Last Movie You Watched

[Cato]

I've only experienced a Cinerama theatre once, in 1968 for my initial exposure to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

I remember feeling like l was in the largest building on Earth, seeing the largest movie ever made...

Yes, it was a great experience!  I forget how many times I saw it!!! 

A few years ago, my son took me to a revival theater, which had a quasi-Cinerama screen (it was not curved toward the audience, nor was it floor to ceiling).

They showed 2001: A Space Odyssey for a special two-day engagement!  It was 1968 again!   

[Karl Henning]

Sounds like the DVD player knew better than to play Zardoz!
VS

Zardoz isn't everyone's money, that's for certain  😎

[Cato]

I've only experienced a Cinerama theatre once, in 1968 for my initial exposure to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

I remember feeling like l was in the largest building on Earth, seeing the largest movie ever made...

Purists say - and it seems that they are right - that only two movies with traditional stories were made in the original 3-camera-3-projector process: The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and the afore-mentioned How the West Was Won.

Everything else shot in the later one-lens Cinerama process lost the "curvature":

...Cinerama continued through the rest of the 1960s as a brand name used initially with the Ultra Panavision 70 widescreen process (which yielded a similar 2.76 aspect ratio to the original Cinerama, although it did not simulate the 146-degree field of view.) Optically "rectified" prints and special lenses were used to project the 70 mm prints onto the curved screen.

The films shot in Ultra Panavision (70) for single lens Cinerama presentation were It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), The Hallelujah Trail (1965) and Khartoum (1966).

The less wide but still spectacular Super Panavision 70 was used to film the Cinerama presentations Grand Prix (1966); 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), which also featured scenes shot in Todd-AO and MCS-70); Ice Station Zebra (1968); and Krakatoa, East of Java (1969), which also featured scenes shot in Todd-AO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinerama

With one exception (The Hallelujah Trail) I saw all of those at the theater: to be sure, you had to sit toward the middle for the best effect, and some distortion was always visible on the curved ends (especially if the camera was moving quickly), but in general the overall impression was, yes, overwhelming.

Krakatoa, East of Java is specifically the worst "Cinerama" movie ever made, and one of the worst movies ever made in general.

Maximilian Schell apparently needed to pay off his Mercedes when he made this, and Brian Keith seemed chronically hung-over (I don't know if he actually was an alcoholic, like Peter O'Toole or Richard Burton, but he seemed like one in this movie).

The special effects resembled something done by Cub Scout Troop #161 on Jimmy's kitchen table.   

The music was annoying to revolting.

And, as every critic points out, Krakatoa is WEST of Java! 

[SimonNZ]

And, as every critic points out, Krakatoa is WEST of Java! 

Not if you take the scenic route.

[George]

About halfway through and took a dinner break. This is pretty good, kinda like Joan Wick.

[Cato]

This will tickle @Cato

Thanks again, Karl!

Very funny stuff: social commentary on the 1970's (and the 1990's) as well as funny reactions to the movie itself!

[DavidW]

This will tickle @Cato

I love the Cinema Snob!  Didn't think I would find him posted here.  You are all high brow intellectuals after all.

[SonicMan46]

The Last Emperor (1986) - brief summary below w/ main cast - beautiful film and costumes; nominated for 9 Oscars winning ALL categories, including Best Picture; over 2 1/2 hrs long so be forewarned.  Reviews: 87%, Rotten Tomatoes; 7.7, IMDB; 4*/4*, Roger Ebert HERE (conflicting review - LOOK) - not in my collection but a free MAX streamer.  Recommended but likely will not re-watch in the future.  Dave

The Last Emperor is a 1987 epic biographical drama film about the life of Puyi, the final Emperor of China. It is directed by Bernardo Bertolucci from a screenplay he co-wrote with Mark Peploe, which was adapted from Puyi's 1964 autobiography. The film depicts Puyi's life from his ascent to the throne as a small boy to his imprisonment and "political rehabilitation" by the Chinese Communist Party. It stars John Lone in the eponymous role, with Peter O'Toole, Joan Chen, et al. It was the first Western feature film authorized by the People's Republic of China to film in the Forbidden City in Beijing. (Source)

   

[Karl Henning]

The Last Emperor (1986) - brief summary below w/ main cast - beautiful film and costumes; nominated for 9 Oscars winning ALL categories, including Best Picture; over 2 1/2 hrs long so be forewarned.  Reviews: 87%, Rotten Tomatoes; 7.7, IMDB; 4*/4*, Roger Ebert HERE (conflicting review - LOOK) - not in my collection but a free MAX streamer.  Recommended but likely will not re-watch in the future.  Dave

   

Magnificent.

