Last Movie You Watched

[Ken B]

I'm confused... I purchased the Criterion issue of Red River (1948, Howard Hawks) which contains 2 editions of the movie. One with the "Director's cut", which happens to be...cut. 7 minutes shorter than the pre-theatre release, with voice over to bridge the missing bits. Usually a Director's cut is more, not less complete. 

Anyone got an opinion on the matter ?

Yes. Hawks was a great director. Great directors cut.

[Linus]

The Phantom Carriage (Körkarlen) (1921)



Oh. Em. Gee.

I sat applauding after seeing this, probably hoping Victor Sjöström could hear me in his heaven. I can't believe I've waited until now to see it (not finding the Blu-ray restoration until now was probably a reason).

This is great in a way I suppose only silent films can be. Quite sentimental in a way, but oh so powerful.

The musical score by Matti Bye is surprisingly good. Very conventional chamber music, but it really supports the scenes well (with the exception of an annoying trombone in an early scene). It turns to pulsating minimalism in some climactic scenes (though, I assume, far from as minimalistic as the KTL score which I am yet to hear); that works really well.

It's far from perfect -- the exposition is a bit dull and the special effects are cheap (although a historical breakthrough) -- but the second half is pure cinemagic, cathartic.

For once, the film is much better than the book. Watch this if you haven't!

[SonicMan46]

Well, a couple of more BD replacements for me:

Raising Arizona (1987) w/ Nicolas Cage & Holly Hunter - an early Coen Brothers screwball comedy; ratings: 4.6/5*, Amazon; 7.4/10, IMDB; and 90%, Rotten Tomatoes - love this film but cannot watch it too often, i.e. it is screwy!

The Young Victoria (2009) w/ Emily Blunt & Rupert Friend; ratings: 4.7/5*, Amazon; 7.3/10, IMDB; and 76%, Rotten Tomatoes - I enjoy historic dramas and feel this one was done well - I don't think the young Queen Victoria or her 'sperm bank' mate look as well as these two actors, but I had an attachment for them in this film - the visuals are superb.  Dave

 

[Karl Henning]

Raising Arizona (1987) w/ Nicolas Cage & Holly Hunter - an early Coen Brothers screwball comedy; ratings: 4.6/5*, Amazon; 7.4/10, IMDB; and 90%, Rotten Tomatoes - love this film but cannot watch it too often, i.e. it is screwy!

Agreed, Dave . . . fond of it, because I saw it in the cinema in my UVa days, but cannot watch it too frequently.

[George]

Enjoyed this emotional comedy.

[Bogey]

I am one of the first ones to raise my hand when asked if they like the original Sherlock Holmes, but I have to say that these are a guilty pleasure.

[Todd]

22 Jump Street.  A quasi-meta-comedy, with much self-aware dialogue acknowledging the fact that the movie is a sequel, where the cops graduate from infiltrating high school to infiltrating college.  The leads are in good form, but Ice Cube and a verbally unchained Jillian Bell (of Workaholics "fame") steal the scenes they are in.  One other actress in a perfect cameo elicits perhaps the biggest laugh of the movie.  There are some other nice touches, like the mascot of the college, which itself is called MC State.  But the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.  Good fun for one viewing.

[SonicMan46]

A Star is Born (1954) w/ Judy Garland & James Mason; George Cukor, director - the expanded blu-ray version contains additional cut scenes w/ audio & sepia stills which lengthens the film and disrupts continuity IMO - wish a 'theater release' version had been included; BUT, this is Judy's Oscar nominated role w/ plenty of musical scenes showing off her many talents, AND the sound will never be better.  Ratings: 4.4/5*, Amazon; 7.8/10, IMDB; and 96%, Rotten Tomatoes - highly recommended, especially for Garland fans.

Holiday Inn (1942) w/ Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, & Marjorie Reynolds - excellent blu-ray restoration w/ great sound.  Ratings: 4.6/5*, Amazon; 7.6/10, IMDB; and 100%, Rotten Tomatoes.  The song White Christmas by Irving Berlin made its film debut in this movie and is still the number one selling single of all time.  Dave

 

[Cosi bel do]

I've been watching again the Star Wars (true) trilogy, the wonderful "despecialized" version prepared by an army of fans. It's an incredible work, and it is great to get rid of all Lucas's awkward ideas that he miserably pasted on his old masterwork (reptile asses masking scenes, rocks in front of R2D2, new CGI badly animated creatures, etc.). GREAT and convinced me that, should Lucasarts/Disney decide to officially release the theatrical versions, these would meet an immediate and huge success... On BR of course, and also, I'm sure, in cinemas.

