Movies you've just watched

[soprano1]

is Stripes with Bill Murray worth a watch?

It really is, loved it when I was 15. I can also recommend Spies Like Us with Chase/Aykroyd if you're into military/behind enemy lines fun. It's epic.

OK, thank you. I'll watch it together with another one from the 90's I've been meaning to watch since I was a kid, and always heard it was hot shit: Ace Ventura.

[emphatic]

is Stripes with Bill Murray worth a watch?

It really is, loved it when I was 15. I can also recommend Spies Like Us with Chase/Aykroyd if you're into military/behind enemy lines fun. It's epic.

OK, thank you. I'll watch it together with another one from the 90's I've been meaning to watch since I was a kid, and always heard it was hot shit: Ace Ventura.

While I, personally think that Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is even funnier, the first is unique. Another hidden comedy nugget is Strange Brew, where Rick Moranis was at his funniest.

[BrianC]

I just watched a movie directed by the person who played the second Mr. Freeze on the 60s Batman, Otto Preminger. Laura. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Vincent Price was great in it and Gene Tierney is unforgettable as Laura. I like how detective Mark McPherson (played by Dana Andrews) kept playing that little Baseball themed ball bearing game.

[Skykid]

is Stripes with Bill Murray worth a watch?

It really is, loved it when I was 15. I can also recommend Spies Like Us with Chase/Aykroyd if you're into military/behind enemy lines fun. It's epic.

Stripes yes, Spies Like Us no!

Don't listen to Emph, that movie is catastrophically bad. Magically misses the hunour mark by a fair margin. It's awful!

[BrianC]

IMDB's rating average is perplexing. Thor has a higher rating there than Short Circuit. Rope (which I still liked it a bit, despite Jimmy Stewart trying too hard to act older) is rated an 8.0 and The Wrong Man only has a 7.3 average. Some poor episodes of TV shows and weak TV series are rated higher than some very good films.

[iconoclast]

I've been going through 2016. There's still some stuff that's unavailable to me, but I think I've seen most of the year's best films (that I have any interest in). Favorites:

1. The Handmaiden
2. The Wailing
3. A Bride for Rip Van Winkle
4. Her Love Boils Bathwater
5. Rage
6. Shin Godzilla
7. Canola
8. After the Storm
9. Too Young to Die!
10. Our Love Story
HM: The Truth Beneath
(full list)

All great movies, and the top 4 are excellent. A Bride for Rip Van Winkle was the biggest surprise for me. I skipped over it a few times because it didn't sound that interesting, but it was much better than I expected it to be. Same goes for Too Young to Die!, but that was only a surprise because I didn't realize it was from the director of Brass Knuckle Boys. Creepy was probably my biggest disappointment. The first half was great, but I really didn't like the direction it went in. Most of the people I follow seem to rate it higher than me though.

[Skykid]

IMDB's rating average is perplexing. Thor has a higher rating there than Short Circuit. Rope (which I still liked it a bit, despite Jimmy Stewart trying too hard to act older) is rated an 8.0 and The Wrong Man only has a 7.3 average. Some poor episodes of TV shows and weak TV series are rated higher than some very good films.

Bloody hell, you don't take IMDB ratings seriously do you?!

You will never be able to judge the merit of a movie by professional reviewers because, with rare exception, they're mostly full of shit and have no clue what they're talking about. That's why aggregate sites are usually a waste of time except to get a vague frame regarding quality.

For amateur reviewers it's the same situation but 100 times worse.

[BrianC]

I don't take them seriously, I just try to use them for that vague frame. I know they should be taken with a grain of salt. The low rating for Short Circuit didn't change my opinion of the movie, it just made me disappointed that a well made movie didn't get the ratings it deserved from critics. The funny thing is that lost films often have a rating. What the heck?

[soprano1]

The funny thing is that lost films often have a rating. What the heck?

"Hey grandpa, when you were you young did you see London After Midnight?"
"Why boy, back in my day we weren't allowed to be outside after midnight, much less being in London! The krauts were bombing it, didn't you know?!"
"But London After Midnight is from 1927, with Lon Chaney..."
"Oh yes, fine year that was boy! Your great grandpa was moving moonshine all around, and we were allowed to drink..."
"OK nevermind, I'll just give it a 9 or something."

[soprano1]

The Wild Bunch (1969)
Just plain rawness, what a movie! Must have been censored to hell when it came out.

Stripes (1981)
Just funny shit all around, the last 20 minutes were very cool. Truckload of great actors, too!

Ace Ventura Pet Detective (1994)
Nice 90's comedy with crazy-ass Jim Carrey. I was expecting more animal shenanigans.

