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Post by wmcclain on Oct 8, 2022 13:23:03 GMT
Your comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated! The title says "classics" but we are always interested to know what classic film lovers have been watching, whatever the material.  |
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 8, 2022 13:49:58 GMT
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Oct 8, 2022 14:06:20 GMT
Misbehaviour (2020). The Seagull (2018). Little Woods (2018).
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spiderwort
Junior Member
@spiderwort
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 9,420
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Post by spiderwort on Oct 8, 2022 14:16:50 GMT
First viewings:A Street Cat Named Bob (2016):The true story of how James Bowen, a London street musician and recovering drug addict, has his life transformed when he meets a stray ginger cat. Wonderful tale of redemption and love, beautifully directed by Roger Spottiswood, with outstanding performances by all the cast, including, of course, Bob the Cat. A beautiful film. Highly recommended. 
The Secret Garden (1993):Agnieska Holland’s outstanding version of this children’s classic, executed to near perfection in all artistic departments. It’s an earth-cherishing drama about the restorative powers of nature, friendship, and nurturing, something I think both children and adults can relate to. Highly recommended.  The Great Gilly Hopkins (2013):12-year-old wisecracking Gilly Hopkins (Sophie Nélisse) finds herself shuffled from foster home to foster home until she meets Maime Trotter (Kathy Bates). A very good film, with some wonderful performances, especially by Bates, who simply shines, Glenn Close as Gilly’s grandmother, and, of course, Sophie Nélisse — with nods to Octavia Spencer, Bill Cobb, and director Stephen Herek, who binds it all together so well. Highly recommended for the cast alone, and for those interested in a moving family drama.  Queen Bees (2021):After reluctantly agreeing to move in to a senior's home, a woman (Ellen Burstyn) encounters a clique of mean-spirited women and an amorous widower. Not a great film by any means, but worth seeing for the wonderful cast, all of whom are aging well, and who, in this film, play characters facing the realities of old-age, while looking for joy in the face of adversities. 
Zeus and Roxanne (1997):The story of a touching friendship between a dog and a dolphin, which shows how the spontaneity and playfulness of animals can engender the same qualities in humans. Kathleen Quinlan is a an ocean scientist and Steve Guttenberg is a musician whose lives become entwined when Guttenberg’s son’s dog falls in love with the dolphin Quinlan is researching. A quite enjoyable family film, especially for those who love animals.  Re-watches:True Grit (1969):A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn teenager track down her father's murderer in Indian Territory. This is the first film version, directed by Henry Hathaway, and I really enjoy it. I like the story (read the novel, too, long ago), and really enjoy John Wayne and the great supporting cast (Robert Duvall, Jeff Corey, et al). But I especially love Kim Darby in it. She’s the perfect Mattie in my book. Have always wished she’d had a more substantial career. Haven’t seen the Coen Bros. version, but have a feeling that if I had, I would still prefer this one.   Philomena (2013):The true story of an elderly Irish woman and an Oxford-educated journalist searching for the toddler son the woman gave up for adoption as an unwed teen living in a convent. Nominated for 4 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actress, Judi Dench, Best adapted screenplay, and Best music.) A beautiful film, very moving and at times funny, with a great performance by Ms. Dench. Highly recommended.  War Games (1983):A young man finds a back door into a military central computer in which reality is confused with game-playing, possibly starting World War III. A scary and intelligent thriller. Highly recommended. Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019):I needed some music I love, and I knew I would find it here. What an utterly amazing voice this woman had! And although she can no longer sing because of her Parkinson’s disease, her spirit is good, and she’s writing books, telling stories, and living a good life surrounded by family and friends. So all is not lost. I heard her on an interview this week, and she said, “I miss singing. I don’t miss performing, but I miss being able to sing.” Well, in this documentary sings a lot, and it’s wonderful! (Available on HBO Max.)
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 8, 2022 14:27:51 GMT
True Grit (1969): [...] Haven’t seen the Coen Bros. version, but have a feeling that if I had, I would still prefer this one. The Coen Bros is very good. A rare case (for someone as loyal to older films as I am) where I find the remake more rewatchable. Whoever thought Jeff Bridges would be the John Wayne of his era? The original: I can't get past the 1960s hair-care and novelty casting of Glenn Campbell. Fine book, too.
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Post by timshelboy on Oct 8, 2022 15:18:13 GMT
Your comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated! The title says "classics" but we are always interested to know what classic film lovers have been watching, whatever the material. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA 1937 Ronald Colman & Madeleine Carroll?
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Post by wmcclain on Oct 8, 2022 15:19:40 GMT
Your comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated! The title says "classics" but we are always interested to know what classic film lovers have been watching, whatever the material. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA 1937 Ronald Colman & Madeleine Carroll? Correct!
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Post by teleadm on Oct 8, 2022 18:44:29 GMT
Another it's only sunny at evenings week, our neighbour has a horror week, and I've watched a few in that direction.  Try our Swedish Prinskorvar while you read my long post. tastes better with mustard Over to the movies:  The Night Listener 2006 directed by Patrick Stetner. This is one of Robin Williams more serious roles, as a night speaker on radio. He is sent a pre-edited book of a young sick kid telling stories, and he decides to travel there to Wisconsin to meet the young sick kid, but residents have only heard about the kid and never seen him, yet gathered to protect a kid they have never seen. It takes awhile before the story develops, and there is about 30 minutes that really made one guessing. Just OK but Williams was good.  The Brood 1979 directed by David Cronenberg. A man (Art Hindle) tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's (Oliver Reed) therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife (Samantha Eggar), amidst a series of brutal murders by strangely deformed children. Is there a connection? Since it's Horror Challenge Month in a neighbour room, I thought I could watch a few Horror movies myself, movies that I've pushed back for some reason or others. This one I had never seen before. It takes it's little time until a creepy feeling comes sneaking upon one, but I wouldn't say I was jumped scared. The slasher parts, I guess, might be rather tame by today's normal slashing in movies. It must have something and/or historical value since Criterion restored it. It wasn't really for me but those who likes this sort of movies might see something I didn't see, but interesting to at last having seen it myself anyway.  Next Stop, Greenwich Village 1976 directed by Paul Mazursky. Simply put it's about the ups and downs of life as experienced by a group of aspiring young artists in the early Fifties (1953) New York. Especially following Larry Lapinsky (Lenny Baker) from the time he moves from his mother (Shelley Winters) and father (Mike Kellin), meets all kind of people, to the time he's on his way to Hollywood. Comedy, romance, drama and in one case tragedy. Said to give a realistic view of living in The Village in the early 1950's among the wannabe's, the hasbeen's and other hopefuls. It feels realistic but not all are very sympathetic, some are very selfish and some have created an image about themselves that they can't break out of it. Sadly Lenny Baker passed away in AIDS 1982. Early roles for Christopher Walken and Jeff Goldblum. Well worth searching out if it sounds interesting.  