Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Last 3 nights or so, the films below - top two are DVDs > BD upgrades, third a UHD film on Disney+, and the last a HD Amazon streamer purchase - click on the films for Wiki links, if interested.

Lullaby of Broadway (1951) w/ Doris Day & Gene Nelson; also one of my favorite character actors from the golden days of movies S.Z. Sakall, affectionately known as 'Cuddles'.  Color musical w/ great singing and dancing from the stars - so if this is a genre of interest, then recommended!

Come September (1961) w/ Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, & Bobby Darin - screwy comedy on the Italian Rivera (scenery beautiful); Darin's film debut (sings a few songs) and first meeting w/ Dee, both married shortly after the filming. P.S. Gina passed away just a few days ago at 95 y/o!

Enchanted (2007) - a live action/animated fantasy w/ Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Timothy Spall, and Susan Sarandon. Watched as a UHD on Disney+ - a must see w/ young kids although us oldsters enjoyed!

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) w/ Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton, and William Demarest in a screwball comedy - stellar ratings: 86% Rotten Tomatoes, 4* Leonard Maltin, & 4 Bones from Videohound - DVD-R > HD streamer on Amazon.  Dave

 

 

[Spotted Horses]

Freebie and The Bean (1974) featuring Alan Arkin and James Caan. It is said to have helped define a new genre of cop "buddy" movie, with many features that became common, such as the tightly wound superior who is exasperated with the renegade underlings, although they get results while causing chaos and destroying police and civilian property.

Peculiar that much is made of the fact that "The Bean," Arkin's character, is Mexican, although no one would mistake Alan Arkin for a Mexican and in the movie he has the manner of a Jewish New Yorker. Would not happen today.

In any case, an entertaining movie with an impressive car chase scene.

[Karl Henning]

Freebie and The Bean (1974) featuring Alan Arkin and James Caan. It is said to have helped define a new genre of cop "buddy" movie, with many features that became common, such as the highly wound superior who is exasperated with the renegade underlings, although they get results while causing chaos and destroying police and civilian property.

Peculiar that much is made of the fact that "The Bean," Arkin's character, is Mexican, although no one would mistake Alan Arkin for a Mexican and in the movie he has the manner of a Jewish New Yorker. Would not happen today.

In any case, an entertaining movie with an impressive car chase scene.

I've been meaning to watch this....

TD: watched 1917 for the second time.

[LKB]

I've been meaning to watch this....

TD: watched 1917 for the second time.

1917 is the most impressive WWI film I've seen. I've been intentionally avoiding Paths of Glory, but perhaps now's the time since comparisons can be instructive.

[Karl Henning]

1917 is the most impressive WWI film I've seen. I've been intentionally avoiding Paths of Glory, but perhaps now's the time since comparisons can be instructive.

I'm on record as enjoying the Kubrick. FWIW. 

[VonStupp]

Black Adam (2022)
Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan

Not particuarly clever. Also, it seems the last handful of superhero movies I've seen are moving to teams instead of individual features.

I spent this movie trying to think of who Pierce Brosnan reminded me of. I think it was Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights.
VS

 

[Karl Henning]

Black Adam (2022)
Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan

Not particuarly clever. Also, it seems the last handful of superhero movies I've seen are moving to teams instead of individual features.

I spent this movie trying to think of who Pierce Brosnan reminded me of. I think it was Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights.
VS

 

Of all the movies (not all that many, I guess) which I wish I might "unsee," Boogie Nights ranks pretty high.

[SonicMan46]

I'm on record as enjoying the Kubrick. FWIW.

Another BIG fan of Paths of Glory (own the Criterion BD, although a 4K version has been released) and having seen and enjoyed 1917 on the BIG screen, I'm not sure the two can be fairly compared (maybe an apples vs. oranges debate) - but highly recommended.  Dave

[LKB]

Another BIG fan of Paths of Glory (own the Criterion BD, although a 4K version has been released) and having seen and enjoyed 1917 on the BIG screen, I'm not sure the two can be fairly compared (maybe and apples vs. oranges debate) - but highly recommended.  Dave

I know only the broad outlines of Paths of Glory, but from my reading I suppose it is apples and oranges. One film depicts the protagonist journeying through the hell of war, while the other apparently depicts the hellish consequences of selfish men in authority.

