28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Qrazy]

Rules of the Game and Grande Illusion are masterful. The other 5 Renoir's I've seen have been average to below average. La Bete Humaine probably being the best of those.

[soitgoes...]

The other 5 Renoir's I've seen have been average to below average. La Bete Humaine probably being the best of those.You're weird.

[Derek]

You're weird.

I think Qrazy has what Stan caught in the last South Park episode:

"It's a condition called being a cynical asshole. There's no known cure. Everything just seems shitty and everyone starts to seem shitty and everything they say just starts to pffffflt pffffflt."

Luvya Q!! :)

[B-side]

Tony Scott > Jean Renoir

I have spoken.

[soitgoes...]

Jesus Christ people, quit fucking with me!

[Winston*]

Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (Haynes 88) ***

I think this movie more than any other baffles me when people like it.

[Winston*]

Dennis Dugan > Krzysztof Kieślowski

[Derek]

I have spoken.

Sounds like shit to me.

[soitgoes...]

I think this movie more than any other baffles me when people like it.I would think that of the films in my sig, Wavelength would be the one to baffle. Superstar has a soundtrack composed of Carpenters songs, as well as telling the dangers of anorexia by using Barbie Doll "actors." Win.


Dennis Dugan > Krzysztof KieślowskiFinally someone makes some sense around here.

[B-side]

Dennis Dugan > Krzysztof Kieślowski

Nice try. Not even remotely comparable.

[B-side]

Sounds like shit to me.

I'll defend it with my usual flawless logic.

Tony Scott films engage me more.

End.

[Winston*]

Nice try. Not even remotely comparable.

Dennis Dugan's films engage me more.

Fin.

[B-side]

Dennis Dugan's films engage me more.

Fin.

Cool story, bro.

[Derek]

I'll defend it with my usual flawless logic.

Tony Scott films engage me more.

End.

Still sounds like shit to me.

And I'm still quoting South Park, but the general sentiment stands ;)

[Derek]

Dennis Dugan's films engage me more.

Fin.

Have we had a Dennis Dugan consensus thread yet? Seems like an oversight in our Hollywood Hack consensus series and the completist in me just has to see these results!

[B-side]

Still sounds like shit to me.

And I'm still quoting South Park, but the general sentiment stands ;)

Figures a South Park fan would have such crappy taste.

:D

But really, I kinda loved French Cancan, so perhaps I'm due to revisit some of Renoir's earlier stuff.

[Derek]

But really, I kinda loved French Cancan, so perhaps I'm due to revisit some of Renoir's earlier stuff.

French Cancan is the tits. You're alright Brights, when you allow yourself to be.

[B-side]

French Cancan is the tits. You're alright Brights, when you allow yourself to be.

Even Hitler had a few good ideas, right?

[soitgoes...]

I've seen 6 Dennis Dugan films. Why?

[soitgoes...]

Even Hitler had a few good ideas, right?Like Poland!

[B-side]

I've seen 6 Dennis Dugan films. Why?

Wow. So have I. I'll maintain that Big Daddy and Happy Gilmore are at least decent.

[soitgoes...]

Wow. So have I. I'll maintain that Big Daddy and Happy Gilmore are at least decent.And you'd be half right, which is better than usual, so good for you!

[B-side]

And you'd be half right, which is better than usual, so good for you!

I'm on a roll tonight!

[Spinal]

Dugan:

You Don't Mess With the Zohan **1/2
Happy Gilmore **

I can't promise to do more research.

[Spinal]

Like Poland!

And suicide.

[MadMan]

And let's not try to convince Madman to watch a Renoir film that's not Rules of the Game until he watches Rules of the Game. I have a feeling anything after the next one will fall into the ever-growing that is Madman's "Meant to Watch, but Didn't Because I was Lazy" list.:lol:

My "Meant To Watch, but Didn't Because I Was Lazy" list>Derek :P

And now you've given me an idea for a thread. Good work.


Renoir rules the '30s so anything from that decade. I prefer:

Boudu Saved from Drowning
La Bête humaine


Rules of the Game, post-haste! Plenty of others to recommend, but those can all wait for now.

Thanks for the recs, guys.

Happy Gilmore is hilarious. Big Daddy is terrible. Saving Silverman made me laugh, but I can't say its a good movie. National Security was mediocre. Beverly Hills Ninja is stupid, but funny. Criticker just informed me that I've seen 5 movies from Dennis Dugan. Yikes.

[Rowland]

But, yeah, I get a lot of "you haven't seen that?!?" from people who know I'm into movies.I do too, but it's usually in regards to Adam Sandler movies.

[baby doll]

Le Crime de Monsieur Lange is seriously underrated (or maybe just under-seen).

[baby doll]

Why on earth would you compare John Hughes to the likes of Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, Scorcese or Godard? Different times, different audiences, different intents. Definition of apples versus oranges.

During a Less Than Zero generation that made being disaffected into an art form, in a media culture newly saturated with MTV and home videogames, he actually connected to teens in an authentic way.

It's not complicated: Look at the state of teen movies before Hughes. Then look at them afterwards.

That's why his movies might be considered classics. It has nothing to do with blocking, mis en scene, or film theory.

It has to do with the message, plain and simple.In the case of Lubitsch and Wilder at least, both are comic writer-directors. Hughes' films may be worth studying as a historical phenomenon for their popularity (the same goes for Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, and The Passion of the Christ), but as cinema, his movies fail to impress me.

[soitgoes...]

Le Crime de Monsieur Lange is seriously underrated (or maybe just under-seen).Under-seen.

[Sxottlan]

New Criterions for September:

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3469/582_BD_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3460/579_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3454/580_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3463/581_BD_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3400/Matarazzo_boxb.png

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3448/Kurahara_box.png

[soitgoes...]

Renoir in the 30's:

La Chienne (1931) ***½
Night at the Crossroads (1932) ***
Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932) ***½
Toni (1935) **
A Day in the Country (1936) ***½
The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936) ***½
The Lower Depths (1936) ***
The Grand Illusion (1937) ****
La Marseillaise (1938) **½
La Bête humaine (1938) ***½
The Rules of the Game (1939) ****

The Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game are Top 20 films. His output in other decades really doesn't compare. I have to admit to seeing more from the 30's then all the other decades combined, but those I have seen are generally the best regarded amongst critics, This Land Is Mine being my biggest oversight.

[baby doll]

Under-seen.By the way, why are you so down on Blowjob? I wouldn't call it a great film, but it has a certain mystery about it that keeps it interesting.

[Yxklyx]

... His output in other decades really doesn't compare....

While l liked French Cancan alright (especially the finale), the other two 50s films I've seen by him I thought were utter crap - they seem to be influenced by 50s Television and they haven't aged well at all.

[StanleyK]

3 Godfathers didn't help me warm up to John Ford. There was nothing about it that felt to me like the work of an auteur expressing himself through the form- it's blandly directed and the story is rote, and the sentimentalism comes off as forced and feels unearned. It's mildly entertaining, I guess; Tokyo Godfathers is like a million times better (at least there, they didn't take half the damn movie just to find the baby).

And why call it Three Godfathers if you're gonna have two of them die? They should have killed off John Wayne too, for consistency.

[Sven]

There was nothing about it that felt to me like the work of an auteur expressing himself through the form- it's blandly directed

Absolutely not. There are some moments (like Wayne's delirium near the end) that have the visual power of silent film. I think it's one of his best.

[StanleyK]

Absolutely not. There are some moments (like Wayne's delirium near the end) that have the visual power of silent film. I think it's one of his best.

I don't see it. Pretty much the whole movie is carried out in the most basic way: medium shots of people talking (and towards the end, walking and collapsing), with the occasional establishing wide shot. I saw it four days ago and nothing stands out in my memory. The scene you mention with the ghosts behind Wayne was silly and obvious to me.

[Sven]

The scene you mention with the ghosts behind Wayne was silly and obvious to me.

I was thinking more specifically of the moments where the windstorm and the sand are whipping him around and he collapses. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I remember being very impressed with the film's visuals and rhythm, reminding me as they did of silent film, and how they express the spirituality of the premise. Perhaps Raiders or Brightside can mount a more categorical defense.

[soitgoes...]

By the way, why are you so down on Blowjob? I wouldn't call it a great film, but it has a certain mystery about it that keeps it interesting.I didn't think it was interesting at all. Maybe it wasn't fair of me to watch it right after Wavelength.

[Ivan Drago]

I would think that of the films in my sig, Wavelength would be the one to baffle.

Doesn't baffle me. Wavelength is awesome.

[Spinal]

I'm sending Rabbit Hole back to Netflix after having it out about a month. Guess I didn't want to watch it that badly.

[NickGlass]

I'm sending Rabbit Hole back to Netflix after having it out about a month. Guess I didn't want to watch it that badly.

Oh, but I'm curious what your reaction would be; I don't think it's particularly special (polished to the point of emotional inertia in a way), but you watch it as a JCM fanboy.

[soitgoes...]

