Last Movie You Watched

[DavidW]

The second is certainly the weakest [of the movies in the franchise I have seen] for all the reasons everyone cites, yet I find myself unable genuinely to hate it.

Oh that is interesting because for me it is the third that I think is the weakest.

[Madiel]

Mission Impossible 2 is set in Sydney. Therefore I'm hopelessly biased, playing "spot the landmark" distracts me from any problems with the plot.

[Karl Henning]

Mission Impossible 2 is set in Sydney. Therefore I'm hopelessly biased, playing "spot the landmark" distracts me from any problems with the plot.

Nice!

[Karl Henning]

Today's instalment of I had no interest in this back when, but now I'm rather curious is: Rocky. Won't lie, though: the first thing I watched was one of the extras, A Tribute to Burgess Meredith. The main feature I found enjoyable overall. I don't expect I'll need to watch it again, nor do I find myself inclined to watch sequels.

[SimonNZ]

Watched the recent Mission Impossible, which I seem to have enjoyed more than some others, though I can't deny it was indulgent and could easily have been shorter. I'm getting annoyed with Simon Pegg and Ving Rhemes still being around when all the interesting women in the series are routinely killed off.

Also went and rewatched the two films before it and enjoyed it in a much similar way. Noticible that Cruise didn't give himself two or three shirt-off scenes in the latest one, in fact this was the first one where I was constantly aware of his age.

Looking into a scene from the earliest of those three I came across this interesting video:

[DavidW]

For me, I find the newest one to be the weakest, and that they split it into two - what a snooze fest.

Glad I'm not the only one that was disappointed!

[SonicMan46]

Maybe the perfect adventure film: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.



Seriously, go look at that cast. Every time is perfectly selected, and it has one of the greatest endings ever. This is peak movie making - one of the shining pinnacles. It quite literally has it all. I put this into the most own category.

My favorite of the series, own that one and the first now as UHD streamers on Amazon.  In fact, I've not watched in a while - maybe about time -    Dave

[Brian]

I just had an enjoyable time reading the Wiki page for Indy and the Last Crusade and learning all the horrible ideas they had for the plot before reaching the idea they actually made! They thought of doing it as a "haunted house movie," then an adventure among African pygmies, among other things. There was going to be a "monkey king" with a magic rod. Thank goodness they changed their minds 

[relm1]

Rocky 1 is actually a genuinely good movie. I was actually kinda surprised by it. I loved most Stallone films as a kid and there's many i often rewatch so i don't necessarily dislike the guy but i certainly didn't expect him to write such a solid script which i could only appreciate once i saw the movie as an adult the first time. Probably a one hit wonder but still.

Mind you it's no great masterpiece but compared to his later movies it felt so earnest and sincere (probably helped that Stallone's entire career hanged on it). Despite it's supposed "gritty" setting there's still a bit of a fairy tale quality to it but i'm ok with that.

I was also shocked at how much of a slow burn it is (i mean, it's Stallone). Even the score after the famous opening fanfare it's completely absent until almost the end, where it finally explodes both in the training montage and finale especially which is also justly famous:

I was actually kinda of mad when they butchered this in Rocky II.

I only watched this series up to Rocky V and i must say it was pretty jarring to see Stallone's initial innocence get replaced by his ego as his commercial fame rose higher and higher. He still has some good moments but none of the sequels are as good as the first.

I never saw Creed but i did see Rambo up until the last one and i steered cleared of modern Stallone ever since. It appears in his old age he turned into a rather depressing character and to be honest i'm miserable enough as it is that i don't need to watch movies that make me feel even worse. I also didn't appreciate him scamming his fans with the Expendables, all of which are clearly cons (it even has a name now, "geezer teaser").

Totally agree.  You know what else is a shockingly good movie?  Saturday Night Fever.  I saw it for the first time recently and found it very endearing and engaging.  I guess the 1970's was firing on all cylinders. 

The Rocky I and II soundtrack is fantastic.  Bill Conti is a very good composer.  The Right Stuff too!  I love the film and score's slow burn and how that helps give it this emotional wallop.  I bet the fact that there is practically no score but the reused solo piano motif until the training montage is most likely a budget issue but it happened to work beautifully in the film.  I have some friends who played that opening fanfare and had some very interesting stories.  It was scored for huge trumpet group, maybe 9 trumpets if memory serves me.  In the latest Rocky movie which was pretty recent, they re-recorded the fanfare.  Stallone kept asking for it to be louder on every take.  He then left the control room to enter the scoring stage, approaching them and asked the players directly to play it louder, they screamed their trumpets at him and he kept asking for it louder.  It was only then they realized this tough guy has become pretty deaf. 

[relm1]

Maybe the perfect adventure film: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.



