Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

The War of the Worlds (1953) - probably my favorite 1950s sci-fi film - have upgraded through the decades and last night purchased the UHD  Amazon streamer (on sale for $5!) - the visuals and sound on my 4K HDTV were spectacular - highly recommended (Criterion's BD is excellent if a 4K TV is not in your possession).  Dave

The War of the Worlds is a 1953 American science fiction film from Paramount Pictures, produced by George Pal, directed by Byron Haskin, and starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. The film is an adaptation of the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells, the first of five feature film adaptations. It is a retelling of the 1898 novel, changing the setting from Victorian era-England to 1953 southern California. Earth is suddenly and unexpectedly invaded by Martians, and American scientist Clayton Forrester searches for any weakness that can stop them. The War of the Worlds won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and went on to influence other science fiction films. (Source)

 

[SimonNZ]

A film I hadn't considered before, but by chance it came on tv late last night and I was very impressed. In a number of ways so like Terrence Malick that I had to look up if it wasn't actually him directing.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Fellini. Casanova.

[Operafreak]

Bit long 

[Madiel]

Saw that one first last year. Hugh Grant is brilliant as the villain.

Yes, and you can tell he's having a great time. In fact that goes for the whole cast of Paddington 2. I just get the sense that a whole lot of actors saw the first one and thought "that looks like a LOT of fun" and were eager to be involved in the sequel.

[aligreto]

Italian For Beginners:





This is a wonderful film that deals with the relationship between a group of people who interrelate with each other and attend Italian classes together. The film develops the characters very well and depicts the interrelationships very well. The characters are all very human and one can relate to them as normal human beings. Worth a watch if you do not mind reading subtitles.

[Todd]

Rewatched Prometheus for the first time in I don't know how many years.  (No more than ten, of course.)  The sleekness and efficiency and visuals all work just fine, and the space aliens are as much fun as I remember.  (The horror component never worked.)  The cast is filled with so many then hot stars who never really became giant stars that one just kind of ponders what happened.  But then that era seems to be pretty much over, at least for now.

Ridley Scott is getting up there in years, so hopefully he can crank out his remaining projects like Gladiator 2 or the next Alien prequel with some haste.  And who doesn't want to see Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon?

[Karl Henning]

Tipping my hat to Dave, the Missus & I watched The Devil and Miss Jones: charming.  She also joined me for the last reel of The Ghost and Mrs Muir which, mildly mysteriously, I'd never seen before. Wonderful Bernard Herrmann score (as expected) very sweet, too.

[SonicMan46]

Tipping my hat to Dave, the Missus & I watched The Devil and Miss Jones: charming.  She also joined me for the last reel of The Ghost and Mrs Muir which, mildly mysteriously, I'd never seen before. Wonderful Bernard Herrmann score (as expected) very sweet, too.

  Glad that you two enjoyed - Dave

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Secret Window (2004) starring Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton and Charles S. Dutton.  Music by Philip Glass.

A psychological thriller set in northern New York (filmed in Canada) about a writer (Depp) being confronted by a man saying that he stole his story (Turturro).  It's based on a short story by Stephen King called "Secret Window, Secret Garden".  Very well done I thought.  Highly recommend it.  Also, I enjoyed the director's comments about it (David Koepp wrote the screenplay and directed it)...very illuminating.  And I liked how he used the "less is more" theory in terms of what he showed and how he filmed it.



PD

[SonicMan46]

Well, doing some more UHD (4K) Amazon streaming purchases, i.e. upgrading the two films below from BD, each < $10 USD:

Platoon (1986) - synopsis below w/ cast - Oliver Stone fought in the Vietnam War and wrote the script - excellent 4*/4* review by Roger Ebert HERE - rated No. 1 Vietnam film by Military Times; 7 Oscar nominations and winner of 4, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - starring John Wayne and James Stewart, other cast in quote below.  John Ford, Director - filmed in B&W with some interesting contradictory comments in the Wiki reference. Another 4*/4* review by Roger Ebert HERE.  On perusing the 'Top Western' lists there are plenty of discrepancies in how the films are ranked - one list HERE includes most of my favorites in their top ten tier - this film comes in No. 11.  Both highly recommended for fans of war movies and westerns.  Dave

