Citizen Rules...Cinemaesque Chat-n-Review

[Citizen Rules]

I didn't see that one. I seen her in The Right Stuff and The Last Temptation of Christ...but I can't say I remember her.

[cricket]

I actually haven't seen either of those. I think she's best known for Beaches, which I didn't see either.

[Citizen Rules]

I never seen Beaches either, but it sounds like my kind of movie.

Both her and Dianne Wiest have a lot of scenes in Hanna and her Sisters, I think you'd like it... Have you seen many Woody Allen films that you've liked?

[cricket]

I've seen about 10, and that's about 10 more than I had seen about 2 years ago. My favorites are Love and Death, Annie Hall, and Manhattan. My least favorite is Bullets Over Broadway.

[cricket]

Actually, now that I think of it, my favorite is Interiors. That's more like a Bergman film than a typical Allen film.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen that yet, I want to catch all of Woody's films. So far I'm not a fan of Bergman, but maybe I'll see one of his films I like.

[cricket]

If you didn't like Smiles of a Summer Night, I think it might be tough sledding.

[Nope1172]

I really enjoy Repo Man and Quentin Tarantino, but I never really noticed the many similarities until you pointed them out.

[Citizen Rules]

I really enjoy Repo Man and Quentin Tarantino, but I never really noticed the many similarities until you pointed them out. They'd make a great double bill! Try watching Pulp Fiction first and then Repo Man.

[Citizen Rules]

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201309/27/23/a0265223_19385146.jpg

The Invisible Boy (1957)

Director: Herman Hoffman
Cast: Richard Eyer, Philip Abbott, Diane Brewster,Robby the Robot
Genre: Sci Fi Adventure

Never take a 1950's sci fi movie poster at face value!...None of that stuff actually happened! Though it looks cool! The robot was the boys friend, well for the most part anyway...and there was no missiles or army attacks. But there's a lot of neat stuff happening in this obscure 50s sci fi film.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pB9-DEZmWUc/UJiJH8y7rtI/AAAAAAAAGNg/NVbXZ-lETbk/s1600/rtuk_obscura_1401.jpg


http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/spotlights/2008/rtuk_obscura_1404.jpg

Timmie (Richard Eyer) a naughty boy genius, first assembles Robby the Robot which is left over from his scientist dad's project. Latter Timmie takes a formula that makes him invisible. That's the fun part of the film, but latter the film grows darker .


This is one weird film! First off MGM wanted to reuse Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, so they came up with a kids story...only someone had a very weird sense of humor, because they made a rather dark movie out of the story. I'm sure it scared the heck out of the kids!

Foreshadowing both Colossus: The Forbin Project and Terminator, The Invisible Boy has an evil super computer that attains self awareness and uses it's console lights to hypnotize humans, then it implants micro chips into their brains and controls them. The super computer seeks to have itself launched into space where it can control the planet. Most disturbing is the super computers threat to torture and kill the boy unless it's plans for world conquest is meet by his frightened parents, who have to choose between enslaving the world to an artificial intelligence or letting their son die a grisly death.

Pretty serious stuff for kids and yet most of the film seems to have been made for a youth market.

I'm giving this rating_3_5 for strangeness.

[Captain Steel]

Thanks Rules!
Regarding the poster - there is a similar scene where Robby is approaching the rocket and the army fires on him. They call out the heavy artillery when they realize he can't be stopped by handguns (of course Timmy is not in that scene as he is safe aboard the rocket). It turns into a bizarre scene with no given explanation as soldiers with flame throwers apparently destroy Robby, only to find he now appears behind their line at the base of the rocket. Only explanation I could figure was that he burrowed underground when he was blasted by flame (although no indication was given, nor was there ever any clue hinted at that Robby had the ability to burrow through yards of earth in seconds).

Glad you mentioned other movies - this one definitely foreshadowed some others. I caught the Terminator vibe right away with the computer and a verbal description of "skynet" (and some plot elements point to Terminator 2: a robot befriending & protecting a boy that, a one point, he was programmed to kill).

And it is strange that the movie starts out like a childhood fantasy aimed at kids, but turns into a much darker & more serious sci-fi story.

P.S. the voice of the young actor who played Timmy was so familiar, upon looking him up it was because he'd played the genie in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958).

Also - this is weird but TCM's description was WAY off again - they said the movie was about a boy who's robot is taken over by aliens. I kept waiting for aliens to be revealed!

