaneity was gone.

Possibly. But then again, if Star Wars or Raiders had originally been split into two one-hour features, you would have felt cheated by the second half because "it completely turned the original, mystic element into a SFX-fest that tried to make up for shamelessly cop-out ending" or something of that nature.

[Morlock 11]

LIONS FOR LAMBS. Total US propaganda. Oscar-worthy come nomination time. Nice to see Redford aging gracefully .

Is that your way of saying it's total BS? Because if it, I agree with you.

[indy4 155]

Saw ToD for the billionth time. Even though I consider it the worst of the Indy films, I still love it. Shame all that music, particularly from the nightclub and the whole bridge scene, wasn't included in OST.

Is it the "worst" or just the one you like the least?

the one one I like the least. The worst of the Indy films, IMO, but still one of my favorite films.

I think it's the ROTJ of the Indiana Jones films. And the third installment isn't much better either.

I like ROTJ and LC.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

So do I.

[publicist 4,643]

LIONS FOR LAMBS. Total US propaganda. Oscar-worthy come nomination time. Nice to see Redford aging gracefully .

Is that your way of saying it's total BS? Because if it, I agree with you.

Worse than 'The Last Castle'?

For 2 weeks, the only film i was able to watch was a Preston Sturges film called 'Sullivan's Travels', which was ok. Veronica Lake still seems somewhat kinky.

[Morlock 11]

Yes, worse than The Last Castle, in my book at least. I saw Sullivan's Travels a couple of months ago. I loved the begining, but grew more and more disinterested as it went along. I did not like the ending at all.

[Jacob 0]

I think it's the ROTJ of the Indiana Jones films. And the third installment isn't much better either.

I like ROTJ and LC.

So do I.

Make it three.

And interestingly enough, growing up I watched those two films more than the others in each trilogy.

[Red 75]

I'm hoping There Will Be Blood will win Daniel Day-Lewis the Oscar he is owed. He was robbed for Gangs of New York.

He won for My Left Foot, of course.

Tim

I know, but my comment stands.

TOD is the worst Indy film (IMO) but it's still pretty darn good.

I also like ROTJ and TLC.

[fommes 153]

Marc, is the Petteflet film a good adaptation?

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Eh.

It's an impossible book to film anyway.

It's great for the kids, though (and the kid in you, if you still have it).

The puppetwork certainly has its charm.

If you want a great adaptation of the book, get the audio play.

[Morlock 11]

Sydney (aka Hard Eight). P.T. Anderson's first feature, starring Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. A VERY subdued film about an aging gambler (Hall) who takes Reilly under his wing in Reno. Hall is fantastic, as always, and Reailly is very interesting. Overall, there just isn't enough in it for me. It is slow, with some terrific dialogue scenes (the director's obviously a fan of Melvin & Howard), but when stuff happens, like 'the plot', or Hall showing Reilly the angles of a casino, it is just to subdued for me. **/****.

Troy: Director's Cut. First of all, I barely noticed a difference in the cuts, even though this one is over 30 minutes longer. I don't know. I think the film is as good and bad as ever. Terrible dialogue at times. Brad Pitt is wrong for the roles (although there are some aspects of Achilles he nails). Paris and Helen's love story is preposterous. But, still, the film works as a big spectacle. Juicy supporting roles- namely Peter O'Toole and Brian Cox, almost elevate the film to the epic one Peterson thought he was making. Sean Bean's presence is very welcome, and Eric Bana is quite good as well, even though his role is written in a less than exemplary fashion.

Fight scenes are generally good. The more intimate the better- The one on one fights are spectacular.

Film looks very good, convincing sets and visual effects. There are great visuals in there. Horner's score is very good in the film, aside from the moaning woman. In a very strange decision, the Director's Cut has other cues thrown in there, including a couple of Yared's (for the Trojan Funerals and the early party scene in Sparta), as well as a cue from Shearmur's The Count of Monte Cristo, and (most oddly), Elfman's main titles from Planet of the Apes (for the Achilles/Hector fight).

Chinatown. Bob Towne is insane if he still thinks this movie should have had the upbeat ending. Nicholson's best performance, IMO. Great Jerry score. ****/****.

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

Troy: Director's Cut. First of all, I barely noticed a difference in the cuts, even though this one is over 30 minutes longer. I don't know. I think the film is as good and bad as ever. Terrible dialogue at times. Brad Pitt is wrong for the roles (although there are some aspects of Achilles he nails). Paris and Helen's love story is preposterous. But, still, the film works as a big spectacle. Juicy supporting roles- namely Peter O'Toole and Brian Cox, almost elevate the film to the epic one Peterson thought he was making. Sean Bean's presence is very welcome, and Eric Bana is quite good as well, even though his role is written in a less than exemplary fashion.