[GaijinPunch]

Bloody hell, you don't take IMDB ratings seriously do you?!

You will never be able to judge the merit of a movie by professional reviewers because, with rare exception, they're mostly full of shit and have no clue what they're talking about. That's why aggregate sites are usually a waste of time except to get a vague frame regarding quality..

I find for older films they're far more accurate. But of course, you need to take them with a shaker of salt.

1. The Handmaiden
2. The Wailing
3. A Bride for Rip Van Winkle
4. Her Love Boils Bathwater
5. Rage
6. Shin Godzilla
7. Canola
8. After the Storm
9. Too Young to Die!
10. Our Love Story
HM: The Truth Beneath
(full list)

You lost me at Shin Godzilla. So painful...

[soprano1]

Star Wars Original Trilogy Star Despecialized Editions
Not much to say besides what others posted some months ago about these, other than I would pay a DVD set if these were purchasable.

[BrianC]

Star Wars Original Trilogy Star Despecialized Editions
Not much to say besides what others posted some months ago about these, other than I would pay a DVD set if these were purchasable.

Too bad Lucas didn't change his mind about Star Wars the way Spielberg changed his mind about E.T.

It would be cool if London After Midnight was found. I'm definitely interesting in watching some Lon Cheney Sr. flicks. I have the UK Blu-ray of Phantom of the Opera and can't wait to see it.

[soprano1]

It would be cool if London After Midnight was found.

It's quite unfortunate it's lost, as all the others.

[drauch]

It's sorta odd that London became the face of the lost silent era. It was the most successful of Browning and Chaney's collaboration, but reviewers at the time didn't really think it was up to snuff with the rest of their work. But yeah, the makeup is certainly memorable. I really dig Chaney's The Unknown, personally.

I think if anything the biggest loss is Murnau's 4 Devils. I'd cut off some fingers for that. And Colleen Moore's entire filmography. The whole situation is really just the biggest bummer. I try not to think about it. (sighing silently)

[lilmanjs]

The Fate of Lee Kahn. Through his movies in 79, King Hu uses mostly this same cast. This is the first movie he did after A Touch of Zen and feels like he's exploring the Dragon Inn style once again. This time though setting up the Inn is done quite well and had me laughing at a bunch of times. Takes a bit to figure out who is who and it gets some good action going, and a good plot. Lee Kahn is to meet in a small town for a secret meeting for a map that is supposed to go to rebels. In the end there's a lot of double crossing and the movie isn't too bad. Just a shame that there are a lot of wonky camera shots in the final sequence of fights. Not his best, but still worth a watch.

[EmperorIng]

Wow, cool to see you again, drauch!

Lost holy grails for me are stuff like the 8 hour cut of von Stroheim's 1924 Greed (I'm sure it can't live up to the hype, but... just imagine), and the lost footage of The Magnificent Ambersons before the studios ripped apart the 2-and-a-half hours film for the 88-minute (!!!) cut that we know it by today.

Another cinema dream of mine is that the bickering holders of Orson Welles' Don Quixote footage finally stop fighting and combine their reels and let a professional company do the editing - and the dubbing instead of Welles voicing half the cast (and no voices for the rest because no time, no money).

Sometimes though, you do get lucky. After all, do you think anyone 20 years ago thought we'd see the day where we can watch the entirety of Fritz Lang's Metropolis? And heck, they're even gunning for a release of Other Side of the Wind next year, on Netflix of all places!

[iconoclast]

You lost me at Shin Godzilla. So painful...

I had no major problems with it. I like how the story focuses on the politics of how the government deals with the threat, and it's held together nicely with a fast pace and sharp editing. I didn't like it as much as the 1954 original though.

[neorichieb1971]

Kingsman (1st one)

Rather enjoyed the music driven high Adrenaline paced story. Weird casting choices but it gelled rather nicely overall. I waited ages to watch this so will gladly move onto the sequel as soon as its released on blu ray.


Baby Driver

Well, its another stylized music driven, high adrenaline paced story. This is a newer release so I'll say that I prefer this over F+F movies. The driving seems more realistic and raw and doesn't involve cars fighting submarines and jumping out of high rise buildings.

i'd give Kingman 8.5/10 and Baby Driver 8/10.

Both got an extra point for making my subwoofer work hard.

[Skykid]

Both awesome flicks, but don't hold your breath for Kingsman 2, it's quite disappointing.

[GaijinPunch]

You lost me at Shin Godzilla. So painful...

I had no major problems with it. I like how the story focuses on the politics of how the government deals with the threat, and it's held together nicely with a fast pace and sharp editing. I didn't like it as much as the 1954 original though.