Interesting location of above movie, Café Reggio in Manhattan, said to have the world's oldest Espresso machine that still works.  Baron Blood aka Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga 1972 directed by Mario Bava. A young man, visiting the castle of a murderous ancestor in Austria, accidentally brings his dead relative back to life - searching for new victims, but there is a formula to reverse the spell, only it accidentally burned up. Since this movie has occultism and supernatural spells, it's only natural that it doesn't follow any logic, and I buy that. To my own surprise I actually liked this movie, it has many good scenes and chases and it takes it's story seriously. not on a 10/10 level but at least around 6,5 to 7/10. There is blood but not too much. Joseph Cotten, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girroti fills out their roles well, but the real lead role as the ancestor was played by someone named Antonio Cantafora, who I know very little about. The version I watched was 8 minutes longer than out old site states and had the original soundtrack by someone called Stelvio Cipriani that some thinks is annoying, it do sound like elevator music at the start and during end titles, but maybe it was a signal that this was just a movie and one shouldn't be too scared.  Hidden River aka Rio Escondido 1948, Mexican movie directed by Emilio Fernández.drinkable A young teacher (Maria Felix) is handpicked and sent by the Mexican President himself, to travel to the desert town of Rio Escondido to accomplish the mission of bringing education to the poorest people. Once there she has to fight the evil landlord of the town. He has transformed the town into his own property, imposing his will and spreading death everywhere. He whips men, women and horses, and doesn't shy away from shooting people in the back, even kids. A Smallpox epidemic nearly changes everything. There is a lot of Socialist propaganda mixed with Catholic beliefs in this movie. But it also has an interesting story to tell too, and bringing education to the poorest is an important matter. My main reason was that I wanted to see Mexican superstar Maria Felix on her own home turf, and this movie didn't disappoint. Beautiful black and white cinematography by Gabriel Figueroa (Oscar nominated for The Night of the Iguana 1964). Not a masterpiece, but my feelings for this movie is very positive, and it have a good message about the importance of education. The Hidden River is a stream underneath the ground some foots down, that needs to be boiled to be drinkable.  The Gorilla 1939 directed by Alan Dwan and based on a stage play by Ralph Spence from 1925, filmed before in 1927 and 1930. Remember seeing a picture from this movie in Dennis Gifford's "A Pictorial History of Horror Movies" from 1973. It's a Horror Comedy Parody filled with clumsy detectives, mysterious butler, screaming housemaid, strange disappearances, trap doors, secret passages, a young heiress, old house and a gorilla on the loose. A story that was transformed into a Ritz Brothers vehicle, plus well-known old time horror actors Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. I'm not very familiar with The Ritz Brothers frenetic comedy style, but here it was just frenetic and not so funny, actually rather tiresome. The old dark house with secrets set-up unfortunately didn't work this time around. Fun to have seen though. Something for Bela completists maybe. How did an accomplished director like Alan Dwan got involved in this?  Goin' to Town 1935 directed by Alexander Hall. The story is very thin, a newly rich widow goes to Buenos Aires to watch horse races, buy's a New York outskirts Estate and marries an English Lord or Earl. It's Mae West all over the place and I'm surprised what the Hays office thought some sexual innuendos was OK. Mae West could have used a stronger leading man than Paul Cavanagh. "Mae West Cleo Borden: Yeah, for a long time I was ashamed of the way I lived. Other Fellow: You mean to say you reformed? Mae West Cleo Borden: No, I got over being ashamed." It's an OK watch.  In the 1950's there was this Mae West doll, looks nothing like her, but if you wanna scare your kids... Join the Russian Army, once in Ukraine low down all weapons and defect, wave the white flag, that's the way to get out and seek asylum from a crazy man at the helm Until Next Week! |
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Post by mikef6 on Oct 8, 2022 19:06:51 GMT
An all TV series programming week for me.
Lucy Worsley Investigates. Worsley - author, historian, curator – guides us through historical topics to get at the truth of what really happened. Her witty narration is a delight to listen to.
“The Princes In The Tower” Season 1, Episode 1 (May 15, 2022)
“Madness Of King George” Season 1, Episode 2 (May 22, 2022)
“The Black Death” Season 1, Episode 3 (May 28, 2022)
“The Witch Hunts” Season 1, Episode 4 (June 8, 2022)
Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths and Secrets
“Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War” Season 2, Episode 2 (September 5, 2021)
Star Trek: Picard. For the first 3 episodes, I was in doubt that I would ever finish the season. Also, Alison Pill seemed inadequate for the task especially considering the talent in the rest of the cast. But #4 completely changed my mind. More action. More reveals. And Pill stepped up with some fine work. Highly recommended. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fans will want to take note.
“Stardust City Rag” Season 1, Episode 5 (February 20, 2020)
“The Impossible Box” Season 1, Episode 6 (February 27, 2020)
“Nepenthe” Season 1, Episode 7 (March 5, 2020)
“Broken Pieces” Season 1, Episode 8 (March 12, 2020)
“Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” Season 1, Episode 9 (March 19, 2020)
“Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2” Season 1, Episode 10 (March 26, 2020)
Poiroit
“Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case” Season 13, Episode 5 (August 24, 2014)
Van Der Valk
“Blood in Amsterdam” Season 2, Episode 2 (February 25, 2022)
Frankie Drake Mysteries. A CBC production. Historical setting in 1920s Toronto. Frankie (Lauren Lee Smith) and partner Trudy Clarke (Chantel Riley) run the first detective agency in town staffed by women. Ernest Hemingway has a small recurring role from when he was a reporter for the Toronto Star. Much in the same vein as "Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries" and "Miss Scarlet And The Duke." So, if you enjoyed these two, check out Frankie and Trudy.
“Mother Of Pearl” Season 1, Episode 1 (June 15, 2019)
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Post by politicidal on Oct 8, 2022 20:57:08 GMT
First Viewings:
Captain Caution (1940) 4/10
The Wasp Woman (1959) 6/10
D. O. A. (1950) 8/10
SAS: Red Notice (2021) 3/10
The Corruptor (1999) 7/10
A Life Less Ordinary (1997) 7/10
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Post by mikef6 on Oct 9, 2022 5:08:13 GMT
spiderwort I am constantly amazed and disappointed whenever I see the Coen’s True Grit on a “best” list or praised by some regulars who I always read and respect. The Coen version is a scene-for-scene remake (often a shot-for-shot) of Henry Hathaway’s 1969 Oscar winner. At first, it was defended by saying, “It’s closer to the book than the early film.” But it isn’t. The John Wayne starrer is very close including large swatches of dialog right off the page and having the characters not use any contractions. The one scene in the Coen’s which is new is not from the novel. The usually fine Jeff Bridges lets an ugly beard and gravelly whiskey voice (that could not always be distinctly understood) do his acting for him. To me, the Coen’s “True Grit” is exactly what people mean when they talk about unnecessary remakes. The Coens have not had good luck with re-makes. Consider “The Ladykillers.” The Hathaway/Wayne version is THE version to see. Accept no substitute.
