Last Movie You Watched

[LKB]

Last night: Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2



Not as good as the first, but still one of the more enjoyable Marvel outings I think. They're kind of accidental heroes and the tone is light.

Also, casting Kurt Russell to be Chris Pratt's father is utter genius and I hope whoever came up with that idea was richly rewarded.

Agreed on all counts. The opening is ( for me ) the best highlight, between young Groot's boogie and Drax ( " I have sensitive nipples. " ) the Destroyer's joyfully unconsidered bloodlust.

Their arrival at Ego, accompanied by George Harrison, is also a treat.

[Madiel]

The opening is ( for me ) the best highlight, between young Groot's boogie and Drax ( " I have sensitive nipples. " ) the Destroyer's joyfully unconsidered bloodlust.

The opening credits are indeed a major highlight. Though I didn't read many of them, given what else was happening.

[VonStupp]

Willow (1988)
Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer
Jean Marsh, Billy Barty

Gave this a watch to lead into the 2022 series. Neither the best nor worst example of 80's fantasy adventure, although there are cringe kiddy moments.

I do like Horner's score though, and I generally have positive nostalgic feelings for the film. I think it ended up better than Howard the Duck, another George Lucas production.

VS

[Karl Henning]

Howard the Duck, another George Lucas production.

I still cringe a bit, recalling that a friend dragged me to the movie house to see this.

[VonStupp]

I still cringe a bit, recalling that a friend dragged me to the movie house to see this.

Ha! Can't take back those moments!
VS

[LKB]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

[SonicMan46]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

Amazingly, Howard the Duck has been released on 4K! 

The film debuted in 1986 (Wiki Source of 2nd pic below) and on VHS tape in 1987 - son and I rented from Blockbuster that year but cannot recall much (although I was fond of Lea Thompson) - have never seen again and no plans to purchase after all of these years.  Ratings were poor, as expected (checkout the link if interested) - 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and up for a lot of 'Golden Raspberry Awards' (see pic) - BUT for one of the worst movies made, is a one-time viewing warranted?      Dave   

 

[LKB]

A word regarding James Horner.

I wish l could respect him more. He did solid work on some highly regarded films, Apollo 13 and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan among them. But he had definite plagerist tendencies, and l keep running into reminders of that unfortunate fact.

A couple nights ago l happened upon a reference to the 1988 animated feature The Land Before Time, which l remembered seeing bits and pieces of over thirty years ago. I remembered liking some of the music, and Googled the soundtrack. The inevitable YouTube choices appeared, as did Horner's name.

I wanted to be fair, and thought, " This is a film for children, fairly well thought of before The Lion King came along and devoured its target audience. Maybe l won't hear anything suspicious, maybe it's really all Horner. "

I picked a track at random called, " The Migration. "

I heard Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliette.

[Karl Henning]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

Quite correct.

[Madiel]

I've seen Plan 9 From Outer Space. All I can really recall is that yes, the reputations of terrible films can be well earned.

[relm1]

Amazingly, Howard the Duck has been released on 4K! 

The film debuted in 1986 (Wiki Source of 2nd pic below) and on VHS tape in 1987 - son and I rented from Blockbuster that year but cannot recall much (although I was fond of Lea Thompson) - have never seen again and no plans to purchase after all of these years.  Ratings were poor, as expected (checkout the link if interested) - 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and up for a lot of 'Golden Raspberry Awards' (see pic) - BUT for one of the worst movies made, is a one-time viewing warranted?      Dave   

 

Haha, not even the always adorable Lea Thompson or the wonderful John Barry could save this abomination of a movie.

[ritter]

Last night:



I Basilischi ("The Lizards") was director Lina Wertmüller's first feature film, from 1963. Previously, she had assisted Fellini in La dolce vita and 8 1/2, and after this she'd make some commercial cinema (e.g. the musical vehicles for Rita Pavone) before finding her definite style that gave her fame (with films such as Swept Away and Seven Beauties).

This I Basilischi is a nostalgic view on life of youngsters (and the lack of opportunities for them) in the southern Basilicata region of Italy. Some beautiful cinematography, but the sarcastic, acid approach for which the director would be famous later on is already present here. AFAIK, this is the first release on DVD (2022), for the local Italian market, so subtitles only in that language (which are essential, as most of the dialogue is in Lucanian dialect.

The music for this film is one of the first composed by Ennio Morricone.