[drogulus]

The Young Victoria (2009) w/ Emily Blunt & Rupert Friend; ratings: 4.7/5*, Amazon; 7.3/10, IMDB; and 76%, Rotten Tomatoes - I enjoy historic dramas and feel this one was done well - I don't think the young Queen Victoria or her 'sperm bank' mate look as well as these two actors, but I had an attachment for them in this film - the visuals are superb.  Dave

     

     I enjoyed it, particularly the contributions of Mark Strong and that Broadbent guy that will someday be famous, mark my words.

     Rupert Friend is absolutely killing it in Homeland (kind of literally, too). I thought I'd mention that, now I have.

     Did I link to the Mike Leigh/Jim Broadbent short filum A Sense of History? It would be criminal not to. For old times sake, then:

     https://www.youtube.com/v/Otuy4IZvt4I&list=PLTYvpEhjfC3ulerAj0KFTv8K3AcwzitV7

[Moonfish]

I've been watching again the Star Wars (true) trilogy, the wonderful "despecialized" version prepared by an army of fans. It's an incredible work, and it is great to get rid of all Lucas's awkward ideas that he miserably pasted on his old masterwork (reptile asses masking scenes, rocks in front of R2D2, new CGI badly animated creatures, etc.). GREAT and convinced me that, should Lucasarts/Disney decide to officially release the theatrical versions, these would meet an immediate and huge success... On BR of course, and also, I'm sure, in cinemas.

Are these available commercially or are they in the gray zone?

[Brian]

Are these available commercially or are they in the gray zone?

Gray zone and well worth it.

[Todd]

Gray zone and well worth it.

The original versions are available in DVD twofers of each movie.  Why the need for a gray market product?

[Brian]

The original versions are available in DVD twofers of each movie.  Why the need for a gray market product?

Tasteful and non-interventionist remastering (mostly color/sound correction) - what the original versions would be like on a nice Blu-Ray.

[Bogey]

Raising Arizona (1987) w/ Nicolas Cage & Holly Hunter - an early Coen Brothers screwball comedy; ratings: 4.6/5*, Amazon; 7.4/10, IMDB; and 90%, Rotten Tomatoes - love this film but cannot watch it too often, i.e. it is screwy!

Agreed, Dave . . . fond of it, because I saw it in the cinema in my UVa days, but cannot watch it too frequently.

Well, I guess I better take a first peek.

[Cosi bel do]

Are these available commercially or are they in the gray zone?

As Brian already said, grey zone... And the only way to watch the original movies without clumsy additions. And apart from this, the image quality is even better than on official Blu-Rays, as these were used as a basis, but then color corrected and with softer contrast for the despecialized edition. It's like the official BRs were just done by an automatic system with nobody watching it before release...

[Brian]

The original versions are available in DVD twofers of each movie.  Why the need for a gray market product?

Here are some comparison shots. I hope the links work.



Top left: latest moral-gray-area version. Top right: DVD. Bottom right: "special edition" release. Same with the images below.

[Todd]

And the only way to watch the original movies without clumsy additions.

Incorrect. 

Here are some comparison shots. I hope the links work.



Top left: latest moral-gray-area version. Top right: DVD. Bottom right: "special edition" release. Same with the images below.

The picture appears better in the gray market edition, but not enough to warrant buying another copy.

[Cosi bel do]

Well, of course, but these editions are not for sale, that would turn an honest attempt to recover an unaccessible treasure into a pure felony.
The DVD version (1997 limited edition) is of inferior quality, and officially oop (even if third party sellers still offer it).

[listener]

My ßeta copy of STAR WARS is interesting because the special effect inset panels are quite observable.

Tonight: Jacques Tati's PLAYTIME in the Criterion BlueRay edition with lots of extras.  It certainly looks more impressive on my newer wide-screen than when it was squeezed on to my old one.  I'd certainly go to see a 70mm presentation.
Cover image is from the French PAL release of a few years ago.