[George]

Don't Look Up

[Karl Henning]

The Living Daylights. Still fond feelings for this 'un.

[SonicMan46]

The Living Daylights. Still fond feelings for this 'un.

Hey Karl - below the Bond films in my collection (all UHD Amazon streamers) - but I must say that The Living Daylights is the one I most often watch, but not the most highly rated, e.g. No. 13 on Rotten Tomatoes list and No. 11 on Digital Spy - now won't prevent a re-watch (have a crush on the cello girl!  ).  Dave

P.S. I've seen all of the Daniel Craig films and probably could add another but which one?  Will look closer at the top reviews in the links above.

Bond Films Owned (all Amazon UHD)
Casino Royale (2006) (UHD-A)
Dr. No (1962) (UHD-A)
From Russia with Love (1963) (UHD-A)
Goldeneye (1995) (UHD-A)
Goldfinger (1964) (UHD-A)
Living Daylights, The (1987) (UHD-A)
Spy Who Loved Me, The (1977) (UHD-A)

[Karl Henning]

Not Karl, but I love all of the Craig Bond films - my favorite to watch and rewatch is Spectre - one of the greatest openings and like one set piece after another. In fact, I'm going to watch those set pieces right now. Lol.

You remind me that I've only watched that one once (maybe twice.) Time to watch again.

[Karl Henning]

I love all of the Craig Bond films....

Yes, even Q of S, which doesn't seem to have many friends.

[71 dB]

I love all of the Craig Bond films.

It is good somebody enjoys them because for me they are as entertaining as listening to my neighbours telling about their health problems. I don't want/need depressed/dark/serious Bond movies. I want light-hearted tongue-on-the-cheek silly Bond movies and that's why Roger Moore's Bond suites my taste best followed by Sean Connery. Lazenby's Bond movie is also one of favorites despite Lazenby being the worst Bond actor ever. If it was Connery or Moore instead in that movie, it could be my favorite Bond flick.  The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy are my top 3 Bond movies (order is a matter of mood). Those are entertaining movies if you ask me. 

[AnotherSpin]

I like the Craig films better than any others in the Bond legacy. I read Nicholas Winding Refn was supposed to direct Spectre. That would have been interesting.

[Madiel]

Skyfall is marvellous.

[Karl Henning]

Skyfall is marvellous.

Yes, although ... well ... I'll just say that Adele's style is really not my bag. Tangentially, call it a question for @SonicMan46 ... After my recent re-viewing of Living Daylights, a thought has been nagging me: I don't recall that they made any use of the iconic "action cue" in the score. Can that be? I suspect that (as odd as this strikes me) I just didn't note it. In hindsight, one obvious scene to make use of it is the skiing/cello scene.

[Cato]

We were in a second-hand, "charity" store (i.e. all proceeds go to charitable organizations) in a nearby small town: I was looking through used movies, when a local, itinerant film critic - and possibly a general eccentric    - stopped and pointed at a shelf above the one I was skimming.

He was a man of advanced age  .  Pulling out a movie, he began extolling its lead actress: "Look!  It's got Melissa Leo!  You know who she is!"

"Yes, she got her start on the T.V. show Homicide, 30 years ago or so."

"You have to watch this movie!"

"Oh really?!"

He holds out the DVD to my hand: "Yes!  It's a great story, and Melissa Leo, she's just wonderful in it!"

So, I rather reluctantly looked at Frozen River, saw the 4 stars out of 4 or 5 stars out of 5 blurbs, and agreed to consider it.

Mrs. Cato had been wondering about my new, instant friend and agreed that for 25 cents (!), the movie could be worth the risk! 

It was!  During the unfolding of the plot, there is an unexpected shock.  Later, there is the cliche' of "one last score."  On the other hand, although it is a cliche', it makes sense in the story.

Yes, an excellent movie overall!

[Cato]

Yes, although ... well ... I'll just say that Adele's style is really not my bag.

Adele: Ugh!  One of the most annoying voices to soil the airwaves!

Another off-key chanteuse with little to no talent outside of an ability to yell stridently: don't get me started!