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soggy
Sophomore
@soggy
Posts: 809
Likes: 1,350
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Post by soggy on Oct 9, 2022 5:18:06 GMT
Men (Alex Garland, 2022) I've had mixed feeling on every single one of Alex Garland's films as a director, and this keeps that pattern… but I can honestly say that it's the first one that I've watched and immediately decided that I liked it (in contrast I liked Annihilation after I had some time to really take it in, and I decided I didn't care for Ex Machina after a similar amount of time). I found this film effective, unnerving and genuinely disturbing at points. 8/10
Lake of the Dead (Kåre Bergstrøm, 1958) Considered a classic of Norwegian cinema, this film (and the novel it is based on) are held very highly by some accounts… personally, I wasn't a fan. The film has a wonderful atmosphere to it, but it felt almost like a supernatural Scooby-Doo episode. It wants to have it all and really doesn't succeed in any of it in my opinion… but that's just me. Again, it's very well thought of by many sources, so maybe I'm the one whose completely off. Still, it's my take and I give the score, so 3/10
Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980) Of the three horror movies Jamie Lee Curtis had come out in 1980 (this, The Fog and Terror Train), this is easily the worst. It gets point for disco music playing during the final show down because I don't think I've ever seen that before, but can't say I'm a fan. 3/10
Hereditary (Ari Aster, 2018) After a couple bad movies in a row, I decided to watch one I was pretty much guaranteed to like. I hadn't seen this one, but I loved Midsommar and I've heard nothing but good things about this. Well, it was good, but honestly I found it more depressing than "scary." It's a melancholy film about dealing with loss, and maybe I got too emotionally invested as a mom, but it hurt while watching it. Still, very well done, even if I still prefer Midsommar. 8/10
The Curse of La Llorona (Michael Chaves, 2019) My entire review can be summed up with the following gif:  2/10
The Gallows (Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing, 2015) I've come to a slightly embarrassing conclusion; bad found footage horror films are good for my soul. This is not a good movie, but I had fun with it during its run time, giggling the entire way through. 4/10
Scare Package (Various, 2019) Comedic horror anthology film (made by different directors) that looks at the tropes we all know and love (or hate in some cases). A very mixed bag. Some of the stories are legit funny (I loved the segment in the woods and one about the killer coming back to life repeatedly), others not so much. Fairly entertaining though, just not very "good". 5/10
Ebola Syndrome (Herman Yau, 1996) Pretty unpleasant Hong Kong exploitation flick about a murder/rapist who contacts Ebola and decides to spread it while he continues doing his, you know, usual murderer/rapist stuff. It's a... unique film, well done in terms of the special effects and gore, but rather poorly paced. 6/10
Studio 666 (BJ McDonnell, 2022) A horror comedy in which the band The Foo Fighters, go to a murder house to record a new album. Demonic possession, murder and rock and roll occur. This movie is surprisingly funny. It's poorly acted given that the band are obviously not actors, but that really just adds to the ridiculousness in some cases as they they're just playing caricatures of themselves. 7/10
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Emilio Miraglia, 1971) Weird little Italian horror movie with a bit of everything. Random S&M murders that could be removed without changing the plot (and actually with removal would have made a more consistent tone)? Check. Family members being killed off one by one? Check. Evelyn coming out of her grave? Check and check. It's really kind of got it all. It's not great by any means, and there's some really weird choices to it, but it was entertaining for the run time. 5/10
Deadstream (Joseph and Vanessa Winter, 2022) Alright everyone, this is a gem. It's found footage horror movie about a disgraced YouTube celebrity trying to make a comeback spending the night in a haunted house and live steaming it. It’s super low budget, and some of the special effects are a bit too cheesy, but it makes up for it with some great scenes and wonderful parody of some YouTube channels. I do not say this lightly, but if you have Shudder, check this out. It nails the parody of youtube "stars" and makes for a really fun found footage movie. 8/10
The City of the Dead (John Llewellyn Moxey, 1960) Old Christopher Lee movie involving Satanists, witchcraft, human sacrifices… you know, the usual. Not one of the standout films in his career, but fairly fun. 6/10
Q: The Winged Serpent (Larry Cohen, 1982) This movie is a love letter to the old Ray Harryhausen films of the 50s and 60s, but with a cynical 80s edge and it is so damn charming. David Carradine just looks like he's having a blast. 6/10
Hellraiser (David Bruckner, 2022) Well, it is probably the best Hellraiser movie since the first, which is sadly not saying much as bad as many of those have been. Hellraiser is one of my favorite horror movies, so much like those who keep opening the box, I will continue seeking out the sensations of the first movie while only receiving pain.. well, at least this one is entertaining at times though. 6/10
Murder-Rock: Dancing Death (Lucio Fulci, 1984) Flashdance meets Giallo in this ridiculous little film from Fulci. Not anywhere near as violent as the director's usual work, and honestly the plot isn't that great... BUT FLASHDANCE MEETS GIALLO! Worth a watch. 6/10
Island of Lost Souls (Erle C. Kenton, 1932) I watched this on a whim because my subscription to the Criterion channel is about to expire and it was only 70 minutes so I could finish it in time… and was surprised by how good it was! An absolutely wonderful classic that manages to adapt a book I don't even like (The Island of Dr. Moreau) and turn it into a wonderful atmospheric film. Charles Laughton is wonderful as Moreau, we get a brief appearance from Bela Lugosi and it's pre-code so there's some fun implications that certainly would not have made it into the film even a few years later. This is a wonderful film for any classic film fan. 9/10
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Post by stryker on Oct 9, 2022 9:32:02 GMT
Re-watches:True Grit (1969):A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn teenager track down her father's murderer in Indian Territory. This is the first film version, directed by Henry Hathaway, and I really enjoy it. I like the story (read the novel, too, long ago), and really enjoy John Wayne and the great supporting cast (Robert Duvall, Jeff Corey, et al). But I especially love Kim Darby in it. She’s the perfect Mattie in my book. Have always wished she’d had a more substantial career. Haven’t seen the Coen Bros. version, but have a feeling that if I had, I would still prefer this one.
