Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?

[twietee]

...

Watched Dawn of..., The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue yesterday alongside The Funhouse.

Thanks for recommending the Manchester Morgue flic! An ambitious take on the genre, quite captivating. While some key ideas seemed to come straight from Romero's Night... it still captures and excells in creating an intense (and beautifully haunting) atmosphere. Will watch it again for sure! Only thing I'm not 100% convinced of is the ending. It kind of bugs me really!

Spoilers galore but I doubt anyone around here is even remotely interested so here we go, I'd like to know how you thought about the original, final twist:

When George got shot by the inspector, who becomes a local hero afterwards, I thought, well, ok, nice reminder on the Night of the Living Dead where Duane Jones got shot making for a brilliant and dark ending. Not sure if "I wish the dead could come back to life, so I could kill you again." was invented here but it works perfect. Now I think when it would have stopped here it would be ok (major plothole - the machine would still be producing future mayhem). Better ending imo would be George rising again to face the inspector a second time - as it was done - (but not in the hotel - that was crazy / lazy - or at least not the way it was set up) but does get killed again by the inspector (so his cool punchline and "wish" actually becomes reality) but ultimately leaving the 'local hero' who got it all backwards from start to finish in utter despair, totally delusioned - suicidal. After all he was the one not being able to keep up with modern live ("You're all the same the lot of you, with your long hair and fag*** clothes. Drugs, sex, every sort of filth!")

Lengthy, I know.

 

[Happybunny]

Just arrived in the post.

 

[Huntn]

The Green Mile is a powerful movie, probably the best story told by Steven King, mystical and beautifully filmed, realistic characters captured displaying the cruelty and compassion people are capable of, not his typical "monster" fare.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The Godfather Trilogy is $9.99 in the iTunes store. Although I hated part 3, I figure I and II are worth the $9.99

I agree with you; Godfather I & II are both superb - indeed, Godfather II is one of the few sequels I can recall seeing where the sequel was even better than the original movie. An outstanding classic.

However, I think that they (or, rather FFC) missed an incredible opportunity with Godfather III; for, of course, the story that should have been told was Michael's narrative arc:

In other words, how he got from the character who sat, brooding, staring out over that dark lake, at the end of Godfather II, where, having just sanctioned the murder of his brother, he had most literally lived through the very gripping story of 'gaining the world but losing your soul' (and losing your family, too, for good measure), to the wealthy but legitimate businessman at the beginning of Godfather III, more than a little remorseful. That is the story that I would have liked to see, and many of the original cast (for example, Diane Keaton, Tulia Shire, of course, along with Al Pacino himself) were still around to breathe further nuanced life into their respective characters.

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Just arrived in the post.

I remember watching both of the Ivan the Terrible movies years ago, as an undergrad in a student art house cinema. Brilliant and compelling stuff.

 

[kazmac]

Watched Dawn of..., The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue yesterday alongside The Funhouse.


Spoilers galore but I doubt anyone around here is even remotely interested so here we go, I'd like to know how you thought about the original, final twist:

When George got shot by the inspector, who becomes a local hero afterwards, I thought, well, ok, nice reminder on the Night of the Living Dead where Duane Jones got shot making for a brilliant and dark ending. Not sure if "I wish the dead could come back to life, so I could kill you again." was invented here but it works perfect. Now I think when it would have stopped here it would be ok (major plothole - the machine would still be producing future mayhem). Better ending imo would be George rising again to face the inspector a second time - as it was done - (but not in the hotel - that was crazy / lazy - or at least not the way it was set up) but does get killed again by the inspector (so his cool punchline and "wish" actually becomes reality) but ultimately leaving the 'local hero' who got it all backwards from start to finish in utter despair, totally delusioned - suicidal.

Lengthy, I know.

I adore the ending culminating the whole youth vs. elder slant. That subplot is one of the reasons why I love Living Dead so much... I really enjoy that George nearly becomes the very thing the Inspector accuses him of, so the Inspector dies because of his anti-modernist beliefs. It is very Twilight Zone so that is another reason why I enjoy the ending.

That said, I like your idea a lot.

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[twietee]

I adore the ending culminating the whole youth vs. elder slant. That subplot is one of the reasons why I love Living Dead so much...

Yes, same for me.

I've just finished Day... yesterday. Which one of the trilogy works best for you? Would be the chronological order for me with Night... being head and shoulders above the rest (one of my top10 overall probably). Perfect movie for me.

Dawn pretty much delivers on all accouts as well, but I really want to see the Argento cut for comparison - although most see it as the inferior version in my understanding. Day... was ok imo, started quite promising but did nothing really remarkable (besides 'Bub') from that point on - effects aside.

