Last Movie You Watched

[Moonfish]

The Silence of the Lambs

[Karl Henning]

I know I'm beating my drum too loudly, but Karl and Jeffrey (Vandermolen) have you guys watched the Sam Barber documentary Absolute Beauty yet? Inquiring minds want to know.

Not yet, with an explanation 

I had planned to watch Friday evening, but my wife had the delightful idea of going up to Portsmouth to take my mom-in-law out for a belated birthday dinner, which was an even better time than my initial plan.  The three-day weekend itself was a blur of activity, the most pertinent to GMG  0:) being, that I have been hot on the trail of the present score for symphonic band.  Well, and a Triad dress rehearsal last night, for our concert this Sunday.

The thing, of course, is especially for my first viewing, I want to sit and give the film its two hours' time.  It is kind of the shape of my week, that the first clear block to be counted on (when it can be counted on  ) is Friday . . . again . . . .

[drogulus]

     I watch an interesting documentary recently, Bombshell, about the actress Hedy Lamarr.

Although better known for her Silver Screen exploits, Austrian actress Hedy Lamarr (born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler) also became a pioneer in the field of wireless communications following her emigration to the United States. The international beauty icon, along with co-inventor George Anthiel, developed a "Secret Communications System" to help combat the Nazis in World War II. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted by enemy personnel.

Lamarr and Anthiel received a patent in 1941, but the enormous significance of their invention was not realized until decades later. It was first implemented on naval ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequently emerged in numerous military applications. But most importantly, the "spread spectrum" technology that Lamarr helped to invent would galvanize the digital communications boom, forming the technical backbone that makes cellular phones, fax machines and other wireless operations possible.

     

     

[LKB]

2001: A Space Odyssey
New 70mm print created by Warner,  overseen by Christopher Nolan

Viewed May 18th as the Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA

As regular visitors may be aware,  this is my all-time favorite motion picture, and has been since l saw it in a Cinerama theater during its initial release in 1968. I was nine years old,  had recently been turned on to orchestral music, and was an avid follower of the American effort to walk on the Moon before the Russians. In other words,  perfectly primed for Stanley Kubrick's magnum opus.

So, this cannot be an objective appraisal of the film itself. It is inextricably contained within that golden vault of cherished childhood memory, where summer never ends and school never comes.

I will simply relate my experience in the theater on May 18th. Since this release is now concluded, my friends here can read my observations and, hopefully, make use of them in deciding whether to see the film during its wider release this summer.

Fans of the film will undoubtedly own the bluray, which dates from 2007. So - was it better than watching the bluray?

My best answer would be, " It was different ".

The pros:

Certain production weaknesses in the film which are readily visible on bluray, are nearly impossible to detect when projected in a theater.

Also,  the color in the film is more interesting, subtle and effective, particularly during the slit-scan " stargate " sequence.

The cons:

I had hoped that with a new 70mm print l would see an image with superior clarity and resolution. I must report that the resolution l witnessed at the Castro was indistinguishable from the bluray, except during perhaps ten seconds in two scenes where it may have been slightly superior.

Also,  l found flicker to be a major distraction during the " Dawn of Man " scenes. The  front - projected images were photographed primarily on days with overcast skies,  and while the resulting brightness of the images may have helped Kubrick, they also accentuate the flicker from a projector running at 24fps.

Those accustomed to the bluray are probably watching on monitors which can interpolate frames, which results in flicker nearly vanishing. So be warned: in the theater,  it is extremely evident.

Finally,  the soundtrack was too loud. Films of fifty years ago did not have the dynamic, thunderous sound - effects and music of today's entertainment. The sound should be at a level which is appropriate,  not maximized.

So, something of a mixed bag... but l still encourage anyone who can to see the film in the theater this summer. There are moments where the experience is not reproducible when watching on bluray, and since l cannot discount the possibility of human error ( ha! I got to use it... ) during projection, I'll be back in front of the screen this summer,  at a different venue.

Cheers,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Not yet, with an explanation 

I had planned to watch Friday evening, but my wife had the delightful idea of going up to Portsmouth to take my mom-in-law out for a belated birthday dinner, which was an even better time than my initial plan.  The three-day weekend itself was a blur of activity, the most pertinent to GMG  0:) being, that I have been hot on the trail of the present score for symphonic band.  Well, and a Triad dress rehearsal last night, for our concert this Sunday.

The thing, of course, is especially for my first viewing, I want to sit and give the film its two hours' time.  It is kind of the shape of my week, that the first clear block to be counted on (when it can be counted on  ) is Friday . . . again . . . .

Excellent, Karl. You don't owe me any explanation, my friend. Being busy is always a great thing, especially when it comes to family and music.

[Karl Henning]

2001: A Space Odyssey
New 70mm print created by Warner,  overseen by Christopher Nolan

Viewed May 18th as the Castro Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA

As regular visitors may be aware,  this is my all-time favorite motion picture, and has been since l saw it in a Cinerama theater during its initial release in 1968. I was nine years old,  had recently been turned on to orchestral music, and was an avid follower of the American effort to walk on the Moon before the Russians. In other words,  perfectly primed for Stanley Kubrick's magnum opus.