Hi Spidey, You saw some wonderful films this week. But first, because I know how much you love this board and how hard you try to keep it alive, let me apologize for not having posted my weekly viewings on this thread yet. Even in the best of circumstances, Saturday evening in South Africa is a difficult time for me take an hour or so out of the lives of my ailing partner and I to post on this thread. But last night I did just that, trawling through hundreds of pictures to find just the right ones, and even writing short - but longer than my usual efforts, heartfelt reviews of the fascinating films I watched last week. They include Martin Ritt's heart-wrenching and beautiful SOUNDER - which I rewatched for the first time since seeing it on the big screen fifty years ago. Then I accidentally closed the tab and everything was gone, lost in cyberspace. I was gutted, and feel like I have let you guys on this thread down. It's been a hell of a last few weeks for me and I am emotionally and physically drained - my lady decided to go off her chronics after the medical aid stopped paying for them; even though we can afford to pay for them ourselves, she thought she was doing this as a point of principal, but her health took a rapid downhill turn within days and I had to intervene and put my foot down. She's back on the chronics and feeling more comfortable now. Days after she got back on her meds and I could breathe easier, I took a fall off a concrete pavement chest first into the road and while I didn't break any bones and my bulky leather jacket absorbed some of the impact, I still feel like I went a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson and he landed a few sledgehammer blows to my chest and shoulder. There are so many e-mail alerts and responses from these boards I have in my inbox and haven't managed to get back to yet - including one from young soggy; who recently started contributing to this weekly thread (thanks dude). What I am trying to say in my long winded way is that sometimes "the spirit is willing but the the flesh is weak". However, what I am really popping up here for today is to urge you to watch the Coen brothers 2010 adaptation of TRUE GRIT. While it pays some respectful hommage to the 1969 Hathaway film, it is, IMHO, a sublime and beautiful western so good it transcends its genre. It's truly a labor of love, made with a passion and craft and care that takes ones breath away. Bridges, as Rooster, and Hailee Steinfeld, as Mattie, are a match made in movie heaven and so deserve the Oscar nominations they received for their subtle and stunning teamwork here. Like you, I thoroughly enjoy the 1969 film, but, nostalgia aside, the Coen brothers screen adaptation of the novel is in a whole 'nother league. I urge you with all my heart and soul to watch it. Here are some still images from the film, and a short documentary about Richard Deakins' extraordinary cinematography. TRUE GRIT (2010) deserved its 10 Oscar nominations. Please watch it if you can Spidey.      ![]()   
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Post by stryker on Oct 9, 2022 9:46:11 GMT
Men (Alex Garland, 2022) I've had mixed feeling on every single one of Alex Garland's films as a director, and this keeps that pattern… but I can honestly say that it's the first one that I've watched and immediately decided that I liked it (in contrast I liked Annihilation after I had some time to really take it in, and I decided I didn't care for Ex Machina after a similar amount of time). I found this film effective, unnerving and genuinely disturbing at points. 8/10
Lake of the Dead (Kåre Bergstrøm, 1958) Considered a classic of Norwegian cinema, this film (and the novel it is based on) are held very highly by some accounts… personally, I wasn't a fan. The film has a wonderful atmosphere to it, but it felt almost like a supernatural Scooby-Doo episode. It wants to have it all and really doesn't succeed in any of it in my opinion… but that's just me. Again, it's very well thought of by many sources, so maybe I'm the one whose completely off. Still, it's my take and I give the score, so 3/10
Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980) Of the three horror movies Jamie Lee Curtis had come out in 1980 (this, The Fog and Terror Train), this is easily the worst. It gets point for disco music playing during the final show down because I don't think I've ever seen that before, but can't say I'm a fan. 3/10
Hereditary (Ari Aster, 2018) After a couple bad movies in a row, I decided to watch one I was pretty much guaranteed to like. I hadn't seen this one, but I loved Midsommar and I've heard nothing but good things about this. Well, it was good, but honestly I found it more depressing than "scary." It's a melancholy film about dealing with loss, and maybe I got too emotionally invested as a mom, but it hurt while watching it. Still, very well done, even if I still prefer Midsommar. 8/10
The Curse of La Llorona (Michael Chaves, 2019) My entire review can be summed up with the following gif: 2/10
The Gallows (Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing, 2015) I've come to a slightly embarrassing conclusion; bad found footage horror films are good for my soul. This is not a good movie, but I had fun with it during its run time, giggling the entire way through. 4/10
Scare Package (Various, 2019) Comedic horror anthology film (made by different directors) that looks at the tropes we all know and love (or hate in some cases). A very mixed bag. Some of the stories are legit funny (I loved the segment in the woods and one about the killer coming back to life repeatedly), others not so much. Fairly entertaining though, just not very "good". 5/10
Ebola Syndrome (Herman Yau, 1996) Pretty unpleasant Hong Kong exploitation flick about a murder/rapist who contacts Ebola and decides to spread it while he continues doing his, you know, usual murderer/rapist stuff. It's a... unique film, well done in terms of the special effects and gore, but rather poorly paced. 6/10
Studio 666 (BJ McDonnell, 2022) A horror comedy in which the band The Foo Fighters, go to a murder house to record a new album. Demonic possession, murder and rock and roll occur. This movie is surprisingly funny. It's poorly acted given that the band are obviously not actors, but that really just adds to the ridiculousness in some cases as they they're just playing caricatures of themselves. 7/10
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Emilio Miraglia, 1971) Weird little Italian horror movie with a bit of everything. Random S&M murders that could be removed without changing the plot (and actually with removal would have made a more consistent tone)? Check. Family members being killed off one by one? Check. Evelyn coming out of her grave? Check and check. It's really kind of got it all. It's not great by any means, and there's some really weird choices to it, but it was entertaining for the run time. 5/10
Deadstream (Joseph and Vanessa Winter, 2022) Alright everyone, this is a gem. It's found footage horror movie about a disgraced YouTube celebrity trying to make a comeback spending the night in a haunted house and live steaming it. It’s super low budget, and some of the special effects are a bit too cheesy, but it makes up for it with some great scenes and wonderful parody of some YouTube channels. I do not say this lightly, but if you have Shudder, check this out. It nails the parody of youtube "stars" and makes for a really fun found footage movie. 8/10
The City of the Dead (John Llewellyn Moxey, 1960) Old Christopher Lee movie involving Satanists, witchcraft, human sacrifices… you know, the usual. Not one of the standout films in his career, but fairly fun. 6/10
Q: The Winged Serpent (Larry Cohen, 1982) This movie is a love letter to the old Ray Harryhausen films of the 50s and 60s, but with a cynical 80s edge and it is so damn charming. David Carradine just looks like he's having a blast. 6/10
Hellraiser (David Bruckner, 2022) Well, it is probably the best Hellraiser movie since the first, which is sadly not saying much as bad as many of those have been. Hellraiser is one of my favorite horror movies, so much like those who keep opening the box, I will continue seeking out the sensations of the first movie while only receiving pain.. well, at least this one is entertaining at times though. 6/10
Murder-Rock: Dancing Death (Lucio Fulci, 1984) Flashdance meets Giallo in this ridiculous little film from Fulci. Not anywhere near as violent as the director's usual work, and honestly the plot isn't that great... BUT FLASHDANCE MEETS GIALLO! Worth a watch. 6/10
Island of Lost Souls (Erle C. Kenton, 1932) I watched this on a whim because my subscription to the Criterion channel is about to expire and it was only 70 minutes so I could finish it in time… and was surprised by how good it was! An absolutely wonderful classic that manages to adapt a book I don't even like (The Island of Dr. Moreau) and turn it into a wonderful atmospheric film. Charles Laughton is wonderful as Moreau, we get a brief appearance from Bela Lugosi and it's pre-code so there's some fun implications that certainly would not have made it into the film even a few years later. This is a wonderful film for any classic film fan. 9/10 Time, it is so precious, and it is a thing we never have enough of.
