Last Movie You Watched

[Papy Oli]

I trust that the "Boo!"  Is a reference to the little girl character and not how you felt about the movie? 

PD

Definitely, I loved it (probably my 3rd or 4th viewing  ).

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Definitely, I loved it (probably my 3rd or 4th viewing  ).

John Goodman's and Billy Crystal's characters and vocal work crack me up in particular.    And very clever plot and animation too.

I first saw that movie years ago whilst visiting with some friends over the Christmas holidays.  We all loved it (and no real children were present at the showing...only adult children).

PD

[Karl Henning]

I trust that the "Boo!"  Is a reference to the little girl character and not how you felt about the movie? 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I hadn't heard that song before now (or of the band!). 

PD

[Karl Henning]

I just saw Escape from New York (John Carpenter, 1981) and it was lots of fun if you like early sci-fi genre.  Very low production values but great characters.  Kurt Russell was great as expected.  I liked how slimy all the characters were such as having ulterior motives or only being interested in their own survival and to hell with everyone else's.  I liked the idea of time pressure because he had 24 hours to rescue the kidnapped president otherwise dies.  By the end, all enemies and gangs were trying to stop him with mass blood loss.  Lots of fun.  Lots of famous stars in this too.  Lee van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, etc.
 

I've loved this 'un ever since seeing it the season it opened! "You're the Duke of New York! You're A Number One!"

[Cato]

That's actually an American remake from two years later (and in my mind/from my experience, too) that was Godzilla.
Per Wikipedia:
The American release is one of the supplements on this first disc, so yes, I'll watch that at last, too.

Now that you have brought this up, I do recall reading many moons ago that what we saw with Raymond Burr was a recut, Americanization of the original movie.

[SonicMan46]

And another Jn Carpenter film for which Carpenter did the music himself. I'm a little surprised that you have resisted the blu-ray, Dave.

Well, just trying to downsize the physical media stored in my house - I've donated hundreds of CDs/DVDs/BDs to local places over the last few years - as to the movies, I've replaced them w/ streaming HD and UHD options, mostly from Amazon Prime but also others such as Apple iTunes buys.  Dave

[Karl Henning]

Well, just trying to downsize the physical media stored in my house - I've donated hundreds of CDs/DVDs/BDs to local places over the last few years - as to the movies, I've replaced them w/ streaming HD and UHD options, mostly from Amazon Prime but also others such as Apple iTunes buys.  Dave

As one facing the need to find a new residence, I am alive to the need to downsize. 

[DavidW]

Well, just trying to downsize the physical media stored in my house - I've donated hundreds of CDs/DVDs/BDs to local places over the last few years - as to the movies, I've replaced them w/ streaming HD and UHD options, mostly from Amazon Prime but also others such as Apple iTunes buys.  Dave

Thanks to those free digital copies sold with BDs, I do not need to keep an extensive physical library. I don't remember the last time I used my player. It might have been for TNG a year ago (and it is more convenient to stream a show to resume where you left off). I rented bds from Redbox since they were cheaper than digital renting.

But Redbox is no more. Check out this video on the end of days from an employee with boxes of Redbox DVDs sitting in his house:

I wanted to rewatch the TV show Millenium and discovered that you can't stream, rent, or buy. It might as well not exist. I have to acknowledge that physical media is still essential.

[SonicMan46]

I don't see any purchase options. All I see is that you can rent it in SD or HD or stream it with ads on Freevee.

I like to use justwatch to track these things:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/escape-from-new-york

Maybe you already owned an sd copy?

Hi David - thanks for the link above - have never used that website but will in the future!  Just re-checked Amazon Prime Video and now I see only rental options in HD or SD - swore a SD purchase option was present before but probably mis-read.  I only owned a VHS version which I gave away when DVDs started to come out (late '90s or so in the USA?).  Dave

[Karl Henning]

ゴジラ (Godzilla, 1954.) As expected, the commentary is illuming, making the case for the film's socio-historical significance. Beyond its role as an iconic Monster Movie, I mean.

[T. D.]

I'm going to see this event (showing + director Q/A) next week.
Gimmick is that it's a "generative" film, so no two viewings will be the same (just one for me, thanks...).
But it seems quite interesting and I like Eno.

Eno, with director Gary Hustwit

A SONIC WAVE Weekly and CLOSE UP screening

All screenings follow up with a Q&A w/ director Gary Hustwit
Wednesday, July 31 7:00p
Thursday, August 1 7:00p
Friday, August 2 7:00p

A movie event: this groundbreaking generative documentary about visionary musician Brian Eno is different every time it's shown: presenting a different order, scenes, and music. This innovative approach echoes Eno's iterative practice, his methods of using technology to compose music, and his deep dive into the mercurial essence of creativity. Beginning his career as an original member of the legendary Roxy Music, Eno released a series of classic solo records before pioneering the new genre of ambient music. As a producer, Eno also helped define and reinvent the sound of some of the most important artists in music, including David Bowie, U2, and Talking Heads.  (dir. Gary Hustwit, USA, 2024, 100 min.)

[Karl Henning]

Now that you have brought this up, I do recall reading many moons ago that what we saw with Raymond Burr was a recut, Americanization of the original movie.

Watching the Burrsion now. 

[Cato]

A short documentary about Brian De Palma's Sisters, his first great movie, with a score by Bernard Herrmann:

I am not sure, but it is possible the documentary is from the Criterion Collection's edition of the movie.

[Karl Henning]

Now: the commentary on WarGames. 

[SimonNZ]

I've never known Criterion to release anything that wasn't ne plus ultra.

Somewhere upthread I mentioned being disappointed to find they'd chosen to do an edition of Armageddon.


Last movie watched: a National Theatre Live screening of an adaptation of Chekov's Uncle Vanya with Andrew Scott doing all the parts.

[SimonNZ]

Did some pictures of John Carpenter's wife get deleted as inappropriate? I was going to add that Kurt Russell's first wife is also in it briefly near the start of the film:

[LKB]

Somewhere upthread I mentioned being disappointed to find they'd chosen to do an edition of Armageddon...

I was referring to Criterion's standards in remastering, special features, packaging etc. The edition in other words, not any specific film.

But I agree regarding Armageddon, it's never floated my boat ( or asteroid ).

[SimonNZ]

I was referring to Criterion's standards in remastering, special features, packaging etc. The edition in other words, not any specific film.

But I agree regarding Armageddon, it's never floated my boat ( or asteroid ).

It would be great if they had one commentary track showing how all the kitchy cliches reflected 1998 attitudes, and another track cataloging all the hundreds of scientific inaccuracies.

[LKB]

It would be great if they had one commentary track showing how all the kitchy cliches reflected 1998 attitudes, and another track cataloging all the hundreds of scientific inaccuracies.

+1