Doesn't baffle me. Wavelength is awesome.Have you seen Frampton's (nostalgia), aka Hapax Legomena I: Nostalgia? Holy shit.

[Dukefrukem]

Do we not have a Akira Kurosawa consensus thread? I just watched Rashomon !

[Ivan Drago]

Have you seen Frampton's (nostalgia), aka Hapax Legomena I: Nostalgia? Holy shit.

Three times. It gets better and better with every viewing.

[B-side]

3 Godfathers didn't help me warm up to John Ford. There was nothing about it that felt to me like the work of an auteur expressing himself through the form- it's blandly directed and the story is rote, and the sentimentalism comes off as forced and feels unearned.

Absolutely disagree. It's wonderfully mounted. I don't see how you could possibly say that it feels anonymously directed. The trek through the desert, as Sven alluded to, is terrific and highly tangible. It's also beautifully photographed as I'll demonstrate below with just a few of the caps I took:

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-04h41m44s149_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-05h38m33s194_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-05h39m02s233_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-06h25m57s212_400x300.jpg

[soitgoes...]

Three times. It gets better and better with every viewing.
It's greatness made me adjust my Wavelength rating. As good as Snow's film is, it's nowhere near the level of (nostalgia). I need to do a short film thread of some sort.

[MadMan]

I'm sending Rabbit Hole back to Netflix after having it out about a month. Guess I didn't want to watch it that badly.I feel the same way about Miller's Crossing. But its also because I have a handful of other movies to get to at this point.

[Bosco B Thug]

Summer Hours is such a yay. The first half of the film is so strong. Though funny that a year ago I mailed back demonlover without getting more than 10 minutes into it, for reasons I don't remember anymore.

[Irish]

In the spirit of Roger Ebert’s I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie, how about a conversation about pop culture that pisses you off? Not just terrible or inessential items, but movies, songs, or TV genres that literally make you angry at them and the people who like them.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/infuriating-art,41613/

Interesting article. Particularly liked the bits where the guy tears into Mark Millar and the other dude rips up The Kids Are Alright. (Wouldn't say I agree with everything 100%, but good food for thought nonetheless).

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.avclub.com/articles/infuriating-art,41613/

Interesting article. Particularly liked the bits where the guy tears into Mark Millar and the other dude rips up The Kids Are Alright. (Wouldn't say I agree with everything 100%, but good food for thought nonetheless).

That article sucks because it doesn't demonstrate anything clever or funny

[Irish]

That article sucks because it doesn't demonstrate anything clever or funny

What? I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Why did it have to be clever or funny?

[Winston*]

Good to see reality tv finally being taken down a peg.

[D_Davis]

So Black Death was pretty sweet. Glad to see that it and Solomon Kane exist today. We need more of these kinds of no nonsense, darker fantasy movies.

[Sven]

Particularly liked the bits where the guy tears into Mark Millar

Now I don't like Millar very much, but the guy is justifying writing his work off based on the qualities of a fraction of what Millar does. And then likening him to Geoff Johns (WTF? When does Johns get extreme?) and Garth Ennis (which is like comparing Roger Corman to Stanley Kubrick) demonstrates just how little he either knows about or reads comics.

[StanleyK]

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-04h41m44s149_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-05h38m33s194_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-05h39m02s233_400x300.jpg

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz70/SalvadorDali_2010/vlcsnap-2011-05-07-06h25m57s212_400x300.jpg

Which part is the first one from? I thought I would've recognized your avatar when I saw it on screen, but I can't remember it.

[StanleyK]

I watched Badlands again in anticipation of The Tree of Life, and the thing which struck me the most this time is how funny this movie is. Kit's craziness is a constant source of absurdist humor, and the contrast between it and Holly's deadpan narration of it is hilarious. This is essentially a comedy about the ultimate wannabe: the man who wants to be part of nature (check out at the beginning when he throws a ball at a dog, and the dog stone-cold ignores him), wants to be famous (he thinks everything he does will have repercussions throughout history), wants to be deep (he rambles empty platitudes all the time), wants to be rich (as Malick himself pointed out, the rich man is the only one he doesn't kill), and fails at everything. In the end, the only thing he succeeds at is looking like James Dean, as pointed out by the cop; perhaps attention was what he was after after all, and as soon as he gets it, he dies. I don't think Malick would ever get this bleak again. Anyway, magnificent film, a singular vision stunningly executed and all that. Some real funny shit though:


"Kit was the most trigger-happy person I'd ever met. He said that if you're playing for keeps, it's okay to shoot all witnesses, as long as you don't whine about the consequences later."

"We had our bad moments, like any couple; at times, I wish he'd drown just so I could watch."

After Cato laughs hysterically at Holly's lame joke:
"Funny, ain't it?"
"Yeah, I guess..."

"I got stuff to say. Guess I'm kinda lucky that way... most people don't have anything on their minds, do they?" Cue him having absolutely nothing to say at all.

[Irish]

OdHocrK59bo

:crazy:

[transmogrifier]

I've seen 6 Dennis Dugan films. Why?

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf89wxB3ja1qe0eclo1_r34 _500.gif

[transmogrifier]

The Man from Laramie

Low-key Western that benefits from a truly interesting approach to the characters and their relationship with each other. No-one really turns out to be as obvious as they seem at first glance, and there are some stunning insights on human nature (my favourite is the self-awareness of the father - he acts like a son-of-a-bitch his whole life because he has the personality to pull it off, but he starts to consciously soften and look to make peace with his neighbours because his son doesn't have the same personality to maintain a hard line). If only more films were confident enough to play with various shades of grey.

[Sven]

My mom is in town and is about to make us watch The Men Who Stare At Goats. I understand that it's not too well received. Someone give me some hope here.

[Kurosawa Fan]

My mom is in town and is about to make us watch The Men Who Stare At Goats. I understand that it's not too well received. Someone give me some hope here.

Even my brother, who is the easiest in the world to please, and can laugh at just about anything, said it was awful.




Wait, did I do that wrong?

[Skitch]

My mom is in town and is about to make us watch The Men Who Stare At Goats. I understand that it's not too well received. Someone give me some hope here.

Its not The Bounty Hunter. That's the best I can do.

Watching Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in HD. I'm continually surprised how my review of this film as gone up with every viewing. While far from perfect, I quite enjoy this, and the animation is still impressive. More so in HD.

[Sven]

That movie makes no damn sense at all.

[Skitch]

That movie makes no damn sense at all.

Took me a few viewings, but it makes sense.

[Chac Mool]

What's the consensus round here on "The Constant Gardener"?

[EyesWideOpen]

What's the consensus round here on "The Constant Gardener"?

I remember liking it when it came out but I can't recall anything about it now.

[DavidSeven]

What's the consensus round here on "The Constant Gardener"?

Blends in seamlessly with the rest of those mediocre, too-serious, overtly political dramas that deal with a very specific "issue." Rendition, Lord of War, Blood Diamond (didn't see), etc.

[Rowland]

Harold Lloyd's 1919 short Ask Father (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHqM_dJlGaw). It's cute, witty, and less than 13 minutes long!

[Ezee E]

All things said, when's Pixar going to do something as great as this:

944cPciN-kw

[Boner M]

Was going to write longer reviews on the 30+ Sydney Film Fest films I saw over the last 10 days, but got sidetracked by tweeting my every thought with my new iPhone; here's most of aftermath in the form of drive-by capsules:

CORMAN'S WORLD: purely inspiring as both a movie nerd and a (esp. economically-concerned) human ***1/2

HERE: soulful leads & a video artist's eye for light textures combine for an acute mood piece on love & cultural boundaries... Just realised I made HERE sound profoundly boring. 'VOYAGE IN ITALY remixed by Brakhage' is more accurate & appealing. ***

THE WHITE MEADOWS: behind the Tarr, the most painterly film at #SydFilmFest. Blatantly allegorical, but never crudely so. Haunting as fuck ***1/2

TOOMELEH: well-meaning, well-made, amazing child lead; familiar to the point of inertia. Ambient music score does heavylifting *1/2

SHUT UP LITTLE MAN: dear documentarians: stop using ironic old-timey commercial footage, or I'll pay Michael Moore to sit on u... an interesting exploration of viral video's roots. But I've seen 30+ films so far. Gettin antsy **1/2

PROJECT NIM: a better Errol Morris film than #SydFilmFest's actual Errol Morris film. Questions RE: language most fascinating; deeply moving ***

POST MORTEM: Grimy, gauzy snapshot of Pinochet's brutal regime & its toll on meaningful human connection. #SydFilmFest's best political film ***1/2

END OF ANIMAL: So impressed by the ends created with limited means. Amazingly tense, still mentally unpacking it... bookending voiceovers really drive home the despairing critique of materialist society. ***

LETTERS FROM THE BIG MAN: utterly earnest tale of a nature girl's connection w/ a telepathic Sasquatch. Kinda dug it, actually... something about this brand of completely unhip & sincere US indie filmmaking I find hard to resist ***

