Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?

[twietee]

(...)
All of this means that here is the place to state that I simply loathe (strong verb, I know) John Wayne, both as an actor (and as an icon).

I share the same sentiments about Westerns mostly. To my defence, my 'collection' contains a mind boggling number of probably 12 movies, half of them being Sergio Leone's works.

There are of course some exceptions to the rule and you posted already some of them. I might add One Eyed Jacks with Brando and Karl Malden, which I've seen by pure accident (stranded in Barcelona for weeks and didn't know what to do) and kind of started my lust for movies. That's about three years ago. It's not a piece of art, but I really enjoy it. The Wild Bunch being another one, and of course The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and I'm saying this as someone who isn't fond of Bogard in general. 3:10 to Yuma, the original, was also good, comparable to High Noon in terms of being more introspective and psychological moved.


Aside from that, I've seen Harakiri yesterday. Brilliant Japanese movie from the 60s. Highly recommended! The sheer formal preciceness and beautifully executed and acted...ahhh....

 

[designs216]

Seal Team Six. Interesting story of course, and also that they interwove so much stock video footage from the White House and our Commander in Chief. I wonder how permissions on that work?

 

[sagar4995]

flight...

 

[Huntn]

To be honest, I don't really like the 'classic westerns', as I find them too clichéd, too predictable, too lacking in nuance, and worst of all, with mono-dimensional characters and utterly predictable (and worse, ahistorical) villains, and ahistorical stories.

And, the lighting bothers, me; even as a child, I disliked it in the classic Hollywood westerns - they seemed so false. In art, I like the works of the Flemish/Dutch masters, the morbid Spaniards, and (much later) the Impressionists - I love the way the play of light can be used to mask or highlight detail when using a canvas (or a screen) to tell a tale.

Hence, on account of their stunning lighting (accurately reflecting a pitiless sun in an arid landscape, an authentic backdrop to the tales being told), I also like spaghetti westerns, despite conceding the doubtful history.

While I have no problem with studio lighting in urban (indoor) settings, especially film noir, (where I love the dubious darkness, which adds to the atmosphere and is usually augmented by excellent character acting, gloriously imperfect characters, great scripts...and so on), in westerns, I like my settings to be more realistic, i.e. shot outdoors in settings which frame the narrative, so that the landscape and lighting enhance the narrative.

Thus, oddly, I really like some of the 'modern' nuanced (and knowing) deconstructions of the 'western' myth, such as 'The Outlaw Josie Wales', and 'Unforgiven'; for the same reason, (he was allowed to be human and afraid), I also really liked Gary Cooper's shocked Marshall in 'High Noon'. And yes, I also liked 'Heaven's Gate', and loved 'Once Upon a Time In The West'.

All of this means that here is the place to state that I simply loathe (strong verb, I know) John Wayne, both as an actor (and as an icon).

I am a fan of many of Clint Eastwood movies as long as I set aside his political insight... Outlaw Josie Wales and Unforgiven were both excellent. I liked Unforgiven because it showed that the climax gun fight was not as clean and tidy as the climax gun fight in Shane. Although I love Shane too.

As far as John Wayne, I thought he was excellent in, and The Searchers was an excellent movie. I also like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, In Harms Way, The Sons of Katie Elder, Donovan's Reef, How The West Was Won, The Longest Day, Hatari, The Horse Soldeirs, and The War Wagon. We may have discussed the merits of JW before. I don't expect everyone to love him. In many cases he was part of an ensemble. My wife can't stand him and I acknowledge some of his movies are... bad. I disliked the original True Grit and the Green Berets (glorified propaganda) and most if not all of his movies from the 70s.

 

[Happybunny]

I must say that I did really like the film 'Unforgiven' and I also like the film 'Ride with the Devil'. But as a genre of films, I have never really been a fan of the western.

On another topic yesterday I took my granddaughter to see 'Oz the great and powerful ' we saw it in Imax 3D, I can say with some certainty that it made an impression on her, she was so into the story she forgot to eat her popcorn. Just watching her little face light up with wonder was worth the entrance money on it's own.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

...she was so into the story she forgot to eat her popcorn.

Priceless.

 

[Plutonius]

I just saw the movie "Olympus has Fallen" and I really enjoyed it. If you liked the original "Die Hard", you will really enjoy this movie.

 

[JBazz]

I just watched Devil With a Blue Dress on DVD. Had to order it from Amazon because I couldn't find anyone streaming it or a digital download. It also wasn't locally available.

I watched it as a primer for the new Easy Rawlins novel coming out.

 

[twietee]

Saw Kansas City Confidental yesterday. Good movie, first time I've seen John Payne...and Lee Van Kleef with a lot of hair.

 

[Huntn]

The Changeup- two guys pee in a fountain and change bodies. Two issues- this theme seems to have been run into the ground and it was just not that funny. In most of today's comedies, funny equals crude toilet humor. Not a fan of The Hangover or Bridesmaids either, although I admit to loving Dumb and Dumber. Ehh, I guess it's individual appeal and to each his own.

Hated:

Loved:

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I just saw the movie "Olympus has Fallen" and I really enjoyed it. If you liked the original "Die Hard", you will really enjoy this movie.

On my list to rent!

 

[twietee]

Guess you all have seen it already, but Drive is one hell of a movie. Love it!

