Last Movie You Watched

[vandermolen]

No surprise: the 1951 Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim.

That's my favourite version alongside George C Scott.

[Madiel]

The Last Detail (1973) - another old DVD-R upgrade to HD Amazon streamer - short summary below w/ cast. Nicholson was nominated for Best Actor by four groups: Academy Awards, British Film Awards, Golden Globes, & Cannes Film Festival, winning at the British FA & Cannes FF. Ratings: 89%, Rotten Tomatoes; 7.5/10, IMDB; 4.6/5, Amazon - I would do 4* on Amazon & 8/10 on IMDB - fun film esp. for the guys, wife less favorable - highly recommended for the performances of Jack and Randy.  Dave
 

Somehow I don't think I've ever heard of this. Which given the pedigree is a bit of a surprise.

[JBS]

Somehow I don't think I've ever heard of this. Which given the pedigree is a bit of a surprise.

I remember seeing it in the theater when it first came out. It's more a coming of age film with a serious backdrop and a nice sense of humor than a "comedy-drama". The plot, such as it is, is described by that "quote" from the Nicholson character. 15 year old introvert me certainly thought it was a good movie. I have no idea if I'd like it as much almost 50 years later.

ETA
Actually there is a bit of dramatic tension: do the 2 escorts develop enough sympathy for their prisoner to allow him to escape before they get to the destination prison?

[SimonNZ]

[SonicMan46]

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) - summary below w/ movie cast; also a TV play in the late 1950s w/ the cast below (only Julie Harris repeats the role).  Muhammad Ali at the start of the film knocking out Quinn - billed as Cassius Clay two years after the Rome Olympics. The earlier TV version was well received (believe I saw way back then). All three actors excellent together - some may be surprised how good Gleason and Rooney are in dramatic roles - highly recommended.  Dave  

Requiem for a Heavyweight is an American film directed by Ralph Nelson based on the television play with Anthony Quinn in the role originated by Jack Palance, Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney in the parts portrayed on television by Keenan Wynn and his father Ed Wynn, and social worker Grace Miller was portrayed by Julie Harris. Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, appears as Quinn's opponent in a boxing match at the beginning of the movie, a memorable sequence filmed with the camera providing Quinn's point of view as the unstoppable Clay rapidly punches directly at the movie audience with breath-taking speed. Afterward, Maish (Gleason) is confronted by bookies who threaten his life. If he fails to repay them for their losses, based upon the sure thing bet that his fighter, Mountain, would go down in a certain round of the match. The vast sums of losses that Maish's betting (and losing) had run up with them. (Source)

   

[Karl Henning]

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) - summary below w/ movie cast; also a TV play in the late 1950s w/ the cast below (only Julie Harris repeats the role).  Muhammad Ali at the start of the film knocking out Quinn - billed as Cassius Clay two years after the Rome Olympics. The earlier TV version was well received (believe I saw way back then). All three actors excellent together - some may be surprised how good Gleason and Rooney are in dramatic roles - highly recommended.  Dave  

   

Classic! Celebrating Serling's birthday, Dave? (25 Dec 1924)

[VonStupp]

Dumbo (1940)
&
Bambi (1941)

Continuing early Disney with my youngest daughter. A theme of young, impressionable innocents led through wordly pleasures runs through these and the previous Pinocchio.

Most surprising was Bambi. They turned away from story-driven character music and cartoon-ish fiction (there is still some of this, though), and made efforts towards gentle realism and non-diegetic songs. Very Lion King, circle-of-life messages.

VS

 

[Madiel]

I went to the cinema and saw Avatar 2.

It was okay. I felt the climactic battle was handled better than the first film. Earlier on the plotting sometimes suffers due to the sense that there's no need to bother explaining characters.

And we all managed 3.5 hours without a bathroom break. 20 minutes of ads before the film even started.

[SonicMan46]

Play It Again, Sam (1972) - another DVD-R > Amazon HD upgrade - plot below w/ cast - Casablanca is one of my favorite films so a fun watch - excellent reviews, e.g. 97% Rotten Tomatoes - Roger Ebert's review HERE, a 3*/4* rating - I'd probably tack on a 1/2* - early Allen w/ a great plot.  Dave

Play It Again, Sam is an American comedy film written by and starring Woody Allen, based on his 1969 Broadway play. The film was directed by Herbert Ross, instead of Allen. The film is about a recently divorced film critic, Allan Felix, who is urged to begin dating again by his best friend and his wife. Allan identifies with the 1942 film Casablanca and the character Rick Blaine as played by Humphrey Bogart. The film is liberally sprinkled with clips from the movie and ghost-like appearances of Bogart (Jerry Lacy) giving advice on how to treat women. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

Play It Again, Sam (1972) - another DVD-R > Amazon HD upgrade - plot below w/ cast - Casablanca is one of my favorite films so a fun watch - excellent reviews, e.g. 97% Rotten Tomatoes - Roger Ebert's review HERE, a 3*/4* rating - I'd probably tack on a 1/2* - early Allen w/ a great plot.  Dave

 

Great fun!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Play It Again, Sam (1972) - another DVD-R > Amazon HD upgrade - plot below w/ cast - Casablanca is one of my favorite films so a fun watch - excellent reviews, e.g. 97% Rotten Tomatoes - Roger Ebert's review HERE, a 3*/4* rating - I'd probably tack on a 1/2* - early Allen w/ a great plot.  Dave

 

Great movie. Not a fan of Diane Keaton personally, but she, and her fashion, looks gorgeous and sharp (only)  in this movie.

[Karl Henning]

At last, @LKB I've seen the Patrick Stewart Christmas Carol. Very nice, indeed. Well, I used to be "Alistair Sim only, thank you," but now I happily add PatStew and Geo. C into the mix. Also, last night, It's a Wonderful Life. I happily watch the original b&w. I see, though, that there's a second disc with the colorized version. My inclination is to consider this superfluous, but I suppose I should watch it once, anyway. Probably next year.