SILENT SOULS: one of my absolute #SydFilmFest highlights until a deeply unfortunate ending. Beware of birds w/ shifty eyes... ***

TABLOID: Was Errol Morris chained to a bed & forced *not* to get into the ethics of tabloid journalism?... never not fun, but a shoulder-shrug once the credits roll. The program synopsis had the same thematic weight **

SURVIVING LIFE: like most Svankmajer features, can't sustain itself. Great & grating in equal measure; ends beautifully tho **1/2

BEAR: Nash Edgerton is fast becoming the Hong Sangsoo of bloody prank-gone-awry shorts ***

I WISH I KNEW: Jia adopts the straightforward talking heads mode of doco he deconstructed so effectively in 24 CITY. Meh **

TREE OF LIFE: watchable, well-acted, nicely shot LOL JK, ALL OTHER MOVIES ARE DUST... Still deciding whether ToL is the best movie of all time or the most of-all-time movie of all time; latter seems preferable... Many take issue w/ the Qantas ad ending of ToL, for me its goofiness made it all the more moving... TREE OF LIFE haterz can Ma-lick my balls (been waiting to make that joke) ****

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN: much better than Machete, never outstays its welcome, Hauer owns. Loved the syrupy bear motif ***

CEDAR RAPIDS: kind of film I'd catch on a flight, have a few giggles at, then instantly forget. Surreal seeing it at #SydFilmFest **

TERRI: this is how a teen comedy should be done. Subtle, warm, humane, quirky in the most palatable way. Gorgeous natural light... Kinda hard to imagine the last time a comedy was as artful. Azazel Jacobs really is a miracle worker of a director ***1/2

TYRANNOSAUR sometimes feels like contrived actors workshop miserablism, but ultimately its power is hard to deny... I dunno how TYRANNOSAUR would've fared w/o Olivia Colman. Most moving perf I've seem in some time **1/2

KILL LIST: slowly & smoothly transitions from one form to its extreme opposite; totally nuts and my major discovery of the fest... Dunno if it adds up to much but the sensibility is so awesomely singular. Major step up 4 Wheatley from DOWN TERRACE ***

THE FUTURE: like being strangled to death with a friendship bracelet for 90 mins *

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS: gonna confess relative apathy to alleged wonders of cave drawings. Pleasant, but no ecstatic truths **1/2

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE: scary as hell; such a vivid portrayal of complete and utter lostness. Someone hug me ****

SLEEPING BEAUTY: hmmm ask me later. Dig seeing Sydney so eerie & labyrinthine; Leigh's got serious formal chops 4 a first timer **

THE MIRROR: endlessly fascinating; epitomises the importance of being alive to the accidental in filmmaking ***1/2

ATTENBERG: scattershot film of moments rather than a cohesive whole, but lovely 4 the most part. Father/daughter scenes tops... It's left a pleasingly melancholy residue after initial indifference. ***

CORRIDOR: Builds to a nice dialogue-free cat-and-mouse climax;, fatally un-atmospheric and uncinematic until then. Dull protag **

SLEEPING SICKNESS: Oblique, intriguing deconstruction of white colonialist attitudes via narrative sleight-of-hand... more an intellectual exercise than anything, but a compelling one. ***

THE TURIN HORSE: "The answer is none. None more black"... Only Bela Tarr can make steam from a boiled potato seem like a Michael Bay explosion. ****

SEPTIEN: Extremely affacted Lynch/Korine-esque hispter surrealism, redeemed by some very funny dialogue. **

[B-side]

Which part is the first one from? I thought I would've recognized your avatar when I saw it on screen, but I can't remember it.

Opening credits.

[Mysterious Dude]

I watched The Elephant Man tonight, for the first time in many years. I think my attention span has improved. I certainly loved the movie when I first saw it as a teenager, but I think I only absorbed it as a series of individual scenes, and not as a complete whole.

I was a little less affected by the ending this time, since I'm no longer convinced it was a suicide. The guy just had the night of his life at the theater, and when Treves says, "Perhaps we'll do it again some time," Merrick enthusiastically replies, "Oh, I hope so!" Apparently, the real Dr. Treves believed that Merrick was attempting to sleep like a normal person, and not commit suicide, and I think the film supports that conclusion, now that I've re-watched it.

[Skitch]

All things said, when's Pixar going to do something as great as this:


I seem to recall equally disturbing moments in (my two favorite Disney films) Pinochio and Alice In Wonderland. Seriously, when I look back on some of those films I grew up on...WTF Disney? Some pretty disturbing stuff in there. :)

[soitgoes...]

Yesterday I learned where one of Russ' old avatars came from. Springtime in Greenland is good kooky fun. Gonna check out Crime Wave soon. Hopefully it's more of the same.

[SirNewt]

About half way through, "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover" right now. One word describes it for me, vexing. No idea if I'll finish it.

[Ezee E]

I also think the Pink Elephants scene would be amazing in 3D.

[Boner M]

Discovered on the job; read the start of the 2nd paragraph.

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg735/scaled.php?tn=0&server=735&filename=wy2j.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

[Yxklyx]

I watched The Elephant Man tonight, for the first time in many years. I think my attention span has improved. I certainly loved the movie when I first saw it as a teenager, but I think I only absorbed it as a series of individual scenes, and not as a complete whole.

I was a little less affected by the ending this time, since I'm no longer convinced it was a suicide. The guy just had the night of his life at the theater, and when Treves says, "Perhaps we'll do it again some time," Merrick enthusiastically replies, "Oh, I hope so!" Apparently, the real Dr. Treves believed that Merrick was attempting to sleep like a normal person, and not commit suicide, and I think the film supports that conclusion, now that I've re-watched it.

Well yes, he was attempting to sleep as a normal person but he knew it would kill him - my take at least.

[StanleyK]

Closely Watched Trains is pretty great. Not the most formally impressive film, but admirably ballsy (how many sex comedies have the main character slit his wrists halfway through because he can't get it up?) and, like most great comedies, often as awkward and painful as it's funny. Also proof that you can derive humor from sexual frustration without falling back to stupid, gross-out bodily function gags. Loved it. The Shop on Main Street will prolly be next.

[MadMan]

I thought that The Men Who Stare At Goats was really funny, but its political commentary wasn't very sharp and it wasn't focused enough.

[Pop Trash]

Everyone Else:

-not sure why I liked this but I did
-doubt I'll ever watch it again
-bitches be crazy
-needed more casual nudity
-not as good as Head-On for German emo-romance

[Qrazy]

Everyone Else:

-not sure why I liked this but I did
-doubt I'll ever watch it again
-bitches be crazy
-needed more casual nudity
-not as good as Head-On for German emo-romance

There's nothing emo about Head-on.

[Boner M]

There's nothing emo about Head-on.
...or Everyone Else, for that matter.

[Morris Schæffer]

For some reason, trying to find Avatar 3D available for purchase is proving an arduous task. What's the deal here? Is that still prohibitively expensive? Is there no real market for these things yet?

[Chac Mool]

Blends in seamlessly with the rest of those mediocre, too-serious, overtly political dramas that deal with a very specific "issue." Rendition, Lord of War, Blood Diamond (didn't see), etc.

Blood Diamond was actually rather good as a drama/action hybrid. Ed Zwick may be a sellout sometimes, but he's a decent filmmaker.

So is Meirelles for that matter -- I thought Constant Gardener overcame the blandness of its storyline with above-average acting and craftsmanship.

[Scar]

For some reason, trying to find Avatar 3D available for purchase is proving an arduous task. What's the deal here? Is that still prohibitively expensive? Is there no real market for these things yet?

If memory serves, you were only able to get it if you bought a specific 3D TV.

[Dukefrukem]

For some reason, trying to find Avatar 3D available for purchase is proving an arduous task. What's the deal here? Is that still prohibitively expensive? Is there no real market for these things yet?

I must have missed it, you have a 3D TV? That you enjoy watching?

[Yxklyx]

...or Everyone Else, for that matter.

Well definitely not with regards to Everyone Else, but there are tinges of Emo in Head-On. That Depeche Mode song sounded really out of place to me BTW.

[Pop Trash]

...or Everyone Else, for that matter.

You guys are absolutely right! There's nothing emotional in either film.
:|

[Morris Schæffer]

If memory serves, you were only able to get it if you bought a specific 3D TV.

That is correct, but being a special deal still shouldn't exclude it being available on shelves. It seems that whichever brochure I peruse, 50% of TV's shown are 3d and Avatar is now 15 months old. So I ask again, why aren't such movies, including some animated flicks, more readily available from the usual sites? I checked Amazon and even they don't seem to carry it as part of their standard line-up. Instead, I'm diverted to 3rd party sellers and the prices are extortionate.


I must have missed it, you have a 3D TV? That you enjoy watching?

I do not, but I'm not sure why we need to be skeptical or sarcastic. The P50VT20 from Panasonic and its follow-up P50VT30 are supposedly great Plasma 3D screens and affordable too here in Belgium via online sellers. Plus, higher contract ratios than at the movies means 3d at home might be more spectacular. Finally, I certainly haven't heard bad things about 3d gaming although experiences seem to vary. But I sure would like to try Uncharted 3 in 3D. Considering that I'm still using a paltry HD ready TV for gaming, I'm looking for something else.

