Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?

[Scepticalscribe]

exactly. i wanted it to be very good and it was only "meh".

Art historians trying to save art from the Nazis and stand for the values of civilisation and culture against both the Nazis and the Allies is a story that fascinates me; what is there not to like?

But - the pacing was poor, and the actual story could have been far better handled.

And yes, - the "raw ingredients" - the fine production values, the excellent cast, the fact that it was (loosely) based on a true story - were all very promising, and should all have ensured that the movie was very good.

I wanted to like it, but unfortunately, I didn't. The pacing, story-telling and - strangely - the script were surprisingly underwhelming.

 

[pachyderm]

I couldn't agree more. I find that while I really like most Coen brother films, I've had that reaction to quite a few of their recent works.

No Country For Old Men being the one recent exception. I love this film and novel.

While I did enjoy their version of True Grit, I found it superfluous as the original starring, John Wayne, was sufficient in telling the exact same story.

i.e. I don't care for remakes.

 

[Queen6]

Starting out with one of the SciFi genres best Ridely Scotts 1979 classic, naturally the theatrical cut

Might stay on the SciFi theme or flip to the Cold War later tonight...

Q-6

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Starting out with one of the SciFi genres best Ridely Scotts 1979 classic, naturally the theatrical cut

Ridley Scott, the great classic, my favorite director... Blade Runner, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven etc.

 

[Queen6]

Ridley Scott, the great classic, my favorite director... Blade Runner, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven etc.

Blade Runner, fantastic SciFi at it's very best, Kingdom of Heaven most definitely over Gladiator, the Directors Cut mind, not the butchered version that was released theatrically. both extremely good films, equally targeted at very differing audiences.

For those who have not seen Kingdom of Heaven or had the misfortune to see the theatrical version, the Directors Cut is the definitive version Ridley Scott at his best...

Q-6

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Blade Runner, fantastic SciFi at it's very best, Kingdom of Heaven most definitely over Gladiator, the Directors Cut mind, not the butchered version that was released theatrically. both extremely good films, equally targeted at very differing audiences.

For those who have not seen Kingdom of Heaven or had the misfortune to see the theatrical version, the Directors Cut is the definitive version Ridley Scott at his best...

Q-6

Yes, certainly. Kingdom of Heaven is my all time fav. I can watch it anytime. The Blu-ray version is astonishing, like in the case of Blade Runner.
(Same goes to Dr. Zhivago of 1965. The scene where Evgraf Zhivago enters the house after Doctor Zhivago stole some timber... is powferful).

 

[Queen6]

Opted for Cold War drama over more SciFi with Twilight's Last Gleaming from 1977

Not a specific genre, however I do like films based in and around the Cold War era, with some being far more terrifying than the most shocking horror effort, sadly this threat remains today...

Q-6
[doublepost=1485701285][/doublepost]

Yes, certainly. Kingdom of Heaven is my all time fav. I can watch it anytime. The Blu-ray version is astonishing, like in the case of Blade Runner.
(Same goes to Dr. Zhivago of 1965. The scene where Evgraf Zhivago enters the house after Doctor Zhivago stole some timber... is powferful).

Another favourite I watched "again" recently Lawrence of Arabia, timeless " There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing" Dr. Zhivago not seen that one in many year another classic, well overdue a visit From the same era The Man Who Would Be King, lighter and a great yarn, adventure, dare & do...

Q-6

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Opted for Cold War drama over more SciFi with Twilight's Last Gleaming from 1977

Not a specific genre, however I do like films based in and around the Cold War era, with some being far more terrifying than the most shocking horror effort, sadly this threat remains today...

Q-6
[doublepost=1485701285][/doublepost]

Another favourite I watched "again" recently Lawrence of Arabia, timeless " There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing" Dr. Zhivago not seen that one in many year another classic, well overdue a visit From the same era The Man Who Would Be King, lighter and a great yarn, adventure, dare & do...



Q-6

Oh... what a great idea, I will watch "The Man Who Would Be King" tonight.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Opted for Cold War drama over more SciFi with Twilight's Last Gleaming from 1977

Not a specific genre, however I do like films based in and around the Cold War era, with some being far more terrifying than the most shocking horror effort, sadly this threat remains today...

