Last Movie You Watched

[Todd]

Todd, it could just be the case that imdb prohibits image leaching.

Added a new link.  It should work.  Looks like when I viewed the image directly and then linked (the way I obviously have to do it), the link loaded the image from my cache.  When I cleared my cache, I could no longer see it.  I also noticed that the link was auto-resized, but changing those parameters didn't help.  I don't use IMDB for all movie posters - I randomly grab them - so if this happens a lot, I don't know what causes the issue without more digging.  The new link works even after clearing the cache, so I assume it is visible.

[lisa needs braces]

Added a new link.  It should work.  Looks like when I viewed the image directly and then linked (the way I obviously have to do it), the link loaded the image from my cache.  When I cleared my cache, I could no longer see it.  I also noticed that the link was auto-resized, but changing those parameters didn't help.  I don't use IMDB for all movie posters - I randomly grab them - so if this happens a lot, I don't know what causes the issue without more digging.  The new link works even after clearing the cache, so I assume it is visible.

All is well that ends well.

[listener]

ZATOICHI   Japan 2003  directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano
Swordsman retires as a blind masseur and is called to action to help two children get revenge on their family's killers.  Classy production with interesting details, ending with an unexpected Busby Berkley-like tap dance to give the cast a curtain call.

[SimonNZ]

Synecdoche, New York

Wow. It's going to be a while before I get my thoughts in order about this, but for something so ambitious I felt it was remarkably successful.

[NikF]

Closely Observed Trains/Ostre sledovane vlaky (1966) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060802/

Czechoslovakian New Wave comedy/drama, telling the tale of a young man's coming of age during WWII.

We watched this in the company of our increasingly cantankerous old friend who was formerly a senior projectionist in a number of big cinemas. Afterwards he said it was one of his favourite films. I asked him why, and he screwed up his face in thought for a moment before replying "It's a happy wee film". Fair enough.
I like it because I enjoy how much of the work by cinematographers such as Jaromir Sofr and (in France) Henri Decae during that era often invites a second viewing in order to more slowly take in their composition. A simple pleasure.

[Mookalafalas]

Had to baby sit the kids.  Lots of red wine and watched "Pixels".  Kids liked it a lot (4, 10, 11).  I did not feel like plunging sharp objects into my eyes...so better than I expected.  Actually, I laughed a few times.  Still wouldn't recommend it except under the conditions listed above (also helps to have grown up in 70s-80s).

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Cherry blossoms (Kirschblüten) written and directed by Doris Dörrie.  OK, it's got a bit of a Hallmark Cards Presentation feel to it - but get past that.  A gorgeous, inspiring film. 

[asin]B001Y44EBW[/asin]

[Karl Henning]

Well, so I watched Batman Begins again last night.

[George]

Well, so I watched Batman Begins again last night.

It's good, but The Dark Knight is boss.

[Karl Henning]

That's fair 

[TheGSMoeller]

It's good, but The Dark Knight is boss.

This, +10.
Dark Knight for me sits alongside SpiderMan 2 and Captain America:The Winter Soldier as the best comic book films. They tell interesting stories while still being visually exciting. But Dark Knight IS boss (sorry I stole your line, George), Batman's character really suffers in that film, in fact he has to really change in order to even match the Joker, and watching the hero in that state is interesting.

[George]

What did you guys think of The Dark Knight Rises? I liked I the least if the Nolan films. I thought they tried to do way too much in one movie.

[Rinaldo]

What did you guys think of The Dark Knight Rises? I liked I the least if the Nolan films. I thought they tried to do way too much in one movie.

I was thoroughly disappointed. It felt so.. weak and surprisingly dumb. Especially after the brilliant Batman Begins and Dark Knight, the movie that made me remember what it is to actually fear a movie villain, even when he wasn't on the screen.

Rises is the only terrible flick Nolan directed so far.

[George]

I was thoroughly disappointed. It felt so.. weak and surprisingly dumb. Especially after the brilliant Batman Begins and Dark Knight, the movie that made me remember what it is to actually fear a movie villain, even when he wasn't on the screen.

Rises is the only terrible flick Nolan directed so far.

Agreed.

[listener]

an oddity from Hong Kong, THE WILD, WILD ROSE (1960)  dir. Wong Tianlin
starring Grace Chang (Ge Lan) as a singer who seduces and destroys the man she loves and herself, and Zhang Yang as the young pianist who falls for her.  A plot similar to Bizet's Carmen and music from the opera to confirm the source.  Black-and-white photography is first class too.

