Last Movie You Watched

[aligreto]

Enola Holmes:





This is an interesting take on the Sherlock Holmes theme. It centres on the Holmes family and, in particular, the younger sister, Enola, and their mother. It is quirky, very entertaining and definitely worth a watch.

[Florestan]

On Netflix



Excellent acting from Ben Kingsley (Eichmann) and Oscar Isaac (Peter Malkin).

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, a couple of 4K UHD physical replacements (3 for 2 sale on Amazon - other film 2001: A Space Odyssey - later):

The Patriot (2000) w/ the main actors in the synopsis below; I've lived in North Carolina since 1971 and have travelled throughout both NC and SC (and the adjacent states) - have read numerous books on the history of the area including many on the Revolutionary War; so, this film is like the happenings in my 'back yard' - BUT, the historical inaccuracies are blatant - the book/movie are really a fictionalized historic drama and the movie can be enjoyed in that way - reviews are mixed; I'd do 4*/5* on Amazon; my wife actually enjoyed the film but would take off a half star which is more in line w/ the usual review websites; typically, the Amazonians voted 4.8*/5*!  Recommended if a Gibson fan and the story is of interest.

Jaws (1975) w/ the actors in the second summary - probably not needed since I assume many know this film; note that both 4K versions of these films received excellent AV reviews HERE for those interested. My wife had never seen this film and enjoyed; the final half hour or so on the ocean trying to 'capture' the huge shark can be 'hair raising' - she did yell a few times -    Highly recommended.

The Patriot is an American epic historical war film written by Robert Rodat, directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs. The story takes place mainly in rural Berkeley County in South Carolina and depicts Benjamin Martin (Gibson), an American colonist opposed to going to war with Great Britain who, along with his adult son, (Ledger) gets swept into the Revolutionary War when his home life is disrupted and one of his sons is murdered by a cruel British officer (Isaacs). Rodat has said Martin is a composite character based on four historical men: Andrew Pickens, Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan and Thomas Sumter. (Source)

Jaws is an American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley. In the film, a man-eating great white shark attacks beachgoers at a summer resort town, prompting police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw). Murray Hamilton plays the mayor, and Lorraine Gary portrays Brody's wife. The screenplay is credited to Benchley, who wrote the first drafts, and actor-writer Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote the script during principal photography. (Source)

 

[Florestan]

On Netflix



A very realistic war movie. I hope George MacKay was paid very well for all the ordeals he must have endured duirng filming.

[LKB]

I have 1917 on blu-ray. Powerful and haunting, particularly the opening.

[Madiel]

I actually have 1917 sitting on my set-top box waiting to be watched.

I do slightly worry that the television broadcast might have had ads in stupid places.

[VonStupp]

1776

My memories from the first time I watched 1776 was being bored, a young man's issue I suspect. Revisiting it a couple of years ago, I was really taken with some of the music; quite dramatically effective in some spots and judicious humor too. The Richard Henry Lee song is a blast!

The Firm (1993) w/ Tom Cruise, Hal Holbrook, Gene Hackman and others

A fun one!

VS

[Karl Henning]

On Netflix



A very realistic war movie. I hope George MacKay was paid very well for all the ordeals he must have endured duirng filming.

Thanks for the reminder, I should watch this.

[SonicMan46]

My memories from the first time I watched 1776 was being bored, a young man's issue I suspect. Revisiting it a couple of years ago, I was really taken with some of the music; quite dramatically effective in some spots and judicious humor too. The Richard Henry Lee song is a blast!

A fun one!

VS

+1 - glad that you 'came around' to 1776 -  Dave

[Florestan]

Thanks for the reminder, I should watch this.

It's a very good movie.

[aligreto]

Kieślowski: Dekalog No. 7





A girl of sixteen has a child by one of her teachers. Her domineering mother is the head of the school where they both attended. To avoid a major scandal the mother assumes possession of the child as her own with her daughter living under the same roof. After six years of this arrangement the real mother kidnaps her daughter and seeks the help of the natural father of the child.

[Todd]

Spiderhead.  Thor and Rooster, along with Jussie Smollet's non-felon sister Jurnee, bring to the small screen a cinematic adaptation of a short story from The New Yorker, directed by current top gun director Joseph Kosinski.  In this dystopian present/future, prisoners volunteer to move to a prison where they can roam free in exchange for being test subjects for Big Pharma.  Evil corporate shenanigans follow and the humanity of the inmates is revealed.  Dark, probably serious themes get explored, humor gets tossed in, and Thor adopts a convincing American accent for the duration.  The interior set used a facility in Australia that looks only a bit sleeker than what one finds in Mexico City.  It may have been cheaper to shoot down under.  Using the old four star rating system, this is a two star time waster with enough good moments to make it feel like something less than a waste of time.

[SonicMan46]

2001: A Space Oddyssey (1968) w/ the two main stars quoted below - just purchased the 4K version (spectacular review - second pic - LINK) - AV restoration is awesome, both visuals and the vibrant classical music soundtrack - still trying to figure out the film after maybe 4 watches since release! A MUST see - Dave

2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. The film stars Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, et al, and follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient supercomputer HAL after the discovery of an alien monolith. The film is noted for its scientifically accurate depiction of space flight, pioneering special effects, and ambiguous imagery. Kubrick avoided conventional cinematic and narrative techniques, and there are long sequences accompanied only by music. The soundtrack incorporates numerous works of classical music, by composers including Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss II, Aram Khachaturian, and György Ligeti. The film received diverse critical responses, ranging from those who saw it as darkly apocalyptic to those who saw it as an optimistic reappraisal of the hopes of humanity. Critics noted its exploration of themes such as human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Kubrick the award for his direction of the visual effects. The film is now widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made. (Source - edited)

 

[LKB]

2001: A Space Oddyssey (1968) w/ the two main stars quoted below - just purchased the 4K version (spectacular review - second pic - LINK) - AV restoration is awesome, both visuals and the vibrant classical music soundtrack - still trying to figure out the film after maybe 4 watches since release! A MUST see - Dave


 

From my first viewing in a Cinerama theater in 1968 until this moment, my ultimate favorite. 

