Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

Emotional Mel Brooks remembers Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein

[James]

Prince of Darkness
1987 ‧ Fantasy/Horror ‧ 1h 42m

Poking around in a church cellar, a priest (Donald Pleasence) finds an otherworldly vial filled with slime. Frightened, he brings his discovery to a circle of top scholars and scientists, who eventually learn that the strange liquid is the essence of Satan. The slime then begins to seep out, turning some of the academics into zombified killers. As the possessed battle the survivors, student Kelly (Susan Blanchard) is infected by a large quantity of the liquid and becomes Satan personified.

[asin]B00D7AM5XU[/asin]

[Drasko]

bit dated

[aligreto]

Last night....

[James]

The 25 Best Foreign Language Horror Movies Ever



It's the beginning of the spookiest month of the year, so it's no accident that this week will see
the release of one of the best horror films of the year, Babak Anvari's "Under the Shadow"  ...

http://theplaylist.net/25-best-foreign-language-horror-movies-ever-20161006/

[James]

The Fog
1980 ‧ Thriller/Indie film ‧ 1h 31m

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau) witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

[asin]B00C7E3EFU[/asin]

[Bogey]

On TCM Kino's pressing of



Interesting images and decent horror story line, but did not come close to engaging me as much as let's say Metropolis.

[drogulus]

     The David Gulpilil festival continues with his latest, Charlie's Country.

     

[James]

Session 9
2001 ‧ Psychological horror/Mystery ‧ 1h 42m

Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.

[asin]B01F6EHOG2[/asin]

[listener]

for the record: THE DRAGON FROM RUSSIA  1990 HK
Action film assembled to feature pop singing star Sam Hui looks like some money was spent on location filming.  Some savings made by shooting action sequences at slow speed use less film stock and look faster projected at normal speeds.  Looks like it was copied from used release print.

[Bogey]

Well, it has only been weeks since I last viewed this film, but my Criterion edition landed yesterday and I just had to see it again.  (I know Drasko understands this. ).  I asked my wife Linda to watch the scene where Gable is telling his boss off on the phone as it is acted perfectly by the entire cast before she headed off to bed.  She ended up watching the half the movie and asked if we could watch the other half today.  Yup, it's that good!

[Spineur]

Julien Duvivier, le temps des assassins (deadlier than the male) is a film noir that came out in 1956 and had been unavailiable for years.  It was just restored in HD and broadcasted on Arte tonight.  An amazing cast and a great movie at the same level as his other "chef d'oeuvre", Pepe le Moko, also with Jean Gabin.  The blu ray isnt out in France or in the US, but the spanish version has already been released

[asin]B01BKGMY24[/asin]

Strange.....

[SonicMan46]

Well, it has only been weeks since I last viewed this film, but my Criterion edition landed yesterday and I just had to see it again.  (I know Drasko understands this. ).  I asked my wife Linda to watch the scene where Gable is telling his boss off on the phone as it is acted perfectly by the entire cast before she headed off to bed.  She ended up watching the half the movie and asked if we could watch the other half today.  Yup, it's that good!

Hi Bill - bought that BD film when first released - excellent AV restorations (4.5/5.0* for both) from HERE; and if not already done, don't miss the extensive extras (quoted below from the same link).  Dave

*Trailer - restored original trailer for It Happened One Night. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p)

*Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... "It Happened One Night" - in this video interview, Frank Capra Jr. explains how his father came up with the idea to shoot It Happened One Night (the film was inspired by a magazine article) and how Claudette Colbert was approached to play Ellie, and discusses the small sets that were used during the shooting process, the film's commercial success, the Oscar ceremony (It Happened One Night won five Academy Awards, including Best Film), etc. The interview was conducted in 1999. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080i).

*Screwball Comedy? - in this filmed conversation, critics Molly Haskell and Phillip Lopate discuss Robert Riskin's screenplay (and specifically the quality of the dialog), the film's pacing, the validity of its description as the first screwball comedy, the subversive tone of the film (the two critics mention Andrew Sarris who described It Happened One Night as a sex comedy without sex), the terrific chemistry between Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, etc. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion in August 2014. In English, not subtitled. (39 min, 1080p).