 

[S.B.G]

Watching 'Clear And Present Danger' as part of the Jack Ryan series.

 

[Shrink]

Watching 'Clear And Present Danger' as part of the Jack Ryan series.

Pretty good movie!

Watch for nice performances by Miguel Sandoval and Joachim de Almeida...

 

[0098386]

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I just saw the movie "Olympus has Fallen" and I really enjoyed it. If you liked the original "Die Hard", you will really enjoy this movie.

Thanks! I saw a poster for it yesterday, first time I'd ever heard about it. Glad to hear it's cut from the Die Hard cloth!

 

[maflynn]

I know its an old one but I finally watched Master and Commander on HBO last night. Good movie, it kept me engaged.

 

[S.B.G]

I know its an old one but I finally watched Master and Commander on HBO last night. Good movie, it kept me engaged.

Yes a good movie! I watched it myself a few weeks ago.

 

[maflynn]

Yes a good movie! I watched it myself a few weeks ago.

Its funny, I didn't plan on watching last night, in fact I was looking for something completely different but in a few minutes it grabbed me

 

[twietee]

Ugh. Had to see accidentally the first Twilight movie cause my mom is all about it, but boy, that was whack! This must have been really cheap in production: just boy/girl close-ups talking about girl/boy stuff. Harry Potter was brilliant in comparison.

But since my cousin could lend me his Pusher trilogy, I'm more than content. Mads Mikkelsen will be great, I'm convinced and since the director did Driver, it will make more rhan up for yesterday evening.

 

[S.B.G]

Pretty good movie!

Watch for nice performances by Miguel Sandoval and Joachim de Almeida...

Yeah, it's a great movie. I've watched it many times over the years and yesterday I ripped it to iTunes and decided to give it another viewing as it's been a while.

Its funny, I didn't plan on watching last night, in fact I was looking for something completely different but in a few minutes it grabbed me

If I may ask, what were you looking to watch?

 

[Shrink]

I just watched "Bride Of Frankenstein", and am now watching the original "Godzilla".

"Bride..." is so good...James Whale is a dandy director, and the cinematography is terrific.

It ain't high art, but it is good fun!

 

[twietee]

"Bride..." is so good...James Whale is a dandy director, and the cinematography is terrific.

You have a preference regarding Frankenstein and The Bride of..? Read that a lot of people rate the successor over the original. I loved both of 'em (also The Son of... although it's lacking a bit) but say the first one would be my favorite if I'd had to choose.

 

[Shrink]

You have a preference regarding Frankenstein and The Bride of..? Read that a lot of people rate the successor over the original. I loved both of 'em (also The Son of... although it's lacking a bit) but say the first one would be my favorite if I'd had to choose.

I think the first "Frankenstein" was notable for it's originality and the high quality of it's production, direction, cinematography, etc. "Bride...", it could be argued, was technically better, but the original is iconic...especially for Karloff's nuanced portrayal of the monster. He gave the monster some emotional depth...especially amazing considering the restrictions placed upon him by the heavy, inflexible make up and prosthetics that he wore.

"Son...", if I remember correctly, was not directed by James Whale, and did not have the quality displayed in the first two films.

Unfortunately, James Whale's career was short and limited because he was relatively openly gay when Hollywood wouldn't tolerate openness about such issues.

 

[twietee]

I think the first "Frankenstein" was notable for it's originality and the high quality of it's production, direction, cinematography, etc. "Bride...", it could be argued, was technically better, but the original is iconic...especially for Karloff's nuanced portrayal of the monster. He gave the monster some emotional depth...especially amazing considering the restrictions placed upon him by the heavy, inflexible make up and prosthetics that he wore.

"Son...", if I remember correctly, was not directed by James Whale, and did not have the quality displayed in the first two films.

Unfortunately, James Whale's career was short and limited because he was relatively openly gay when Hollywood wouldn't tolerate openness about such issues.

Yes, I'd think The Son of had an other director. It shouldn't be linked too much with the first two, because they were ahead of their time. It's rather good entertainment and I just happen to be very pleased by every Rathbone appearance.

I remember especially loving the scene when he met, tragically, the little girl and when her father brought her ultimately into the celebrating village. Strong stuff, for me at least.

 

[Shrink]

Yes, I'd think The Son of had an other director. It shouldn't be linked too much with the first two, because they were ahead of their time. It's rather good entertainment and I just happen to be very pleased by every Rathbone appearance.

I remember especially loving the scene when he met, tragically, the little girl and hiw her father brought her ultimately into the celebrating village. Strong stuff, for me at least.

That scene with the monster and the child was, in earlier prints of the film, heavily edited and the part showing her actually being thrown in the water was cut. It was felt that it was too shocking for the audience at the time. Later, and in the version shown on my classic movie station, it was restored.

I guess we're less easily shocked...

 

[Huntn]

That scene with the monster and the child was, in earlier prints of the film, heavily edited and the part showing her actually being thrown in the water was cut. It was felt that it was too shocking for the audience at the time. Later, and in the version shown on my classic movie station, it was restored.

I guess we're less easily shocked...

I loved the homage to the original in Young Frankenstein... The little girls says "What should we throw in now?" followed by a close up of Peter Boyle's thoughtful expression.