So, this cannot be an objective appraisal of the film itself. It is inextricably contained within that golden vault of cherished childhood memory, where summer never ends and school never comes.

I will simply relate my experience in the theater on May 18th. Since this release is now concluded, my friends here can read my observations and, hopefully, make use of them in deciding whether to see the film during its wider release this summer.

Fans of the film will undoubtedly own the bluray, which dates from 2007. So - was it better than watching the bluray?

My best answer would be, " It was different ".

The pros:

Certain production weaknesses in the film which are readily visible on bluray, are nearly impossible to detect when projected in a theater.

Also,  the color in the film is more interesting, subtle and effective, particularly during the slit-scan " stargate " sequence.

The cons:

I had hoped that with a new 70mm print l would see an image with superior clarity and resolution. I must report that the resolution l witnessed at the Castro was indistinguishable from the bluray, except during perhaps ten seconds in two scenes where it may have been slightly superior.

Also,  l found flicker to be a major distraction during the " Dawn of Man " scenes. The  front - projected images were photographed primarily on days with overcast skies,  and while the resulting brightness of the images may have helped Kubrick, they also accentuate the flicker from a projector running at 24fps.

Those accustomed to the bluray are probably watching on monitors which can interpolate frames, which results in flicker nearly vanishing. So be warned: in the theater,  it is extremely evident.

Finally,  the soundtrack was too loud. Films of fifty years ago did not have the dynamic, thunderous sound - effects and music of today's entertainment. The sound should be at a level which is appropriate,  not maximized.

So, something of a mixed bag... but l still encourage anyone who can to see the film in the theater this summer. There are moments where the experience is not reproducible when watching on bluray, and since l cannot discount the possibility of human error ( ha! I got to use it... ) during projection, I'll be back in front of the screen this summer,  at a different venue.

Cheers,

LKB

Thanks for all this, I feel a vicarious enjoyment through your vivid report.  I shall look for it when/if it comes to Boston (how could it not, right?)

[Karl Henning]

Excellent, Karl. You don't owe me any explanation, my friend. Being busy is always a great thing, especially when it comes to family and music.

And I appreciate your enthusiasm for the Barber film (which is why I pulled the trigger)  0:)

[Draško]

Couldn't finish it. The first one had Werner Herzog as the villain, this one has nothing.

[LKB]

Thanks for all this, I feel a vicarious enjoyment through your vivid report.  I shall look for it when/if it comes to Boston (how could it not, right?)

You're quite welcome, sir. And since Warner installed 70mm equipment in a hundred theaters around the country last year for Dunkirk, I should think Boston would have at least one theater with the new equipment.  Hopefully the location will be convenient for everyone interested in the experience.

Cheers,

LKB

[Karl Henning]

You're quite welcome, sir. And since Warner installed 70mm equipment in a hundred theaters around the country last year for Dunkirk, I should think Boston would have at least one theater with the new equipment.  Hopefully the location will be convenient for everyone interested in the experience.

Cheers,

LKB

That must have been a blast, Dunkirk (which I enjoyed on Blu-ray).

[LKB]

I've just found this:

http://gatewayfilmcenter.org/2001-a-spaceodyssey-1968-50th-anniversary-in-70mm/

If the film is going to play in Columbus, Ohio in a few weeks, then it's sure to be in Boston at some point...

Dunkirk was impressive, particularly the aerial scenes. See it in a theater, if you ever have the opportunity.

,

LKB

[Karl Henning]

So I shall.

[aligreto]

About Time





A charming film about a guy's ability to travel back through time and how he uses it to shape and change his life. The relationship with his father is particularly appealing.

[aligreto]

Did you see the movie "Arbitrage" starring Richard Gere that came out a few few years ago? It's a somewhat understated drama/thriller I found captivating.

No, I did not but thank you for the recommendation.

[aligreto]

The Silence of the Lambs

Such a wonderful film!

[Moonfish]

Such a wonderful film!

That's the film through which I "fell in love" with Jody Foster.... 

Anyways, I almost feel like that was the peak of her career in terms of acting. Incredible role immersion. She and Anthony Hopkins definitely carry the film! And, of course, the incredible plot twists.    Always worth returning to every now and then....

[Ken B]

That's the film through which I "fell in love" with Jody Foster...

I already had. I find her so beautiful in fact that it can be difficult to watch her movies. Every time the camera cuts to her a feel a tiny jolt.

[Moonfish]

I already had. I find her so beautiful in fact that it can be difficult to watch her movies. Every time the camera cuts to her a feel a tiny jolt.

Me too!!!!

[Baron Scarpia]

Two of my favorites gaffs are in the movies Pearl Harbor and Armageddon.

In Pearl Harbor there is the scene where they are cutting into the hull of a capsized ship in order to save trapped sailors.  They cut a hole in the hull above the water line and the cabin the sailors are trapped in fill with water and they drown. (I know Pearl Harbor is not suppose to be fantasy but the only thing they got right is the date of the attack.  With all of the other gaffs is might as well be a fantasy.)

Why is that a gaff?

[aligreto]

The Intern





Most enjoyable. A tale of a seventy year old intern and the impact that he has on the younger generation in a modern e-commerce industry. Quite amusing really.