Just watching the previews of it when it first came out I thought it was so dumb that I never watched it and probably never will!
And the quality of your life will be in no way diminished by that excellent choice!
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Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?
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And the quality of your life will be in no way diminished by that excellent choice!
And the quality of your life will be in no way diminished by that excellent choice!
Probably more than too true. Why is so much that is made these days so uniformly ghastly? And no, the old 'chewing gum for the mind' argument does not suffice, here; if I want chewing gum for the mind, I'll open a bottle of something very ordinary, perhaps join some colleagues to watch a perfectly ordinary game of football (in, granted, extraordinary circumstances), listen to some dross..I peer at enough screens during my daily life; the last thing I wish to do is to willingly ask my eyes to endure utter tosh in my spare time.
So, Shrink, my friend. Our wonderful friend, SBG,has now actually watched "The Third Man" - twice - and you haven't even remarked on thisI'm..I was about to say - surprised; let me say, instead, I find you ...hm, suspiciously quiet...when the opportunity to discuss a movie I know you revere has been offered to you.
SBG: What did you think of "The Leopard", now that you have (I hope) seen it?
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I'm enormously pleased that our friend, SBG, has seen the film. An inexcusable oversight on my part! I always am pleased when brilliant films are seen and enjoyed. One learns the roots of the "language" of film from these movies...and unlike Starship Troopers, and it's ilk, one's life, in some small way, is effected for the better.
Okay, I must come clean and offer my apologies here. Truth be told, I had to watch The Third Man twice. Not because it was so fantastic of a movie, which it was, but because of what happened in my pre-movie activities that day. For you see, I had ordered, online no less, some Almond Chicken and Crab Rangoon with fried rice for delivery from a local Chinese take-out place. Once I consumed the delicious meal, of which it was too much - as I tend to do at times (eat too much), I began the film. After about 30 minutes or so, I went from a sitting upright position, to laying down on the couch whereupon my eyelids began to become heavy and the rate of blinking slowed dramatically. The next thing I remember was waking up to see the last 5 minutes of the film.
Then, as I knew would happen, because Shrink was so excited to hear about my thoughts of the film, as it ended, a part of our daily email correspondence, a new email arrived with baited anticipation of my reaction, essentially asking what I thought of it - because, he was also watching it on TCM as I was - or was supposed to be! This was the point of the emoticon (
) I used in the other post about this film, because Shrink knew the true reason for why I had watched it twice!With that said, later in the day, after my afternoon slumber, I queued it up in iTunes for a second run. This time, I had watched it all in it's entirety without falling unconscious.
I admit that The Leopard didn't strike my fancy as much as we had hoped. I felt it was rather long and didn't capture my attention all too well. While I agree the acting and performance were superb, I just couldn't connect with the film, and at times, was left wondering what the plot was really about.
As a side note, which did not contribute to my feelings of it, I thought that some of the scenes where they were dancing, as in a formal party setting, were odd. Not odd as the scene itself, but the dance they danced. If that was indicative of 1860's style dancing in Italy, it was very foreign to me (which isn't to say that there aren't dances these days that are beyond me too, because there are!). There was a slow-dance at the end and that seemed completely normal to my more contemporary mind.
You are a gentleman and a scholar! You knew the real story, but you chose to keep your trap shut and allow me to fall upon my sword on my own!
Okay, I must come clean and offer my apologies here. Truth be told, I had to watch The Third Man twice. Not because it was so fantastic of a movie, which it was, but because of what happened in my pre-movie activities that day. For you see, I had ordered, online no less, some Almond Chicken and Crab Rangoon with fried rice for delivery from a local Chinese take-out place. Once I consumed the delicious meal, of which it was too much - as I tend to do at times (eat too much), I began the film. After about 30 minutes or so, I went from a sitting upright position, to laying down on the couch whereupon my eyelids began to become heavy and the rate of blinking slowed dramatically. The next thing I remember was waking up to see the last 5 minutes of the film.
Then, as I knew would happen, because Shrink was so excited to hear about my thoughts of the film, as it ended, a part of our daily email correspondence, a new email arrived with baited anticipation of my reaction, essentially asking what I thought of it - because, he was also watching it on TCM as I was - or was supposed to be! This was the point of the emoticon (
With that said, later in the day, after my afternoon slumber, I queued it up in iTunes for a second run. This time, I had watched it all in it's entirety without falling unconscious.
I admit that The Leopard didn't strike my fancy as much as we had hoped. I felt it was rather long and didn't capture my attention all too well. While I agree the acting and performance were superb, I just couldn't connect with the film, and at times, was left wondering what the plot was really about.