Platoon is an American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone, starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. It is the first film of a trilogy of Vietnam War films directed by Stone, followed by Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993). The film, based on Stone's experience from the war, follows a U.S. Army volunteer (Sheen) serving in Vietnam while his Platoon Sergeant and his Squad Leader (Berenger and Dafoe) argue over the morality in the platoon and of the war itself. (Source)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is an American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck was adapted from a 1953 short story written by Dorothy M. Johnson. The supporting cast features Vera Miles, Lee Marvin (as Liberty Valance), Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Woody Strode, Strother Martin and Lee Van Cleef. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

Well, doing some more UHD (4K) Amazon streaming purchases, i.e. upgrading the two films below from BD, each < $10 USD:

Platoon (1986) - synopsis below w/ cast - Oliver Stone fought in the Vietnam War and wrote the script - excellent 4*/4* review by Roger Ebert HERE - rated No. 1 Vietnam film by Military Times; 7 Oscar nominations and winner of 4, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - starring John Wayne and James Stewart, other cast in quote below.  John Ford, Director - filmed in B&W with some interesting contradictory comments in the Wiki reference. Another 4*/4* review by Roger Ebert HERE.  On perusing the 'Top Western' lists there are plenty of discrepancies in how the films are ranked - one list HERE includes most of my favorites in their top ten tier - this film comes in No. 11.  Both highly recommended for fans of war movies and westerns.  Dave

 

One of these days, I oughta watch Platoon.

[Karl Henning]

Well, it may not be my favorite of the franchise, but it certainly remains good fun! Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This time I am hearing a lot of wonderful work in John Williams's score. Still, the "exotic dinner" sequence has not aged well for me.

[relm1]

Bit long 

Great score, right? 

[relm1]

The War of the Worlds (1953) - probably my favorite 1950s sci-fi film - have upgraded through the decades and last night purchased the UHD  Amazon streamer (on sale for $5!) - the visuals and sound on my 4K HDTV were spectacular - highly recommended (Criterion's BD is excellent if a 4K TV is not in your possession).  Dave

 

I love vintage sci-fi.  You would put War of the Worlds above Forbidden Planet?  I also love When Worlds Collide because it's ending is quite strong with a powerful message...the future belongs to the young.  I saw War of the Worlds in a theater double feature of vintage sci-fi films, and it was a completely packed audience.  Wonderful experience!

[SonicMan46]

I love vintage sci-fi.  You would put War of the Worlds above Forbidden Planet?  I also love When Worlds Collide because it's ending is quite strong with a powerful message...the future belongs to the young.  I saw War of the Worlds in a theater double feature of vintage sci-fi films, and it was a completely packed audience.  Wonderful experience!

Hi Reim1 - own Forbidden Planet on BD - love that film also, esp. Anne Francis in her 'leggy' outfits - another fav from the '50s for me - can't put one ahead of the other, both classic!  Dave

[LKB]

'53 War of the Worlds rocks.

My first viewing was on TV around the age of nine, it was some sort of special " movie of the week " on one of the big three. The machines were awesome, and nothing was scary... until the scene where Ann Robinson gets that not- so-friendly " hand " on the shoulder. Made my eyes pop, that did. 

[SonicMan46]

Well, another update - old DVD > Amazon streaming HD:

The Exorcist (1973) - synopsis and cast below - cannot believe this film is nearly 50 years old (released the same year our son was born!) - this film stills packs a scary punch and the specials are well done for the times - there are many ratings of 'horror films' - but HERE, this one comes out No. 2 of 25 (The Shining first which I've not seen since release and do not own (have seen most of the films on this list but rarely make purchases in this genre).  Dave

The Exorcist is an American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran (in his final film role), Jason Miller and Linda Blair. It follows the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother's attempt to rescue her through an exorcism conducted by a pair of Catholic priests. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

Well, another update - old DVD > Amazon streaming HD:

The Exorcist (1973) - synopsis and cast below - cannot believe this film is nearly 50 years old (released the same year our son was born!) - this film stills packs a scary punch and the specials are well done for the times - there are many ratings of 'horror films' - but HERE, this one comes out No. 2 of 25 (The Shining first which I've not seen since release and do not own (have seen most of the films on this list but rarely make purchases in this genre).  Dave

 

Big fan of both this 'un and The Shining, Dave!

[George]

Good dirty fun!