[Dukefrukem]

T
I do not, but I'm not sure why we need to be skeptical or sarcastic. The P50VT20 from Panasonic and its follow-up P50VT30 are supposedly great Plasma 3D screens and affordable too here in Belgium via online sellers. Plus, higher contract ratios than at the movies means 3d at home might be more spectacular. Finally, I certainly haven't heard bad things about 3d gaming although experiences seem to vary. But I sure would like to try Uncharted 3 in 3D. Considering that I'm still using a paltry HD ready TV for gaming, I'm looking for something else.

Definitely skeptical. I've been bad mouthing 3D for months and I don't think I've spoken to anyone about their 3D HOME experience.

[Derek]

You guys are absolutely right! There's nothing emotional in either film.
:|

Right, because in 2011, using the term "emo" carries no other meaning than that something is "emotional".

Also, what relationship dramas aren't emotional?

[Morris Schæffer]

Definitely skeptical. I've been bad mouthing 3D for months and I don't think I've spoken to anyone about their 3D HOME experience.

well, I'm hardly sold either what with actual 3D content being rather limited, but I do think it's nice to have and Plasma seems like the way to go especially because of the emergence of LED meaning that Plasma became very affordable in the past 24 months. But I certainly wouldn't go for broke simply for the 3D aspect. Other aspects need to be great also and I still veer towards Plasma for sheer overall PQ.

[Dukefrukem]

I dropped $2k on an LED TV this past October. ( I should post pics of my movie room in that thread soon) If I had to do it again, I probably would go Plasma.

[Yxklyx]

I dropped $2k on an LED TV this past October. ( I should post pics of my movie room in that thread soon) If I had to do it again, I probably would go Plasma.

I'm still very happy with my Sony XBR CRT from 2004.

[Scar]

I believe Panasonic's monopoly on Avatar 3D goes in to 2012, hence, you won't find it on the shelves.

[Qrazy]

Blood Diamond was actually rather good as a drama/action hybrid. Ed Zwick may be a sellout sometimes, but he's a decent filmmaker.

So is Meirelles for that matter -- I thought Constant Gardener overcame the blandness of its storyline with above-average acting and craftsmanship.

Nah, Zwick is horrible shit.

[Dukefrukem]

Nah, Zwick is horrible shit.

I liked Glory, The Siege and The Last Samurai. I know most people loathe the ladder film on that list but I enjoy the story quite a bit.

[Qrazy]

I liked Glory, The Siege and The Last Samurai. I know most people loathe the ladder film on that list but I enjoy the story quite a bit.

I dislike the first and the last, haven't seen the middle one and probably never will.

[Spinal]

You guys are absolutely right! There's nothing emotional in either film.
:|

If you just mean the term to refer to something containing emotion, then it's a pretty useless term.

[Spinal]

Also, what relationship dramas aren't emotional?

300 is emotional. Kill Bill is emotional. Dogtooth is emotional. Mulholland Dr. is emotional. Etc, etc, etc.

"Emo" is just one of those useless, lazy words like "hipster" that is intended to put someone or something in their place without any effort to actually articulate the nature of the offense.

[Derek]

I liked Glory, The Siege and The Last Samurai. I know most people loathe the ladder film on that list but I enjoy the story quite a bit.

I haven't seen the ladder film, but I Ed Zwick didn't direct it (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349710/).

[Watashi]

I still think Glory is a great film.

The others I could take or leave.

[Irish]

fGzUGslmknA

[Qrazy]

300 is emotional. Kill Bill is emotional. Dogtooth is emotional. Mulholland Dr. is emotional. Etc, etc, etc.

"Emo" is just one of those useless, lazy words like "hipster" that is intended to put someone or something in their place without any effort to actually articulate the nature of the offense.

Agreed somewhat, although emo and hipster do have very specific connotations when it comes to attitude, behavior and appearance. But yes, ultiamtely they are just labels similar to goth and jock and do not say much about a person.

Emo:

http://www.issues.cc/uploads/emo-20110415-170821.jpg

Hipster:

http://www.thewestpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hipster1.jpg

[Morris Schæffer]

I still think Glory is a great film.

The others I could take or leave.

Same here. I find Glory extremely moving, powerful, but have little affection for the others.

[Spun Lepton]

Invented to put them in their place? I'm pretty sure Emo was the agreed-upon term among Emo kids. I can't say the same for Hipster, though, I don't hang out in those crowds.

Hey, number8, what do you say?

:D

[Spinal]

Glory worked really well for me 20 years ago. I haven't seen it since.

[Spinal]

Invented to put them in their place?

Not what I said.

[Boner M]

"Emo" is just one of those useless, lazy words like "hipster" that is intended to put someone or something in their place without any effort to actually articulate the nature of the offense.
Not to mention the ludicrousness of lumping Everyone Else and Head-on together because they're both German and contain romances (especially since the romance at the latter's centre is merely a pretext for the main theme of Turkish-German diaspora).

[B-side]

The Terminal(Spielberg, 2004) low 60s
Day of Wrath (Dreyer, 1943) 50s
Super 8 (Abrams, 2011) high 80s
Buried (Cortés, 2010) 70s

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8366/1250439338398.jpg

[Pop Trash]

Not to mention the ludicrousness of lumping Everyone Else and Head-on together because they're both German and contain romances (especially since the romance at the latter's centre is merely a pretext for the main theme of Turkish-German diaspora).

Feel free to lump in Betty Blue for me as well.

[MadMan]

Despite some of its faults, I rather enjoyed The Book of Eli. Its your typical, bleak apocalyptic movie, but it still had a certain sense of style and Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman turn in good work, as usual. The last act took me by surprise in some regards-I expected the movie to end differently, really. The film can best be described as "Denzel kills lots and lots of people to protect a book because he's really a religious fanatic," which is probably more amusing to me than others.

[Spinal]

Feel free to lump in Betty Blue for me as well.

French films can be a part of the German emo movement? This is getting very confusing.

[Pop Trash]

French films can be a part of the German emo movement? This is getting very confusing.
:confused: :crazy: :lol: :eek: ;)

[Dukefrukem]

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8366/1250439338398.jpg

I must have missed something. I'd give it a second chance.

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.thewestpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hipster1.jpg

This pic, is exactly the definition of a hipster. It's crazy. This guy must have been dressing up for halloween or something. No way he's serious about life.

[StanleyK]

Everybody, read this essay (http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2011/06/days_of_heaven.html) on Days of Heaven. I trust everybody knows by now what an amazing film it is; Emerson illustrates pretty well, I think, just how.

[MadMan]

Everytime I hear the word "hipster," I realize that I only know one person in real life who possibly qualifies. And only one person online who's hipster enough to be hipster: eternity :P

Kiss Me Deadly is one of the best film noir movies of all time. And just like the other movies I've seen this month, it deserves a proper review.

[Rowland]

Anybody familiar with Koji Yamamura? I haven't entirely been able to connect with any of his work yet, but it's definitely something else. Mt. Head is my favorite so far, check it out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuM8xHQSUEM).

[StanleyK]

I was putting off Four Rooms because I remembered it being terrible. The first two segment are, indeed, really boring; the third one is amusing even if it's kind of stupid. Tarantino's The Man from Hollywood, however, is great. It's funny, pretty clever (I like how Tarantino makes it the point that he's overstaying his welcome, commenting on his tendency to ramble), and the direction and editing yield not just the most comedy but genuine tension towards the end. Not only was I surprised by how great it is, but I honestly think I like it better than any of his 90's full-length features (of which, I must say, Jackie Brown is holding up the best in my mind). Things are looking pretty good for Kill Bill now.

[soitgoes...]

Anybody familiar with Koji Yamamura? I haven't entirely been able to connect with any of his work yet, but it's definitely something else. Mt. Head is my favorite so far, check it out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuM8xHQSUEM).
These are pretty neat. I've watched four thus far, and while none I'd consider great, they're all good. At the very least I'd say the man has an amazing imagination.

[soitgoes...]

Cowards Bend the Knee (Maddin, 2003) **
Just stop.

[Bosco B Thug]

Well, I for one am glad someone's out there harshly grading Guy Maddin films. (I gave 'Cowards' a 7, but am mostly sure I'll never be a Maddin fan.)

[Dukefrukem]

Is it possible Bride of Frankenstein is better than Frankenstein? I actually didn't know the blind man's scene from Young Frankenstein was a parody of this. (I'm so ignorant) Aside from some pretty bad editing techniques which is hard to fault in the 1930s and some inconsistent logic, I enjoyed Bride much more than the first.

[Yxklyx]

Is it possible Bride of Frankenstein is better than Frankenstein? I actually didn't know the blind man's scene from Young Frankenstein was a parody of this. (I'm so ignorant) Aside from some pretty bad editing techniques which is hard to fault in the 1930s and some inconsistent logic, I enjoyed Bride much more than the first.


