Last Movie You Watched

[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).

[aligreto]

Unlocked





A thriller which I enjoyed. Worth a watch.

[George]

Unlocked





A thriller which I enjoyed. Worth a watch.

Before I read the top, I thought that was Annie Lennox. 

[aligreto]

Before I read the top, I thought that was Annie Lennox. 

Yes, I can see why.

[SonicMan46]

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.

Agree - Routh does not have the charm of Reeve, but tries imitating his Kent voice w/ some intermittent enjoyment - for Karl, worth a watch since he owns the BD - again, my preference is for the first two films w/ Reeve.  Dave

[Draško]

Contrary to happy looking poster it's a quite depressing film about middle-aged artist desperately and a bit obsessively looking for love (romantic love) with little success. The film is supposedly based on ideas from Roland Barthes book A Lover's Discourse: Fragments, which I haven't read.

[SonicMan46]

Midnight Cowboy (1969) w/ Dustin Hoffmann & Jon Voight; John Schlesinger (director) - just replaced my DVD version w/ the recently released Criterion BD shown below - great restoration (all 5*/5* for AV & Specials HERE) - still a powerful film - 7 Oscar nominations and winner of 3, including 'Best Picture' - Dave

P.S. Barnes & Noble half price sale is now on - available there for $20!

 

[aligreto]

The Hippopotamus





Quirky and amusing and worth viewing.

[Karl Henning]

Stage Fright

[aligreto]

Triangle





Mildly interesting; it is the twist in the storyline that maintains interest, just to see if there is an eventual resolution.