Last Movie You Watched

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Never mind the "Say hello to my little friend." The greatest line of this movie is without doubt "Manolo, shoot that piece of shit."

[listener]

A TALE OF SAMURAI COOKING
nice romantic drama less heavy on food preparation than expected and not a martial arts film either. 
Set within the Kaga Domain in the Edo Period. Oharu is an excellent cook and recognized for her skills. Due to her cooking talents, she marries Yasunobu, who is an heir in the Funaki family. The Funaki family serves as the cook for the Kaga Domain. Nevertheless, Yasunobu himself is a terrible cook. With the help of Oharu's mother-in-law Mitsuru, she begins to teach Yasunobu how to cook.

[TheGSMoeller]

The Grand Budapest Hotel

It's safe to say that Wes Anderson has perfected his craft, his individualistic vision of cinema. And it's a vision that enthralls me with every frame. Budapest is Anderson's most original film since Moonrise Kingdom (I know, that was the film right before Budapest so you can see what I'm getting at), with again an array of who's who in Hollywood's acting master classes without ever becoming distracting, think of them more as great but small character roles rather than cameos. Composer Alexandre Desplat has provided Anderson with another brilliantly eccentric score, along with the marriage of stages, miniature sets, green screen and location shooting help make Budapest a victory feast for the senses. I loved the various aspect ratios used, it gave every era it's own look, the 1:33 ratio (old school TV ratio) reminded me of the wonderful steady cam shots in The Shining. Amazing, I hope Wes Anderson makes twenty more films. And who knew Ralph Fiennes could be funny?

[mc ukrneal]

A couple of more BD replacements for us the last few nights:

Elizabeth (1998) w/ Cate Blanchett - beautiful atmospheric film - love the costumes and the characters - not always historically accurate but I know the really history - if you like historic dramas, then worth a watch.

Finding Netherland (2004) w/ Johnny Depp & Kate Winslet - about James Barrie, creator of Peter Pan - actually brought my wife to tears toward the end - I cannot remember the last time this happened in a movie; this is an extremely touching story w/ Depp & Winslet superb in their roles- another recommendation!  Dave

 

Both outstanding movies. Blanchett simply embodies Elizabeth so well. One of her best. And Neverland is a far more touching movie than I ever expected. I love it when a movie doesn't rush, lets the characters open up at their pace and then you are drawn into their depths.

[ritter]

Revisiting this classic:

[asin]B004B93L8Y[/asin]

[drogulus]

     

     After Sorcerer this is the Friedkin film I most admire.

     W. Friedkin: Influence you much?

     M. Mann: What, me?

[Jaakko Keskinen]

More Don Bluth. Another wonderful score from James Horner, though I still prefer his work in American tail.

[lisa needs braces]

Hamlet (1996), directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh in the main role.

I saw this for the second time, and it remains a powerful and luscious (and complete) adaptation of Hamlet. The use of cinematic effects adds to the power of the words. Can't wait to own it on Blu Ray one day.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Hamlet (1996), directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh in the main role.

I saw this for the second time, and it remains a powerful and luscious (and complete) adaptation of Hamlet. The use of cinematic effects adds to the power of the words. Can't wait to own it on Blu Ray one day.

Still the greatest shakespeare film, IMO.

[North Star]

I discovered during the holidays that my parents own that Branagh Hamlet on VHS. I really need to see it at some point.

[SonicMan46]

A couple more DVD replacements w/ BDs last night:

Man of the West (1958) w/ Gary Cooper, Julie London, Lee J. Cobb; Anthony Mann, director - love these '50s westerns made by Mann - always beautiful scenery; 7.3/10, IMDB; 4.4/5* on Amazon - Coop's in his late '50s and showing his age, but he still had a handful of movies left in him; Cobb always enjoyable to watch, BUT Julie in several scenes that show off her pulchritude is not to be missed -

M*A*S*H (1970) w/ Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Robert Duvall, & Sally Kellerman; Robert Altman, director; 7.7/10, IMDB; 4.5/5* Amazon - still an hilarious film - both films highly recommended although quite different stories -   Dave

 

[Ken B]