Q-6
[doublepost=1485701285][/doublepost]

Another favourite I watched "again" recently Lawrence of Arabia, timeless " There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing" Dr. Zhivago not seen that one in many year another classic, well overdue a visit From the same era The Man Who Would Be King, lighter and a great yarn, adventure, dare & do...

Q-6

Ah, a rollicking adventure - adapted from the days of the Raj - a sort of sibling of The Four Feathers.

Thoroughly enjoyable viewing.

 

[kazmac]

A Quiet Place in the Country (1968) Hadn't seen this arthouse horror in a while. Pop art painter Leonardo Ferri (Franco Nero) is slowly losing his mind thanks to his girlfriend/manager Flavia's (Vanessa Redgrave) materialistic whip-cracking. She wants to him to produce more art so she can keep leeching off him. You know a relationship isn't working when they play out sex stories in X rated zines (the somewhat era-specific taboo content works it is the 60s in Milian after all). Ultimately, Leonardo's hallucinations and hatred of Milan force Flavia to cater to her lover whims and find the title residence. Of course, there's a sexually predatory female ghost there who becomes very fond of Leonardo (or is there?) and some loopy hijinks ensue.

This is one of my three favorite movies dealing with the fine line between creativity and madness (all are Italian (Tenebrae and The House with Laughing Windows being the other two)). A Quiet Place... is the most tame of the three, sometimes snoozing in the middle before Leonardo fully loses it. It's ending is fun and a bit silly (going back to the teenaged kinky mind that the adult Leo just cannot get past). I was surprised to discover there was a novelization which I disliked because of how they transposed Wanda onto Leonardo...completely different and nowhere near as effective as the film.

Director Elio Petri's satires were very black and sometimes horrific (his Oscar winning, very warped Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion has a wonderful release from Criterion. I wish they'd pick this up too.)

---

The King of Fists and Dollars (1979) Very low budget kung fu in which David Chiang learns the King fist set and battles against Chan Wai Man's very Snidely Whiplash hired fighter. And it's utterly dreadful when CWM is not on the screen. I adore David Chiang, but he needed the right material post Shaw Brothers to truly get his groove on. Thankfully, some great movies were right around the corner (The Loot, which needs a blu ray release and The Challenger).

--

King of Triads (2010) also known as Bad Blood. Boy, people weren't kidding when they said all this movie had going for it was the fight scenes. Well, okay, CWM being a cranky silver haired triad lieutenant named Zen was fun and he did get to kick and cut a little bit in his send off scene (obviously doubled big time for the more dangerous moves), but boy, he was still fierce in the boot and sword department where allowed. Andy On and the young lady playing the mute can fight and On can be a good actor when he has the right material, but this film was as P.U. as many reviewers said. On stole Donnie Yen's thunder in the Lost Bladesman. But Yen utterly stunk as Guan Yuchang there so, On didn't have to prove much.

 

[Queen6]

King of Triads (2010) also known as Bad Blood. Boy, people weren't kidding when they said all this movie had going for it was the fight scenes. Well, okay, CWM being a cranky silver haired triad lieutenant named Zen was fun and he did get to kick and cut a little bit in his send off scene (obviously doubled big time for the more dangerous moves), but boy, he was still fierce in the boot and sword department where allowed. Andy On and the young lady playing the mute can fight and On can be a good actor when he has the right material, but this film was as P.U. as many reviewers said. On stole Donnie Yen's thunder in the Lost Bladesman. But Yen utterly stunk as Guan Yuchang there so, On didn't have to prove much.

Have this one myself, unfortunately currently separated from my asian movie collection, planing on watching Infernal Affairs trilogy once more when home, never gets old

As for the Hollywood version, less said the better, ever...


Q-6

 

[twietee]

Ugh: @twietee you may have to tread lightly with 88 Films' Shaw Brothers releases as they screwed up the print of 5EN in a few spots by overdoing the color correction. Shaws used big theatre lights for their sunsets and sunrises, and I noticed a nasty yellow-orange glare on the Alliance member's back while he faces off against Kembuchi in the Earth element circuit. That might not be important to someone who has never seen this movie, but I've now watched this film in a variety of formats, and can say that either 88 karked up the color correction or Shaws licensed them a really bad digital source print.

Next week I am seeing the digital screening of the new 4k restoration of Bruce Lee's The Big Boss (Fists of Fury) at a Museum right around the block from my job. Should be fun. Shamefully, I have never been to this museum.

