Movies you've just watched

[CMoon]

but the animation is newer and pristine.

Exactly what I hate about it.

Sort of weird comment given the disparity in animation quality between the early 40's work and everything since; though I'm sure it was an off-hand comment. Bambi may have some of the finest animation of any film, so how 'newer and pristine' weighs in there, I don't know.

I do hope they've cleaned it up on the emmaculate level that Snow White received. The blu ray of Pinnochio is good, but Snow White is eye-sex.

Edit: Oh, I should mention, Bambi 2 was direct to video, so I wouldn't have your hopes up too high. Still, I've never seen it. I was surprised to see them hand off a major title to direct-to-video-hell.

[neorichieb1971]

Pristine as in digitally drawn or whatever, or better suited to blu ray.

Bambi is a 4:3 1:33:1 (or close to it) presentation which has been remastered (it has because its a diamond title). But no matter how much you remaster something its not going to look as good as Bambi 2 with its relatively recent release. It will look shinier and sharper for a start. I watched Princess and the Frog about 3 months ago and I have to say it was mind blowing on blu ray. Better than Snow white.


I just watched Tremors and American Beauty on blu ray tonight. Quite old movies but good none the less. I'd say they hit 3.8/5 on my PQ standards. Not great, but not shabby either.

I just noticed Thelma and Louise has been released State side

[Drum]

Saw Zardoz the other day. It is (mostly) a very great movie.

[CMoon]

Saw Zardoz the other day. It is (mostly) a very great movie.

I concur. Beneath all the psychedelia (which I actually really dig), is a pretty good sci-fi flick if people could get past the 'penis is evil' line. Of course, it is an intentionally strange film, but miles better than much else from this period with good acting, scripting and visuals (despite the crudeness at times.) Its plot is good enough for a remake, but I don't think there's an audience for it.

Bambi is a 4:3 1:33:1 (or close to it) presentation which has been remastered (it has because its a diamond title). But no matter how much you remaster something its not going to look as good as Bambi 2 with its relatively recent release. It will look shinier and sharper for a start. I watched Princess and the Frog about 3 months ago and I have to say it was mind blowing on blu ray. Better than Snow white.

*nods* I'm sure the newer animation is displayed better, but unfortunately I'm not really interested in Disney's new animation and CG techniques. I will eventually watch Princess and the Frog, but I'd like to see Disney take a few more risks than another goddamn princess movie and a bunch of rehashed character designs.

[CMoon]

I know this is TV and not movies, but I've been slowly working my way through World at War. I'm only a few episodes in, but it becomes incredibly dismal (of course), and quite disturbing. It's hard not to think how bullshit the wars are now and how in some ways it seems like we've learned nothing. There are a few parts where it is hard not to be angry at the US for not entering the war earlier, but of course one can't know everything that was going on at the time, and the documentary is very much from a British perspective.

Parts of this should be required viewing for everyone. All the footage of cities burning stay long after the film has been turned off.

[tinotormed]

Haha, just watched Back to the Future. I've just finished watching all three parts! Looks cool when I am traveling to the future or to the past!

Part 1: Marty McFly must get his family back together in 1955.

Part 2: Hill Valley looks awkwardly like hell in 1985, so he must find the sports almanac 1950-2000 and burn it down to save his and Dr. Brown's future.

Part 3: He must find and save Dr. Brown in 1885 and destroy the time machine once and for all in 1985.

[DEL]

Thanks for the In the Heat of the Night recommendation.
Rod Steiger being one of the top 3 all time actors (in my view).
Then there was Warren Oates in it as well. I've been checking his movies as part of my 70s binge.

CMoon - I meant to but that new World at War boxset when I was in London a couple of weeks back, but it wasn't in the store at the time. Will be buying it soon though. I've seen many episodes over the years but it will be good to have the whole thing.

[Skykid]

Thanks for the In the Heat of the Night recommendation.
Rod Steiger being one of the top 3 all time actors (in my view).
Then there was Warren Oates in it as well. I've been checking his movies as part of my 70s binge.

Yeah, great cast isn't it? Rod Steiger absolutely in the top three of all time, 100% agree, one powerful actor.
Warren Oates is great too. If you're on a 70's binge and like him, definitely watch 'Race With the Devil' with Oates and Peter Fonda -it's ace!

[neorichieb1971]

http://twitchfilm.com/news/2010/10/dire ... g-guns.php

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Just recently checked out Santum flick presented in DFX 3D format. Very impressive 3D effects, especially the underwater scenes with the different cave divers.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[CMoon]

Watched Vengeance (Johnnie To, 2009) last night, based on a recommendation from a friend. I rather enjoy this sort of film, and it seems a lot of To's films are available streaming, so I will probably watch more. From comments I get the impression this is not his best film, and to fair, some elements don't work that well. Nontheless, it is a stylish, well-produced thriller. If there was a point that hong kong films felt behind the times, that no longer seems applicable. Indeed, this is pretty much the sort of film I want out of hollywood, but for the most part hollywood isn't interested in. Too bad. I guess I'll be getting all my gritty crime noir stuff from Hong Kong.

[neorichieb1971]

The Town - Blu ray

A really long drawn out movie that presents itself as a soap opera with shoot out scenes. I had to watch it in 2 sittings because I started it at midnight not realizing how long it was. At 2 hours in I fell asleep as I was so tired and I was amazed an hour was still to go. I'd still give it a 4/5 though as it has some good highs amongst a lot of the chit chat story. People will relate it to heat but I for one think heat is a much better movie.

[Daigohji]

Tangled. I've never been a huge fan of the songs in Disney movies. Mulan, in particular, I think would have been a much stronger film without them. I went into Tangled not expecting a musical due to the lack of songs in the trailer I saw, but came out having loved every minute of it. There's really nothing in this movie that deviates from the Disney format that I'm usually cynical about, but it's executed with such charm and artistic beauty that I couldn't resist it. A definite blu-ray purchase when it comes out.