I like Bride quite a bit more. Is the remake of the blind man scene really a parody though? I thought the original was funny as well. The tone of the first one is 100% serious while Bride is mostly all tongue in cheek - it has lots of fun with the material.

[Dukefrukem]

I like Bride quite a bit more. Is the remake of the blind man scene really a parody though? I thought the original was funny as well. The tone of the first one is 100% serious while Bride is mostly all tongue in cheek - it has lots of fun with the material.

You're probably right. They gave Frankenstein's monster the ability to act a lot more like a human than Bride. Also, could Frankenstein really survive a fall like that? :rolleyes:

[Raiders]

Is it possible Bride of Frankenstein is better than Frankenstein?

This is (rightly so) the general consensus.

[Sven]

I have a hard time putting one over the other. Both are masterful, which is fine by me.

[megladon8]

I'm in the small camp that prefers the original to Bride by quite a large margin.

[Boner M]

Just stop.
That was actually supposed to be a **½ rating. I've inferred that of Maddin's films get grating to me at a certain point, but this has some pretty spectacular moments, not to mention his best and funniest use of intertitles.

[Russ]

That was actually supposed to be a **½ rating. I've inferred that of Maddin's films get grating to me at a certain point, but this has some pretty spectacular moments, not to mention his best and funniest use of intertitles.
I love Maddin, yet I've always worried about his propensity for recycling material, to the point where it almost becomes self-parody. Even though I truly believe his latest (My Winnipeg) really is his greatest work, I don't think the synopsis for his next film sounds particularly encouraging.

[Rowland]

I have a hard time putting one over the other. Both are masterful, which is fine by me.My thoughts as well.

[Pop Trash]

Stephanie Zacharek bugs. She seems to be actively trying hard to be the next Pauline Kael.

[Pop Trash]

Well, I for one am glad someone's out there harshly grading Guy Maddin films. (I gave 'Cowards' a 7, but am mostly sure I'll never be a Maddin fan.)

I don't get the love for Maddin either. He's made some good films, but I don't get why people freak out about him. I also always feel like I should be watching a German Expressionist flick I haven't seen yet instead of his stuff.

[Russ]

I don't get the love for Maddin either. He's made some good films, but I don't get why people freak out about him. I also always feel like I should be watching a German Expressionist flick I haven't seen yet instead of his stuff.
Um...so why don't you?

[Pop Trash]

Um...so why don't you?

Because people on Match-Cut tell me to watch Guy Maddin. And I only do what people on Match-Cut tell me.

[Sven]

Kay guys, it's beer + movie night. I want an action extravaganza. Recommend me a good one I haven't seen.

[Russ]

You like Walter Hill, dont'cha?

(can't remember if you've seen The Driver)


wNh3G8qodCQ&feature=related



If not, then just wait a bit...it's Day 5: 'Favorite Action Film' in that other thread tonight.

[Winston*]

Has anyone seen that Guy Maddin short where Isabella Rosselini talks to her dad, who's played by a giant belly? I think she plays Chaplin and Hitchcock in it too. Or did I dream seeing this?

[Sven]

You like Walter Hill, dont'cha?

(can't remember if you've seen The Driver)

Great suggestion, regardless of it already having landed in my top 100. :)

[Dead & Messed Up]

Is it possible Bride of Frankenstein is better than Frankenstein? I actually didn't know the blind man's scene from Young Frankenstein was a parody of this. (I'm so ignorant) Aside from some pretty bad editing techniques which is hard to fault in the 1930s and some inconsistent logic, I enjoyed Bride much more than the first.

I need to watch both again, but I remember preferring the original to its sequel by a small margin. The straight-forward tragedy of the first one was more compelling to me than the goofier spirit of the sequel. Regardless, both are excellent, and between those two films, The Invisible Man, and The Old Dark House, James Whale is kind of my favorite horror director ever.

[Boner M]

Weekend

Multiplex catchup: Bridesmaids/Super 8
The Prowler (Losey)
Careful (Maddin)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon/Cheyenne Autumn/3 Godfathers (one of 'em)
Memory For Max, Ida & Company (Allan King)
Colossal Youth (Costa)

[Spinal]

Careful (Maddin)


Yeah, that's not gonna fix it.

[Boner M]

Yeah, that's not gonna fix it.
It's that or Twilight of the Ice Nymphs.

[Spinal]

It's that or Twilight of the Ice Nymphs.

As you were.

[Derek]

Stephanie Zacharek bugs. She seems to be actively trying hard to be the next Pauline Kael.

Not even close to cunty enough.


Yeah, that's not gonna fix it.

Only if he watches Twilight of the Ice Nymphs right before it, which would make any Maddin film look like a masterpiece by comparison.

EDIT: :lol:

[Qrazy]

It's that or Twilight of the Ice Nymphs.

Here's a thought. Stop watching Madden and watch more Aleksei German instead. His son's work's not half bad either although definitely not as good.

[B-side]

Here's a thought. Stop watching Maddin and watch more Raoul Ruiz instead. He doesn't have a son in the business that I know of, but his work would probably be good if he were.

[Boner M]

Here's a thought: I have years and years to catch up with all this shit. Best get the meh out of the way first.

[transmogrifier]

Here's a thought. Stop watching all that shit and just stick with Altman, because he's just friggin' awesome.

[soitgoes...]

Elephant (Clarke, 1989) ***Hey I just watched this last week, and I rated it the same as you! OMG!

[soitgoes...]

Here's a thought. Stop watching all that shit and just stick with Altman, because he's just friggin' awesome.Except for two films, which are unawesome.

[transmogrifier]

Except for two films, which are unawesome.

Well, probably more than two, but on the balance of play? Awesome.

[MadMan]

Weekend:

*Blow (maybe)
*The Illusionist (2010)-finally got this from Netflix, worried that my expectations are too high.
*Trespass-wahoo, Walter Hill

Perhaps a couple other movies this weekend. I really donno, considering these days I use my weekends to drink, go out of town, and on Saturday I'm going to be stuck at a wedding that will take up the whole rest of the day. Real life always gets in the way of moving watching.

[Chac Mool]

So I finally caught "Sukiyaki Western Django" yesterday. Seems like a slam-dunk, right? Spaghetti western, Miike, phonetic dialogue...

Boy, was I dissapointed. The whole thing is disjointed, awkward, incoherent, so focused on the artifice of its premise and direction that it forgets to develop any kind of emotional connection, mystery or drama. I usually find a couple of things to like in any movie I watch, but I'm struggling to give anything to this one -- even the visuals (lauded on the cover quotes) are ugly..

My mind wandering through the slower sections, I also realized that Miike is perhaps the most scattershot director I can think of -- amazing in some cases (the genuine beauty of "The Bird People of China", the clever genre subversions of "One Missed Call", the restrained formalism of "The Box" segment in "3 Extremes") and a complete waste of time in others.

At least "13 Assassins" is supposed to be good...

[Chac Mool]

In other news, my local arthouse is showing all of Terry Malick's features this week-end. If you could only chose one (other than Tree of Life), which one would it be?

[elixir]

In other news, my local arthouse is showing all of Terry Malick's features this week-end. If you could only chose one (other than Tree of Life), which one would it be?

Days of Heaven.

[Stay Puft]

In other news, my local arthouse is showing all of Terry Malick's features this week-end. If you could only chose one (other than Tree of Life), which one would it be?

Having just watched all of them on the big screen (well, minus Badlands unfortunately, which I couldn't fit in my schedule):

The New World.

An overwhelming and immense experience, though admittedly that's a personal reaction. I enjoyed all of those tracking shots in The Thin Red Line quite a bit, but... no, I think I'd still go with The New World. Those Wagner montages, man, there's nothing else like them.

[Ezee E]

Thin Red Line or Badlands.

I like The New World and Tree of Life, but I feel like he brought thos same feelings, emotions, excitement, etc (and did a better job with it) in Thin Red Line.

Badlands and Days of Heaven come across different to me, but still with Malick's trademark.

I hope that makes sense.

[Raiders]

Days of Heaven

No question or second-thoughts about it. It is perhaps the supreme visual achievement of cinema and every time I have viewed it since two or three years ago when I really came around on it has only made it more magnificent. I haven't seen Tree of Life yet, but for me all his other masterful films still don't quite stand up to the majesty, ambiguity and complexity of this one. When I view the others, I appreciate and love them each time, but my satisfcation with them feels complete. Not so with Days of Heaven.

[soitgoes...]

Oh, and Raiders, Crime Wave rocked. I want to see more of Paizs' stuff pronto.

[Russ]

Oh, and Raiders, Crime Wave rocked. I want to see more of Paizs' stuff pronto.
I adore Crime Wave. Probably an all-time top ten-er for me.

[soitgoes...]

I adore Crime Wave. Probably an all-time top ten-er for me.My girlfriend came in about ten minutes into watching it, and asked what the fuck I was watching. She gets exposed to a heavy dose of weird films through me, but this one floored her. She ended up watching the rest with me trying to figure out what was going on, and probably more importantly why it was happening.

