Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

The Far Country (1954) w/ James Stewart, Walter Brennan, and Ruth Roman - after the 1930s & '40s, Jimmy had a second career in the 1950s w/ Anthony Mann (and later w/ Alfred Hitchcock) - but these Mann westerns - this one + Winchester '73, Bend in the River, The Naked Spur & The Man from Laramie are all enjoyable - the one below from a burned DVD from the TCM channel - the scenery is beautiful in these movies and wondering what might be their appearance w/ a Blu-ray production?  Dave

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Maleficent (2014)



PROS:

- The idea ain't bad (theme: how to deal with hatred)
- Jolie is quite good and humorous at times
- There's this one very clever scene that surprised me

CONS:

- Aesthetically reminds me of early 90s websites: too much of everything (*bling, bling*)
- Why not make Maleficent more like the Joker of The Dark Night? Missed opportunity

Easily my favourite Disney villain, had to see it.

Grade: **---

I was bothered by how clumsily Stefan's Macbeth syndrome was handled. IIRC, he was merely mentioned with one sentence that he was seduced with power and he seemed to change in a blink of an eye from decent guy to class A psychopath. And it really bothers me because I think that actor who played him was very good and if wrote better he could have been very believable and menacing villain. And like many critics have noted, winners usually write the history. Well, Maleficent won. Then how come there ever was Disney's Sleeping beauty version if story really went like this? I agree with critics that the movie should have focused on Maleficent's Freudian excuse and ended the movie right when she arrives in Aurora's birthday celebration. I agree also with them that Jolie was easily the best part in the movie. Only slight complaint I have about her is that part where she says "What I have done for you is unforgivable" etc. It sounded corny. I liked her more when she was more cold and having that caring side of her under that facade. Her openly showing it like that just didn't come out right.  And the prince really was pointless character since he accomplished nothing in movie. On whole however, I think it was an ok film. Jolie saves lot with her acting skills and while Stefan was clumsy villain I really like the actor, he tried to make the most of it and at least in some points succeeds despite awful writing.

My favorite Disney villain is Frollo, even if he is strikingly different from the character in novel (which I also love). It helps he is voiced by Tony Jay.

[Karl Henning]

I was desperately hoping he didn't mean Thor, because that would bring up the question of whether he was being witty or nutty.

I could not possibly have an opinion on that question.

[Karl Henning]

Paging our Bogey . . . .

[SonicMan46]

Out of the Past (1947) w/ Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, & Kirk Douglas - just received a small Amazon package of BDs (most DVD replacements) - this one I had burned to DVD-R - one of the top classic Film Noirs of the period - synopsis below (Source); 8.8/10; 97% on Rotten Tomatoes - 8.1/10, IMDB - the Blu-ray restoration received a 5/5* & 4.1/5* rating for video & audio from HERE - if you're into late '40s film noir and want a gorgeous B&W restoration w/ decent sound, then probably a MUST BUY for you - recommended!  Dave

Out of the Past is so perfect a film noir that it is considered practically a textbook example of the genre. In his first starring role (it had previously been offered to John Garfield and Dick Powell), Robert Mitchum plays Jeff Bailey, the friendly but secretive proprietor of a mountain-village gas station. As Jeff's worshipful deaf-mute attendant (Dick Moore) looks on in curious fascination, an unsavory character named Joe (Paul Valentine) pulls up to the station, obviously looking for the owner. Jeff is all too aware of Joe's identity; he's been dreading this moment for quite some time, knowing full well that it will mean the end of his semi-idyllic existence, not to mention his engagement to local girl Ann (Virginia Huston). In a lengthy flashback, the audience is apprised of the reasons behind Jeff's discomfort - and thus begins a tale of treachery, betrayal and intrigue that extends into the present day and turns Jeff's life upside down. Out of the Past was remade in 1984 as Against All Odds, with Jane Greer cast as the mother of her original character.

[Ken B]

Out of the Past (1947) w/ Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, & Kirk Douglas - just received a small Amazon package of BDs (most DVD replacements) - this one I had burned to DVD-R - one of the top classic Film Noirs of the period - synopsis below (Source); 8.8/10; 97% on Rotten Tomatoes - 8.1/10, IMDB - the Blu-ray restoration received a 5/5* & 4.1/5* rating for video & audio from HERE - if you're into late '40s film noir and want a gorgeous B&W restoration w/ decent sound, then probably a MUST BUY for you - recommended!  Dave

The film noir.

[Bogey]

The film noir.

A beauty, but quintessential may go to Double Indemnity while my favorites are Maltese and Sunset Blvd.  I guess one can argue what constitutes "noir", but I am comfortable giving these two the nod for that category, as is IMDb (which is not perfect, but well done, imo).  But you are correct Ken, this beauty has to be in the conversation.  Oh, and about that flick The Third Man.....

[SonicMan46]

The film noir.