[SonicMan46]

We've been on an 8-night car trip to Indianapolis to visit our son & DIL w/ a couple of stops in Kentucky 'going & returning' to breakup the 10 hour drive - we often go out to a new movie and watch a bunch in his house - below some of the films seen over 3 days/nights:

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) w/ Robert Downey Jr and the usuals - first synopsis below; ratings: 7.7/10, IMDB; 74%, Rotten Tomatoes; 4.3*/5*, Amazon - son bought the BD which was an excellent AV presentation - too long for me w/ an over-saturation of special effects - for fans of the Marvel comic series - I'm just becoming bored w/ these types of films - would probably do a 3+* on Amazon at the most.

Terminator: Genisys (2015) w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger et al - he's back yet again!  Arnold is just a year younger than me!  Flash backs and a convoluted story (second synopsis below).  Ratings: 6.7/10, IMDB; 26% Rotten Tomatoes; and 3.9*/5* on Amazon - obviously hated by the critics and divergent opinions from the Amazonians - film held our interest w/ plenty of specials (too much!) - the humor given to the older Arnold character was entertaining for me - recommended?  I'd probably do only 3* on Amazon - see at your own risk.

Bridge of Spies (2015) w/ Tom Hanks; Steven Spielberg, director - based on a true story (third synopsis below) - we saw this in the theater on the big screen - 8.3/10, IMDB; 92%, Rotten Tomatoes; and 4.9*/5*, Amazon - this was just a spectacular film - atmospheric and well done - a definite recommendation - superb ratings as shown - I'd probably do a 4 1/2*/5* on Amazon, if possible.

When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) jump-starts a dormant peacekeeping program, things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the rest of the Avengers to reassemble. As the fate of Earth hangs in the balance, the team is put to the ultimate test as they battle Ultron, a technological terror hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they encounter two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.

When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance against Skynet, sends Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect his mother, Sarah (Emilia Clarke), from a Terminator assassin, an unexpected turn of events creates an altered timeline. Instead of a scared waitress, Sarah is a skilled fighter and has a Terminator guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger) by her side. Faced with unlikely allies and dangerous new enemies, Reese sets out on an unexpected new mission: reset the future.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

   

[Philo]

I was thoroughly disappointed. It felt so.. weak and surprisingly dumb. Especially after the brilliant Batman Begins and Dark Knight, the movie that made me remember what it is to actually fear a movie villain, even when he wasn't on the screen.

Rises is the only terrible flick Nolan directed so far.

As a counterpoint I felt the first 2/3 of Rises were absolutely brilliant, but the entire film falls part as Nolan tries to superimpose his neoconservatism onto the flick. I also felt that Bale is the weakest Batman yet.

[Karl Henning]

Well, I like that you feel that Michael Keaton was a better Batman.

[mc ukrneal]

Terminator: Genisys (2015) w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger et al - he's back yet again!  Arnold is just a year younger than me!  Flash backs and a convoluted story (second synopsis below).  Ratings: 6.7/10, IMDB; 26% Rotten Tomatoes; and 3.9*/5* on Amazon - obviously hated by the critics and divergent opinions from the Amazonians - film held our interest w/ plenty of specials (too much!) - the humor given to the older Arnold character was entertaining for me - recommended?  I'd probably do only 3* on Amazon - see at your own risk.

I saw this recently. I agree about the story - totally convoluted story. Yet, I enjoyed it more than I expected, despite there being a lot of things I really disliked. I liked the idea of an aging Terminator - and wish that could have been explored more. I liked the female lead as well (since I don't watch GoT, I didn't realize she was the Dragon lady girl until I looked up who she was - ukrneal, welcome to the 21st century) and her relationship with Arnold (though it was a superficial much of the time). Maybe I just had such low expectations...

[SonicMan46]

I saw this recently. I agree about the story - totally convoluted story. Yet, I enjoyed it more than I expected, despite there being a lot of things I really disliked. I liked the idea of an aging Terminator - and wish that could have been explored more. I liked the female lead as well (since I don't watch GoT, I didn't realize she was the Dragon lady girl until I looked up who she was - ukrneal, welcome to the 21st century) and her relationship with Arnold (though it was a superficial much of the time). Maybe I just had such low expectations...

Hi Neal - yep, the girl was attractive and I enjoyed the humor given to Arnold's lines and that 'smile' - still makes me laugh - bottom line, son & I had a good time watching the film, but probably will not want to view it again.  Dave