The Wild Bunch (again).
Love the set-up to the final shoot-out (puts me in mind of the 'walk' in Reservoir Dogs).
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The Wild Bunch (again).
Love the set-up to the final shoot-out (puts me in mind of the 'walk' in Reservoir Dogs).
So true of many Hollywood movies. I go to the line "Without the love story, Titanic is just a movie about a sinking ship"Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
I rather fancy this film too, but in all the chaos of moving house it's almost certainly going to be another one to pick up later on DVD.
Outpost 11. But just in general, movie4k.to... Click-throughs but nothing too bad...
Stavros, I figured I'd try to review this film from a perspective of someone who actually liked the musical. I saw it on Broadway and watched the Broadcast of the 25th anniversary of the show on PBS...and loved it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Well...I can't give a complete critique of the film because I didn't get very far. I made it a third of the way through then I turned it off. It's bad. Why?...because they put together a cast with enough modern day star power that seemed like a perfect fit on paper. It seemed like a good cast for a Les Miserables movie...and it is....if you want to make yet another film based on the Victor Hugo novel..(what the hell - there's already a ton out there, why not one more ..right?).
...but it doesn't work as a musical. They chose hammy overacting to the music...which is always a fatal mistake. Everything Stavros said is pretty much true. Russell Crowe can't sing any better than the average person belting out a tune in their car on the way to work....and at the very least, they should have picked an actor who was perhaps a Baritone (watch the Norm Lewis version of Javert in the 25 anniversary edtion...he's the actor that plays Sen. Davis, Kerry Washington's former love interest in the television show "Scandal"). Anne Hathaway sobs her way through the centerpiece song to the point where you can barely feel the music through her snot filled diction.
I will probably try this movie again at a later date to view Samantha Barks as Eponine (I'll just fast forward)...she's got a good voice and she's a total cutie-pie.
That's it.
I was one of the countless hoard who saw Gravity this weekend. The movie runs 90 minutes, the plot is spare and simple, and 98% of the dialogue is spoken by only two characters, which makes the movie an example of storytelling stripped down to bare essentials.
No spoilers here, I'm just saying I think this movie lives up to the hype and good reviews it's getting.
Re Les Miserables. I got only about 15 minutes in before turning it off. Terrible. Can't say if it has any good songs. But I've never heard any and it has been around as a stage show for years.
If you didn't like the music to begin with, why would you even for a moment think that a movie version of the musical (featuring the exact same music...it's not like they were going to add any new tunes...lol) would even stand a chance of appealing to you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
Documentary: Long Distance Revolutionary....
I watched Mulan. Apparently Audrina has never seen a bunch of the classic disney movies and since Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD remix just came out I made her watch some, but then when we arrived at Mulan I realized I have never seen that movie either. So we sat down and watched it together.
I stated to watch Les Miserables for professional reasons, fred. (As a judge for a film and TV award)
Oh, cool then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
That did not occur to me, sorry.
This is going to make me come off like a terrible person but I always have to laugh hysterically whenever I hear of Mumia. Why? When I was a teenager I lived in a group home for a couple of years -- that's partly why I chose to work in one as an adult -- and we had a staff, whose name escapes me and whose seemingly favorite tshirt was a "Free Mumia" shirt. One day, my best friend Chris had gotten in trouble for something and the staff in question, wearing her favorite shirt, was trying to give him consequences. He became enraged and then said something I'll never forget "Fuck you, I hope Mumia fries in the electric chair! Fry Mumia! Fry Mumia!" So now, over a decade later, whenever I hear of Mumia Abu-Jamal, all I can think is "Fry Mumia!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
Chris also had an episode where the house clinician, who had recently announced that his wife was pregnant, had pissed him off. The conversation proceeded like so: "Fuck you, Brad: I hope your baby is autistic!" "Chris, do you need a time out?" "AUTISTIC!" "In your room?" "AUTISTIC AUTISTIC AUTISTIC!!!"
Good times. :D
Mulan was pretty cool as a kid but I couldn't stand it as an adult. "Is honor so important that it's worth dying for?!" Uh, yeah, that's kind of the point... I donno, maybe I just read too much of Classical literature, and too much of folks like Plato and Vergil rubbed off on me, while in college.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiffany Starr
To be fair I could also have mentioned Samantha Barks as I thought she was the best thing in it, but her character just fades away and is another example of how poorly conceived this thing is. But I do understand your frustration -I am a snob who prefers opera, yet I recognise it is a niche entertainment and most people would rather go and see a show, and that must be the strength of musicals, and Americans can usually put on a show better than most others even if the London stage has a good reputation. Another disappointment is the lack of originality, choosing the well-trodden route of musicalising a book or historical figure rather than creating a musical from an orginal concept. But I am not sure if Les Miserables could have been saved even with good singers. Lea Salonga on youtube somewhere shows how to make I Dreamed a Dream sound as good as it should be, its even worth listening to more than once.Quote:
Originally Posted by fred41
So what do you think have been the best musicals on film? I ask because I saw a recent clip of the 'classic' West Side Story and thought the singing was rough in too many places...