Hi Ken - you seem to know your Film Noir -

Now watching yet another new BD arrival:

Touch of Evil (1958) w/ Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, & Orson Welles (fat by this time) - start of a synopsis below (Source) - 8.8/10, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes; 8.2/10 on IMDB - top ratings, i.e. 4* & 4 Bones in Maltin's book & VideoHound.  Wonderful B&W video & sound - 4.2/5 video & 4/5 audio (Source) - this is a superb restoration offering 3 different viewings of the film (along w/ a 58 page booklet which was a memo by Orson Welles - probably won't read it but others' may be interested) - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Dave

This baroque nightmare of a south-of-the-border mystery is considered to be one of the great movies of Orson Welles, who both directed and starred in it. On honeymoon with his new bride, Susan (Janet Leigh), Mexican-born policeman Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston) agrees to investigate a bomb explosion. In so doing, he incurs the wrath of local police chief Hank Quinlan (Welles), a corrupt, bullying behemoth with a perfect arrest record. Vargas suspects that Quinlan has planted evidence to win his past convictions, and he isn't about to let the suspect in the current case be railroaded....

[snyprrr]

Shoot (1976)

A strange hunting-revenge story a little like 'Deliverance', with Cliff Robertson and Ernest Borgnine. Anyone seen this? Pretty wild ending- an orgy of automatic fire-power- ridiculous.

[Ken B]

A beauty, but quintessential may go to Double Indemnity while my favorites are Maltese and Sunset Blvd.  I guess one can argue what constitutes "noir", but I am comfortable giving these two the nod for that category, as is IMDb (which is not perfect, but well done, imo).  But you are correct Ken, this beauty has to be in the conversation.  Oh, and about that flick The Third Man.....

What, no Big Sleep?   
Yeah, I don't count Falcon or Madre as noir, but DI surely is, and it's a great one. As is Sonic's  Touch of Evil
.

[Wakefield]

Touch of Evil (1958) w/ Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, & Orson Welles (fat by this time) - start of a synopsis below (Source) - 8.8/10, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes; 8.2/10 on IMDB - top ratings, i.e. 4* & 4 Bones in Maltin's book & VideoHound.  Wonderful B&W video & sound - 4.2/5 video & 4/5 audio (Source) - this is a superb restoration offering 3 different viewings of the film (along w/ a 58 page booklet which was a memo by Orson Welles - probably won't read it but others' may be interested) - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Dave

I need it! Thank for this info, Dave. 

[Karl Henning]

What, no Big Sleep?   

Nor any love for Laura?

[George]

Nor any love for Laura?

Perhaps he's already doing it all for Leyna.

[Karl Henning]

. . . leading me to that third-rail shock . . . .

[snyprrr]

Shoot (1976)

A strange hunting-revenge story a little like 'Deliverance', with Cliff Robertson and Ernest Borgnine. Anyone seen this? Pretty wild ending- an orgy of automatic fire-power- ridiculous.

anyone?

[Linus]

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)



Pros:

- Derivative of Groundhog Day
- Tom Cruise's high-pitched yelps are hilarious

Cons:

- Derivative of Groundhog Day
- Second half is run-of-the-mill action

Grade: **---

[Bogey]

What, no Big Sleep?   
Yeah, I don't count Falcon or Madre as noir, but DI surely is, and it's a great one. As is Sonic's  Touch of Evil
.

Ebert nails The Big Sleep (which I enjoy....obviously.)  Osborne on TCM reviewed it in a similar way.  That is, what is the exact plot?  No one knows, but one cannot stop watching it.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-big-sleep-1946

[Bogey]

A beauty, but quintessential may go to Double Indemnity while my favorites are Maltese and Sunset Blvd.  I guess one can argue what constitutes "noir", but I am comfortable giving these two the nod for that category, as is IMDb (which is not perfect, but well done, imo).  But you are correct Ken, this beauty has to be in the conversation.  Oh, and about that flick The Third Man.....

What, no Big Sleep?   
Yeah, I don't count Falcon or Madre as noir, but DI surely is, and it's a great one. As is Sonic's  Touch of Evil
.

Hey, Ken.  These sites (and others) include them.  Just for conversation, why do you exclude Maltese and Sunset?  Heck, I even have Sweet Smell of Success on my noir list.

http://eddiemuller.com/top25noir.html

http://filmsnoir.net/essential-films-noir

http://www.filmnoirstudies.com/timeline/index.asp

[Ken B]

Today only Complete Columbo for $50 from Amazon US. Use the link icon to make sure GMG gets a slice.

[Ken B]

Hey, Ken.  These sites (and others) include them.  Just for conversation, why do you exclude Maltese and Sunset?  Heck, I even have Sweet Smell of Success on my noir list.

http://eddiemuller.com/top25noir.html

http://filmsnoir.net/essential-films-noir

http://www.filmnoirstudies.com/timeline/index.asp

I'd count Sunset as noir. Maybe Falcon should be, but it's early and doesn't use the expressionistic lighting much. Nor is it about fate singling out a man for punishment. Madre really doesn't seem like a noir to me for the same reasons. Bogie goes looking for trouble.

As for the plot of Big Sleep ... Faulkner worked on the screenplay. At one point one of the scriptwriters, not sure which, noticed a hole and called Chandler to ask who had killed some minor character. Chandler said he didn't know.