Last Movie You Watched

[drogulus]

     A BD collection will not go obsolete on a 4k setup. All of my files from DVD, BD and 4k look as good as before when I had plain old HD. The price of good 4k TVs and players has dropped substantially, and good HDR performance is now available for under $1,000, and that is more important than the resolution change for PQ. All of this is happening faster than I would have thought even a few months ago.

     If you're in the U.S. RTINGS is where you go to find the best 4K TV at each size/price point. Pay special attention to HDR performance, in all cases I've identified a high HDR score correlates with high overall PQ.

[Draško]

It's ok, but I presume it works better as a novel.

[André]

Philosopher Stanley Cavell passed away this week. He was the first to connect cinema with philosophy, writing books and essays on the subject. My best friend's PhD thesis was in part based on the influence of Cavell's writing in understanding films.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/stanley-cavell-philosopher-who-drew-insights-from-shakespeare-and-cinema-dies-at-91/2018/06/21/b6c835ac-755d-11e8-9780-b1dd6a09b549_story.html?utm_term=.5bc545235dc6

[Daverz]

Interesting for what it attempts. Maybe flawed but still worth the time.

Really enjoyed this one.  Of relevance to GMG is pianist Maria Yudina as a historical character (Olga Kurylenko is a bit too gorgeous for the part, but oh well...)

[SonicMan46]

Wonder (2017) w/ Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, & Jacob Tremblay - story about a boy w/ Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic disorder causing a variety of facial deformities - streamed from Amazon tonight - ratings: 8/10, IMDB; 85%, Rotten Tomatoes; 4.8/5*, Amazon - this was a wonderful movie w/ Susan & I both tearing up in the final scene - the makeup on Tremblay was amazing and his performance exceptional - I would probably do a 4.5/5* rating on Amazon - a film not to be missed IMHO - highly recommended.  Dave

Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

 

[Karl Henning]

I'm rewatching Topaz, but am switching it off for the night. Numerous expert touches, yet tonight I was especially aware of what slow going the first 40 minutes makes.  On one of the Firesign Theatre radio shows, one of them says how awful Topaz is ... I listened to the show sometime after my first viewing, and I was inclined to think their dismissal harsh. But now, I wonder.

Separately ... is it quite aberrant of me, if I prefer Bananas to Sleeper?

[TheGSMoeller]

Separately ... is it quite aberrant of me, if I prefer Bananas to Sleeper?

No. Even if only for this...

https://www.youtube.com/v/7Y16HUOAmT0

[aligreto]

The Meddler





If you like the wonderful Susan Sarandon you will find this one irresistible.

[Karl Henning]

No. Even if only for this...

https://www.youtube.com/v/7Y16HUOAmT0

Perfection, right?

[milk]

Really enjoyed this one.  Of relevance to GMG is pianist Maria Yudina as a historical character (Olga Kurylenko is a bit too gorgeous for the part, but oh well...)

Reminded me a bit of Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be or Catch 22. These are the only films I could think to compare it to. Whatever it's flaws, it's a very brave film. I'm not sure I loved all of the cast generally but I think the film succeeded in pulling off a not-very-easy trick.

[ritter]

Recently:



TBH, I felt short-changed. What promised to be a reflection on man's relationship to art and beauty, and on human solitude and relations, turned out to be some sort of triller.

Of course, the ultra-suave, hyper-chic setting and ambiance (in an undefined location, but with scenes set in a city of Vienna where nobody speaks German ) should have put me on my guard, but the final twist in the plot really irked me. At least this time, Ennio Morricone's score was unobtrusive, not like that of his much earlier collaboration with director Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso, which IMHO is one of the greatest examples of "sentimental manipulation" through music in the history of filmmaking  ).

[NikF]

Recently:



TBH, I felt short-changed. What promised to be a reflection on man's relationship to art and beauty, and on human solitude and relations, turned out to be some sort of triller.