Well Stavros....I had a long rambling and babbling answering I was typing out...was well into the fifth or so paragraph..when I hit the wrong key and lost it all. Probably for the best since it may not really have answered your question.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
The short answer is: I'm probably not well qualified to answer this question since I really don't enjoy what could be termed as a typical classic style musical. Sure I enjoy a good song and a skilled performance of such, but I much prefer a straightforward story with regular dialogue.
So before I go on, I've got to know: are you asking me which Hollywood adaptation of a Broadway type musical did I enjoy or at least find successful...or do you mean any Hollywood musicals (with the full realization that an awful lot of early American films including comedies had ample musical numbers)?
The Day After Tomorrow.
It was on when I woke up from dozing off - and it was such good movie when I saw it originally - so what the hell? I watched it again.
pain and gain.hella good movie..my favorite movie with the rock (dwane Johnson) so far.finally plays a bad guy.hes a freakin beast in that movie..probly the biggest hes ever been.he looks freakin massive.but yea..really good movie tho..based on a true story.well worth the dollar sumthing to rent from the redbox.
Just saw "The Railway Man" a forthcoming film about Eric Lomax, based n his true story. he was captured at Singapore by the Japanese and suffered terrible treatment. A very powerful and emotional film about coming to terms with the past.
The Railway Man - Official Trailer [HD] Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman - YouTube
Re Musicals on film. For me there are only a few great ones. My personal favourite is "My Fair Lady" though Audrey Hepburn (who is gorgeous) didn't sing her part. I also loved "Cabaret" Few modern musicials work for me.
Fred its up to you, make a list. Here is one:Quote:
Originally Posted by fred41
Best Overall - concept, film, music:
Yankee Doodle Dandy (Michael Curtiz 1942)
-Cagney is awesome in this film which to me is also one of the best films ever made about 'America' and is part of that tradition of America as a land of joy which one finds in Walt Whitman.
Best Original Musical for film: The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939)
-based on a book but was a film before it was done on stage.
Best Adapted Musical for Film: South Pacific (195-eight)
I was taken to see this in the days when a band played in the pit before the movie started, but South Pacific not only has a lot of great songs, it was I think the first film made after the Hay's Code was dropped, allowing a 'white man' to kiss a 'non-white woman' on screen...
Eccentric Choice: Mean Streets (Scorsese, 1973) someone I used to know even claimed it was an opera.
Worst Musical ever made: remarkably, the once fashionable French director Alain Resnais made two of the most excruciating musicals ever tossed at the public: Pas sur la Bouche (2003) and On Connait le Chanson (1997) which deserves to sink like a stone to the bottom of the sewer because Jane Birkin is in it (see below)
Frances Langford & James Cagney - Over There - YouTube
* Pas sur la Bouche * Not On The Lips - (2003) Alain Resnais - (English & Spanish Subtitles) - YouTube
On Connaît la Chanson | Same Old Song (1997) - Alain Resnais - Trailer - YouTube
Most musicals I've seen where on a black and white tube T.V. as a child...so I'm going to have to mostly go by distant memory here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
First introduction in the musical world for most children are the Disney animated films...I liked most of them and couldn't pick a favorite, but the most memorable song (and one that sort of represents the franchise)would probably have to be "When You Wish Upon A Star"..by Jiminey Cricket (from Pinocchio..one of Disney's darkest animated films..for the tots..lol).
Growing up there were musicals that you watched traditionally...such as the previously mentioned "Wizard of OZ" (at least once a year in our house)...which has stood the test of time as a great musical...with "Over the Rainbow" being a beautiful song sung in a beautiful way by Judy Garland)..Then many a Thanksgiving/ Christmas time we watched "March of the Wooden Soldiers" ..though I'm not sure which of the many renditions of the original (Babes in Toyland) it was...and I wouldn't put it anywhere near the same category as "The Wizard of OZ"...but I liked it as a child...as I like most Laurel and Hardy films even now.
I did enjoy Gene Kelly movies...but can only remember seeing two musicals - "Anchors Aweigh" (also with Frank Sinatra)...and "Singin' in the Rain" (of which I can only remember the signature song).