[Karl Henning]

[SonicMan46]

The Count of Monte Carlo (1934) starring Robert Donat and Elissa Landi. After three silent films, this is the first one w/ sound - a DVD-R > HD upgrade (Amazon streamer) which could have had a better restoration - own the 2002 movie w/ Jim Caviezel & Guy Pearce - as expected the story in each has been changed - read the Dumas novel as a teen so cannot remember how the book went?

Shakespeare in Love (1998) w/ the stars below - despite some controversies (see link below), we still enjoy this film - up for 13 Oscars and winner of 7, including Best Picture.  Dave

Shakespeare in Love is a romantic period comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard, and produced by Harvey Weinstein. It stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck and Judi Dench. (Source)

 

[LKB]

The Count of Monte Carlo (1934) starring Robert Donat and Elissa Landi. After three silent films, this is the first one w/ sound - a DVD-R > HD upgrade (Amazon streamer) which could have had a better restoration - own the 2002 movie w/ Jim Caviezel & Guy Pearce - as expected the story in each has been changed - read the Dumas novel as a teen so cannot remember how the book went?

Shakespeare in Love (1998) w/ the stars below - despite some controversies (see link below), we still enjoy this film - up for 13 Oscars and winner of 7, including Best Picture.

Every time l see Gwyneth Paltrow, l think, " Dayum, that's the sexiest giraffe I've ever seen... " 

[Fëanor]

Amazingly, Howard the Duck has been released on 4K! 

The film debuted in 1986 (Wiki Source of 2nd pic below) and on VHS tape in 1987 - son and I rented from Blockbuster that year but cannot recall much (although I was fond of Lea Thompson) - have never seen again and no plans to purchase after all of these years.  Ratings were poor, as expected (checkout the link if interested) - 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and up for a lot of 'Golden Raspberry Awards' (see pic) - BUT for one of the worst movies made, is a one-time viewing warranted?      Dave   

 

Actually my family & I kind of liked Howard the Duck.  Like any flick, enjoyment significantly depends on what you are expecting.

[Fëanor]

Couple flicks I've watch in the last couple of days are ...

• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Bullet Train

Everything Everywhere All at Once is up for 11 Academy Awards.  What the heck?!?  Hearing about the Award nomination I felt I had to watch it;  it was a struggle to finish.  What am I missing??

Bullet Train, OTOH was amusing, fast paced, action comedy that I like a lot -- not an intellectual high, but enjoyable.

[71 dB]

Amazingly, Howard the Duck has been released on 4K! 

The film debuted in 1986 (Wiki Source of 2nd pic below) and on VHS tape in 1987 - son and I rented from Blockbuster that year but cannot recall much (although I was fond of Lea Thompson) - have never seen again and no plans to purchase after all of these years.  Ratings were poor, as expected (checkout the link if interested) - 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and up for a lot of 'Golden Raspberry Awards' (see pic) - BUT for one of the worst movies made, is a one-time viewing warranted?      Dave   

 

Howard the Duck is those movies that can be entertaining to some people because they are so bad in a bold way. I have seen it once long ago (on TV) and I have zero interest in seeing it again. It simply isn't my kind of cult classic. Tom Green's Freddy Got Fingered is another Raspberry awarded "very bad movie" that has become a cult classic, but it is to my liking because I am a fan of Tom Green's insane but genious comedy. Unfortunately it is not available even on Blu-ray so I have to be content with the DVD. 

[71 dB]

A word regarding James Horner.

I wish l could respect him more. He did solid work on some highly regarded films, Apollo 13 and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan among them. But he had definite plagerist tendencies, and l keep running into reminders of that unfortunate fact.

A couple nights ago l happened upon a reference to the 1988 animated feature The Land Before Time, which l remembered seeing bits and pieces of over thirty years ago. I remembered liking some of the music, and Googled the soundtrack. The inevitable YouTube choices appeared, as did Horner's name.

I wanted to be fair, and thought, " This is a film for children, fairly well thought of before The Lion King came along and devoured its target audience. Maybe l won't hear anything suspicious, maybe it's really all Horner. "

I picked a track at random called, " The Migration. "

I heard Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliette.

Movie composers are not supposed to come up with the most original music unless asked to do so. They are supposed to come up with music that evokes the feelings the director wants. The director probably asked James Horner to write music that is very similar to Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliette and he delivered.

[George]

Corrently watching this very funny special.