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Post by stryker on Oct 9, 2022 9:54:41 GMT
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spiderwort
Junior Member
@spiderwort
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 9,420
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Post by spiderwort on Oct 9, 2022 12:09:46 GMT
Re-watches:
True Grit (1969):A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn teenager track down her father's murderer in Indian Territory. This is the first film version, directed by Henry Hathaway, and I really enjoy it. I like the story (read the novel, too, long ago), and really enjoy John Wayne and the great supporting cast (Robert Duvall, Jeff Corey, et al). But I especially love Kim Darby in it. She’s the perfect Mattie in my book. Have always wished she’d had a more substantial career. Haven’t seen the Coen Bros. version, but have a feeling that if I had, I would still prefer this one.
Hi Spidey, You saw some wonderful films this week. But first, because I know how much you love this board and how hard you try to keep it alive, let me apologize for not having posted my weekly viewings on this thread yet. Even in the best of circumstances, Saturday evening in South Africa is a difficult time for me take an hour or so out of the lives of my ailing partner and I to post on this thread. But last night I did just that, trawling through hundreds of pictures to find just the right ones, and even writing short - but longer than my usual efforts, heartfelt reviews of the fascinating films I watched last week. They include Martin Ritt's heart-wrenching and beautiful SOUNDER - which I rewatched for the first time since seeing it on the big screen fifty years ago. Then I accidentally closed the tab and everything was gone, lost in cyberspace. I was gutted, and feel like I have let you guys on this thread down. It's been a hell of a last few weeks for me and I am emotionally and physically drained - my lady decided to go off her chronics after the medical aid stopped paying for them; even though we can afford to pay for them ourselves, she thought she was doing this as a point of principal, but her health took a rapid downhill turn within days and I had to intervene and put my foot down. She's back on the chronics and feeling more comfortable now. Days after she got back on her meds and I could breathe easier, I took a fall off a concrete pavement chest first into the road and while I didn't break any bones and my bulky leather jacket absorbed some of the impact, I still feel like I went a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson and he landed a few sledgehammer blows to my chest and shoulder. There are so many e-mail alerts and responses from these boards I have in my inbox and haven't managed to get back to yet - including one from young soggy; who recently started contributing to this weekly thread (thanks dude). What I am trying to say in my long winded way is that sometimes "the spirit is willing but the the flesh is weak". However, what I am really popping up here for today is to urge you to watch the Coen brothers 2010 adaptation of TRUE GRIT. While it pays some respectful hommage to the 1969 Hathaway film, it is, IMHO, a sublime and beautiful western so good it transcends its genre. It's truly a labor of love, made with a passion and craft and care that takes ones breath away. Bridges, as Rooster, and Hailee Steinfeld, as Mattie, are a match made in movie heaven and so deserve the Oscar nominations they received for their subtle and stunning teamwork here. Like you, I thoroughly enjoy the 1969 film, but, nostalgia aside, the Coen brothers screen adaptation of the novel is in a whole 'nother league. I urge you with all my heart and soul to watch it. Here are some still images from the film, and a short documentary about Richard Deakins' extraordinary cinematography. TRUE GRIT (2010) deserved its 10 Oscar nominations. Please watch it if you can Spidey.
Hello, Stryker. I am so sorry to hear about the situation with your partner and the toll it's taking on you. I know how hard that can be, and I will keep you in my prayers. I'm glad things seem to be going a little better now, and I hope they continue to do so. You take good care of yourself, too.
I appreciate your comments about the Coen Brothers version of True Grit, and the Deakins documentary (loved that). The images you sent are very beautiful, too. I know I will watch the film one of these days, though I confess that I'm not the biggest Coen Brothers fan -- they are a bit too violent and graphic for me at times. Nonetheless, I will get to it one of these days, and I'll let you know my thoughts after I see it -- can't promise when that will be, though. But thanks again for your thoughtful comments. And I'm sorry you lost your previous posting. That's always disappointing. For the record, I am a huge Sounder fan, one of the best American films ever made, in my opinion, with a phenomenal performance by Cicely Tyson.
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Post by claudius on Oct 9, 2022 14:12:29 GMT
2u
40TH ANNIVERSARY
-THE SMURFS (1982) “The Sorcery of Maltrouchu” YouTube.
-SHIRT TALES (1982) “The Bigfoot Incident/ An Elephant on the Loose” Warner Archive DVD.
-THE MORK AND MINDY/LAVERNE & SHIRLEY & FONZ HOUR (1982) “Mork Man vs Ork Man/ Which Witch is Which?/ Swanp Monster Speaks with Forked Face” YouTube
-THE SCOOBY AND SCRAPPY DOO SHOW (1982) “To Catch a Catfish Burglar/ Mine Your Own Business/ Movie Monster Menace” Amazon Prime.
-THE PUPPYS NEW ADVENTURES (1982) “The Puppy’s Dangerous Mission” Sharing time with SCOOBY (as it was titled THE SCOOBY AND SCRAPPY DOO PUPPY HOUR) was this series based on Joan Thayer’s THE PUPPY WHO WANTED A BOY, which was adapted into a Ruby Spears special and several sequels. This led to this series, where the Puppy named Petey gets separated from his master in a world trip and he treks through the globe to locate him. I wasn’t able to find the premiere episode, so I’m watching the second one, set in Istanbul. YouTube.
-PAC MAN (1982) “The Great Pac Quake/ Hocus Pocus Pac Man” Warner Archive DVD.
-THE LITTLE RASCALS (1982) “Grin and Bear It/ Beauty Queen Contest” YouTube.
-GILLIGAN’S PLANET (1982) “Let Sleeping Minnows Lie” Warner Archive DVD.
-THE GARY COLEMAN SHOW (1982) “Hornswoggle Bungle/ Canine Calamity” YouTube
-SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS (1982) “A Firestar is Born” The third of the Origin Trilogy centers on Firestar as she and Iceman attend an X-Men reunion that gets crashed by Juggernaut. This marks the first animated appearances of Storm and Wolverine (who sports an Australian Accent!). Only three episodes were made for this season, all animated by Toei Studios. Thus this is the first of this Anniversary Saturday Morning to go. Amazon Prime.
-THE INCREDIBLE HULK (1982) “The Origin of the Monster” The series moves to the beginning with how Bruce became the Hulk. The treachery involved is intact (a spy posing as a fellow scientist activates the Gamma Bomb while Bruce is at the site to save Rick Jones) but any connection to Communist mastermind is removed. Instead, the spy works for aliens. Amazon Prime.
ER (1997) “Something New” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Mark continues to distance himself, no longer wearing his scrubs, shipping off patients, etc. He hires a bumbling but pretty girl (Mariska Hargitay) as a receptionist. The recovering Morgenthau makes Kerry his substitute in administration. Carter gets an intern to take under his wing; unfortunately the person Henry(Chad Lowe) has little people skills. Benton gets to naming his kid and gets to know Elizabeth Corday. Doug and Carol continue their secret romance. Warner DVD.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1987) “Terrible Savior” 35TH ANNIVERSARY A mysterious figure is attacking assailants. Written by George RR Martin. FoxVideo DVD.
ONE EXCITING NIGHT (1922) 100TH ANNIVERSARY D W Griffith’s “Spooky mansion” film, starring Henry Hull and Carol Dempster. YouTube.
