Last Movie You Watched

[LKB]

I'd lump PJ'S King Kong into the " watchable but not great " category. Keep expectations moderate and enjoy the in-jokes, would be my suggestion.

[SonicMan46]

Not proud of it, but out of some sort of impulse towards self-harm or morbid curiosity I watched the 1976 King Kong (free amazon prime streaming, mostly sort of in the background, 15 minutes at a time over several days).

The updated plot, that they went to the island looking for oil, makes more sense than the original (but is it really supposed to make sense?). Some scenes were more or less recreations of the original. Ultimately unsatisfying. Bridges and Lang are ok in their silly roles, Charles Grodan is not so convincing as the opportunistic oil company guy. Pretty peculiar the way Jessica Lang is supposedly turned on by Kong. And the scenes of the natives of skull island are even more cringe worthy in 1976 than they were in 1933.

That's, erm, something. Thanks for taking one for the team. I've only relatively recently seen the original. Am mildly interested in Peter Jackson's remake.

I don't know what format you have the original, but I have a DVD of the 1933 version that has a documentary (by Jackson, I think) detailing how they did all of the special effects in 1933. Fascinating. As a bonus the reproduced the lost "spider pit" scene using 1933 technology.

I'd lump PJ'S King Kong into the " watchable but not great " category. Keep expectations moderate and enjoy the in-jokes, would be my suggestion.

The comments above piqued my interest, so looked for some ranked listings - Rotten Tomatoes HERE lists 9 films from 1933 to 2021 - I've seen most of these and own the 3 in bold below (from the link) - never a big fan of the Kong vs. Godzilla movies - the film under question from 1976 w/ Bridges and Lang not well rated - I had avoided the production for decades but did watch last year (Amazon streaming); found Lange rather alluring and Kong the love-struck beast -  :laugh:

Of course, the original is also my favorite for its historic importance (when Ray Harrryhausen saw it as a young teen he apparently found his destination for life -  ) - I like Peter Jackson's film except for the length, 3+ hrs - would have enjoyed more w/ at least a half hour editing.  Dave

All King Kong Movies Ranked
#9. King Kong Lives (1986) 0% 16% #9. ...
#8. Son of Kong (1933) 42% 28% #8. ...
#7. King Kong (1976) 52% 31% #7. ...
#6. King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) 50% 56% ...
#5. King Kong Escapes (1968) 63% 41% #5. ...
#4. Kong: Skull Island (2017) 75% 69% #4. ...
#3. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) 75% 82% #3...
#2. King Kong (2005) 84% 50% #2...
#1. King Kong (1933) 96% 86% #1...

[relm1]

Not proud of it, but out of some sort of impulse towards self-harm or morbid curiosity I watched the 1976 King Kong (free amazon prime streaming, mostly sort of in the background, 15 minutes at a time over several days).

The updated plot, that they went to the island looking for oil, makes more sense than the original (but is it really supposed to make sense?). Some scenes were more or less recreations of the original. Ultimately unsatisfying. Bridges and Lang are ok in their silly roles, Charles Grodan is not so convincing as the opportunistic oil company guy. Pretty peculiar the way Jessica Lang is supposedly turned on by Kong. And the scenes of the natives of skull island are even more cringe worthy in 1976 than they were in 1933.

Ahh man, that movie spooked me out as a kid so I loved it.  Great music too!

[VonStupp]

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Isabella Sermon
Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong

VS

[Karl Henning]

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Isabella Sermon
Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong

VS

I've recently thought I should watch the first movie (I've seen lots of bits, not quite the entire flick.) What's your opinion of the franchise and its arc?

[VonStupp]

I've recently thought I should watch the first movie (I've seen lots of bits, not quite the entire flick.) What's your opinion of the franchise and its arc?

For me they have been disposable popcorn thrillers, and it might depend on how you feel about Chris Pratt actioners. Dumb but fun...

The first was a decent yarn, the 2nd pretty forgettable, and despite unanimous critical grimaces on this third entry, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It bowed pretty low to my sense of nostalgia over the original Jurassic Park.

Of course, aside from these later ones, I never ventured past the first Jurassic Park from the original series.

VS

[Karl Henning]

For me they have been disposable popcorn thrillers, and it might depend on how you feel about Chris Pratt actioners. Dumb but fun...

The first was a decent yarn, the 2nd pretty forgettable, and despite unanimous critical grimaces on this third entry, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It bowed pretty low to my sense of nostalgia over the original Jurassic Park.

Of course, aside from these later ones, I never ventured past the first Jurassic Park from the original series.

VS

Interesting, thanks!

[SonicMan46]

For me they have been disposable popcorn thrillers, and it might depend on how you feel about Chris Pratt actioners. Dumb but fun...

The first was a decent yarn, the 2nd pretty forgettable, and despite unanimous critical grimaces on this third entry, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It bowed pretty low to my sense of nostalgia over the original Jurassic Park.