[Irish]

This Crime Wave? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046878/

[Philosophe_rouge]

In other news, my local arthouse is showing all of Terry Malick's features this week-end. If you could only chose one (other than Tree of Life), which one would it be?

So is my theatre. I'd say... Days of Heaven, if only that they are probably not showing the extended version of the New World.

[elixir]

This Crime Wave? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046878/


Crime Wave (Paizs 85) ***½

This one.

[Irish]

This one.

Ah, cool. Thanks very much!

[soitgoes...]

Ah, cool. Thanks very much!FWIW the other one is also very good. Completely different animal though.

[Irish]

FWIW the other one is also very good. Completely different animal though.

Heh, yeah when I looked it up I was all wtf? Sterling Hayden and Charles Bronson in the same movie? I've got to see this.

[Russ]

PS: How did you guys see the Paiz movie?
VHS dub first, then grabbed it from SMz. Doesn't kg have it?

EDIT: oops, assumed you did the torrent thing

[Derek]

Weekend:

*Blow (maybe)

Unless you're talking about actually cocaine, why would you do that to yourself?

[soitgoes...]

VHS dub first, then grabbed it from SMz. Doesn't kg have it?
I grabbed it off KG. Getting Top of the Food Chain from there right now. It's the only other one on there besides Springtime in Greenland.

[Irish]

VHS dub first, then grabbed it from SMz. Doesn't kg have it?

Thanks for the tip. I looked it up on Netflix and Amazon and was surprised there aren't any DVD copies.

Read up on Wikipedia, and it looks like an interesting movie so I will keep an eye out for it.

Edit: Owe you a +1, btw =D

[Russ]

I haven't seen Top of the Food Chain yet but I hear it's quite good. Let me know how it turns out.

[Spinal]

Time Magazine's top 25 Animated Films (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2079149_2079152_207918 8,00.html)

Some excellent inclusions (Paprika, Tangled, Happy Feet). And a couple head-scratchers. (Horton Hears a Who? What?)

[Derek]

Days of Heaven

No question or second-thoughts about it.

This, except The New World.

[Watashi]

Time Magazine's top 25 Animated Films (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2079149_2079152_207918 8,00.html)

Some excellent inclusions (Paprika, Tangled, Happy Feet). And a couple head-scratchers. (Horton Hears a Who? What?)
Not one Bird film.

List INVALID!

[Ivan Drago]

In other news, my local arthouse is showing all of Terry Malick's features this week-end. If you could only chose one (other than Tree of Life), which one would it be?

Mine is too, but on 35mm and on their smallest screen.

I'd go with The Thin Red Line.

[Spinal]

Not one Bird film.

List INVALID!

Yeah, that is kinda weird, isn't it?

Especially since they include other Pixar films that are far less worthy. But seriously, Iron Giant.

[Raiders]

Yeah, The Iron Giant is better than all those films except for WALL-E (haven't seen Kon's film). Also, rather suspect Disney choices. Little Mermaid and Lady and the Tramp, but no Sleeping Beauty?

It's a personal list from Corliss, not a consensus, so that's nice and likely why it has some idiosyncrasies.

[Spinal]

It's a personal list from Corliss, not a consensus, so that's nice and likely why it has some idiosyncrasies.
Good point. Didn't catch that.

[Pop Trash]

Yeah, The Iron Giant is better than all those films except for WALL-E (haven't seen Kon's film). Also, rather suspect Disney choices. Little Mermaid and Lady and the Tramp, but no Sleeping Beauty?


NO FANTASIA!!! WHAT DA SHIT??

[Pop Trash]

This, except The New World.

haha, yeah.

I will say I do think Malick's style changed in the years between Heaven and Red Line. His scope became wider, and the voice-overs more self-serious and diffused among various characters. Linda Manz's voice-over is so rich and often very funny.

[Raiders]

What the hell, guys? In all these years, nobody has bothered to say "Hey Raiders, Miami Blues is awesome. You should see it." Bastards.

[Derek]

What the hell, guys? In all these years, nobody has bothered to say "Hey Raiders, Miami Blues is awesome. You should see it." Bastards.

I'm pretty sure there were people over at Fugees that did and I know I've pimped Armitage a bit here (at least MB and Grosse Point Blank, which are both fantastic). But yes, it's a great film. I mean, how good is Alec Baldwin?

[Raiders]

I'm pretty sure there were people over at Fugees that did and I know I've pimped Armitage a bit here (at least MB and Grosse Point Blank, which are both fantastic). But yes, it's a great film. I mean, how good is Alec Baldwin?

All three main performances are awesome and all uniquely different. Leigh in particular sold her naivete so well I didn't even notice the proverbial hooker with a heart of gold cliche until afterward. I love the free-wheeling spirit, and for my own auteurist inclinations, it is intriguing that Demme is the film's producer (and Fujimoto the DP) given how much the tone and visual style mimic his 80s films, namely Something Wild. But, credit to Armitage who seems to have a flair for quirky killers. Shame he doesn't work anymore.

[Irish]

What the hell, guys? In all these years, nobody has bothered to say "Hey Raiders, Miami Blues is awesome. You should see it." Bastards.

I don't know what it is about that movie. I've never heard anyone talk about it anywhere but it's a great little gem.

[Winston*]

I know I've pimped Armitage a bit here (at least MB and Grosse Point Blank, which are both fantastic).

The Big Bounce really sucks though.

[Derek]

The Big Bounce really sucks though.

So I've heard. I'm in no rush to see it.

[Yxklyx]

Well, Zoolander was a lot of fun. Thanks Terrence!

[Spinal]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.

[Boner M]

Time has made me reconsider my Gremlins appreciation. I almost solely appreciate it now for letting that sequel exist.

[Spinal]

Time has made me reconsider my Gremlins appreciation. I almost solely appreciate it now for letting that sequel exist.

I'll probably watch it soon, as my son would like to see it. I've heard good things, so I'll give it a shot.

[Yxklyx]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.

One saving grace is that it made room for Gremlins 2 - one of those sequels that is much better than the original.

[Rowland]

I haven't seen it in far too long to go about mounting a defense, but I used to love Gremlins. *shrug*

[dmk]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.
Since you're the opposite of me, this gives me joy. :pritch:

I haven't seen it in years, but "mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept" excite me so much I'll watch it as soon as I get back from my trip. Thanks man.

[Scar]

I haven't seen it in far too long to go about mounting a defense, but I used to love Gremlins. *shrug*

I watched it a few nights ago, and still absolutely adore that movie. The sequel, too.

Its one of our Christmas movies, just like DieHard.

[Raiders]

It sure is mean-spirited (is that a criticism?) and I don't guess there's much "substance" (whatever that really means), but tonally inept? Hell no.

[Kurosawa Fan]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.

Wow. I borrowed this, as well as a stack of other "classics" from my childhood, to watch with my son. Haven't seen it in close to 20 years. I was excited to watch it again. Now I'm a bit nervous.

[Pop Trash]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.

I remember my dad hating it back in the 80s for these very reasons. If memory serves, I wanted to see the Gremlins when I was a kid in '84 but they took me to The Neverending Story instead, almost as a boycott of Gremlins. My parents were wise people sometimes.

[Spinal]

You guys ... Chris Columbus wrote the script. Don't be blinded by nostalgia.

[Pop Trash]

Speaking of 80s movies that haven't held up, I attempted to watch The Last Starfighter a few months ago, and lasted about 45 minutes before giving up. It's really cringe inducing, and I used to love that movie when I was six or so.

[Spinal]

Since you're the opposite of me, this gives me joy. :pritch:

I haven't seen it in years, but "mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept" excite me so much I'll watch it as soon as I get back from my trip. Thanks man.

Weird post. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were drunk.

[EyesWideOpen]

The Neverending Story is one of the rare films from my childhood that holds up.

[Raiders]

You guys ... Chris Columbus wrote the script. Don't be blinded by nostalgia.

It's no great shakes overall, but it isn't Columbus' contributions I respect. Unlike you, I think the film establishes a strong tone (it feels like many other 80s child/teen fantasies, but with a more macabre and mean undercurrent) and I enjoy it immensely.

That said, the second one is a good mile or two better. Completely different film.

[Rowland]

I hate looking through my viewing log and recognizing that many films I watched even as recently as a year or two ago have left almost no lasting impression on me, so that I can barely remember anything about them even if I responded positively at the time. Maybe I just need to exercise my memory somehow.

[Scar]

13 Assassins was all kinds of awesome.

[dreamdead]

Jarman's Caravaggio is intelligent, fluid, and always trusting in the spectator to make connections rather than bluntly asserting them, but Jarman is seemingly one of those filmmakers who make impeccable works that just don't inhabit any special space in my mind afterwards...

[Kiusagi]

Just saw a double feature of Twelve Monkeys and Children of Men. What an amazing combination.

