Movies you've just watched

[Some-Mist]

Some of my memorable moments at The Music Box (sorry, Chicago Theater... wtf... I used to live right by there. How did I mix those two up?)

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Die Hard
The Thing: 70mm (but well color shifted, sadly)
Monokehime
Akira (dubbed - walked out 5 minutes in and got my money back actually, as they advertised it subtitled)
Mulholland Drive
Withnail and I
Blade Runner
The Handmaid

Gotta be some others. Great lineups there. There's a few theaters like that here in San Francisco. I go to The Roxie semi regularly.

what a list. my fear is when I move (not sure when) I won't have something like that by me any longer. of those listed I've only seen the thing there, but it was 35mm and not 70mm.

(chicago theater is great too btw)

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

You were not shocked by it? You were not relieved it was not about endless love and happy-sappy family? Sounds like a "meh" to me.
Just surprised to hear that. Feeling that this is one of the few where one catches up with humanity, though being science-fiction.
Well, to each their own reaction.

I am rarely shocked by films, and I don't mean that in a macho-kind of way, but after a lifetime of watching slashers etc. it just doesn't register the way it used to. Watching Martyrs, Salo, The Whale and Speak no Evil felt like punches to the balls, though, if that gives you a better idea... and don't get me wrong, I am happy that films like Possessor are still produced today, I don't watch most blockbusters, but the few I do watch usually make me wish I hadn't. Possessor tried to be more of a mindfuck movie and less a philosophical exploration of its topics, and while I usually love that approach, my mind possibly wasn't fucked enough in this case. It also had lengths, which Men also had, but Men offers such a rich subtext and gives you so much to think about that I didn't mind the slow parts. With Possessor, there just wasn't that much to think about during the lulls in the action. Still, really cool film, looking forward to watching Infinity Pool.

[Stevens]

Do I have to have seen this as a kid to get it? I watched this for the first time a year ago, and it was kinda shocking to see how boring, unfunny and uninspired many sketches were, particularly when you compare them to the other output of Zucker/ Zucker/ Abrahams.

No, you aren't wrong here. I know my memories of KFM will be much funnier than the reality of watching it again.

I will admittedly always have a soft spot for the Big Jim Slade skit.

[GaijinPunch]

what a list. my fear is when I move (not sure when) I won't have something like that by me any longer. of those listed I've only seen the thing there, but it was 35mm and not 70mm.

(chicago theater is great too btw)

Facebook just reminded me that the Withnail and I thing was exactly 7 years ago. Jesus how time flies.

What city are you looking to head to? San Fran is great for old theaters. I've really only been to two, but there's at least two more that play old films on the regular - and the population here is way lower than Chicago. Go figure.

[NYN]

BL0W 0UT

First. Audiovisual feast start to finish. Very funny opening with low-brow slasher movie antics: oh no, it's not that kind of movie. No? Dang! Well, some times it is! How meta. More romance, much less bare breasts. To carry (Carrie) over the jerk couple of an earlier De Palma picture and making us care about them is a hidden sweet spot that is very well executed. Travolta I never found more likeable in any other role I've seen from him. Nancy Allen as Sally plays a real ditz and it's not really alluring, more sad to watch how she falls in with the wrong kind of man, including Jack Terry. Don't we all know or knew one gal just as that? And Lithgow as Burke. What a creep, so overzealous it's painful. Known for his goofy stuff, I can see now why he qualified for Dexter Season 4. That last scene, though. Was the expression pure misery or already dulled by strong drugs? Oofta. Hard mode ending, certainly.

[Some-Mist]

what a list. my fear is when I move (not sure when) I won't have something like that by me any longer. of those listed I've only seen the thing there, but it was 35mm and not 70mm.

(chicago theater is great too btw)

Facebook just reminded me that the Withnail and I thing was exactly 7 years ago. Jesus how time flies.

What city are you looking to head to? San Fran is great for old theaters. I've really only been to two, but there's at least two more that play old films on the regular - and the population here is way lower than Chicago. Go figure.

I still need to visit San Fran which will happen within the next couple years.

We have family on both coasts who we visit frequently so probably sticking Midwest, we just don’t want to own in the city proper (Chicago) nor want to move to the burbs and renting has been a sink. Grand Rapids is up there because of the location and because they have an AZA zoo we enjoy (she’s a zookeeper so we have to be situated close to one)

I haven’t scoped out the movie theater situation there yet.

Tommy Boy 35mm was perfect, especially with the crowd cheering for every Chicago scene near the end lol

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For Some-Mist,

There's the Oakland Zoo based out of Oakland, CA, if you and your partner decide to relocate to the Bay area (San Francisco/Oakland area). Something to consider.