Well, thinking about it, Day isn't really that bad and for a $500.000 flic does make a lot of things right. Even the ending, although I thought it lazy at first, got me thinking twice actually. Still the nihilistic / pessimistic message stays the same as in the first film, with a little add-on, which, from an artistic point of view is still the icing on the zombicake imo. The grainy, realistic and documentary flair at the end of Night (which is also used - and perfectly at that I might add, probably my favorite part in the movie - at the end of the first act of Dawn > flying with the helicopter into the South past these 'redneck' vigilantes) works wonders.

 

[Huntn]

The Shawshank Redemption- another excellent movie based on the book by Stephen King. Not as mystical as The Green Mile, but I remember the first time I watched this movie, thinking it was just another harsh reality of prison movie, but great characters and the ending knocked me out. I just did not see it coming...

 

[S.B.G]

The Shawshank Redemption- another excellent movie based on the book by Stephen King. Not as mystical as The Green Mile, but I remember the first time I watched this movie, thinking it was just another harsh reality of prison movie, but great characters and the ending knocked me out. I just did not see it coming...

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I love this movie and nearly have it memorized. It's one of my all time favorites.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The Shawshank Redemption- another excellent movie based on the book by Stephen King. Not as mystical as The Green Mile, but I remember the first time I watched this movie, thinking it was just another harsh reality of prison movie, but great characters and the ending knocked me out. I just did not see it coming...

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I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie - a lot - when I saw it, and would gladly watch it again.

On the strong recommendation of a former student, I also read the novella on which it was based, and was intrigued both by the similarities and the few subtle differences between the movie and the novella which gave rise to it.

It seems to have been one of those movies which derived its popularity from 'word of mouth', as people found its message of possible redemption, or success, or vindication, despite endless and appalling setbacks extraordinarily appealing.

A very good friend told me that her mother - who used to work in a store which rented out videos - had noted that 'Shawshank Redemption' was the most popular video ever rented in that store, and, indeed, was so popular that the video wore out, and had to be replaced (several times).

I think - apart from a good solid plot and strong narrative, very good characters, an excellent original story on which it was based, very good casting, a sinister setting - and all of that - it gave people the belief that they could hope for something better if things were rotten in their lives at present.

 

[S.B.G]

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie - a lot - when I saw it, and would gladly watch it again.

On the strong recommendation of a former student, I also read the novella on which it was based, and was intrigued both by the similarities and the few subtle differences between the movie and the novella which gave rise to it.

It seems to have been one of those movies which derived its popularity from 'word of mouth', as people found its message of possible redemption, or success, or vindication, despite endless and appalling setbacks extraordinarily appealing.

A very good friend told me that her mother - who used to work in a store which rented out videos - had noted that 'Shawshank Redemption' was the most popular video ever rented in that store, and, indeed, was so popular that the video wore out, and had to be replaced (several times).

I think - apart from a good solid plot and strong narrative, very good characters, an excellent original story on which it was based, very good casting, a sinister setting - and all of that - it gave people the belief that they could hope for something better if things were rotten in their lives at present.

Yeah, it's a great movie and I think I'll queue it up for watching this evening!

 

[kazmac]

Yes, same for me.

I've just finished Day... yesterday. Which one of the trilogy works best for you? Would be the chronological order for me with Night... being head and shoulders above the rest (one of my top10 overall probably). Perfect movie for me.

Dawn pretty much delivers on all accouts as well, but I really want to see the Argento cut for comparison - although most see it as the inferior version in my understanding. Day... was ok imo, started quite promising but did nothing really remarkable (besides 'Bub') from that point on - effects aside.

Well, thinking about it, Day isn't really that bad and for a $500.000 flic does make a lot of things right. Even the ending, although I thought it lazy at first, got me thinking twice actually. Still the nihilistic / pessimistic message stays the same as in the first film, with a little add-on, which, from an artistic point of view is still the icing on the zombicake imo. The grainy, realistic and documentary flair at the end of Night (which is also used - and perfectly at that I might add, probably my favorite part in the movie - at the end of the first act of Dawn > flying with the helicopter into the South past these 'redneck' vigilantes) works wonders.

For me, Dawn then Night then Day. Night still has the powerful, ironic ending and excellent characterization. I agree Night is the best film of the trilogy.

Favorite though? I have to vote Dawn. DawnoTD is where I fell in love with Goblin's music (long before I knew who they were) and I liked that after the sequence which introduces Peter and Roger's commandos, the characters are not delineated by gender or ethnicity. They just are. It feels like a logical extension of Night. And there was something about mixing bikesploitation with zombies and consumerism that still strikes a chord. I vaguely remember Argento's Dawn (a.k.a. Zombi) cut being much shorter, you lose a lot of the characterization George built up. It's interesting to see once, but not the same film at all. You might like it though. I'd see other Argento first.