It won't be an easy watch, once l decide to take the plunge, but neither was 1917.

[SimonNZ]

Derek Jarman's "adaptation" of The Tempest

I don't have the patience for this sort of thing anymore.

It just seems dated and disrespectful and far too pleased with its own supposed cleverness and/or irreverence.

[Madiel]

Last night: Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2



Not as good as the first, but still one of the more enjoyable Marvel outings I think. They're kind of accidental heroes and the tone is light.

Also, casting Kurt Russell to be Chris Pratt's father is utter genius and I hope whoever came up with that idea was richly rewarded.

[LKB]

Last night: Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2



Not as good as the first, but still one of the more enjoyable Marvel outings I think. They're kind of accidental heroes and the tone is light.

Also, casting Kurt Russell to be Chris Pratt's father is utter genius and I hope whoever came up with that idea was richly rewarded.

Agreed on all counts. The opening is ( for me ) the best highlight, between young Groot's boogie and Drax ( " I have sensitive nipples. " ) the Destroyer's joyfully unconsidered bloodlust.

Their arrival at Ego, accompanied by George Harrison, is also a treat.

[Madiel]

The opening is ( for me ) the best highlight, between young Groot's boogie and Drax ( " I have sensitive nipples. " ) the Destroyer's joyfully unconsidered bloodlust.

The opening credits are indeed a major highlight. Though I didn't read many of them, given what else was happening.

[VonStupp]

Willow (1988)
Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer
Jean Marsh, Billy Barty

Gave this a watch to lead into the 2022 series. Neither the best nor worst example of 80's fantasy adventure, although there are cringe kiddy moments.

I do like Horner's score though, and I generally have positive nostalgic feelings for the film. I think it ended up better than Howard the Duck, another George Lucas production.

VS

[Karl Henning]

Howard the Duck, another George Lucas production.

I still cringe a bit, recalling that a friend dragged me to the movie house to see this.

[VonStupp]

I still cringe a bit, recalling that a friend dragged me to the movie house to see this.

Ha! Can't take back those moments!
VS

[LKB]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

[SonicMan46]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

Amazingly, Howard the Duck has been released on 4K! 

The film debuted in 1986 (Wiki Source of 2nd pic below) and on VHS tape in 1987 - son and I rented from Blockbuster that year but cannot recall much (although I was fond of Lea Thompson) - have never seen again and no plans to purchase after all of these years.  Ratings were poor, as expected (checkout the link if interested) - 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and up for a lot of 'Golden Raspberry Awards' (see pic) - BUT for one of the worst movies made, is a one-time viewing warranted?      Dave   

 

[LKB]

A word regarding James Horner.

I wish l could respect him more. He did solid work on some highly regarded films, Apollo 13 and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan among them. But he had definite plagerist tendencies, and l keep running into reminders of that unfortunate fact.

A couple nights ago l happened upon a reference to the 1988 animated feature The Land Before Time, which l remembered seeing bits and pieces of over thirty years ago. I remembered liking some of the music, and Googled the soundtrack. The inevitable YouTube choices appeared, as did Horner's name.

I wanted to be fair, and thought, " This is a film for children, fairly well thought of before The Lion King came along and devoured its target audience. Maybe l won't hear anything suspicious, maybe it's really all Horner. "

I picked a track at random called, " The Migration. "

I heard Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliette.

[Karl Henning]

Howard the Duck...

Cinematic Kryptonite to me. The one movie l fear. I've seen none of it at all, and that's how l intend matters to remain for the next ten thousand years or until my death, whichever come first... 

Quite correct.