----------

Checked out Dune Part Two in 4K via streaming. Quite an epic movie with it's alloted 2 hours and 46 minutes running time. I wouldn't be surprised if it garners several Academy Award nominations including Best Director and Best Picture for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards show in February of 2025.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[GaijinPunch]

BL0W 0UT

I posted my thoughts on this a few pages ago, and even added its poster to the movie posters thread. I could sit there and watch him splice tape all day long!

We have family on both coasts who we visit frequently so probably sticking Midwest, we just don’t want to own in the city proper (Chicago) nor want to move to the burbs and renting has been a sink. Grand Rapids is up there because of the location and because they have an AZA zoo we enjoy (she’s a zookeeper so we have to be situated close to one)

Don't buy in Chicago. I learned my lesson. I loved my condo in Wicker Park. By any measure, it was awesome. 2BR and the living room had tons of light, and a lot of space. Great location. However, I didn't want to be a landlord from the west coast, and the only way that city can make ANY fucking money is by cranking up property taxes. It keeps the housing prices artificially lower.

Honestly, I'm glad I'm not in Chicago. It's a great fucking city but man the politics and lack of money really are doing a number on it. I'm pretty left as most people here know, but the unions (teachers especially) own that city. They will get what they want, which drains
the already empty pool of dough. It's pretty wild. California has its own problems, but people want to live here for the weather, so lack of funds is rarely one of the problems. Human feces and people doing super hard drugs in broad daylight is basically a daily occurence.

Tommy Boy 35mm was perfect, especially with the crowd cheering for every Chicago scene near the end lol

I'm sure it was almost a quote-along!

[GaijinPunch]

Alien

Went and saw this for the special screenings they're doing this week. My guess is this is the 4k remaster. It looks quite clean, but there is essentially ZERO grain. The colors do not seem egregiously off, despite the internet on fire about how at least the Aliens remaster is completely degrained and and is an upscale of the BluRay. Sorry, I don't have time to nitpick that shit like I used to.

Anyway, I mean, what's to say? It was awesome as always. Went with some friends - one of whom hadn't seen it. There was a guy next to me that jumped like 3 times.

[NYN]

I could sit there and watch him splice tape all day long!

Yeah, me too! I omitted a sentence in my post, about how slick the tape handling is shown. I wouldn't want to imply that it's "so retro".
Yes, contents of movies age along audiences, though how this was handled is clearly sexy. Don't let it be erased! Hide the good stuff in the ceiling! It WORKS!

[Lord British]

Morvern Callar - 2002 - Lynne Ramsay (UK)



Haven't posted in a while; maybe it's because so many films I've seen lately are kinda boring to talk about. This was a good one though. This stars Samantha Morton as the title's namesake whose boyfriend has just killed himself on Christmas Eve. Before cleaning up the place or doing anything, she goes out to the local bar to hang. She comes back later, body still on the floor, and reads through the bf's suicide note, which includes: instructions to use his debit card for his burial, spend the rest on herself, and lastly print off his novel off the computer and send it in to a specific publisher. Morvern follows none of these directions in exact. Instead of spending money on a funeral, she tells her friends he took off and left her, then cuts up his body and disposes it in the mountains. She does send her bf's novel to a publisher, but deletes his name and types hers instead. From there, a trip to Spain with her friend.

I got off to a rough start with Lynne Ramsey with We Need To Talk About Kevin being the first of hers I've seen. I found that one to be way too simplistic; it's like watching someone kick their dog for two hours while it howls in pain. Then I saw her debut The Ratcatcher and I found that to be quite good. I feel the same about Morvern Callar, it's a total dream-mare of a movie. The camera doesn't judge Morvern and it doesn't have the smell of a pandering feminist film. Ultimately landed pretty well. Nice soundtrack too. Watched on Criterion

[Lord British]

The Heart Of The World - 2000 - Guy Maddin (Canada)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swHMvM ... rt_radio=1

Watch this, it's only 6 minutes. But I think it's pretty amazing, and probably a pretty great introduction to Guy Maddin. Pretty crazy the amount of work that went into a 6 minute movie.

[GaijinPunch]

I got off to a rough start with Lynne Ramsey with We Need To Talk About Kevin being the first of hers I've seen.

How about You Were Never Really Here?

[Lord British]

I got off to a rough start with Lynne Ramsey with We Need To Talk About Kevin being the first of hers I've seen.

How about You Were Never Really Here?

Haven't seen it yet, I'm told it's good.