A couple more DVD replacements w/ BDs last night:

Man of the West (1958) w/ Gary Cooper, Julie London, Lee J. Cobb; Anthony Mann, director - love these '50s westerns made by Mann - always beautiful scenery; 7.3/10, IMDB; 4.4/5* on Amazon - Coop's in his late '50s and showing his age, but he still had a handful of movies left in him; Cobb always enjoyable to watch, BUT Julie in several scenes that show off her pulchritude is not to be missed -

M*A*S*H (1970) w/ Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Robert Duvall, & Sally Kellerman; Robert Altman, director; 7.7/10, IMDB; 4.5/5* Amazon - still an hilarious film - both films highly recommended although quite different stories -   Dave

 

She doesn't look like Kirk Douglas either.

[listener]

JUDGE!
A major advertising festival is held each year to determine the best television commercial in the world. A rookie ad man at a big advertising company named Otan is selected as a judge on the festival jury. Meanwhile, a coworker also named Ota (although the Japanese characters are slightly different) poses as his wife so that he can attend an open party which is held nightly. Knowing that he'll get fired if his company doesn't win the Grand Prix, he's forced to resort to a variety of desperate tactics.
Moderately amusing, but comedy feel is compromised by some sluggish tempos.   Voicing of American characters is a throwback to the old dubbed European films of the fifties.

[Bogey]

Meh.  This one has held up only at a so-so level.  The first one I enjoyed watching again and will come back to it.  The sequel will be rarely revisited.

[Bogey]

Agreed .. as I picked up this one and the original picture for dirt cheap on a whim last year. I have to say .. that both haven't aged well at all.
But honestly, I'm finding this applies to the vast majority of movies ever made  ..

The first one has almost a "Ray Harryhausen" feel about it.  That is, they were pulling off painstaking effects that few were at the time, on a minimum budget.  That I applaud.  It has a retro look and feel that I enjoyed also. Seemed to capture that time decently. 

[SonicMan46]

She doesn't look like Kirk Douglas either.

OK Ken, since you're so enamored w/ Kirk Douglas, I've put together a 'photo menagerie' of the actor just for you, which is suitable for framing - Dave

[Bogey]

OK Ken, since you're so enamored w/ Kirk Douglas, I've put together a 'photo menagerie' of the actor just for you, which is suitable for framing - Dave

One of THE GREATS!

[Wanderer]

A few I just keep forgetting to post about:
[asin]B00PT3AUYO[/asin]
Whiplash. Loved the performance of Simmons. Worth it for that alone (and I think he hits it with facial expressions in certain scenes), and hope he wins the Oscar. I loved how the movie ends, but don't want to give it away in case someone hasn't seen it yet. I could watch the last 10 minutes or so over and over (In fact, I did). Music is excellent.

I finally got the time and watched Whiplash today and while I knew this was right up my alley, I did not expect to like it so much. Time flew and I wouldn't mind if the film was even an hour longer. Gripping performances, inspired directing and, of course, terrific music.
After the music-making of the last 10 minutes, I couldn't help but think that Pollini might have had that kind of sound (and rhythm) in mind when he hammered the Boulez Second Sonata.

[Drasko]

[SonicMan46]

Tonight, Susan & I are going to watch the Oscars, since we've seen all but one of the films nominated for 'Best Picture' - planning a snack dinner in the den w/ some smoke fish (trout & salmon), shrimp, a few other goodies + a bottle of bubbly!

BUT, last night a couple of more BD replacements:

Full Metal Jacket (1987) w/ Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, et al; Stanley Kubrick, director - restoration excellent, 4.5/5* video & 3.8/5* audio (Source) - ratings, 4.4/5*, Amazon; 8.3/10, IMDB - I'd have to go along w/ those ratings!

Jerry Maquire (1996) w/ Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renee Zellweger, & Jonathan Lipnicki, as Ray! - another excellent restoration, 4.5/5* video & 3.5/5* audio (Source); ratings,  7.3/10, IMDB;  4.3/5*, Amazon - enjoy this film tremendously - up for a number of Oscars w/ a win by Cuba Gooding, Jr. for Best Supporting Actor.  Dave