Pity about the print!

Cool! We have a quite well run film-museum here in Munich, as well as a small "workshop-cinema". They are showing Argento's Opera (not my favorite but still cool on the widescree) and Murnau's Nosferatu (!!!) about now. Missed the Fulci week last year..my little daughter keeps me away from anything that can't be done in half an hour...

...so started to watch one of my absolute favorites "The Last Man on Earth" with Vincent Price last evening.

And fell asleep 30mins in. Still, great flic!! Just finished reading the novel, which in itself is about the best modern adaptation of the vampire/zombi theme. Nice twist at the end too wihtout being contrived but rather logical.

 

[kazmac]

Pity about the print!

Cool! We have a quite well run film-museum here in Munich, as well as a small "workshop-cinema". They are showing Argento's Opera (not my favorite but still cool on the widescree) and Murnau's Nosferatu (!!!) about now. Missed the Fulci week last year..my little daughter keeps me away from anything that can't be done in half an hour...

...so started to watch one of my absolute favorites "The Last Man on Earth" with Vincent Price last evening.

And fell asleep 30mins in. Still, great flic!! Just finished reading the novel, which in itself is about the best modern adaptation of the vampire/zombi theme. Nice twist at the end too wihtout being contrived but rather logical.

I rewatched the 88 Five Elements...thankfully that glaring color correction is not throughout the movie; but it is enough to rankle me who has seen more prints of this than I could have ever imagined. However, the commentary and booklet are a waste of time (a bummer considering what an authority Bey Logan is on Hong Kong movies - he was rattling off opinion and useless facts through the film). If you can find it cheap like I did and want to see, go for it. All my moans about 88 Films and Shaws; I am still pitch hitting that 88 releases the ridiculously fun Mercenaries from Hong Kong. I watched that again last night and certain scenes and performers had me howling. It's almost a spoof of macho men-on-a-mission action comedies.

Oh wow! Argento's Opera isn't my favorite either (that would still be Tenebrae), but I'd rather see that than um, Bruce Lee. Not sure why I even bothered... but I guess I though - eh, Kung Fu movie right around the block from my job. To wit, I like Bruce but I much prefer the Shaw folks in their variety of fight styles, crazy stories and superior acting chops.

Congrats on the addition to your clan. That's great.

Yes, I vaguely remember Matheson's landmark novel which George Romero claims was the basis for Night of the Living Dead. Don't remember the ending but quite good.

 

[twietee]

I rewatched the 88 Five Elements...thankfully that glaring color correction is not throughout the movie; but it is enough to rankle me who has seen more prints of this than I could have ever imagined. However, the commentary and booklet are a waste of time (a bummer considering what an authority Bey Logan is on Hong Kong movies - he was rattling off opinion and useless facts through the film). If you can find it cheap like I did and want to see, go for it. All my moans about 88 Films and Shaws; I am still pitch hitting that 88 releases the ridiculously fun Mercenaries from Hong Kong. I watched that again last night and certain scenes and performers had me howling. It's almost a spoof of macho men-on-a-mission action comedies.

Oh wow! Argento's Opera isn't my favorite either (that would still be Tenebrae), but I'd rather see that than um, Bruce Lee. Not sure why I even bothered... but I guess I though - eh, Kung Fu movie right around the block from my job. To wit, I like Bruce but I much prefer the Shaw folks in their variety of fight styles, crazy stories and superior acting chops.

Congrats on the addition to your clan. That's great.

Yes, I vaguely remember Matheson's landmark novel which George Romero claims was the basis for Night of the Living Dead. Don't remember the ending but quite good.

Addition to the clan...love it!

Same here regarding Bruce and hos movies. Enter the Dragon was the first I saw, really diggin it, but all the others were considerable weaker than that. Was Big Boss the one playing in the US? Wasn't really into it.

HA, forgot about Romero. Night of.. certainly takes the top spot and The Last Man on Earth certainly feels a bit "antique" in comparison. But Matheson was super effective - and the movie works well with that material. I found the flashbacks especially eerie and depressing. The ending is brilliant pulp IMO,

Spoiler

the infected humans found a method / invented pills, that stopped the spreading of the germ in the body and hence didn't go "full-vampire" and started to re-create a society at night unnoticed by Neville, the "hero" of the story and sole survivor, who had to hide at his fortified home during night-time and goes around killing vampires (and infected - seem all the same to him ) at day-time, becoming their nemesis and mythical horror. He lets them capture him as he is half tired of running away / living alone and feels also guilty of killing probably hundreds and more of "infected" humans himself. The one female that spied on him and got somewhat involved with him slips him a pill while he's imprisoned waiting for his trial. He commits suicide while looking out of his cell seeing the terrified faces of the masses of the new society below - knowing that he became a legend.