[LKB]

At last, @LKB I've seen the Patrick Stewart Christmas Carol. Very nice, indeed. Well, I used to be "Alistair Sim only, thank you," but now I happily add PatStew and Geo. C into the mix. Also, last night, It's a Wonderful Life. I happily watch the original b&w. I see, though, that there's a second disc with the colorized version. My inclination is to consider this superfluous, but I suppose I should watch it once, anyway. Probably next year.

A healthy portion of holiday viewing, and good choices all. 

[SonicMan46]

The Search (1948) - another DVD-R > Amazon HD streamer and a favorite w/ the young Monty and a wonderful performance by Ivan Jandl - see summary below; the outside scenes of a number of destroyed German cities are startling.  Highly recommended.  Dave

The Search is an American film directed by Fred Zinnemann that tells the story of a young Auschwitz survivor and his mother who search for each other across post-World War II Europe. It stars Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Jarmila Novotná and Aline MacMahon. Many scenes were shot amidst the actual ruins of the postwar German cities, e.g. Munich, Nuremberg and others. Filming was first on location in Germany and then at a studio in Zurich, Switzerland for interior scenes. Although released in the United States in March 1948. Its European premiere was held in London on November 2, 1949 in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, with Queen Mary in attendance. Jandl's performance was recognized with a special juvenile Academy Award. However, the communist government of Czechoslovakia would not permit Jandl to travel to the United States to collect the Oscar and a Golden Globe award that he had also won. Zinnemann accepted the Oscar on Jandl's behalf and the awards were delivered to Jandl in Prague. (Source)

 

[Peter Power Pop]

This past week l discovered ( via reaction videos ) Birdemic...
                 

For those who've yet to view Birdemic, let's just say it compares with the Sharknado franchise in the same way that liposuction compares with a fine dinner someone else paid for at a renowned Michelin- rated restaurant.

Do not try Birdemic without strong drink, or paramedics on standby.

Birdemic is a hoot. It's hilariously bad.

[Karl Henning]

The first time that Scrooged was playing at my sister's, I didn't much pay attention. In hondsight I was artificially depressing expectations (and shame on me.) I mean to say: Miles Davis, for Christmas' sake!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I thought that I'd mention this for others in case you might be interested in watching it (I had mentioned it in the vinyl thread).

There's a new documentary on the history of Abbey Road Studios which was directed by Mary McCartney (one of Paul's daughters.  *She's a film maker and photographer).  It covers various genres of music (not just rock) and includes interviews with various musicians (and I suspect "others" too).  It was released on December 16th of this year (being released later in other countries.  I read January 6th for the UK for instance).

*And also has her own cooking show and cookbook too I believe.  Busy much?!

In the US, it's on Disney+ but it also seems that it's now available on Hulu.  As they (Hulu has a free 30 day trial, I'm very tempted to sign up and check it out).

It's called If These Walls Could Sing.

Here's a link to a trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnn9zEQbqI0

PD

[SimonNZ]

Cleese handles the text way better than I expected him to. But Petruccio is a role that really requires the actor to crank the energy level up to 11, and Cleese stops at a respectable 9, but its not enough for the humor and the fun to take hold, to get beyond a feeling of meanness.

[Madiel]

Cleese handles the text way better than I expected him to. But Petruccio is a role that really requires the actor to crank the energy level up to 11, and Cleese stops at a respectable 9, but its not enough for the humor and the fun to take hold, to get beyond a feeling of meanness.

Believe it or not I own this on VHS somewhere...

I have in the back of my mind to go through all the Shakespeare plays, and the BBC series is the obvious way to do it. But it seems that the reception to their versions was decidedly mixed.

But for some plays there aren't many other options. I was trying to start with The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and all I can find is a couple of stagings on YouTube that aren't well filmed. Basically pointing a single camera at a live performance.

[relm1]

Well, I just returned from seeing Avatar 2 and I loved it!  I thought it was a good sequel to the original with some amazing visuals and excellent action/combat sequences.  I haven't seen the original in years but think I might like this one better.  I thought Simon Franglen did a great job capturing the spirit of Horner considering the obvious constraint that it is NOT and never will be Horner.  I didn't mind it was quite noticeable where Horner came in and where Franglen came in.  I have no doubt he tried his best to embody the spirit of Horner and I hear that effort. Overall, the film was a worthy successor and very good popcorn flick.  Outstanding visuals and I found the characters (the kids) more interesting than the villains of the original.  I enjoyed myself but actually think it could have been a bit longer...I thought the same of the original even with the director's cut.  Not that it isn't long (it's quite long) but some sequences felt rushed and cut down and I think would have flown smoother with more material.  I can imagine this as a 3:45 film.  Yes, yes, a bit heavy handed at times.  But no worse than Star Wars.  I had a great time.  I saw it in Dolby real 3D which includes reclining seats and subwoofers in the seats which gave me a bit of a headache, but the 3D was excellent visually.  It was pricey for me, $21 for a matinee.  The frame rate changes were a bit jarring.  At the high frame rate, looked excellent but stuttered a bit in the low frame sequences.  

This was a really good film - very entertaining and wonderful score.  It didn't always feel like Horner but felt like someone who tried to embody Horner and that's the most we can ever hope for.  I'm totally fine that he wasn't a cloning Horner but embodied him while doing his own thing too.  It had otherworldly themes too. There were new themes that I thought were gorgeous and I could feel the synth connection to so much of Horner's earlier scores like Titanic which to me, this film had a lot of connection to.  Thumbs up for lots of use of Lydian mode and multiple pianos ala Horner.  I loved it.