The "American" girl, and the other Japanese cookie cutter characters killed it for me.

[Skykid]

You lost me at Shin Godzilla. So painful...

I had no major problems with it. I like how the story focuses on the politics of how the government deals with the threat, and it's held together nicely with a fast pace and sharp editing. I didn't like it as much as the 1954 original though.

The "American" girl, and the other Japanese cookie cutter characters killed it for me.

It was an option on the plane when I went back to the U.K. this summer. The acting, camerawork, casting, dialogue, pacing, plotting killed it for me. But then it was a Japanese movie so I expected no better.

I actually turned it off after 25 minites and watched the Jessie Owens biopic instead. True story.

[Zen]

Spoorloos (1988) - George Sluizer

Very taken with this film.
Watched if for the third time last night. I know what is coming at each step and it still hits hard.

The three main characters are very good and well cast. Johanna ter Steege, charms and is quite believable.
I'll say no more for fear of spoilage.
If you don't know the film, avoid spoilers at all costs.

Recommended with the caveat that this is quite an oppressive film.

[drauch]

Every time I sit in a chair with my hand resting on my head I think about the ending of that film.

[drauch]

Wow, cool to see you again, drauch!

Lost holy grails for me are stuff like the 8 hour cut of von Stroheim's 1924 Greed (I'm sure it can't live up to the hype, but... just imagine), and the lost footage of The Magnificent Ambersons before the studios ripped apart the 2-and-a-half hours film for the 88-minute (!!!) cut that we know it by today.

Another cinema dream of mine is that the bickering holders of Orson Welles' Don Quixote footage finally stop fighting and combine their reels and let a professional company do the editing - and the dubbing instead of Welles voicing half the cast (and no voices for the rest because no time, no money).

Sometimes though, you do get lucky. After all, do you think anyone 20 years ago thought we'd see the day where we can watch the entirety of Fritz Lang's Metropolis? And heck, they're even gunning for a release of Other Side of the Wind next year, on Netflix of all places!

Ah, thank ye! Some other great treasures there. It's a shame too when you read about the Stroheim stuff, how it just sat on a shelf under a different name until a janitor threw it away. So many stories about shitty janitors. It's absurd.

But yeah, I remain hopeful, because like you mentioned stuff is found in the wildest locations. Just sucks that time is definitely not gentle to that old nitrate stock.

[GaijinPunch]

It was an option on the plane when I went back to the U.K. this summer. The acting, camerawork, casting, dialogue, pacing, plotting killed it for me. But then it was a Japanese movie so I expected no better.

I actually turned it off after 25 minites and watched the Jessie Owens biopic instead. True story.

I watched it on a plane too. Somehow finished it though.

[BIL]

It's sorta odd that London became the face of the lost silent era. It was the most successful of Browning and Chaney's collaboration, but reviewers at the time didn't really think it was up to snuff with the rest of their work. But yeah, the makeup is certainly memorable. I really dig Chaney's The Unknown, personally.

I think if anything the biggest loss is Murnau's 4 Devils. I'd cut off some fingers for that. And Colleen Moore's entire filmography. The whole situation is really just the biggest bummer. I try not to think about it. (sighing silently)

zomg hey bud right back to form with lots of cool stuff for me to chase up.

The Wild Bunch (1969)
Just plain rawness, what a movie! Must have been censored to hell when it came out.

Indeed it's RUGGED N RAW. Total amoral Western brutality. Imma rewatch soon.

[Skykid]

Spoorloos (1988) - George Sluizer

Very taken with this film.
Watched if for the third time last night. I know what is coming at each step and it still hits hard.

The three main characters are very good and well cast. Johanna ter Steege, charms and is quite believable.
I'll say no more for fear of spoilage.
If you don't know the film, avoid spoilers at all costs.

Recommended with the caveat that this is quite an oppressive film.

Superb movie.

Also, welcome back Drauch. While you've been MIA we nearly had the fort penetrated by lost NeoGAF SJWs. You're going to have to work twice as hard from now on.

[drauch]

<3<3<3 so glad everyone is still killing it like usual. All is right in the world.

I don't think The Wild Bunch can be equaled. I've pissed away a lot of time watching a bunch of backlog Spaghettis but I don't think anything really comes close to this one. I love the Sergios (Leone, Sollima, Corbucci) and the standalone classics, but I always just want to come back to the Bunch. Especially Oates and Borgnine. The coolest dudes, maaan.

[soprano1]

Any other movie directed by Sam Peckinpah that's worth enjoying?