[VonStupp]

Pleasantville (1998)
Tobey Maguire, Joan Allen, Don Knotts
Reese Witherspoon, Jeff Daniels
William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Paul Walker

I think Pleasantville came out around the same time as The Truman Show. Truman was the greater movie.

Still, the personal repression vs political oppression angle is an interesting one, plus the B&W visual palette is so interesting around occasional striking colors.

Don Knotts is great to see too!

VS

[SonicMan46]

Animation Movies!  I own about two dozen films in this genre, mostly Disney productions (going back to Snow White and..... released in 1937) - now as a subscriber to Disney+ (on my son's plan) most of these movies can be streamed, e.g. I have the Ratatouille BD but watched the 4K from the Disney channel.  Wife not as enthralled, so over the last week or so had to be quite selective and watched the three below:

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) - synopsis below and review at the link - a lot of adult humor; however reviews were mixed, but we enjoyed - I would do 3 1/2* to 4* on Amazon.

Ratatouille (2007) - Pixar production released by Disney (second quote) - as above, we watched the 4K streaming version, a gorgeous production - reviews: 8.1/10, IMDB; 96%, Rotten Tomatoes - highly recommended.   

Corpse Bride (2005) - a Tim Burton stop-action film with fantastic imagery and sound (see third quote); reviews were also mixed, 7.3/10, IMDB & 84%, Rotten Tomatoes - I'd go 4* on Amazon - recommended.

BTW - the Amazon reviewers seem to love these three films, i.e. over 4 1/2*/5* for all.  Dave

Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine - the WABAC - to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes the WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidentally rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history. (Source)

Ratatouille - Remy, a resident of Paris, appreciates good food and has quite a sophisticated palate. He would love to become a chef so he can create and enjoy culinary masterpieces to his heart's delight. The only problem is, Remy is a rat. When he winds up in the sewer beneath one of Paris' finest restaurants, the rodent gourmet finds himself ideally placed to realize his dream. (Source)

Corpse Bride - Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria's (Emily Watson) families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor is nervous about the ceremony. While he's in a forest practicing his lines for the wedding, a tree branch becomes a hand that drags him to the land of the dead. It belongs to Emily, who was murdered after eloping with her love and wants to marry Victor. Victor must get back aboveground before Victoria marries the villainous Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant). (Source)

   

[Karl Henning]

Animation Movies!  I own about two dozen films in this genre, mostly Disney productions (going back to Snow White and..... released in 1937) - now as a subscriber to Disney+ (on my son's plan) most of these movies can be streamed, e.g. I have the Ratatouille BD but watched the 4K from the Disney channel.  Wife not as enthralled, so over the last week or so had to be quite selective and watched the three below:

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) - synopsis below and review at the link - a lot of adult humor; however reviews were mixed, but we enjoyed - I would do 3 1/2* to 4* on Amazon.

Ratatouille (2007) - Pixar production released by Disney (second quote) - as above, we watched the 4K streaming version, a gorgeous production - reviews: 8.1/10, IMDB; 96%, Rotten Tomatoes - highly recommended.   

Corpse Bride (2005) - a Tim Burton stop-action film with fantastic imagery and sound (see third quote); reviews were also mixed, 7.3/10, IMDB & 84%, Rotten Tomatoes - I'd go 4* on Amazon - recommended.

BTW - the Amazon reviewers seem to love these three films, i.e. over 4 1/2*/5* for all.  Dave

   

I like the Corpse Bride rather better than the average Tim Burton endeavor.

[VonStupp]

Animation Movies!  I own about two dozen films in this genre, mostly Disney productions (going back to Snow White and..... released in 1937) - now as a subscriber to Disney+ (on my son's plan) most of these movies can be streamed, e.g. I have the Ratatouille BD but watched the 4K from the Disney channel.  Wife not as enthralled, so over the last week or so had to be quite selective and watched the three below:

Somewhat related, last night I watched:

Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021)

with the girls. Better than a Nickelodeon toddler cartoon on the big screen has any right to be. And of course, they like it, which I guess is the point.

VS

[SonicMan46]

I like the Corpse Bride rather better than the average Tim Burton endeavor.

Hi Karl - curious about Burton's output - from Wiki below - believe I've seen virtually all of those films and own 6 at the moment (blue boxes); we liked Frankenweenie but never made a purchase.  But I agree that I'm 'lukewarm' about a number of those listed, e.g. I disliked his Sweeney Todd - had seen it on Broadway w/ Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, so my expectation.  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Hi Karl - curious about Burton's output - from Wiki below - believe I've seen virtually all of those films and own 6 at the moment (blue boxes); we liked Frankenweenie but never made a purchase.  But I agree that I'm 'lukewarm' about a number of those listed, e.g. I disliked his Sweeney Todd - had seen it on Broadway w/ Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, so my expectation.  Dave

Aye, I enjoyed Frankenweenie, as well, Dave. Perhaps, as with a number of artists, Burton is at his best when not taking himelf too seriously.