Fight scenes are generally good. The more intimate the better- The one on one fights are spectacular.

Film looks very good, convincing sets and visual effects. There are great visuals in there. Horner's score is very good in the film, aside from the moaning woman. In a very strange decision, the Director's Cut has other cues thrown in there, including a couple of Yared's (for the Trojan Funerals and the early party scene in Sparta), as well as a cue from Shearmur's The Count of Monte Cristo, and (most oddly), Elfman's main titles from Planet of the Apes (for the Achilles/Hector fight).

There's a director's cut? Wow I didnt know that. Btw, did they replace the Horner music with Elfman for the Achilles/Hector fight or is it because its lengthened?

Burga - who also thinks Troy as a whole was not equal to the sum of its parts

[Morlock 11]

I'm not sure I was paying that much attention to the music the whole time, but I'm pretty sure that it was not lengthened, they simply replaced it with Elfman's music. Could be wrong though.

Morlock- slowly making his way through the extended edition of The Last Emperor

[King Mark 3,625]

Fred Claus */*****

Just kept looking at my watch the whole time.I thought it was never going to end.It was like I was physically watching the movie frames move one by one.

K.M.

[indy4 155]

I heard it got half a star.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

If it was more like Wedding Crashers then I may have considered it, but the trailer was just so aweful.

[Delorean90 42]

I've not seen Wedding Crashers, but I know enough about it to say that I never want to see a Christmas movie that is anything like Wedding Crashers.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Fred Claus */*****

Just kept looking at my watch the whole time.I thought it was never going to end.It was like I was physically watching the movie frames move one by one.

K.M.

What about the trailers made you want to see it?!

[King Mark 3,625]

Nothing.

It was the only new movie at the cineplex I usually go to this week.

[robthehand 3]

Chinatown. Bob Towne is insane if he still thinks this movie should have had the upbeat ending. Nicholson's best performance, IMO. Great Jerry score. ****/****.

What was Towne's ending going to be?

[Morlock 11]

Huston dies, Dunaway, her siser/daughter and Nicholson walk off into the sunset (so to speak).

[Morlock 11]

The Last Emperor: The Director's Cut. The movie is problematic. Parts of it drag on too long. Characters are not introduced. But it is a stunning, lavish, interesting epic. And Pu-Yi is certainly an odd character to be at the center of an apic (something which is underlined by Peter O'Toole's presence, who's most famous role is as the oddest character ever to be the center of an epic). At times you pity him, at times you're very annoyed by him, at times you sympathize...but it's so striking to have a hero so unable to affect things.

The best passage of the film is certainly the first section, set in the Forbidden City. This is one film that certainly enjoys the 'Voodoo of location'. Once they leave the city, it becomes quite a depressing film, and doubly so when they get to Manchuria. But Bertolucci undercuts the grimness somewhat by intercutting with the fascinating section in the Communist prison, when Pu-Yi becomes an independant person for the first time in his life, at 40.

The ending is very, very moving, and has the voodoo of location from two different angles. And set to Sakamoto's gorgeous themes, IMO one of the finest themes ever written for a film, it is really overpowering.

The performances in the film are a prickly thing.....of the actors playing Pu-Yi- The youngest one is wonderful, but harmed by the dubbing. The second one is ineffective. The third one is good. But I've no complaints against John Lone, who carries the film. His performance is so focused, so believable....I wish Lone would work more.

The actor playing the Governer fo the prison is also very exspressive, with a towering voice and a great English. O'Toole is wonderfully O'Toole-ish. Not a great performance, but a fine presence in the film.

The sets, costumes, cinematography are all stunning. This is a film that would not be made today, it would cost 3 times as much. The opulence of the early scene is quite magical, and the contrast between the sections in the film are very effective.

Score is a mixed bag. It really doesn't have such a huge role in the film.....excpet for the aforementioned Sakamoto theme. It's used sparingly, but when it is used, it is extremely powerful (particualrly in the closing scene and when Pu-Yi leaves the castle).

A fascinating, flawed film, but a rare epic that actually has a great subject and explores the subject, unlike the terribly reverential Gandhi or Kundun. ***1/2/****.

[A24 4,326]

Not sure if it was the Director's Cut but I truly loved that film at the time. Very beautiful and endlessly tragic (but not in a Paul Haggis way). The photography and music made a great impact on me too. The Sheltering Sky and Little Buddha never reached this level of excellence. It's been quite a while since I've seen it. BTW, I have the DVD containing both versions.

Alex

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

I'm not sure I was paying that much attention to the music the whole time, but I'm pretty sure that it was not lengthened, they simply replaced it with Elfman's music. Could be wrong though.

Bizzare indeed.