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30TH ANNIVERSARY
-GOOF TROOP (1992) “Great Egg-spectations” Wanting a pet, Max adopts an egg that hatches into a creature that resembles Elliott of PETE'S DRAGON. Amazon Prime
-COVINGTON CROSS (1992) “Cedric hits the Road” 30TH ANNIVERSARY I saw only one scene of this episode on its premiere night- A bed scene between Nigel Terry and Cherie Lunghi (Arthur and Guinevere from EXCALIBUR)- before switching back to SNICK (the Nickelodeon Saturday slot). If I had watched this episode I would have been introduced to Alex Kingston as a wench. YouTube
-THE COMMISH (1992) “Adventures in the Skin Trade Part 2” I remember seeing the opening of this 2-parter. Tony gets kidnapped by Porn Director Cyd to be killed…only for Cyd (Melinda McGraw) to reveal herself as an undercover detective. Thus starts a professional relationship that will last for two seasons. However, this marks the end of Tony's right-hand man Pauley for a while. He will not return until Season Four, when Cyd leaves. YouTube.
35TH ANNIVERSARY
-MUPPET BABIES (1987) “The Incredible Shrinking Weirdo” Gonzo believes he is shrinking, imagining a future doing THE MUPPET SHOW (with a Live Action Kermit). YouTube.
-POPEYE AND SON (1987) “Bluto’s Wave Pool/ Here Today, Goon Tomorrow“ YouTube
-HELLO KITTY FURRY TALE THEATER (1987) “K T The Extra Terrestrial/ Peter Penguin” YouTube.
-THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS (1987) “The Boogeyman is Back” Time Life/Sony DVD
-THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MIGHTY MOUSE (1987) “Night of the Bat-Bat/Scrapp-Happy“ The episode spoofs Batman, ironic with what is to come 5 years later. CBS DVD
SUPERDIMENSIONAL FORTRESS MACROSS (1982) “Booby Trap” 40TH ANNIVERSARY Highly influential Anime series popularizing the transforming Mecha genre and American interest in Anime (in ROBOTECH). Air Circus pilot Hikaru gets stuck in an alien invasion involving a battle spaceship that crashed on Earth decades ago. First saw this in its ROBOTECH form in 1985. Then saw the original form in 2004. Japanese with English Subtitles ADV DVD
WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER COMES HOME (1972) “The Beach Vacation” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Amazon Prime.
THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (1952) “The Talkative Dummy” 70TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD
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35TH ANNIVERSARY
-VANITY FAIR (1987) “Who Played the Piano?“ SimplyMedia DVD
-THE LAST EMPEROR (1987) Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar winning epic on the life of China’s final emperor Pu Yi. Starring John Lone, Joan Chen, and Peter O Toole. First saw parts of this in 1992, and filled the rest the next year. Criterion DVD.
-VISIONARIES KNIGHTS OF THE MAGICAL LIGHT (1987) “Quest for the Dragon’s Eye” YouTube.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1972) 50TH ANNIVERSARY TV film adaptation of the Holmes mystery starring Stewart Granger and Bernard Fox, with Anthony Zerbe and William Shatner. YouTube.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1982) “Part One” 40TH ANNIVERSARY this week. Four part BBC TV Serial starring Tom Baker. Amazon Prime.
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50TH ANNIVERSARY
-THE WALTONS (1972) “The Hunt” Amazon Prime.
-WAR AND PEACE (1972) “Sounds of War” The second episode has the newly-legitimate and wealthy Pierre hobnobbing with the nobility, specifically Vasily Kurragin. The episode introduces his friend Andrei Bolkonsky (Alan Dobie) a bored married man setting out to aid the Austrians against Napoleon. He drops off his pregnant wife to his eccentric father and sister Maria (Angela Down). The Salon Madame is played by Barbara Young, Jack Pulman’s wife and featured player in his adaptations (I, CLAUDIUS, etc.) Koch Video DVD.
GET BACKERS (2002) “The Names are G and B” 20TH ANNIVERSARY Anime adaptation of Yuya Aoki/ Rando Ayamine’s manga, about the adventures of two young mercenaries, hypnotist Ban and electrical Ginji, using their powers to retrieve stolen items. Japanese with English Subtitles. First saw this series at my Graduate School Anime Club in 2004. ADV DVD
DR NO (1962) 60TH ANNIVERSARY The first James Bond feature film starring Sean Connery, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Ursula Andress and Bernard Lee & Lois Maxwell as M & Moneypenny. I first saw this on TBS November 1992 with the expectation that the Bond theme would be the opening credit piece. MGM/UA VHS
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1987) “Treasure Hunt” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Bootleg DVD
BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) “Vendetta” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Harvey Bullock gets targeted by the reptilian Killer Croc. Warner DVD.
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THE JAZZ SINGER (1927) 95TH ANNIVERSARY The groundbreaking first musical that revolutionized the cinema, starring Al Jolson, May McAvoy, and Warner Oland. Read about this in the books. First saw parts of this from the HOLLYWOOD series. I would sing "Mammy" without realizing the awkward overtones (I was 12). Celebrated its 90th Anniversary five years ago. Warner DVD.
JOURNEY BACK TO OZ (1972) 50TH ANNIVERSARY this year. After 40 years of watching my VHS recording, this is the first time I've seen the full Filmation film in its original uncut form. I accidentally saw this a bit early. Oh well, better early than late. BFI/Ink And Paint DVD.
DUCKTALES (1987) “Sir Gyro of Gearloose” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Amazon Prime.
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50TH ANNIVERSARY
-THE BRADY KIDS (1972) “Cindy’s Super Friend” The Bunch meets Superman/Clark Kent, and Lois Lane. This marks the last appearance of said characters in their Filmation incarnation. Next year Supes will go up up and away on Hanna Barbera. Paramount DVD.
-THE NEW SCOOBY DOO MOVIES (1972) “Guess Who’s Knott Coming to Dinner?” Don Knotts is the guest star. YouTube
-THE AMAZING CHAN AND THE CHAN CLAN (1972) “The Eye of the Idol“ Amazon Prime
-JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS IN OUTER SPACE (1972) “The Water Planet” YouTube.
-FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS (1972) “Fish out of Water” YouTube
-THE ROMAN HOLIDAYS (1972) “The Big Split Up” Amazon Prime
-SEALAB 2020 (1972) “The Shark Lover” Amazon Prime
POPEYE MEETS THE MAN WHO HATED LAUGHTER (1972) ABC would broadcast on its Saturday Mornings THE ABC SATURDAY SUPERSTAR MOVIE, showing cartoon specials from different animation studios. The first was the pilot episodes of Filmation's THE BRADY KIDS. The second was Hanna Barbera's YOGI'S ARK LARK. The third was Rankin-Bass' THE MAD MAD MAD MONSTERS. The fourth was the unavailable NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR. This week’s selection is about a mad scientist (with Brutus as his assistant) kidnapping all the comic strip stars to destroy laughter. The President of the United States gets comic strip heroes to rescue them. The cast includes POPEYE, TIGER, QUINCY, BLONDIE, HI AND LOIS, BEETLE BAILEY, THE GUMPS, FLASH GORDON, THE PHANTOM, MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN, and STEVE CANYON. YouTube.
-THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1972) “Enter Rhoda’s Parents” YouTube.
-THE BOB NEWHART SHOW (1972) “Mom I-I Love You” FoxVideo DVD.
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (1987) “Aztec Enchantment” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Bootleg DVD.
THE JETSONS (1962) “The Space Car” 60TH ANNIVERSARY Amazon Prime.
CHEERS (1982) “Sam’s Women” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. Amazon Prime
BUSTER KEATON A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW (1987) “Episode Two” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The second episode focuses on the making of THE GENERAL (with interviews from Marion Mack, the soldiers, and Measle-afflicted witnesses to the making) and STEAMBIAT BILL JR, and his fall: his crumbling marriage, his alcoholism, and his disastrous joining MGM, which crippled his independence and confidence. A lot of this material would be used for Brownlow's BUSTER KEATON: LAUGH UNTIL IT HURTS docu. VHS Recording Of PBS Broadcast November 1988.
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SUPER NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN (1972) “The Monstrous Aircraft Carrier Appears” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles ADV DVD
THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS (1987) “Ragnarok and Roll” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The gang have to stop a heart-broken soul from causing Armageddon. Time Life/Sony DVD.
THE SIMPSONS (1992) “Homer the Heretic” 30TH ANNIVERSARY A clothing damage keeps Homer off Sunday Mass. Enjoying the hour, he decides to quit Church permanently. FoxVideo DVD.
FIRE FIGHTERS (1922) 100TH ANNIVERSARY The second Our Gang short. YouTube
MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Film comedy set in 1950s Television, with Sid Caesarian comedian (Joseph Bologna) getting an Errol Flynn-ish film star (Peter O’Toole in an Oscar-nominated performance) to be on his show. Also starring Mark Linn Baker, Jessica Harper, Cameron Mitchell and Gloria Stuart. MGM/UA VHS
Saw Parts Of:
IRVING THALBERG PRINCE OF HOLLYWOOD (2005) Anytime I watch this docu will probably be "Saw Parts of", because the DVR cut out the remaining 15 minutes. Recording of TCM Broadcast
THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS (1987) "Chicken He Clucked" 35TH ANNIVERSARY this week. Time Life/Sony DVD.
MANSLAUGHTER (1922) 100TH ANNIVERSARY this year. I only watched the Roman Orgy/Goth pillage scenes from this Cecil B DeMille film. YouTube.
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soggy
Sophomore
@soggy
Posts: 809
Likes: 1,350
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Post by soggy on Oct 9, 2022 14:21:59 GMT
Men (Alex Garland, 2022) I've had mixed feeling on every single one of Alex Garland's films as a director, and this keeps that pattern… but I can honestly say that it's the first one that I've watched and immediately decided that I liked it (in contrast I liked Annihilation after I had some time to really take it in, and I decided I didn't care for Ex Machina after a similar amount of time). I found this film effective, unnerving and genuinely disturbing at points. 8/10
Lake of the Dead (Kåre Bergstrøm, 1958) Considered a classic of Norwegian cinema, this film (and the novel it is based on) are held very highly by some accounts… personally, I wasn't a fan. The film has a wonderful atmosphere to it, but it felt almost like a supernatural Scooby-Doo episode. It wants to have it all and really doesn't succeed in any of it in my opinion… but that's just me. Again, it's very well thought of by many sources, so maybe I'm the one whose completely off. Still, it's my take and I give the score, so 3/10
Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980) Of the three horror movies Jamie Lee Curtis had come out in 1980 (this, The Fog and Terror Train), this is easily the worst. It gets point for disco music playing during the final show down because I don't think I've ever seen that before, but can't say I'm a fan. 3/10
Hereditary (Ari Aster, 2018) After a couple bad movies in a row, I decided to watch one I was pretty much guaranteed to like. I hadn't seen this one, but I loved Midsommar and I've heard nothing but good things about this. Well, it was good, but honestly I found it more depressing than "scary." It's a melancholy film about dealing with loss, and maybe I got too emotionally invested as a mom, but it hurt while watching it. Still, very well done, even if I still prefer Midsommar. 8/10
The Curse of La Llorona (Michael Chaves, 2019) My entire review can be summed up with the following gif: 2/10
The Gallows (Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing, 2015) I've come to a slightly embarrassing conclusion; bad found footage horror films are good for my soul. This is not a good movie, but I had fun with it during its run time, giggling the entire way through. 4/10
Scare Package (Various, 2019) Comedic horror anthology film (made by different directors) that looks at the tropes we all know and love (or hate in some cases). A very mixed bag. Some of the stories are legit funny (I loved the segment in the woods and one about the killer coming back to life repeatedly), others not so much. Fairly entertaining though, just not very "good". 5/10
Ebola Syndrome (Herman Yau, 1996) Pretty unpleasant Hong Kong exploitation flick about a murder/rapist who contacts Ebola and decides to spread it while he continues doing his, you know, usual murderer/rapist stuff. It's a... unique film, well done in terms of the special effects and gore, but rather poorly paced. 6/10
Studio 666 (BJ McDonnell, 2022) A horror comedy in which the band The Foo Fighters, go to a murder house to record a new album. Demonic possession, murder and rock and roll occur. This movie is surprisingly funny. It's poorly acted given that the band are obviously not actors, but that really just adds to the ridiculousness in some cases as they they're just playing caricatures of themselves. 7/10
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Emilio Miraglia, 1971) Weird little Italian horror movie with a bit of everything. Random S&M murders that could be removed without changing the plot (and actually with removal would have made a more consistent tone)? Check. Family members being killed off one by one? Check. Evelyn coming out of her grave? Check and check. It's really kind of got it all. It's not great by any means, and there's some really weird choices to it, but it was entertaining for the run time. 5/10
Deadstream (Joseph and Vanessa Winter, 2022) Alright everyone, this is a gem. It's found footage horror movie about a disgraced YouTube celebrity trying to make a comeback spending the night in a haunted house and live steaming it. It’s super low budget, and some of the special effects are a bit too cheesy, but it makes up for it with some great scenes and wonderful parody of some YouTube channels. I do not say this lightly, but if you have Shudder, check this out. It nails the parody of youtube "stars" and makes for a really fun found footage movie. 8/10
The City of the Dead (John Llewellyn Moxey, 1960) Old Christopher Lee movie involving Satanists, witchcraft, human sacrifices… you know, the usual. Not one of the standout films in his career, but fairly fun. 6/10
Q: The Winged Serpent (Larry Cohen, 1982) This movie is a love letter to the old Ray Harryhausen films of the 50s and 60s, but with a cynical 80s edge and it is so damn charming. David Carradine just looks like he's having a blast. 6/10
Hellraiser (David Bruckner, 2022) Well, it is probably the best Hellraiser movie since the first, which is sadly not saying much as bad as many of those have been. Hellraiser is one of my favorite horror movies, so much like those who keep opening the box, I will continue seeking out the sensations of the first movie while only receiving pain.. well, at least this one is entertaining at times though. 6/10
Murder-Rock: Dancing Death (Lucio Fulci, 1984) Flashdance meets Giallo in this ridiculous little film from Fulci. Not anywhere near as violent as the director's usual work, and honestly the plot isn't that great... BUT FLASHDANCE MEETS GIALLO! Worth a watch. 6/10
Island of Lost Souls (Erle C. Kenton, 1932) I watched this on a whim because my subscription to the Criterion channel is about to expire and it was only 70 minutes so I could finish it in time… and was surprised by how good it was! An absolutely wonderful classic that manages to adapt a book I don't even like (The Island of Dr. Moreau) and turn it into a wonderful atmospheric film. Charles Laughton is wonderful as Moreau, we get a brief appearance from Bela Lugosi and it's pre-code so there's some fun implications that certainly would not have made it into the film even a few years later. This is a wonderful film for any classic film fan. 9/10 Time, it is so precious, and it is a thing we never have enough of. I am sorry to hear about all the things that have happened to you this week. Just because I have a difference of opinion on a film does not mean that I'm cruelly just waiting for a response, so please take your time and I do hope things get better. As for staying alive, I'll certainly try. 
