Last Movie You Watched

[VonStupp]

At times, I think about how his Bond seemed to trend gently away from sexploitation of the "Bond Girls." Kara Milovy (even with my as yet limited knowledge of Czech, I feel that her name's ending in the masculine -y must likely be wrong.) is an artist of future international stature. Dalton's JB romances her but certainly treads much lighter than either of his predecessors. And Pam Bouvier is a tough, professional colleague (who more or less falls for him, yes.) As the ganglord's moll suffering in an abusive relationship, Lupe is more an object of JB's compassion (itself sort of a Bond novelty) than of conquest.

That is an aspect hard to ignore today. Roger Moore as an agéd cad might have worked as a youthful-looking, fourth-wall-breaking Simon Templar, but comes off as a grandfatherly lech aside Bibi Dahl in FYEO. I believe Moore acknowledged as much.

I suppose Bambi and Thumper would also apply for Sean Connery. Of course, I never yearned for realism in Bond.
VS

[Iota]

And the title song is sang by Carly Simon, my favorite female artist! 

I loved 'Nobody Does It Better'! A soaring, doom-laden melody perfect for the Bond genre and it really lodged in my mind for a long while. I don't think I've heard it for nearly 30 years though, slightly nervous about re-listening ..

Just arrived:
...
There will be blood

Brilliant film. Daniel Day Lewis radiates such intensity and insane malevolent charisma in the lead role. I must get it out again soon.

[Iota]

For sure, but I really appreciate the film because it introduced me to Paul Dano. :-)

Me too I think. And always look forward to seeing him, he has such a special quality about him.  : )

[Karl Henning]

Harsh, and no let-up, which may make it funnier (or not.)

[drogulus]

    One most excellent actor in Elizabeth in a smallish but significant role is Daniel Craig.

For sure, but I really appreciate the film because it introduced me to Paul Dano. :-)

     I do too.

[Madiel]

Harsh, and no let-up, which may make it funnier (or not.)

Some of these just struck me as stupid and I stopped watching.

[Karl Henning]

It's a while since I'd watched Punch-Drunk Love. Kind of a peculiarly uncomfortable romance, yet still in balance charming. Back when I'd first seen it, I don't think I picked up on the fact that they had adopted Olive Oyl's song from Robert Altman's Popeye.

[Madiel]

It's a while since I'd watched Punch-Drunk Love. Kind of a peculiarly uncomfortable romance, yet still in balance charming. Back when I'd first seen it, I don't think I picked up on the fact that they had adopted Olive Oyl's song from Robert Altman's Popeye.

I found that movie uncomfortable to the point where I turned it off. I don't often hate what I'm watching, but... from memory I might have lasted 15-20 minutes?

It's been about 15 years.

[Brian]

I found that movie uncomfortable to the point where I turned it off. I don't often hate what I'm watching, but... from memory I might have lasted 15-20 minutes?

It's been about 15 years.

I like PDL but would not disagree with this take. So much about it - the color interludes, the musical score, the forced whimsy of things like the piano - seems intentionally alienating. And then the basic love story is complicated by the Sandler character's obvious anger issues. I feel more like I'm watching a character study than an Office-style cringe comedy, but the stylistic elements are harder to digest for me.

[Karl Henning]

a character study [rather] than an Office-style cringe comedy....

Good.

[George]

It's a while since I'd watched Punch-Drunk Love. Kind of a peculiarly uncomfortable romance, yet still in balance charming.

One of my very favorite movies.

[Madiel]

I like PDL but would not disagree with this take. So much about it - the color interludes, the musical score, the forced whimsy of things like the piano - seems intentionally alienating. And then the basic love story is complicated by the Sandler character's obvious anger issues. I feel more like I'm watching a character study than an Office-style cringe comedy, but the stylistic elements are harder to digest for me.

"Forced whimsy" is exactly the phrase I'm looking for in regards to the entire experience.

The whole thing struck me not just as being quirky, but as shouting "LOOK HOW QUIRKY I AM!" and that is what really put me off.

[Brian]

"Forced whimsy" is exactly the phrase I'm looking for in regards to the entire experience.

The whole thing struck me not just as being quirky, but as shouting "LOOK HOW QUIRKY I AM!" and that is what really put me off.

You should definitely avoid the vein of fake-profound 2000-10 era romantic comedies like Garden State, Elizabethtown, and 500 Days of Summer! Basically, go back in time and ask 18-year-old me what I liked, and avoid that   

[Madiel]

You should definitely avoid the vein of fake-profound 2000-10 era romantic comedies like Garden State, Elizabethtown, and 500 Days of Summer! Basically, go back in time and ask 18-year-old me what I liked, and avoid that   

But I really like 500 Days of Summer. I don't mind whimsical. I only mind when it's so forced.

I'm not sure whether I've seen the others.

[Karl Henning]

Last night I wanted to watch Fellini's Otto e mezzo again. Always get more out of it each time.

[Iota]

Cigar-chewing Clint and silky smooth Lee Van Cleef, as unspeakably cool and bad-but-somehow-good guys, shooting even badder guys for money, and exchanging gunfire and wit in equally dazzling measure. Such fun to watch, and in its own way a bit of a masterpiece I think (a couple of ridiculous scenes aside). Probably fifteen years or so since I saw it, but it's all laid out in such a neat series of memorable scenes that it seems more like a couple of months.
Love the fact that Leone got Morricone to write the score before filming started so he could shoot to the music on set, it feels so part of it.

[Karl Henning]

Cigar-chewing Clint and silky smooth Lee Van Cleef, as unspeakably cool and bad-but-somehow-good guys, shooting even badder guys for money, and exchanging gunfire and wit in equally dazzling measure. Such fun to watch, and in its own way a bit of a masterpiece I think (a couple of ridiculous scenes aside). Probably fifteen years or so since I saw it, but it's all laid out in such a neat series of memorable scenes that it seems more like a couple of months.
Love the fact that Leone got Morricone to write the score before filming started so he could shoot to the music on set, it feels so part of it.

A classic!

[Karl Henning]

Watching Quo Vadis with commentary this time. Cute story about Ustinov. Although he later left the movie, John Huston was initially the director, and it was Huston who wanted Ustinov to play Nero. One of the suits confronted Ustinov, "You can't play this role, you're too young!" (Ustinov was 28.) The literate actor retorted, "Don't wait too long, or I'll be too old: Nero was 31."

[drogulus]

Watching Quo Vadis with commentary this time. Cute story about Ustinov. Although he later left the movie, John Huston was initially the director, and it was Huston who wanted Ustinov to play Nero. One of the suits confronted Ustinov, "You can't play this role, you're too young!" (Ustinov was 28.) The literate actor retorted, "Don't wait too long, or I'll be too old: Nero was 31."

     Ustinov was wonderful in Spartacus.

[Karl Henning]

Ustinov was wonderful in Spartacus.

Aye.