[Boner M]

but Jarman is seemingly one of those filmmakers who make impeccable works that just don't inhabit any special space in my mind afterwards...
Blue inhabited a special space on my retinas long afterwards.

[B-side]

Iguana was silly, trashy and pretty swell. I really got settled into it after a while. It's a blatantly obvious allegory, but not much to its detriment. Some nice seaside photography helps.

[dmk]

Weird post. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were drunk.
Hmm, I actually was, but re-reading that post, I still find it rational, accurate and therapeutic.

Also, it’s a commonly accepted fact that Dante re-writes most of the screenplays he works on, so Chris Columbus has no business being cited outside IMDB. I’m back home now, so I’m about to put it on, but since I like Dante more now than I ever did, the future is looking very pleasant indeed.


Iguana was silly, trashy and pretty swell. I really got settled into it after a while. It's a blatantly obvious allegory, but not much to its detriment. Some nice seaside photography helps. I was iffy on that on first viewing, but it was ridiculously fucking amazing on the rewatch and I'm not sure why. The best films usually are though.

[B-side]

I was iffy on that on first viewing, but it was ridiculously fucking amazing on the rewatch and I'm not sure why. The best films usually are though.

Heh. True. How is Flight to Fury? Back Door to Hell has some nice Hellman flavor, but it doesn't congeal into a great whole. I'll probably finish off his filmography before Road to Nowhere hits DVD here in August.

[Irish]

Also, it’s a commonly accepted fact that Dante re-writes most of the screenplays he works on, so Chris Columbus has no business being cited outside IMDB.

Invoking Dante's name as a defense isn't much better. He spent most of his career vacillating between pure hackdom and being the puppet of Steven Spielberg.

[dmk]

Heh. True. How is Flight to Fury? Back Door to Hell has some nice Hellman flavor, but it doesn't congeal into a great whole. I'll probably finish off his filmography before Road to Nowhere hits DVD here in August.
I don't want to presume too much without rewatching his first two films, because I might regret it later, but Flight to Fury seemed to offer and present even less 'Hellman flavour' than Back Door to Hell, although both films are simplistically (no I mean simply) enjoyable in their own way while disappointing my expectations (which it damn well has all the right of doing, as I shouldn't have any expectations from art at all). I'll let you know when I see them again, which I want to do sometime this year.


Invoking Dante's name as a defense isn't much better. He spent most of his career vacillating between pure hackdom and being the puppet of Steven Spielberg. Yeah, but you have the most retarded opinions on the internet. Like the above, for example. You could have come to same conclusion by IMDB-ing "Joe Dante", spotting Spielberg's name as a producer credit and noticing a low IMDB score. You're wrong and you presume like a philistine.

[Irish]

You could have come to same conclusion by IMDB-ing "Joe Dante", spotting Spielberg's name as a producer credit and noticing a low IMDB score.

Don't know when I pissed in your cheerios, but next time try posting a coherent argument instead of just calling me names.

I didn't do anything like you describe and I'm guessing you probably know that. I've actually seen most of Dante's stuff outside his more esoteric TV credits.

First, RT is an absolutely useless metric. Aside from it's badly flawed methodology, any film before 2000 or so benefits enormously from 20/20 hindsight (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blade_runner/).

Second, Dante could have had a more interesting career if he'd kept doing stuff like Piranha or The Howling. He could have been a slightly more mainstream, family friendly John Carpenter or Russ Meyers.

But he's got two troubles: One is focus, because even in his "better" stuff like The Howling he can never quite decide whether he likes straight horror, creature features, or black comedy the most. This issue comes up again and again in his work, and you can see that lack of focus play out in movies like Gremlins, Small Soldiers, and Innerspace.

The second is that he decided to attach himself to Spielberg and ride that gravy train for awhile. This effectively killed his voice, because a guy like Spielberg is never going to indulge Dante's goofier impulses. Unfortunately, those impulses are the only thing that made him even vaguely interesting as a moviemaker. It's a shame he never buckled down and took one idea and carried it through an entire project. I think that could have been great fun and an interesting movie.

Instead, he ends up pumping out weak willed, milquetoast shite like Innerspace or a rabidly uninteresting segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie and doing a few TV projects nobody cares about.

Eventually he ends up being one of those guys who forces you to look him up in IMDb every time you hear his name (like Chris Columbus) because you can't quite remember why he's famous. And then once you do, reading his credits is an exercise in continually shrugging your shoulders.

[Raiders]

Jesus that post is so wrong I had to stop before my brain melted.

[Boner M]

Jesus that post is so wrong I had to stop before my brain melted.
I know, right. It's got opinions that most sane people don't share, a complete misreading of both the snarky presupposition & website example (IMDb) that dmk mentioned (twice!), the conflation of John Carpenter and Russ Meyer, and a misspelled name. A smorgasbord, really.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I absolutely love Small Soldiers. Not sure what that says about me. I think Irish just diagnosed me with ADD.

[D_Davis]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.

Thank you. I expressed this opinion on the old Match-Cut, I think, and got thoroughly lambast for it. Gremlins is absolutely dreadful.

[D_Davis]

13 Assassins was all kinds of awesome.

Heck yeah.


The Neverending Story is one of the rare films from my childhood that holds up.

It's a classic. Great book, and great movie. If only the sequel could have been as good as the second part of the book.

The Neverending Story and Return to Oz are two of the best movies ever made for children, and two films I continue to love and watch as an adult.

[Spinal]

It's a classic. Great book, and great movie. If only the sequel could have been as good as the second part of the book.


Yes, I know that the author wasn't pleased with the drastic difference between the book and the movie. But it was totally the right decision. The second part of the book is utterly fascinating, but probably more difficult to translate to film.

[Spinal]

Also, it’s a commonly accepted fact that Dante re-writes most of the screenplays he works on, so Chris Columbus has no business being cited outside IMDB.

It bears all the hallmarks of Chris Columbus schlock. A complete lack of logic, painful attempts at humor, an utter lack of character development and a bizarre misanthropic streak. I'm willing to buy that Dante made it somewhat better, but it's still warmed-over shit.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, I'll agree, a recent rewatch of Gremlins was not kind to my fuzzy nostalgic idea of it. It's not particularly suspenseful, funny, or really much of anything that's dated all that well. It has its moments (like the stair lift bit) that are pretty great, but overall, it's really strange to think that it's the movie that has the legacy it does.

Gremlins 2, on the other hand, is still where it's at. As baffling and hilarious a sequel as I can think of.

[Spinal]

Yeah, but you have the most retarded opinions on the internet.

I feel compelled to say that this is probably not making for a great atmosphere on the website.

[Pop Trash]

Most of the interesting underlying themes in The Howling came from John Sayles. I know this because I talked to John Sayles about this just a few weeks ago.

[Henry Gale]

Having rewatched it for the first time since theatres, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs has definitely jumped to a high place on a hypothetical list of the most underrated comedies of the last several years for me. The whole thing has so many great jokes packed into every corner of it (whether they're written in the background, quick hidden callbacks or just small gestures in the characters and the dialogue), most of which I had no recollection of from my first viewing. Plus the pace is incredible (with the climax setting off around the 45 minute mark, even though it feels like 70+ minutes of material had passed before it), it also has some amazingly funny voice work that it doesn't seem to get credit for, the animation is really impressive, and even just in the ways it uses so many of its early gags to come back and function as puzzle pieces to the plotting later on is kind of genius too. In pretty much all of those ways, it reminds me of an early Simpsons episode with how much it packs into itself while still finding time to build its characters, excitement and general comedy. It's just bigger, crazier and more expensive-looking and with less prolific characters at the centre of it.

I know the movie did well at the box office, but I feel like there's still a huge non-kid demographic that has yet to see it for the type of comedy it actually is that are bound to like it as much as me. I mean, a movie that's written and directed by the creators of Clone High, starring Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Andy Samberg and James Cann doesn't seem like a kid's movie in any other circumstance.

[Spun Lepton]

At 14, my expressions every time I watched Stripes. And I watched it A LOT.

:lol::D:):lol::cool:

My expressions as an adult.

:|:|:|:|:|

[dreamdead]

Blue inhabited a special space on my retinas long afterwards.

I found Blue thrilling on a formal level, but the home viewing of it was complicated. I found that while I was engaged, I would nonetheless check the DVD timer to see how much time went by. And that occurred frequently. I believe that a theatrical viewing would be a revelation, but find my reflections of Blue to be better than the experience itself was. And certainly that might be part of the point... lovely final monologues in the film, to be sure.

[Boner M]

I found Blue thrilling on a formal level, but the home viewing of it was complicated. I found that while I was engaged, I would nonetheless check the DVD timer to see how much time went by. And that occurred frequently. I believe that a theatrical viewing would be a revelation, but find my reflections of Blue to be better than the experience itself was. And certainly that might be part of the point... lovely final monologues in the film, to be sure.
I saw it at MoMA in NYC a few years ago, and it was a free screening. Midway into the film, a man walked in and sat near me. After five minutes of Jarman's stream-of-consciousness ranting and a throbbing Coil soundtrack, he turned to me and asked, "has it been like this the whole time?", to which I nodded, before he sat for roughly another minute in silence. Then he made a 'pfft' sound and left. I really wonder what he was thinking during that last minute.