[Lord British]

The Limey - 1999 - Steven Soderbergh



Decent, but lacks any real tension. It's a revenge film tailor-made for Stamp, who's one of my favorite actors. It's a film of the time where Guy Ritchie was huge, a combination of violence and comedy, but the result here is a film that's a little too lax. Terrence Stamp is God though (and sometimes Zod). Watched on Criterion

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga out on May 24th, 2024 should be well worth the wait. Director George Miller with his latest Mad Mad spinoff prequel to Mad Mad: Road Fury. There's talk about Mr. Miller doing another Mad Max film that takes place after the events that unfold in Furiosa but before what happens in Road Fury with Mad Max and his iconic heavily modified Interceptor car. Apparently, actor Tom Hardy signed up to do two more Mad Max films as part of a 2017 film contract agreement with Mr. Miller. There are plenty of backstories & further tales in the nearby future waiting to be told with the Mad Max mythos/saga.

----------

The upcoming Alien reboot film titled "Alien: Romulus" is slated for an August 16th, 2024 theatrical release stateside -- is about a group of space colonizers who come across an abandoned space station and are terrorized by freaky facehuggers as well as a fearsome Xenomorph entity. Director Fede Alvarez (whom directed the "Don't Breathe" flick and the Evil Dead remake) helms this latest sci-fi horror film franchise starring Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced and David Jonsson getting top billing. Those damn facehuggers are quite fast in this latest Alien flick release! This Alien: Romulus film takes place after the classic and groundbreaking 1979 Alien movie but before what transpires in the superior 1986 Alien sequel.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Vexorg]

The Fall Guy: ***1/2

One of the better Big Dumb Action Movies I've seen lately. The writing is rather uneven and seems to switch genres about every five minutes or so, but I'm pretty sure (most of) the audience isn't watching this for the story. They're watching for the stuntwork, which there's certainly no shortage of in this film. In fact, Ryan Gosling has said that part of his reason for making this film was to campaign for the Academy to add an Oscar category for stuntwork, which has long gone unrecognized. Director Jason Leitch, who has director and producer credits in quite a few notable action films over the past decade, was himself a stuntman for many years before moving to the other side of the camera, and it shows.

In a loose adaptation of the 80s TV show of the same name (Lee Majors and Heather Thomas from the original show make a cameo appearance), Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, the stunt double for egotistical action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor Johnson). A year after an on-set accident left him with a broken back, he is called back to do stuntwork on a (rather cheesy) movie-within-a-movie being directed by his now former girlfriend Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). Shortly after he arrives, he is tasked with finding Ryder, who seems to have disappeared after getting involved with shady characters in Australia. Naturally this results in about half a dozen different action setpieces and a $130 million budget.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Greetings Program.

The third Tron sequel titled Tron: Ares is slated for a USA theatrical release on October 10th, 2025 according to Disney. You might recall that the second sequel of Tron Legacy had a December 18th, 2010 debut in the USA. Actor Jared Leto gets top billing in this 3rd Tron sequel. What new light cycles, tanks and recognizers await us this time around? Futurist designer Syd Mead had a hand in designing the classic light cycles in the groundbreaking 1982 Tron movie (which had a 70mm Super Panavision presentation). Bally Midway released the Tron upright arcade game concurrently with Tron film release in 1982 (but originally wanted to have a level where Tron battles Sark on the Grid but ran out of memory to incorporate it, thus making an entierly seperate arcade game release of Discs of Tron in 1983). Stern did make/sell the Tron Legacy pinball game back in 2011.

----------
Disneyland Factoid: If you checked out Tomorrowland's Starcade arcade joint, they had two Tron arcade cabs setup with two additional CRT monitors located above the respective cabs for the crowds to watch/spectate from 1982 to 1985. How cool was that?
----------

The time gap of this third Tron sequel will have been almost fifteen years later from the second Tron sequel movie release in hindsight (which is too long imho if you stop to think about the very long gaps between each Tron film release anyways). The ol' adage of "Better later than never" applies to this third Tron sequel indeed. It's common knowledge that Disney did some screen tests with actor Jared Leto back in 2016-2017 for a proposed third Tron movie but it went nowhere afterwards. Initial filming started back in January of 2024 in Vancouver, Canada, with the Tron: Ares film.

End of line.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[NYN]

Director Fede Alvarez (whom directed the "Don't Breathe" flick and the Evil Dead remake)

Dang! I like his stuff, so far. While I am done with any more Xenomorph Fantasy. Honestly, I will not watch anything but the original anymore. Which is funny, since when I first came in contact with it, I guess mid-90s, I found it off-putting in pacing, the "action" in the sequel much more appealing. That was exactly what I felt uncouth last time over a decade ago. No more, quite reverse now.

[Lord British]

Titane - 2021 - Julia Ducournau (France)



One of the two I saw Friday for movie night. My friend who chose this one said she already saw it and didn't really like it, but thought it was perfect to watch in a group, and she was right. This is definitely in the top 10 most fucked up movies I've ever seen. It's definitely weird for weirdnesses sake, but hey, someone has to make these movies. Oh God, to explain this one.....