*Fultah Fisher's Boarding House - presented here is Frank Capra's very first film, Fultah Fisher's Boarding House, which he directed in 1921. Based on Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House", the film tells the story of Anne of Austria (played by Mildred Owens), who falls for the handsome Hans the Dane, but soon after loses him. With a new score composed and performed by Donald Sosin. (13 min, 1080p).

*Frank Capra's American Dream - directed by Ken Browser, this excellent documentary film focuses on Frank Capra's unusual life, from his early years in the immigrant ghetto in Los Angeles to his success in Hollywood, and remarkable cinematic legacy. Included in it are clips from various interviews with directors Martin Scorsese, John Milius, Robert Altman, Oliver Stone and Bill Duke, actors Michael Keaton, Peter Falk, Richard Dreyfuss and Angela Lansbury, and film critic Richard Schickel, amongst others. It is narrated by director/producer Ron Howard. In English, not subtitled. (96 min, 1080i).

1. The American dream
2. The Hollywood ladder
3. Oscar aspirations
4. Personal films
5. Mr. Smith
6. "From Deeds to Doe"
7. Why we Fight
8. Its a Wonderful Life
9. The last Frank Capra movie
10. Endings

*AFI's Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Frank Capra - presented here is an edited TV version of the 1982 AFI ceremony, which was hosted by actor James Stewart. In English, not subtitled. (60 min, 1080i).

*Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme.

[SonicMan46]

Well, I've not posted some of my recent watches in a while, so a few nights ago did some Amazon streaming:

Free State of Jones (2016) w/ Matthew McConaughey as Newt Knight (1837-1922) - based on a true story (LINK) - a box office flop w/ mixed reviews: 6.8/10, IMDB; 48% Rotten Tomatoes (67%, audience); 4.4/5*, Amazon - seems to be mainly disliked by the critics - I enjoyed the movie and would do at least a 3 1/2* Amazon rating - for those interested in this story, look at the reviews - recommended by me, a 'Civil War' buff.  Dave

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

[SonicMan46]

Civil War in Color, The - a History channel production featuring colorized B&W of hundreds of period photographs, reenactments, and numerous interviews - nearly 3 hours in length - the coloring technology is just spectacular - see some images below - highly recommended.  Dave

P.S. for more colorized photos, google 'civil war in color' and click on Images!

 

 

[Ken B]

Well, I've not posted some of my recent watches in a while, so a few nights ago did some Amazon streaming:

Free State of Jones (2016) w/ Matthew McConaughey as Newt Knight (1837-1922) - base on a true story (LINK) - a box office flop w/ mixed reviews: 6.8/10, IMDB; 48% Rotten Tomatoes (67%, audience); 4.4/5*, Amazon - seems to be mainly disliked by the critics - I enjoyed the movie and would do at least a 3 1/2* Amazon rating - for those interested in this story, look at the reviews - recommended by me, a 'Civil War' buff.  Dave

On watchlist now. Maybe even tonight.

[SonicMan46]

On watchlist now. Maybe even tonight.  RE: Free State of Jones

Hey Ken - will be interested in your comments - the film was made on a $50 million budget, and made about $21 million in its first month release in the USA - not sure were the finances now stand w/ foreign dollars and now likely video and streaming sales?  Dave

[SonicMan46]

Love westerns from the 1950s and just acquired a few more BDs for my collection - not sure that I really needed these but had some Amazon credit - :

Rawhide (1951) - Tyrone Power & Susan Hayward (and a bunch of great character actors) - B&W film w/ excellent restoration (4.0/5* AV ratings HERE) - enjoyed.

Gunfight at Dodge City, The (1959) - Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, & John McIntire - color production w/ just average restoration (LINK) - story not as interesting but have always loved Joel, especially in 'old age' in westerns - the most interesting aspect of this film was reading about Bat Masterson (the character McCrea played) - he ended up in NYC as a reporter especially on sports.  Dave

 

[kishnevi]

There are at least two books on Amazon which give the history behind the Free State of Jones.  The one which is explicitly linked to the movie I have not read, but I did read and recommend this one.

[SonicMan46]

There are at least two books on Amazon which give the history behind the Free State of Jones.  The one which is explicitly linked to the movie I have not read, but I did read and recommend this one.

Thanks Jeffrey for the above recommendation - while watching the film the other night, I was perusing the 'book' offerings on Amazon HERE - seems to be a number of choices, for those interested in a reading on the topic.  Dave