[Citizen Rules]

Sorry for the late reply Captain, I often have to post and then leave for a while, but I'm back now:p
Regarding the poster - there is a similar scene where Robby is approaching the rocket and the army fires on him. They call out the heavy artillery when they realize he can't be stopped by handguns (of course Timmy is not in that scene as he is safe aboard the rocket). It turns into a bizarre scene with no given explanation as soldiers with flame throwers apparently destroy Robby, only to find he now appears behind their line at the base of the rocket. Only explanation I could figure was that he burrowed underground when he was blasted by flame (although no indication was given, nor was there ever any clue hinted at that Robby had the ability to burrow through yards of earth in seconds). Wow, I have no memory of that. It's been a while since I seen it.

Glad you mentioned other movies - this one definitely foreshadowed some others. I caught the Terminator vibe right away with the computer and a verbal description of "skynet" (and some plot elements point to Terminator 2: a robot befriending & protecting a boy that, a one point, he was programmed to kill).Wasn't it you who years ago told me about Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)? Seems like you told me about it, I have yet to see it, but it's on my watch list.


P.S. the voice of the young actor who played Timmy was so familiar, upon looking him up it was because he'd played the genie in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958). Ahh, I did not know that...that's another great fantasy film.

Also - this is weird but TCM's description was WAY off again - they said the movie was about a boy who's robot is taken over by aliens. I kept waiting for aliens to be revealed!Ha! Damn that TCM;)

[Captain Steel]

Hey Rules, I don't think it was me that recommended Colossus: The Forbin Project as I don't think I've ever seen it!

Also, I got the strange impression from the beginning of The Invisible Boy (and from the very last scene) that maybe this was a pitch for a TV sit-com - it had a kind of Leave It To Beaver or Dennis the Menace feel to it, but with a Robot friend added!

[Captain Steel]

Also, just found this...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050546/board/nest/78812849

If true it could change everything we think about reality... or movies... or just sci-fi movies.

[Gideon58]

Actually, now that I think of it, my favorite is Interiors. That's more like a Bergman film than a typical Allen film.

Interiors was brilliant...not an easy watch, but brilliant.

[Gideon58]

I never seen Beaches either, but it sounds like my kind of movie.

Both her and Dianne Wiest have a lot of scenes in Hanna and her Sisters, I think you'd like it... Have you seen many Woody Allen films that you've liked?

Citizen, I think you would really like Beaches.

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28492&stc=1&d=1484533119
Hannah and Her Sisters(Woody Allen, 1986)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Cast: Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Michael Caine, Barbara Hershey, Carrie Fisher, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Max von Sydow, Julie Kavner, Woody Allen
Genre: Comedy, Drama


Loved your review of my favorite Woody Allen movie, Citizen...agree with just about everything you've said and I loved that quote from Farrow...never read that before...very interesting, thanks for sharing that.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Rules, I don't think it was me that recommended Colossus: The Forbin Project as I don't think I've ever seen it!

:eek:, Ahck! My poor memory! I know someone told me about Colossus: The Forbin Project, it might have been a kid in high school. I just remember that who ever seen it, really, really liked it. I've never seen it myself so don't know how cool it is...or isn't.


Also, I got the strange impression from the beginning of The Invisible Boy (and from the very last scene) that maybe this was a pitch for a TV sit-com - it had a kind of Leave It To Beaver or Dennis the Menace feel to it, but with a Robot friend added! I could see that, it was different than any other sci if movie I've seen.

Also, just found this...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050546/board/nest/78812849

If true it could change everything we think about reality... or movies... or just sci-fi movies. Wow! Thanks for posting that, I guess someone wanted to pay homage to Forbidden Planet.

[Citizen Rules]

Loved your review of my favorite Woody Allen movie, Citizen...agree with just about everything you've said and I loved that quote from Farrow...never read that before...very interesting, thanks for sharing that. Thanks Gideon:p Believe it or not I had never seen Hannah and Her Sisters until the other night. There will be more Woody Allen movie reviews coming, just as soon as I can find the time to watch them.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28522&stc=1&d=1484798871

The Burbs (1989)



Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Dana Olsen
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller

I had never seen this one before, even though it's well known. It sort of reminded me of the 1981 movie Neighbors with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The Burbs stars another comedy legend, Tom Hanks. These days we think of Tom Hanks as playing serious roles in pretentious movies, but here he's young, he's stressed out and married to Carrie Fisher. Hanks is real good at the straight laced, over worked, married man living in the suburbs, or the 'burbs as I like to call them. Hanks was a hot commodity in the late 80s, by the time he made this movie he had a number of successful comedies under his belt including Big (1988) and Splash (1984). Hanks is in top form here and the supporting cast and the crazy 80s antics really suit him.

https://table9mutant.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/img_0527.jpg

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28521&stc=1&d=1484798818


I watched this for Carrie Fisher. She doesn't have a big role and is Tom's sensible wife. She was really good in that role too and it was nice to see her.