Of course, the ultra-suave, hyper-chic setting and ambiance (in an undefined locatik , but with scenes set in a city of Vienna where nobody speaks German) should have put me on my guard, but the final twist in the plot really irked me. At least this time, Ennio Morricone's score was unobtrusive, not like that of his much earlier collaboration with director Giuseppe Tornatore, Cinema Paradiso, which IMHO is one of the greatest examples of "sentimental manipulation" through music in the history of filmmaking  ).

Yeah, a series of jabs without the eventual right cross. I was left with the impression of an episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' 

Small consolation: in my *book, Sylvia Hoeks is a work of art herself and at moments was photographed accordingly.

* which is titled 'The Big Book of Objectification'. 

[Madiel]

I haven't seen it but I do remember the reviews being a bit weak.

[André]

Anyone saw First Reformed, Paul Schrader's latest opus ? The NYT enthused over it big time. It certainly invites parallels with Bergman's Winter Light (the Times also mentions Bresson's Journal d'un curé de campagne).

[SonicMan46]

Well, the last few nights, I've been watching 3 Superman films in the recently purchased blu-ray trio package shown below; only $15!  Now I've long owned the DVD versions of Superman: The Movie & Superman II, my favorites w/ Christopher Reeve, who made a total of 4 from 1978 to 1987 - numbers III & IV are duds for me and do not care to own - in the package, Superman II is the Richard Donner cut (which I watched w/ my son in his place a few years ago) - after a second watch, I prefer that version to the theatrical release on my DVD version.

Now, the 3rd film added to this package was Superman Returns, made in 2006, i.e. several years after Reeve's unfortunate death - an attempt to rescue the franchise, I guess; the stars are Brandon Routh as Superman/Kent, Kate Bosworth as Lois, and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther - I had streamed this film from Amazon, probably 10 years ago and enjoyed but did not purchase - like the characters and the specials but a little long - the first two movies w/ Reeve remain my top choices.  Dave

Superman: The Movie, 1978
Superman II, 1980
Superman III, 1983
Superman IV: Quest Peace, 1987
Superman Returns, 2006

[Karl Henning]

Well, the last few nights, I've been watching 3 Superman films in the recently purchased blu-ray trio package shown below; only $15!  Now I've long owned the DVD versions of Superman: The Movie & Superman II, my favorites w/ Christopher Reeve, who made a total of 4 from 1978 to 1987 - numbers III & IV are duds for me and do not care to own - in the package, Superman II is the Richard Donner cut (which I watched w/ my son in his place a few years ago) - after a second watch, I prefer that version to the theatrical release on my DVD version.

Now, the 3rd film added to this package was Superman Returns, made in 2006, i.e. several years after Reeve's unfortunate death - an attempt to rescue the franchise, I guess; the stars are Brandon Routh as Superman/Kent, Kate Bosworth as Lois, and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther - I had streamed this film from Amazon, probably 10 years ago and enjoyed but did not purchase - like the characters and the specials but a little long - the first two movies w/ Reeve remain my top choices.  Dave

Cheers, Dave.  Superman Returns was in the bluray box I fetched in a while ago, but I have not yet watched it.

[SonicMan46]

Cheers, Dave.  Superman Returns was in the bluray box I fetched in a while ago, but I have not yet watched it.

Hi Karl - hope that you enjoy - clocks in at 2 1/2 hrs (same length as Superman: The Movie) - excellent specials w/ several of the characters being a little more 'sinister or darker', such as Kevin Spacey as Lex Luther & Frank Langella as Perry White; 6.1/10, IMDB; 75%, Rotten Tomatoes; and 4*/5* on Amazon - I'd do at least a 3 1/2* on the latter site.  Dave

[Madiel]

The problem is that Bradon Routh is wooden.

[Karl Henning]

The problem is that Bradon Routh is wooden.

That, I can all too easily believe.  Not that I know anything of Routh.  But as I consider Christopher Reeves in the role, he made the character astonishingly personable.

[Draško]

I'm generaly not big fan of musicals, Fosse excepted, but I quite enjoyed this one. Songs are integrated seamlessly and the film manages to be flowing and charming even though the subject isn't actually that light (love, loss, mourning).