I will also say that one of my favorite movie musicals had been "The King and I" (1956) starring Yul Brynner with Deborah Kerr playing the part of Anna (previously played by Gertrude Lawrence in the Broadway production). Like you, I also liked "South Pacific" but have only seen it quite recently after watching a 2001 television remake with Glenn Close...inspiring me to watch the original.
My favorite musical comedy would be "Young Frankenstein"by Mel Brooks..(yeah, yeah...I know some people don't like him, but this is a funny movie).
I didn't like "My Fair Lady" the first time I saw it in early adolescense...thought it was a bit stuffy,..but appreciated it very much a couple of years later (probably realized how beautiful Miss Hepburn really was) when I saw it again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
"Cabaret" I had a problem with only because I'm not a huge fan of Liza Minnelli...but may watch it again one of these days.
Most modern day musicals on film (whether originating in the theater or not)..I can't even get through, often including critically acclaimed ones such as "Moulin Rouge".
Moulin Rouge induced nausea. I also hate so-called "jukebox" musicals on film (onstage they're tolerable as a thinly dramatised clutch of hit songs.) I agree with Stavros regading The Wizard of Oz and also think Guys and Dolls one of the finest musicals written but that the film vrsion was somewhat thin.
I had forgotten the Disney films, I also now realise they must have been some of my first musical films -Fantasia, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and so on. It wasn't even snobbery on my part, just forgetfulness!!Quote:
Originally Posted by fred41
Just watched LOVELACE with Amanda Seyfreid on dvd. other than the fact that she was naked a lot, which was great, the story was surprisingly dull and predictable which was not great. They also made the mistake of including Eric Roberts in a brief cameo which made me think, shit, STAR 80 was so much better than this.
i just saw apollo 18. it was not something i'd recommend or ever watch again.
i also saw the watch the other day. i generally hate ben stiller and really almost always hate vince vaughn but for a stupid concept and as a costco shopper...i found it quite funny.
"Philomena" a new film directed by Stephen Frears based on a true story by the former journalist and soin doctor matin Sixsmith. it details tehe search by an irish woman for her son, taken for adoption as a toddler by nuns in ireland. Heartbreaking but with a vein of humour that lightens the story. Great performances by Judy Dench and Steve Coogan who goes from strength to strength as a comedic actor.
He was at the screening. Nice guy.
Philomena TRAILER 1 (2013) - Judi Dench, Steve Coogan Movie HD - YouTube
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Not the best movie you can watch, but a nice for evening watch.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) - IMDb
This is the End
Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass 2013)
Reliable Greengrass thriller based on true events although some members of the crew dispute the version Phillips has published and are suing. Has come out at the same time as a book on one of the Maersk container ships which may owe more to journalistic licence than even this film (Rose George: Ninety Percent of Everything). In real life more hostages are taken back to Somalia, mostly not Americans, and some pirates have ventured out as far as 800 miles to hijack ships, and it is ugly, but the film does bring out the chaotic nature of the event and manages to make the pirates look pathetic, having claimed they turned to piracy because of over-fishing undermining their traditional way of life, yet making millions from piracy without actually seeing much of the dosh.
Compelling performance from Tom Hanks. Worth seeing.
British actors usually fare badly when they try to emulate an American accent. They usual offer a United States of accents with bits of California, New York and the deep south all scrambled together.
However few crimes against English as she is spoke compare to that committed by Dick Van Dyke in "Mary Poppins". So it is hardly surprising that at an industry screening of the new film about Walt Disney's fight to win the rights to make Poppins the one moment that the entire audience were in accord - and laughed together - was when a clip of Dick as the chimney sweep was fetuared in the film. "Saving Mr Banks" is a Disney film about how Uncle Walt fought with thew writer of Mary Poppins, the prim english woman P L Travers for the rights to make the film. Hanks play Disney and Emma Thompson is crisp and rather funny as Travers. It's all a bit sugar coated though for this is a Disney film. Who else could make it. But the director says it was conceived and scripted before being thrown over the wall to the Disney executives to decide if they'd let it live or kill it. They gave it the thumbs up and they were very hands-off in the making of the movie. The one stricture. Disney could not be seen to smoke on-screen (Disney films now never feature smoking) even though in reality he was a chain smoker.
The meaning of the title becomes clear as you watch the film. To explain would spoil a key element.
Saving Mr. Banks Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Tom Hanks Movie - YouTube
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
I think Gary Oldman does good American accents, as does Tom Wilkinson. Russell Crowe, too (I know he isn't British).
Gattaca (Andrew Niccol, 1997).