As a side note, which did not contribute to my feelings of it, I thought that some of the scenes where they were dancing, as in a formal party setting, were odd. Not odd as the scene itself, but the dance they danced. If that was indicative of 1860's style dancing in Italy, it was very foreign to me (which isn't to say that there aren't dances these days that are beyond me too, because there are!). There was a slow-dance at the end and that seemed completely normal to my more contemporary mind.
You are a gentleman and a scholar! You knew the real story, but you chose to keep your trap shut and allow me to fall upon my sword on my own!
Ah. Now, I see..
Well, one of the things I always look out for (in life and in work) is what is written and what is said, and how it is said. And, of equal importance is a bit of scrutiny of what is not said.
It seemed hardly credible that Shrink (consummate gentleman though he undoubtedly is) would not voluntarily offer some observations on The Third Man, given what I know to be his deep admiration and liking for - nay, reverence for - this movie (an opinion I happen to share). Indeed, I thought his silenceinteresting.
Anyway, delighted you liked it.
Re The Leopard, the book is regarded as a masterpiece of modern Italian literature; perhaps fortunately, I had read it before I saw the movie, the best part of 30 years ago. Perhaps even more fortunately, I had studied a lot of modern European history.
In essence, it is about the utter transformation of Italy in the 1860s, the period of unification, which happened partly as a result of revolutionary force, and partly as a result of astute political choices made by some sections of society and politics in northern Italy.
What is interesting about the book and movie (apart from cinematography, acting) is the sensibility. It is unusual in history and literature to find an aristocrat who is sufficiently self aware - and capable of delivering this in print, and visually, - to recognise that the world must change, that the class and values he represents are an utter anachronism, long overdue a violent abolition, but who still regrets the grace and elegance of the departed and crumbling world whose values and attitudes he represents but understands to have little relevance to what will come to pass.
Giuseppe di Lampedusa, who wrote the book, was an Italian Prince, who came from Sicily, and spent most of his life living in Sicily. He was more or less close to bankruptcy, as he came from that sort of decayed, useless, penniless aristocracy who lived in crumbling palaces, the sources of their fortunes long dissipated and gone and utterly unable to do anything remotely useful in a changed world. Lampedusa lived during the first half of the 20th century, - born at the very end of the 19th century, he died in 1957 - and the book is loosely based on the character of his grandfather.
During his life, hardly anyone knew that Lampedusa was writing this masterpiece - on the surface, a sort of déclassé occasional poet, and littérateur, he spent decades thinking about it, and brooding about it, and finally writing it, (it was rejected by two publishers to whom he sent it while still alive). Anyway, it is a sort of elegiac homage to the world his class inhabited, which was already out of date by the 1860s, when most of the book is set.
It gains its power precisely because it was written by someone who wrote exquisite prose, with an artist's sensibility, who knew the useless anachronism his class and world was, but who couldn't help but mourn its passing. A moderniser couldn't have written that book, not and capture that authentic note of elegiac regret.
And Lampedusa was fortunate that Luchino Visconti, another aristocrat, - who, thus, understood that milieu, and could interpret this from an insider's perspective, having lived it, and who, himself, hailed from a similar background, (but, of course, was a communist, too, and thus could recognise the sheer uselessness of the old aristocratic ruling class), sought to bring that literary masterpiece to the screen, and could interpret it with sensitive insight, while remaining faithful to the original text in both tone and content.
I thought the last ballroom scene stunning. Lampedusa himself did not live to see his book published - it was published posthumously - and obviously, neither did he ever see the movie.
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I have a question you guys. I might be overthinking it (actually I am) but I don't know what to do.
I recently watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 and I absolutely adored the movie. I definitely want to watch it again and might go today. The issue is, when I get close to buying a ticket for a showing I find myself thinking "ehhh. But i kind of know what happens in the movie. Could I really re-enjoy the movie?" So here I am, just stuck on what to do.
Has anyone every rewatched a movie in a theatre where their satisfaction is exactly the same as when they first watched it?
Also, did anyone notice these new emoji's that MR has?
I recently watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 and I absolutely adored the movie. I definitely want to watch it again and might go today. The issue is, when I get close to buying a ticket for a showing I find myself thinking "ehhh. But i kind of know what happens in the movie. Could I really re-enjoy the movie?" So here I am, just stuck on what to do.
Has anyone every rewatched a movie in a theatre where their satisfaction is exactly the same as when they first watched it?
Also, did anyone notice these new emoji's that MR has?
What Movie Are You Watching?
If it's a movie I enjoyed and want to experience theatrically again, I won't hesitate. I also loved HTTYD2 but I personally won't watch it a second time, though I will buy the Blu-ray once it's released. If you really loved it, don't be reluctant. Also, I like to take someone with me who hasn't watched the movie. I find it more enjoyable.