Young girl who seems to be autistic distracts her unloving dad in the car resulting into an accident. She grows up to be an exotic dancer, kills one of her fans, then has sex with a car. Then goes on a murder spree.

And then it gets weird.

She poses as a grown up missing boy (who looks Indian???) and the dad says "Yes, that's him" and takes him in. He is a steroid-addicted fire chief. As our murderous, stripper, transvestite, imposter, protagonist learns the ropes of being a dependable fireman, she has to deal with being impregnated by the car, leaking motor fluid everywhere.

I'll stop there. Rented off Amazon probably

[Lord British]

Walker - 1987 - Alex Cox



Second one for movie night. This is the film that ended Alex Cox's (Repo Man) career. Balls out satire of Manifest Destiny imperialism starring Ed Harris.

Reading Newsweek in the mid 19th-century:



Didn't love it but I had plenty of laughs and I could definitely watch it again. Watched on Blu-Ray

[Lord British]

Multiple Maniacs - 1970 - John Waters



JW's second feature. Absolutely brilliant, I laughed so hard. Watched on Max

[Vexorg]

The Man From Snowy River: **

1982 Australian "Western" based on a famous poem by Banjo Paterson. Naturally, this presents the problem of coming up with enough plot for a 2 hour movie when you have all of 1 page of source material to work with. The contents of the poem itself cover all of about 15 minutes of screen time, with the rest being basically a soap opera plot thrown on top. Kirk Douglas is probably the only name in the cast that will be recognizable to most people in the Northern Hemisphere, but a number of the actors in this film are apparently quite well known within Australia.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The 1983 film by the name of Joysticks finally got the Blu-Ray treatment (restored from the original 35mm film elements in 2K scan that was done back in 2015 and presented in 1080p with 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio). Was released by MVD Rewind Collection on May 7th, 2024. Joysticks' tagline: "More fun than games!" If you buy the Blu-Ray of Joysticks, it comes with a free two-sided mini poster suitable for framing if so desired.

At the 2011 California Extreme show, director Greydon Clark and actor Jim Greenleaf were available for pics & autographs if you bought a dvd copy of Joysticks during their one day special appearance. Of course, I bought a dvd from them and they both signed the outer dvd case -- still have it as a special memento.

From what I recall of the cool Q&A session with Clark and Greenleaf after the film was shown in it's entirety, Clark said that he spent $300,000 usd of his own money getting it filmed with initial filming completed back in 1982 and released nationwide in March of 1983. Clark said that Joysticks was the number one movie at the U.S. film box office during it's theatrical debut/run.

All the arcade games shown throughout the film (inside a rented wherehouse that the internal shots were filmed for the arcade hangout scenes) were rented from a Southern California based vending distributor and had to be returned once filming was completed. Since Clark didn't have any money to pay the various arcade game manufacturers, the stipulation was that he could show them basically as "free advertising", otherwise he couldn't show Joysticks on the silver screen as originally intended. True story, folks.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[vol.2]

Multiple Maniacs - 1970 - John Waters

JW's second feature. Absolutely brilliant, I laughed so hard. Watched on Max

Yesssss. One of our hometown heroes. Was just talking about Waters last night and how he didn't get famous until after Hairspray the Musical came out. Even though his stuff has always had a cult following, he never had any money or anything and he's always just been a part of the community. You're just as likely to see him in a supermarket or a bar around her (although he's getting on in years)

[Lord British]

Multiple Maniacs - 1970 - John Waters

JW's second feature. Absolutely brilliant, I laughed so hard. Watched on Max

Yesssss. One of our hometown heroes. Was just talking about Waters last night and how he didn't get famous until after Hairspray the Musical came out. Even though his stuff has always had a cult following, he never had any money or anything and he's always just been a part of the community. You're just as likely to see him in a supermarket or a bar around her (although he's getting on in years)

And I just heard today that he was hospitalized for a car accident. Hope he's ok

[vol.2]

And I just heard today that he was hospitalized for a car accident. Hope he's ok

Oh nuts. :/ bad news indeed. After doing a bit of searching, it looks like he was released the same day with minor injuries, so I think it'll be alright. But you never know sometimes these thing linger or don't appear for some time after the accident.

I'm looking forward to seeing Liarmouth when it comes out.

[GaijinPunch]

The episode of the Simpsons he was in was amazing.

[vol.2]

My buddy was super incredibly drunk one night outside of the local bar where Waters hangs out and mooned him on the way out the door.

Dude does not hide; you'll see him randomly at the grocery store, or sometimes will just pop up at a house party out of the blue.

[Lord British]

My buddy was super incredibly drunk one night outside of the local bar where Waters hangs out and mooned him on the way out the door.

Dude does not hide; you'll see him randomly at the grocery store, or sometimes will just pop up at a house party out of the blue.

That's awesome