Tepid film of swapped identities set in the future; the parallels between brother-brother an brother-surrogate don't work, but the film is quite well written and nicely filmed.
World War Z (Marc Foster, 2013)
A rabid virus is turning humans into zombies, the world is on the verge of extinction and only one man can save us...and no, he isn't a no-nonsense soldier or a scientist but someone who used to work for and is now re-recruited by the UN, maybe the first time this world organisation achieves hero status? On the other hand, it is a disaster movie...
A Late Quartet (Yaron Zilberman, 2012)
I don't know how many bars there are in Beethoven's String Quartet op 131, but they are outnumbered by the cliches in this underwhelming stage play which struggles to match the oh-so-profound depths of Beethoven with the less-than-profound insights into the dynamics of a string quartet about to implode. The climax of the film is both unprofessional, and embarrassing, even if Christopher Walken as usual is endlessly watchable. Bizarrely, Angelo Badalementi was asked to write the background music, as if Beethoven wasn't good enough, and has his soupy drivel (even if derived from Op 131) interspersed with the quartet to alarming effect. One interesting rarity is Marietta's Lied from Korngold's Die Tote Stadt scored for soprano and piano quartet (dead wife is the clue). A great pity the author decided to focus on the tedious conflict between the First and Second violins, when a few viola jokes might have given this deadly serious drama some levity before sentencing itself to death, vide:
What's the difference between a viola and an onion? No one cries when you cut up a viola.
Why do violists stand for long periods outside people's houses? They can't find the key and they don't know when to come in.
What's the difference between a washing machine and a violist? Vibrato.
A Late Quartet - YouTube
I am not entirely sure if the HBO mini-series "Burning Bush" directed by the Polish film maker Agnieszka Holland quite counts as a movie. It is a contender for an award in the European Film Awards so i guess so.
Anyway it is nearly four hours long and for me echoes the excellence of "The Lives Of Others' in its portrait of life in Communist eastern Europe. This is set in the immediate aftermath of the self-immolation in 1969 of the student jan Palach in protest at the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia after the crushing of the Prague Spring.. Brilliantly acted and directed it is a powerful and uneasy film to watch. In Czech with sub-titles.
Right now I've no idea where and when it will get a public screening but catch it when it does. Brilliant.
HBO "Burning Bush" Full-Length International Trailer - YouTube
I had to force my wife to watch blade runner last night...at 32, she still have never seen it. so, while having to explain relevance and interject opinion throughout the movie to keep her interested, i was able to find new joy in that most excellent film
i've also never seen that film- despite being a big fan of science fiction. i always get to the point where rutger hauer is shouting with some dude then i fall asleep/loss interest/turn it off (take your pick).Quote:
Originally Posted by RallyCola
i also hate prometheus and gladiator. i kinda have this "i hate" feeling for almost everything ridley scott does
Is there a definitive version on Blade Runner? I looked for it in the two shops we have in my town (an HMV and a brilliant independent) but neither have it. I saw it once when it was released and didn't like it but understand the studio messed around with it. I wanted to revisit it. Also thinking of revisiting Apocalypse Now but there seem to be three versions of this film, which I detested every time I saw the first version, it being incoherent.
Just saw Paths of Glory with Kirk Douglas. It is probably my favorite Kubrick movie (now that I've seen them all), though I'm sure not too many rate it as highly. Whereas Dr. Strangelove posed some interesting questions about the balance of terror during the cold war, it drove home its point by being intentionally absurd. Paths of Glory on the other hand only contains the tracest amounts of humor, and is really a more serious portrayal of the hypocrisy of generals and the unrealistic expectations placed on soldiers that have been sent on a virtual suicide mission. It is obviously an anti-war movie but is so effective because of its subtlety and greater restraint. Highly recommended.
I also saw Apocalypse Now and though it had some stirring moments and was at times visually spectacular, the message wasn't coherent. Coppola wanted to make a modernized version of Heart of Darkness, but the scenes with Brando didn't provide much clarity on what Coppola wanted to say except in the most general way. Was Kurtz to be commended for his honesty? Was his killing ordered only because nobody wanted to admit that his brutal ways were an honest expression of the war we were waging?
Movie day today...
Waited patiently for the release of both World War Z and The Purge (Purchased both last week and only today found me time to watch them)...
I have mixed views on both
Enjoyed them both however there were so many OTT parts in WWZ that they spoiled the over-all movie as a whole.
Enjoyed The Purge more of the 2 x Found myself wondering if I would hunt down and purge someone if it were in fact a reality! :-)
PS has anyone watched Liberachi? (poorly spelt)