Oh and no I haven't noticed these new emoticons. Pretty cool!
I have a question you guys. I might be overthinking it (actually I am) but I don't know what to do.
I recently watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 and I absolutely adored the movie. I definitely want to watch it again and might go today. The issue is, when I get close to buying a ticket for a showing I find myself thinking "ehhh. But i kind of know what happens in the movie. Could I really re-enjoy the movie?" So here I am, just stuck on what to do.
Has anyone every rewatched a movie in a theatre where their satisfaction is exactly the same as when they first watched it?
Also, did anyone notice these new emoji's that MR has?
If it's a movie I enjoyed and want to experience theatrically again, I won't hesitate. I also loved HTTYD2 but I personally won't watch it a second time, though I will buy the Blu-ray once it's released. If you really loved it, don't be reluctant. Also, I like to take someone with me who hasn't watched the movie. I find it more enjoyable.
Oh and no I haven't noticed these new emoticons. Pretty cool!
If it's a movie I enjoyed and want to experience theatrically again, I won't hesitate. I also loved HTTYD2 but I personally won't watch it a second time, though I will buy the Blu-ray once it's released. If you really loved it, don't be reluctant. Also, I like to take someone with me who hasn't watched the movie. I find it more enjoyable.
Oh and no I haven't noticed these new emoticons. Pretty cool!
Oddly enough, I've started a habit of going to a movie alone every weekend. Its just relaxing in a weird way after a long work week.
But you're right! I might just watch it again this today. I was going to wait till it comes out on Blu Ray but I enjoyed it a bit more than worth waiting so I probably will mozy down and grab the 8 showtime.
Side comment, I'm a sap and those animated movies always gets me. I couldn't help feel like a weirdo sitting in a theater with 20 or so 10 years olds with tears streaming down my face.
Its that damn Toothless I tell you. He always pulls at my heart strings.
What Movie Are You Watching?
Haha. Same here. It was an emotional scene when you know what happened. I'm 21, I took my 11 year old sister with me since she's also a fan. She loves the show as well. Anyway, I would've gone alone or took a friend with me if I didn't have anyone to go with. So it's fine, the movie is really good, it doesn't matter how old you are. A good movie is a good movie.
Haha. Same here. It was an emotional scene when you know what happened. I'm 21, I took my 11 year old sister with me since she's also a fan. She loves the show as well. Anyway, I would've gone alone or took a friend with me if I didn't have anyone to go with. So it's fine, the movie is really good, it doesn't matter how old you are. A good movie is a good movie.
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Wow, excellent detailed review of the book/film. Thank you for that, it helped me better understand what I watched yesterday. Your depth of historical knowledge is awe inspiring!
One other question about the film I had was, was it originally spoken in Italian and had an English voice-over done to it? I could tell that the audio didn't really match up with the lip movement, but it was darn close.
There has only been one movie that I've gone back to the theater more than once for and it was the first Matrix movie. I was on active duty at the time and movies at the base theater were free, but you had to pay for concessions if you wanted any. I went back to see it 4 or 5 times!
That is absolutely awesome!
Were movies that were in theaters at that time also show up at the base or did it take a couple months?
Now think about what the rest of his day was like!
Side comment, I hope when I get to your age I'll be able to enjoy absinthe like a bawwwwsss.
Yeah, they ran the current films that the civilian theater ran too at the same time.
Today I walked in the door, and there it is again. Home Alone. But, wait, it's not the same one. They made sequels. Dear lord, why would they make sequels?
There are at least two more my boys haven't seen.
Watched it tonight on Amazon Prime. Wow, sure does stretch reality, which movies are supposed to do.
But wow.
Inception (2010)- I've found I can watch this multiple times. So much more sophisticated than Dreamscape (1984), but I acknowledge that filming technology has come along way in several decades. It's not a movie you want to think too much about. Just go along for the gorgeous ride.
Discovered that many of the movie locations were real, but some were surprising. Inception Filming Locations
Discovered that many of the movie locations were real, but some were surprising. Inception Filming Locations
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The first time I saw this movie (The Matrix) I was unsure I liked it. But it grew into one of my favorites. The second one is excellent too. The third one is mearly ok, good enough to finish the story arc.
That is a terrific film. I like the first the best; the second one is alright, and the third one was not great at all. I really liked in the second one, the car chase- that was really neat.
I really liked that one too. Much better than the laughable White House Down, which came out around the same time.
I recently watched Silence of the Lambs. I saw it a long time ago, possibly not even in it's entirety, I don't recall now. But it still holds up pretty well as a crime-solving thriller more than 20 years later.
A great movie.
I'm planning on watching Thor The Dark World tonight... got it from the library