Seriously, go look at that cast. Every time is perfectly selected, and it has one of the greatest endings ever. This is peak movie making - one of the shining pinnacles. It quite literally has it all. I put this into the most own category.

I also forgot how funny it was.  Probably the funniest in the franchise and the Henry and Junior banter/arguments are so funny. 

[LKB]

Today's instalment of I had no interest in this back when, but now I'm rather curious is: Rocky. Won't lie, though: the first thing I watched was one of the extras, A Tribute to Burgess Meredith. The main feature I found enjoyable overall. I don't expect I'll need to watch it again, nor do I find myself inclined to watch sequels.

Whenever l unexpectedly encounter Burgess Meredith in something new, l consider it a bonus. Every aspect of his performances was unusual, from the reedy, worn voice to the odd light in his eyes, presented with the most disarming facial expressions I've ever seen. The face of an ancient child, expertly employed by a thoroughly unique performer.

[DavidW]

I saw Godzilla Minus One yesterday.

I'd rate it as very good, but very different from both Shin and the 2014 franchise reboot. Japanese like human drama in movies more than anything, l think, so there was more intensity in the scenes without the big guy. But when he was there, he was really there, big time. The largest action set piece concerning him is a grand spectacle, with great significance for the human story as well.

There was a reoccurring mistake in the subtitles, but it was both harmless and humorous.

So recommended, but be prepared for more-than-usual angst.

Oh I did see it!  Today and I loved it.  I think your review is spot on.

[Cato]

Rod Serling's A Carol for Another Christmas.

Thanks to Karl, we were able to watch this play: it certainly is a product of its time (1964), a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the beginning of sending American soldiers into South Vietnam, and controversies over foreign aid.  The play also evokes the atmosphere of The Cold War in general.


It also anticipates the phrase "The Me Generation." 


Also: a classic comedy which holds up extremely well, screenplay (adapted from a novel) by Morrie Ryskind, directed by Gregory La Cava (a friend of W.C. Fields...




William Powell, as always, is simply wonderful: droll, sarcastic, witty, subtle, and elegant!

[Karl Henning]

we were able to watch this play [Rod Serling's A Carol for Another Christmas]: it certainly is a product of its time (1964), a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the beginning of sending American soldiers into South Vietnam, and controversies over foreign aid.  The play also evokes the atmosphere of The Cold War in general.


It also anticipates the phrase "The Me Generation." 

Each time I come to it, I'm bowled over by the casting. And it is a very nice in-kind homage to Dickens to re-christen the miserly character Grudge.

[Cato]

Each time I come to it, I'm bowled over by the casting. And it is a very nice in-kind homage to Dickens to re-christen the miserly character Grudge.

The singer Steve Lawrence, as one of the ghosts, was excellent, followed by an equally marvelous Pat Hingle and then the great Robert Shaw!

Peter Sellers as the "Imperial ME" must be experienced! 

[Wendell_E]

Though I read the books back in the early 1970s, I've never seen the movies. I noticed they were on Max yesterday, both regular and extended editions, so I watched this yesterday.

[Irons]

The Great Escaper.

A touching film based on a true story of a D-Day veteran who unable to join a party/group makes his own way to Normandy, France, to attend 70th anniversary commemorations.
Michael Cain and the late Glenda Jackson are superb playing a devoted couple living in a care-home on the south coast. This film has more then one string to it's bow - old age, futility of war, friendship, companionship and love. Particularly moving I thought was the relationship between Bernard's wife, Rene (Jackson) and her young carer. A huge cultural and generational divide counted for nothing due to respect they held for each other.       

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The Great Escaper.

A touching film based on a true story of a D-Day veteran who unable to join a party/group makes his own way to Normandy, France, to attend 70th anniversary commemorations.
Michael Cain and the late Glenda Jackson are superb playing a devoted couple living in a care-home on the south coast. This film has more then one string to it's bow - old age, futility of war, friendship, companionship and love. Particularly moving I thought was the relationship between Bernard's wife, Rene (Jackson) and her young carer. A huge cultural and generational divide counted for nothing due to respect they held for each other.     

I do remember hearing about this film and would love to watch it.  Did you see it on t.v. or is it available now on DVD?

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Though I read the books back in the early 1970s, I've never seen the movies. I noticed they were on Max yesterday, both regular and extended editions, so I watched this yesterday.

Oh, interesting!  Like you, I read them many moons ago--and loved them.  How did you enjoy the movie?  And, no, I haven't seen the extended edition.

PD

[Irons]

I do remember hearing about this film and would love to watch it.  Did you see it on t.v. or is it available now on DVD?

PD

Yes, available on DVD, PD. We viewed on pay to watch Amazon Prime.