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Post by marianne48 on Oct 9, 2022 16:48:43 GMT
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)--Not much of a Sherlock Holmes fan (never liked the supercilious prig), but Peter Cushing makes Holmes almost likeable. With Andre Morell as a decent Dr. Watson (not the bumbling fool Nigel Bruce made him out to be in the Basil Rathbone series), and Christopher Lee as a charming Baskerville (he even gets kissed!), it's a shame Hammer Films didn't make more films with Cushing in the Holmes role.
Love at First Bite (1979)--George Hamilton is a perfect Count Dracula in this mildly amusing comedy about the Count being forced to leave his castle, only to wind up visiting NYC in the 1970s. Susan St. James is his love interest, with her fiance (the always annoying Richard Benjamin) trying to break up the affair with the help of Dick Shawn, playing a police lieutenant reminiscent of the Kolchak character from the 1970s Night Stalker TV series. The highlight: Arte Johnson's Renfield, with a perfect rendition of Dwight Frye's skin-crawling laugh from the original Dracula. The lowlight: Alicia Bridges' song, "I Love the Nightlife," was removed from the film's dance sequence and replaced with some generic disco song (although it can still be heard on the film's trailer). Not a great film, but an okay watch for fans of vampire films.
Elvis (2022)--Not sure what to expect from Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!--ugh). I was pleasantly surprised to find this to be a better-than-average musical bio, with a sympathetic, rather than exploitative, take on Presley's rise and fall. Austin Butler is a sweet, sad Elvis who senses that he's being used. Tom Hanks plays his manager, "Colonel" Parker, with all the subtlety of Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz, but as much of a caricature that he is here, his weirdness is actually downplayed (the film doesn't go into his lowlife antics that include his pre-Elvis act, the chickens that "danced" on a hotplate, or his scam of painting sparrows yellow and selling them as canaries, or the possible murder case in the Netherlands that prevented him from returning to Europe). This is possibly the best movie bio of Elvis--a film with an understanding of just how deeply he was taken advantage of and how it destroyed him.
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)--Not a big fan of Peter Jackson, either, especially of the annoying, obtrusive CGI tricks he employs in his films, from Beautiful Creatures to The Lovely Bones to They Shall Not Grow Old. Fortunately, mercifully, they are absent here, and he just shows the footage from the "Let it Be" sessions. It's pretty much eight hours of the soon-to-be ex-Beatles here, and while it could be a long haul for some, for Beatles fans in particular, it's a fascinating look into the musical creative process. The Beatles bicker constantly, and Paul McCartney is kind of a posturing, controlling jerk, while Lennon is surprisingly funny. The film looks beautifully crisp, and the rooftop concert is wonderful.
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Post by stryker on Oct 10, 2022 4:18:51 GMT
Hello, Stryker. I am so sorry to hear about the situation with your partner and the toll it's taking on you. I know how hard that can be, and I will keep you in my prayers. I'm glad things seem to be going a little better now, and I hope they continue to do so. You take good care of yourself, too.
Sorry I got so personal in my last reply Spidey, LOL, I shouldn't reflect and post. I am far to unfiltered. Fact is, I came back here to delete the personal comments part of my post yesterday, only to find you had already replied. Sometimes I wear my heart on my sleeve, and it's a failing of mine. But thank you for your kind words of concern and compassion. Things are certainly a little better now; yesterday we watched GASLIGHT (1944) together and had a couple of stiff gin and tonics. I usually make our viewing choices, but yesterday I insisted that S.... choose the movie from a list of films old and new I gave her, and she chose GASLIGHT (1944), rather than, LOL, THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER (2022), MK ULTRA (2022) GOD'S COUNTRY (2022), WOMAN IN HIDING (1950) - which we have seen before; but we are such huge Ida Lupino fans, or FRONTIER MARSHAL (1939) - I am a Randolph Scott fan, her not so much. After watching and thoroughly enjoying GASLIGHT - a first time viewing for us, we were once again in awe of Ingrid Bergman's beauty. Gosh she was so very lovely. 
I appreciate your comments about the Coen Brothers version of True Grit, and the Deakins documentary (loved that). The images you sent are very beautiful, too. I know I will watch the film one of these days, though I confess that I'm not the biggest Coen Brothers fan -- they are a bit too violent and graphic for me at times. Nonetheless, I will get to it![]() one of these days, and I'll let you know my thoughts after I see it -- can't promise when that will be, though. But thanks again for your thoughtful comments. And I'm sorry you lost your previous posting. That's always disappointing. For the record, I am a huge Sounder fan, one of the best American films ever made, in my opinion, with a phenomenal performance by Cicely Tyson. While I am sad that despite my best, most passionate efforts I failed to persuade you to take a leap of faith and watch the Coen's brilliant adaptation of TRUE GRIT asap, I know you love SOUNDER as much as I do - so perhaps we have similar tastes? I should also point out that the Coen's film is rated PG13. Hopefully, when I challenge Mike6's comments about the Coen's adaptation of the Portis novel - elsewhere on this thread, it causes you have a rethink and take the plunge into the 2010 TRUE GRIT. I, LOL, would also argue that you would get more - both intellectually and emotionally - out of watching TRUE GRIT (2010) for the first time than re-watching a glossy, admittedly exciting and entertaining, eighties flick like WAR GAMES. Or, maybe I should just say to myself, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink  . Last shot, the Coen's take on TRUE GRIT ends with an exquisite coda which is incredibly moving. I must add that this coda alone makes the film essential viewing. Or, LOL, maybe I should just admit my powers of persuasion are waning - in a world I no longer understand, and I am not the salesman I once was. 
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. Last shot, the Coen's take on TRUE GRIT ends with an exquisite coda which is incredibly moving. I must add that this coda alone makes the film essential viewing. Or, LOL, maybe I should just admit my powers of persuasion are waning - in a world I no longer understand, and I am not the salesman I once was.