Of course, aside from these later ones, I never ventured past the first Jurassic Park from the original series.......

@ Karl - in complete agreement w/ VS - I own just two films, the first Jurassic Park & Jurassic World (as UHD streamers on Amazon) - like Opie's daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard - as to the rest of the original series, seen them all (and use to have a boxed DVD set but gave away - the second film in the series was OK); as to the second Chris Pratt/BD Howard, a dud in my viewing.  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Cheers, Dave & VS! I shall content myself with borrowing the original from the Library!

[VonStupp]

Cheers, Dave & VS! I shall content myself with borrowing the original from the Library!

Cant go wrong there!   Have a good weekend; hopefully the eastern seaboard isn't too bone-chilling right now.
VS

[SonicMan46]

Cheers, Dave & VS! I shall content myself with borrowing the original from the Library!

+1 - enjoy!  Below are the top 3 'Jurassic Park' films on Rotten Tomatoes; of course, the first one deservedly at the top - hard to top those novel ideas of Michael Crichton - BUT Jurassic World is worth a watch (for me will view again when in the mood).  Dave

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I've recently thought I should watch the first movie (I've seen lots of bits, not quite the entire flick.) What's your opinion of the franchise and its arc?

Sorry, I know that you didn't ask me, but may I say that I really enjoyed the first one.

PD

[Karl Henning]

Sorry, I know that you didn't ask me, but may I say that I really enjoyed the first one.

PD

Good to know, PD!

[relm1]

I've recently thought I should watch the first movie (I've seen lots of bits, not quite the entire flick.) What's your opinion of the franchise and its arc?

The first is fantastic!  Then they gradually become a cash grab.  My opinion is that's fine if your expectations are you are going to see a popcorn cash grab.  The early versions are cinematic spectacles but later, not so much.

[Madiel]

Zero Dark Thirty



I wouldn't say that I loved it, but it's very interesting. In particular, the depiction of torture, and reading the reactions afterwards to the depictions of torture. Different people saw the movie and took away utterly different interpretations about whether the movie was saying torture was a fine and dandy way of getting information, or a terrible way of getting information, or ambiguous. Given the vast array of reactions I'd say "ambiguous" might be the right answer.

And there were quite a few things where I felt the film was just showing me without telling me what to think one way or the other. The whole attack at the end is really quite disturbing in its way.

[LKB]

I've recently thought I should watch the first movie (I've seen lots of bits, not quite the entire flick.) What's your opinion of the franchise and its arc?

Putting in my two cents, unasked... because l really enjoy the original Jurassic Park.

Excellent pacing, strong performances, a distinctive John Williams score, decent effects ( particularly for 30 years ago ) and some shrewd decisions with the adaptation. Some adversity during the production, with Hurricane Iliki (SP?) disrupting the project while they were in Hawaii.

One of my Top Five Spielberg Sci-Fi films. 

[Karl Henning]

Putting in my two cents, unasked... because l really enjoy the original Jurassic Park.

Excellent pacing, strong performances, a distinctive John Williams score, decent effects ( particularly for 30 years ago ) and some shrewd decisions with the adaptation. Some adversity during the production, with Hurricane Iliki (SP?) disrupting the project while they were in Hawaii.

One of my Top Five Spielberg Sci-Fi films. 

Thank you, too!

TD: The Naked Gun 2½ The Smell of Fear

[VonStupp]

TD: The Naked Gun 2½ The Smell of Fear

I've never enjoyed Robert Goulet so much!
VS



Sphere (1998)
Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson
Liev Schreiber, Peter Coyote, Queen Latifah, Huey Lewis

Another Michael Crichton film; haven't read the book though.

[LKB]

Sphere (1998)
Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson
Liev Schreiber, Peter Coyote, Queen Latifah, Huey Lewis

Another Michael Crichton film; haven't read the book though.

I saw Sphere after reading the novel, and was quite disappointed. Most books are superior to their film adaptations, and I'd say it's particularly true in this case. ( l kept hoping the you- know- what would make a surprise visit and terminate the film. 

[Todd]

Agreed with almost all of this (especially about The Master) but two notes about the ending.

1. I did think the last 30 seconds or so were too cheesy/sentimental and removed some of the ambiguity that made their relationship fun. The last line of voiceover was cringe for me.

2. In the final scene in the arcade at the end, did you notice a couple of arcade patrons just...having sex...in the middle of the scene? I think they were on the right-hand side as Gary walks through a crowd. But IMDB does not list it in the parental advisory, my friends didn't notice when we watched in theater, and nobody online seems to be talking about it. But I thought I saw, like, Boogie Nights-style out-and-out sex-having. Did I hallucinate??

To the first point, the scene is the big payoff and PTA went for something he typically wouldn't.  I think it fits in with the comparative lightness of the film.

To the second point, I did not notice, so now I will probably have to rewatch the whole thing.