What aspect is mostly missing in the movie but plays an important one in the novel is sexuality (or lack thereof and hence a big deal for the sole survivor) also the heavy drinking out of despair is tamed down.

Certainly a good and entertaining book! Can really recommend it, Matheson is no brilliant word-smith and high literature it ain't but it's very effective with a nice premise and good ending besides the norm.

 

[Queen6]

Alien 3, pity Fox didn't leave Fincher be, watching the assembled version, theatrical was just a mess IMO

I like the films bleakness & darkness, with the return to it's roots of a single unstoppable xenomorph, hunting it's prey, you also feel more for Ripley's character, enduring such trials, also like Aliens, albeit far more action driven.

Q-6

 

[pachyderm]

... The Man Who Would Be King, lighter and a great yarn, adventure, dare & do...

Q-6

I love that film.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I literally knew nothing about this film when my friend suggested we go see it other than it was a war film.

I think it's a remarkable story. All the more because it's based on real events. Well worth seeing as long as you don't mind a bit of gore.

 

[Queen6]

Being in the business;

Decent action/drama sadly based on real life events.

Q-6

 

[Fozzybadfeet]

I'm currently half way through Black Mass.

Started Deadpool last night...Watched the first 30 minutes...Not bad.

 

[Queen6]

Home again, work is behind me for a month or two, time to watch

Gold one of my all time favourites, simply splendid in 21:9 full screen

Susannah York a piece of woman indeed, however that's another tale

 

[Queen6]

Arrival

Solid SciFi, not for those seeking action, equally thought provoking...

Q-6

 

[kazmac]

I think I outgeeked myself Shaw Brothers-wise. I have four different versions of the Deadly Breaking Sword (1979) (languages / subtitles = no footage changes) and set them all going at the same time. Just about lost my marbles during the opening duel. I love that fight, one of my absolute favorites particularly when Sun Chung cuts to an overhead shot of Tuan and Lian San going at it.

DBS contains one of the very few English dubs I enjoy in a martial arts/wuxia film; ironically, I was slightly distracted by the English track amid the two Mandarin and one Cantonese prints. So I think going forward, I'll just omit the English print from this style of viewing. I think seeing the four copies on my drive just made give it a go.

---

Speaking of Shaws, one of the latter Venom mob films, Masked Avengers (1981) has had an slow upward climb to become one of my favorites. Basically, the title clan are bad guys who prey on wealthy folks and do all kinds of ridiculously gory and unpleasant things with tridents (Aquaman, I love you but you're seriously outclassed by these guys). A former member of their gang goes rogue and teams up with the ragtag good guys to not only discern who the three MA chiefs are, but bring these bloodthirsty villains down.

Second gen Venoms Chin Siu Ho (was just shy of 18 when they shot this) and Chu Ko steal the spotlight from original Venoms' Kuo Chue and Chiang Sheng. The always awesome Lu Feng delivers on all levels, though Chu Ko's constant flips and twirls are so darn great, Lu is almost upstaged. This fight scene is full of spoilers revealing the three chiefs, so if you've never seen the movie don't watch. This is one of the better English dubs for the Venoms mob (they usually got dreadful ones)... Now that I am coming around to this, I may just go ahead and buy 88 Films' upcoming blu especially if I can snag it as cheaply as Five Elements...

 

[Huntn]

Animal House (1978)- Frat adventures filmed at University of Oregon. Sophmoric, not childish.

​

Barbarella (1968)- Not even worth seeing Jane Fonda au-natural.

 

[Queen6]

Barbarella​

(1968)- Not even worth seeing Jane Fonda au-natural. ​

​

Another here I've got Barbarella in my collection too

Q-6

 

[Apple fanboy]

Animal House (1978)- Frat adventures filmed at University of Oregon. Sophmoric, not childish.

​

Barbarella (1968)- Not even worth seeing Jane Fonda au-natural.

Thank you sir can I have another!