Day is just nasty as far as humanity goes. Haven't watched that one in a long time, although that was the first ultra violent horror movie I ever saw. The only thing I remember besides how awful everyone was to each other, was then FX guru in training Greg Nicotero's zombified soldier head. I wish Romero stopped with zombies after Day, but that is me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yeah, it's a great movie and I think I'll queue it up for watching this evening!

Enjoy!!

That is a movie I will happily watch again, so let me know if it surveys a second (or a third, or a fourth) viewing.

 

[S.B.G]

Enjoy!!

That is a movie I will happily watch again, so let me know if it surveys a second (or a third, or a fourth) viewing….

Oh, I've probably watched it at least 25 times over the years, if not more. It's a contemporary classic, in my opinion.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, I've probably watched it at least 25 times over the years, if not more. It's a contemporary classic, in my opinion.

Yes, I rather like it, too; (no, I am being too understated and diplomatic; I'll admit that I love it).

Actually, I adore the scene where Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) plays Mozart over the prison's tannoy, that scene, well, that one gets me every time, (and yes, I have seen the movie more than once). And yes. I rather like W. A. Mozart.

 

[Huntn]

Yes, I rather like it, too; (no, I am being too understated and diplomatic; I'll admit that I love it).

Actually, I adore the scene where Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) plays Mozart over the prison's tannoy……that scene….well, that one gets me every time….(and yes, I have seen the movie more than once…). And yes. I rather like W. A. Mozart….

I thought it was an Italian opera singer!

 

[twietee]

Favorite though? I have to vote Dawn. DawnoTD is where I fell in love with Goblin's music (long before I knew who they were) and I liked that after the sequence which introduces Peter and Roger's commandos, the characters are not delineated by gender or ethnicity. They just are. It feels like a logical extension of Night. And there was something about mixing bikesploitation with zombies and consumerism that still strikes a chord. I vaguely remember Argento's Dawn (a.k.a. Zombi) cut being much shorter, you lose a lot of the characterization George built up. It's interesting to see once, but not the same film at all. You might like it though. I'd see other Argento first.

Day is just nasty as far as humanity goes. Haven't watched that one in a long time, although that was the first ultra violent horror movie I ever saw. The only thing I remember besides how awful everyone was to each other, was then FX guru in training Greg Nicotero's zombified soldier head. I wish Romero stopped with zombies after Day, but that is me.

Thanks for the response! I can see and agree on all of your points. But I was under the impression that the Argento Cut of Dawn, besides being more stylized, makes more and better use of Goblin's music - albeit cutting on characterization? But there are lots of different cuts floating around and the 127min version I have (think it's the Director's Cut) may use Goblin just as well. Always a bit annoying to import those movies but I'll probably get all of the three major cuts - the film is worth it imo (unfortunately the Arrow bluray, which includes all three of them is rather rare and quite expensive). You know The Knightriders? - guess so if you into bikeploitation...didn't even know such a thing exists, lol.

As for Day, I have to change my stance a bit. Still prefer the other two over it. I can see why many are or were disappointed, or those who like it dislike the other two, former entries, but I think it ultimately fits the series very well - having probably an equally bitter ending (but still a different, very nasty and nihilistic comment! fits the era perfectly) - each being quite individual in form, style, subtext and characters but work very well as a trinity. I got Land for cheap so will watch that too but I totally agree with you in advance that he should have ended here.

-

What I don't see in Night though, maybe I misunderstood you here, but read quite often is the ending being a comment on racism. Really can't see it that way - racism does play an important part, no question (original script didn't include the character to be black though), but not as a definite point at the bitter ending, which makes it much better, because more universal, imo.

As for the feminine part(s), I have to agree, although there is a strong evolution from Night to Dawn to Day regarding strong, emanzipated women. But it doesn't strike me as a weak point in Night. Actually I love how the initial (female) lead, who wasn't depicted as weak imo, got completely paralyzed after half way into the movie. Adds so much to the terror! Especially since the second lead (male) also got killed finally.


Sorry! Got much longer than I thought.

 

[S.B.G]

Yes, I rather like it, too; (no, I am being too understated and diplomatic; I'll admit that I love it).

Actually, I adore the scene where Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) plays Mozart over the prison's tannoy……that scene….well, that one gets me every time….(and yes, I have seen the movie more than once…). And yes. I rather like W. A. Mozart….

I thought it was an Italian opera singer!

According to an Internet search, what played was "Sual'aria, Che soave zeffiretto," from Le Nozze di Figaro, sung by Anna Moffo as Susanna and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf as the Countess - The Marriage of Figaro, by Mozart.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I thought it was an Italian opera singer!

If memory serves, this is how 'Red' (Morgan Freeman) actually described the music in his voiceover when musing about the scene...

