Last Movie You Watched

[Draško]

An amour fou on a backdrop of cold war/iron curtain 50's Europe. Two people very much in love but not really compatible, across 15 years and 4 countries. Very beautiful film, in black and white and academy ratio, well deserved oscar nods for direction and cinematography. Great music, and use of it, from folk to jazz to rock to classical. More than worth seeing.

[Madiel]

What impressed me the most with A Star is Born were the concert performances, primarily the first time when Bradley Cooper brings Lady Gaga onstage. But overall a fine film.

Yes, I remembered not long after the film started that I'd read/heard about the way they shot the concert performances. It's very much about being on stage with them, not looking from the audience.

I wouldn't say wow, this is one of the best films I've ever seen. But against that I honestly cannot point to any weaknesses at all. I'll take a 5-star film if I'm lucky enough to get one, but I've absolutely no complaints about a 4-star film that held its quality across a running time over 2 hours. Many films of that length get to a point where I think they're dragging something out unnecessarily. I had no such feelings with A Star Is Born. It held my interest consistently.

[aligreto]

The Ides of March





This is a very good political thriller.

[aligreto]

Aliens





A terrific sequel.

[drogulus]

     I was impressed that not only did Bradley Cooper play like a real guitarist, but that he knows what a good sound is and how to get it, straight wire with gain, baby!

[Cato]

In honor of GROUNDHOG DAY...

[asin]B00005U8EM[/asin]

[SonicMan46]

Notorious (1946) w/ Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, and others; Alfred Hitchcock, director - new Criterion release - a recent purchase despite already owning this film on blu-ray, but after reading the review HERE (and ratings below in the first image), I could not resist replacing the older version; and indeed this new one exceeds the other in AV quality - plus, there are a LOT of extras (believe over 2 hrs worth!) that I've not even explored yet.

NOW, another dilemma, Criterion has also just released In the Heat of the Night (a long time fav of mine) and I own an older blu-ray version - again on reading the review HERE (shown below, 2nd pic), I feel obligated in replacing my 'poorer' copy as discussed in the link -   I'll wait until Criterion or Barnes & Noble have a half off sale.  Dave 

[Madiel]

Solaris (1972), directed by Tarkovsky

[asin]B004NWPY34[/asin]

Hmm. One of the greatest science fiction films ever made?

Well... on the one hand I can see certain elements, and indeed certain scenes, and think it's pretty powerful stuff. And there are some strong ideas.

But it also looks dated, and cheap. There are things that were quite obviously done in particular ways because on a Soviet budget, filming was impossible. I also suspect that the particular DVD version that I borrowed from the library is a pretty poor rendition. Things might well look/feel better on a more recent and more careful restoration. For one thing the dialogue might stay synced with the actor's lips... (yes I watched in Russian, the idea of a dubbed English soundtrack was even more disturbing).

There are also times, especially in the first half, where it's veeeeeeery slow. Certain shots, I haven't the faintest idea why.

It reminded me quite a bit of 2001, which for some people is probably a recommendation. It's not really a recommendation for me, I find 2001 spends a lot of time looking cool at the expense of a plot. Solaris occasionally does the same thing, though most of the time it does try to give a basis for its weirdness.

I'm kind of glad I watched it, but in the end it's not something I'd be returning to. I'm vaguely interested in the much later American version (not a remake as such, they're both drawn from a Russian novel). EDIT: I've just read that the novelist was not a fan of Tarkovsky's film.

[Cato]

Solaris (1972), directed by Tarkovsky

[asin]B004NWPY34[/asin]

Hmm. One of the greatest science fiction films ever made?

Well... on the one hand I can see certain elements, and indeed certain scenes, and think it's pretty powerful stuff. And there are some strong ideas.

But it also looks dated, and cheap....

There are also times, especially in the first half, where it's veeeeeeery slow. Certain shots, I haven't the faintest idea why.


I'm kind of glad I watched it, but in the end it's not something I'd be returning to. I'm vaguely interested in the much later American version (not a remake as such, they're both drawn from a Russian novel). EDIT: I've just read that the novelist was not a fan of Tarkovsky's film.

I really wanted to like the movie, because of previous Tarkovsky movies, but your reaction fairly well parallels mine.

[Todd]

Revisited Cool Hand Luke for the first time in decades, now with an older, more jaundiced eye.  It's not a very good movie.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Notorious (1946) w/ Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, and others; Alfred Hitchcock, director - new Criterion release - a recent purchase despite already owning this film on blu-ray, but after reading the review HERE (and ratings below in the first image), I could not resist replacing the older version; and indeed this new one exceeds the other in AV quality - plus, there are a LOT of extras (believe over 2 hrs worth!) that I've not even explored yet.

Ah, Notorious! Once again, an example of yet another movie where Claude Rains manages to steal the show. Although his character's mother is terrific character as well, I love how her first reaction after learning that her son is married to an American agent is to light a cigarette.

[Karl Henning]

A visit to my local Popeye's is always entertaining.

Cheers,  George

[Karl Henning]

Alien





Alien It has been a while since I have seen this one but it still holds up very well for me.

Yes, beautiful to watch, and the director takes his time.

[Karl Henning]

The other day, I needed to watch The In-Laws (Peter Falk & Alan Arkin) again

[SonicMan46]

Ah, Notorious! Once again, an example of yet another movie where Claude Rains manages to steal the show. Although his character's mother is terrific character as well, I love how her first reaction after learning that her son is married to an American agent is to light a cigarette.

Yep - Rains is 'hard to beat' in a scene (thinking of Robinhood & Casablanca, just to mention a few) - now itching to get the Criterion version of 'In the Heat of the Night' -   Dave

[SimonNZ]

Very silly. Very dated.

[SonicMan46]

The other day, I needed to watch The In-Laws (Peter Falk & Alan Arkin) again

Hi Karl - hope that you are still improving daily!  But I cannot remember if you ever bought the BD below on the Criterion label?  Dave
.

[Cato]

Yep - Rains is 'hard to beat' in a scene (thinking of Robin Hood & Casablanca, just to mention a few)

Claude Rains is absolutely perfect in Lawrence of Arabia.

[Ken B]

The other day, I needed to watch The In-Laws (Peter Falk & Alan Arkin) again

Serpentine!

[aligreto]

Alien 3