[Acid King]

Fears of the Dark - An animated anthology featuring work by 6 different graphic deisgners. Worth watchin for the awesome black and white art and animation.

[DEL]

Skykid wrote;

If you're on a 70's binge and like him, definitely watch 'Race With the Devil' with Oates and Peter Fonda -it's ace!

Saw it a long time ago, if its the Devil Worshippers/Caravan film I'm thinking of. Yup, good 70s film!

Now I'm beginning to check Rod Steiger films. Saw The Illustrated Man yesterday (from the Ray Bradbury sci fi book). Weird film. Not too good.
Steiger was great in a Fistful of Dynamite 1971, even if his Mexican accent was Cuban
Next to find the film where he plays many roles, including a priest.
Then to get back on the Warren Oates search and see his rare film Cockfighter

[CMoon]

I'm no kind of Warren Oates expert, but jesus, isn't Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia some sort of definitive Warren Oates experience?

Look's like I'll have to torrent cockfighter if I want to see it.

[drauch]

Alfredo Garcia is such a damn good film. I brought that back home from my movie stash just the other night. Should have grabbed Cockfighter as well. Always meant to watch it, but I can say that about the 1,000+ whatever films I own as well because I suck

[CMoon]

The download of Cockfighter went quick, so I watched the whole goddamn thing. Again, I think Oates magnum opus is Alfredo, but Cockfighter is a weird ass film that 70's lovers should enjoy. The civilized part of me hated what I was watching, and even the non-animal-killing parts were pretty repugnant, but it was some kind of a film.

Definitely adds a little context to my life. Further discussion of this film belongs in the 'I'm drunk' thread.

[DEL]

Right, I'm gonna check Cockfighter.

I bought Alfredo a while back.
Plus Two Lane Blacktop.

[EinhanderZwei]

Also watched the original 'Assault on Precinct 13', which was pretty awesome.

Yeeeah, that's an awesome one! Napoleon Wilson seems to be a blueprint for characters like Snake Plissken, Leon (The Professional) or even Machete

Another added bonus was the excellent John Carpenter soundtrack, showing off early synthesizers and drum machines.

The main theme heavily reminded me of Xenon 2 theme
Compare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGME6jCwqw0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-tiRnac2k

[neorichieb1971]

Spartacus 1960 - Blu ray B

I love the Kirk Douglas kiss (C) where he glues his lips onto Jean Simmons. I wonder if kissing was like that in the 60's? Its a pretty epic movie that deserves some recognition with the younger folks.

Shrek 1 (of the 4 movie set)

Absolutely loved it.

[CMoon]

Jesus christ, fuckin' watched smokey and the bandit streaming off netflix. Should be auto-cross-post to the 'I'm drunk' thread.

Just want to point out, that while Smokey is clearly dogshit, it is a much more lovable grade of dogshit than what's come since then. Give me a dumbass movie from the 90's or later I can love as much as this stupid-ass film.

[RGC]

.

[Shocky]

Tropa de elite 2 - As good as the original, except this one attacts the media and politicians in addition to drug dealers and corrupt/psycho cops. Great action scenes, great.. everything.

Auschwitz - Uwe Böll strikes again.. he made this one with a tiny budget at the sets of Bloodrayne 3 and used the same resources and even some same actors. The result is a weird mixture of document and dramatization, and even though it's quite crude, it does have some memorable moments - especially the one seen in the teaser. Even Uwe Böll doesn't call this a movie, but a "comment". He claims to make all those crappy video game adaptations to raise funds so he can make films like Darfur and this. And well, I guess I believe him. I also met Uwe and actually he's quite a nice dude even though he has committed such crimes against movie audiences.

Mishen (The Target) - 2,5 hour long russian scifi film. Pretty good too, some influences from Tarkovski, but with big budget and some funny sequences too. Russian upper class people are bored and go to The Target, a mysterious place which has a strange effect on people: their aging stops. Unfortunately there are other effects too. It gets more and more twisted towards the end. Recommended. I hope the russians make more stuff like this.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Checked out the cool "I'm Number Four" sci-fi flick at the local movie theater...much better than what the professonial movie review's listed rating of two & half star rating. Seems like that it will garner a sequel to see what other aliens look like since they are based on different parts of the globe. The action sequences are top notch.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[drauch]

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

"What're these fuckin' iguanas doing on my coffee table?"

[1up]

Watched Repo Men this weekend. Its a story seen a million times before, but what this movie really has going for it is the special effets. holy shit, I've seen nothing like it.

[CMoon]

Watched the blu ray of Forbidden Planet. An amazing sci fi flick for the late 50's, and hugely influential. Whether it is actually a great movie though is debatable. Most of the acting is wooden and little better than your average B flick, save for Walter Pidgeon's memorable performance as Morbius. What's all important here though are the early special effects sound track.

This isn't a film I need to see that often, but it is the closest thing early science fiction has to a classic.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I'd say The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (Vynález zkázy) by Karel Zeman trumps Forbidden Planet easily (reportedly the US dub sucks, but you can or could watch it on YouTube with the original voices) and IS one hell of a classic. So does The Incredible Shrinking Man.
P.S. Here it is.

[Skykid]

Watched the blu ray of Forbidden Planet. An amazing sci fi flick for the late 50's, and hugely influential. Whether it is actually a great movie though is debatable. Most of the acting is wooden and little better than your average B flick, save for Walter Pidgeon's memorable performance as Morbius. What's all important here though are the early special effects sound track.

This isn't a film I need to see that often, but it is the closest thing early science fiction has to a classic.

True classic. The acting is wooden apart from Nielsen - dude's a great actor.