According to an Internet search, what played was "Sual'aria, Che soave zeffiretto," from Le Nozze di Figaro, sung by Anna Moffo as Susanna and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf as the Countess - The Marriage of Figaro, by Mozart.

I debated posting this information, and decided not to, (I'm pretty sure Huntn already knew exactly what the song was) but thank you nevertheless for taking the time and the trouble to do so.

In any case, this opera (Le Nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro) is superb, and that particular song simply wonderful. Mozart at his sublime best. And yes, what a powerful use of it in that scene.

 

[Happybunny]

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Just arrived in the post.

I'm having to send this DvD back, the disc refused to play Ivan the Terrible part two.

The disc being purchased via Amazon means that is is no problem. It is however only the second time that I've experienced a defective DvD.

 

[Huntn]

If memory serves, this is how 'Red' (Morgan Freeman) actually described the music in his voiceover when musing about the scene…...

Although I have listened to the Marriage of Figaro, I was not familiar enough with it, nor paid attention to the album cover, if that was shown, nor did I remember that Mozart wrote the music, but not the words in this opera, so Red's description was what stayed with me. So it was both Mozart, and an Italian opera singer.

 

[ritmomundo]

Saw a few new releases recently:

The Amazing Spiderman 2 - SPOILERS - I'll admit, I had high expectations, which might be why I wasn't very impressed, overall. Really disappointing. The scenes with Electro were good visually, and Emma Stone was great, despite her acting seeming forced at times. But the movie left me with a question mark over my head. Much was left unanswered (regarding RP mainly), there were too many villains (Green Goblin was weak, Rhino was terrible), and by the end, the entire movie felt like it was just building up to the next sequel (filler, like a part 2 in most trilogies). And the unrelated X-men clip at the end?

Noah - I enjoyed this. Visually, it was great, especially the time-lapse-type scenes. Plot-wise it could've been better, but it was still pretty entertaining.

Walk of Shame - This is already available to rent on iTunes, even though it just came out in theaters. Unrealistic and goofy, yet it was pretty funny.

That Awkward Moment - Based on the trailers, I expected a raunchy comedy. But it ended up being your typical rom-com. It did have a few funny moments though, but overall, it was nothing special.

 

[Huntn]

Saw a few new releases recently:

The Amazing Spiderman 2 - SPOILERS - I'll admit, I had high expectations, which might be why I wasn't very impressed, overall. Really disappointing. The scenes with Electro were good visually, and Emma Stone was great, despite her acting seeming forced at times. But the movie left me with a question mark over my head. Much was left unanswered (regarding RP mainly), there were too many villains (Green Goblin was weak, Rhino was terrible), and by the end, the entire movie felt like it was just building up to the next sequel (filler, like a part 2 in most trilogies). And the unrelated X-men clip at the end?

Noah - I enjoyed this. Visually, it was great, especially the time-lapse-type scenes. Plot-wise it could've been better, but it was still pretty entertaining.

Walk of Shame - This is already available to rent on iTunes, even though it just came out in theaters. Unrealistic and goofy, yet it was pretty funny.

That Awkward Moment - Based on the trailers, I expected a raunchy comedy. But it ended up being your typical rom-com. It did have a few funny moments though, but overall, it was nothing special.

Something tells me it's gonna be tough to beat the original Spider-man, Toby McQuire trilogy. And even with that one I was done by the time they got to Sandman. Recently, I tried to steam the first "Amazing" Spider-Man, this movie is over a year old and they wanted $12? The normal movie rental runs $3.99-4.99. I guess they are still trying to ek out income from it. They won't get it from me.

 

[Zendokan]

I went to see Brick Mansions, the remake of Banlieue 13 (District B13) last Saturday.

Sorry to say, but the remake took some 'swing' out of the original, mostly because the parkour and action scenes were filmed in Bourne Vision*.
I guess that it was to hide that the late Paul Walker isn't Cyril Rafaelli and that David has aged 10 years since B13.
Now even at 41, David didn't need to have his scenes shot in Bourne Vision.

I would say that the original B13 (in French with English subs) or even the District B13 (English dub) would be a better cinematic experience
Cyril Rafaelli's fight in the underground gambling joint is still a remarkable scene and don't forget to watch the sequel Banliieue 13: Ultimatum (B13-U)


*Bourne Vision: shooting a scene in high speed, fast passed, constantly switching camera angles. Thinking that this would make the action scenes look better on screen, but only provokes irritation and nausea with the audience.

 

[Huntn]

Checked the local theater today and there was nothing that appealed to me or the wife, a couple of "God" movies. We'll see Grand Budapest Hotel when it's available to stream.

 

[albertfallickwa]

Really wanting to see David Fincher's "Gone Girl" at some point.