[Rowland]

At 14, my expressions every time I watched Stripes. And I watched it A LOT.

:lol::D:):lol::cool:

My expressions as an adult.

:|:|:|:|:|Yep, I watched this recently, and barring some solid laughs in the first act, I found most of it a tedious, aesthetically and ideologically ugly bore.

[Rowland]

I know the movie did well at the box office, but I feel like there's still a huge non-kid demographic that has yet to see it for the type of comedy it actually is that are bound to like it as much as meI'm surprised it doesn't have more of a cult following yet as well, it is very funny.

[Qrazy]

Here's a thought: I have years and years to catch up with all this shit. Best get the meh out of the way first.

Shut the fuck up. You have the second most retarded opinions on the internet. It doesn't help that I'm drunk. What were we talking about again?

[dmk]

I didn't do anything like you describe and I'm guessing you probably know that. I've actually seen most of Dante's stuff outside his more esoteric TV credits. [...]
I don’t usually read your posts, because they hurt my brain, so I don’t know what your angle is (Art snob? Philistine? Contrarian? Vegetable?) and therefore I can’t cater to it, so to reply to this thing I’d have to either simplify or shoot broadly.

I don’t know what to say to you. There's so much about your post that is wrong, but I'm also not a gymnast nor do I care that much.

Whatever, so, to summarise your above post, your chief problem with his films is that they aren’t sufficiently mainstream, or ‘focused’. That’s a personal preference and I get that - you like your films to be clear, specific and classifiable and that’s fine. But if you think his broadness is not just to the detriment of his artistry but evidence of his hackdom, then you’re missing something. You suggest he sold-out to be Spielberg’s buddy, but even Gremlins plays like a film disgusted with Spielbergian Americana. Gremlins 2 is, by structure and by essence, one of the most unconventional Hollywood-produced films ever made and a distillation of everything from The Movie Orgy onwards. It doesn’t even have a narrative. Guys like Dante are deceptive, but your suggestions for his wellbeing commit flagrant injustices to his predecessors (Frank Tashlin, Chuck Jones).


It bears all the hallmarks of Chris Columbus schlock. A complete lack of logic, painful attempts at humor, an utter lack of character development and a bizarre misanthropic streak. I'm willing to buy that Dante made it somewhat better, but it's still warmed-over shit.
I didn’t know Chris Columbus conceived the ‘irrational comedy devoid of likeable characters’ method of screenwriting. Besides, how is lack of logic, humour and misanthropia incongruous to Dante’s satirical penchants? I never understood the ‘no character development’ objection about any film- there’s no way even the best films are going to satisfactorily develop fully formed characters in 90 minutes while servicing a plot with ideas. But in this case you’re completely disregarding Kate’s monologue, which is the total core of the film. That’s as much character development as you deserve, but it’s there for a political reason and not for helping you relate to the characters, which is a useless anticipation – go read a book if that’s what you want. The best stuff in Gremlins is the stuff outside the superficial and in the background, things that come straight from The Movie Orgy, like the ironic jabs at Capra and the consumerist nature of advertising and TV. Dante's films are best taken as essayic rants, anyway.

[Irish]

Whatever, so, to summarise your above post, your chief problem with his films is that they aren’t sufficiently mainstream, or ‘focused’.

No. That's a fundamental misunderstanding of my post. Nowhere did I conflate focus (ie, narrative, tonal, or thematic focus) to being a mainstream quality. I'd explain in more detail, but I don't want to risk hurting that precious brain of yours.


But if you think his broadness is not just to the detriment of his artistry but evidence of his hackdom, then you’re missing something.

He's a hack in both senses: He did work for hire and he output low quality material. On multiple occasions. Throughout his career.

If you believe Dante to be some kind of auteur, a Voltarian superman and not a hack, then you'll need to explain his name in the credits of the well-remembered, oft-quoted and deeply loved TV movie delights Runaway Daughters and The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy, among others.

Good luck with that.

[Boner M]

If you believe Dante to be some kind of auteur, a Voltarian superman and not a hack, then you'll need to explain his name in the credits of the well-remembered, oft-quoted and deeply loved TV movie delights Runaway Daughters and The Warlord: Battle for the Galaxy, among others.

Good luck with that.
Here's an explanation: he made a considerable amount of good-to-very-good films that displayed a consistent artistic identity and did some TV hackwork on the side.

Aaand goodnight.

[Dukefrukem]

I absolutely love Small Soldiers. Not sure what that says about me. I think Irish just diagnosed me with ADD.

It means you like good movies.

[Spinal]

But in this case you’re completely disregarding Kate’s monologue, which is the total core of the film.

Oh, no, I'm not. That's probably the film's worst moment. A left-field, cynical tale that, again, has no internal logic. A grown man dressed as Santa climbing down a chimney with a sack of presents? Think about that for half a second and you realize that it makes no goddamn sense. Just like the rest of the film. You're right. It does serve as the film's core. And that core is rotten.

[Spun Lepton]

Morbid curiosity drove me to watch Yahoo Serious's final film, Mr. Accident. It comes as no surprise that it was his career-killer. Inept, flat, and painfully unfunny. I considered turning it off numerous times, but I HAD to see if the random jumble of "comedic" ideas would somehow come together in the end. They did, but in the stupidest, unfunniest way possible.

It seems that Serious thinks, "silly man hits his head," and "silly man falls down" are SO HILARIOUS that they can carry multiple scenes. One inspired setpiece and one moment of true comedy stood out among the rest of the pain.

Avoid!!

1/10

[MadMan]

My son wanted to watch Gremlins, so the whole family watched it tonight. Jesus, that movie is horrrrrrrrrible. Utterly illogical, of course, but also mean-spirited, devoid of substance and tonally inept. I'm embarrased that my film rankings blog currently has this at three stars. Time to edit.:| :sad:

Gremlins>Spinal.


Unless you're talking about actually cocaine, why would you do that to yourself?Heh, I was referring to the Johnny Depp film. Depp is a good actor, and I hear its a good drug movie, but real life got in the way and the only movie I saw this weekend was Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Did too much drinking, I guess.

Goddamn folks, I go away from this site for a weekend, and I come back to find people thinking Gremlins 2 is better than Gremlins (it isn't, but I think its a rather funny spoof of the first film), and that Stripes isn't one of the best comedies of the 80s (it is). And actually I viewed both Gremlins and Gremlins 2merely a couple years back, and I watched Stripes in either 2009 or 2010, so my memories of all three are very fresh.

Oh and KF the first time I saw Small Soldiers, I was younger and didn't properly appreciate it for what it is: Dante's spoof of war movies and his commentary on American foreign policy using toys instead. After all, when hasn't America in the past invaded some foreign country and demonized the populance, arguing that we are fighting for our "freedom" and trying to "help them out" by napalming the shit out of their country? It isn't his best movie, though. I'd say The Howling is better. When it comes to Dante though, I'll admit I'm heavily biased.

[Watashi]

I just saw Highlander. Man, what a terrible, terrible movie.

How did this warrant cult status?

[Raiders]

I just saw Highlander. Man, what a terrible, terrible movie.

How did this warrant cult status?

It didn't. The TV show did though.

[MadMan]

I rather like Highlander. Its not great art, but its entertaining enough. Plus Christian Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown all together in a movie about immortal sword fighters. "THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!" :cool:

[Dead & Messed Up]

I never really thought about Gremlins on a deeper level. I just took it as an anti-Capra bit of good-natured nastiness, meant to be creepy but not too creepy, something for pre-teen boys to watch instead of those lame Disney movies about princesses. I assume that explains why the Gremlins engage in their mocking sing-along to Snow White.

Certainly Gremlins 2 is an improvement, much closer to the cartoon spirit Dante hinted at in the first film, much more light-hearted, and simultaneously more passionate, with its focus on impersonal corporatism. It's like Evil Dead II in the way it dismantles and rebuilds and improves its source material as pure manic comedy.

[Spinal]

I just saw Highlander. Man, what a terrible, terrible movie.

How did this warrant cult status?

The Queen music gives the film gravitas.

[Yxklyx]

The Queen music gives the film gravitas.

Yeah, Highlander was pretty bad overall (recently watched it for the first time thanks to New Cult Canon I think) - but the footage was good and the acting was fine for what it was. I think some better editing (with a lot hitting the floor) could have improved it a lot - it needed some tighter pacing, condensed storylines, etc... Oh, and I love early Queen - but not this.

[Rowland]

Highlander is great '80s camp. Taken straight, it's pretty lame, yeah.

[Winston*]

Thought Summer Hours had a bit of a tendency to belabour its point, particularly in a couple of the later scenes. Otherwise v. good though.

It's also a bit difficult for me to to empathise with whether or not this rich family gets to keep their expensive art.