The other stand out in the cast is Bruce Dern, who knew he could do comedy so well! He plays this whacked out para-military guy who believes there's conspiracies everywhere. I could have done without Corey Feldman. He was OK in small does, even funny. I don't know why they gave him so much air time as clearly the other actors was where the movie was at.
The weirdest thing was the crazy neighbor played by Rick Ducommun. He was funny but I kept thinking his lines sounded like they were written for John Candy. Now if Candy had been in this film, it would be golden! Still I liked it, it's fun! it's wacky! it's funny! What more could you want?

rating_3_5


.

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28522&stc=1&d=1484798871

The Burbs (1989)



Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Dana Olsen
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller



OMG, I just watched this for Carrie Fisher too...it's scary how sympatico we are sometimes, Citizen.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28531&stc=1&d=1484882157
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Director: Lorene Scafaria
Writer: Lorene Scafaria
Cast: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley
Genre: Adventure, Comedy-Drama

About: An asteroid is only three weeks away from slamming into Earth and killing everyone! A quiet, mild mannered man named Dodge (Steve Carell), finds himself alone after his wife runs away, never to be seen again. Alone in the world he meets Penny (Keira Knightley) a much younger and eccentric woman, who wants to spend time with her family before the end comes.

Review: Yes! I really liked this film! At first it starts out sort of ecliptic with all sorts of weird behaviors going on by those trying to deal with the end of the world which I thought was funny in a clever, quirky way...like the CNN style newsman who talks about the end with an upbeat voice...behind him is a countdown to doomsday clock. The movie is filled with all sorts of interesting tidbits of human nature based on the hypothetical idea that people let all inhibitions go, without any fear of consequences. Such as:

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28532&stc=1&d=1484882165
His best friends wife who wants to have sex with Dodge, just because she can and what the hell the world's ending soon anyway. Not that she's really even interested in him.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28535&stc=1&d=1484882190
Or the lady at the party who explains she wore all of her jewelry that she never got to wear before, because it's her last chance to so.


As the movie progress we meet even stranger people in even stranger places. The world is ending and people want to party....Latter in the film as the asteroid approaches (hint we never see the asteroid), the film takes on a more somber tone, becoming quite serious, which made me think about a lot of things. I love films that make me feel and think...and this one did!

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28534&stc=1&d=1484882183

Steve Carell really made this film unique and accessible too as he's a regular guy dealing with some heady stuff. The way he quietly deals with all the madness around him works well.

I'm not a big fan of Keira Knightley but she fit into her role well, as her and Steve are meant to be a strange pair. Indeed they are.


rating_4



.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28558&stc=1&d=1485194166

Childstar (2004)


Director/Writer: Don McKellar
Cast: Don McKellar, Peter Paige, Gil Bellows, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Genre: Drama Dark Comedy
Length: 98 minutes

A little known Canadian indie film that takes a bitingly, truthful look at the out of control life of a 12 year old TV star/celebrity. Taylor Brandon Burns is a messed up, arrogant, bratty and ultra rich TV star who goes off to Canada to shoot a big budget film. But before shooting can even start he promptly disappears from the set and spends the night with a older model/actresses who's been paid to show him a 'good time'. His reluctant limo-driver, is a would be director and former cinema professor who ends up being responsible for him during the movie shoot.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28559&stc=1&d=1485194173


His mom is a loose, lush who spends her days in over self indulgence, sponging off her rich son, while ignoring him...brilliantly played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.

This film is either brilliant! or it's not, I'm unsure. It really hooked me at first with it's story of the darker, yet funnier side of movie making, but it went off in an abstract towards the end. Those who like unconventional films, should love it!

rating_3_5

[cricket]

What made you watch Seeking a Friend for the End of the World? It's one of those random movies that I love, and I cannot watch it without breaking down at the end. I was also not a Knightley fan until this movie.

[Citizen Rules]

What made you watch Seeking a Friend for the End of the World? It's one of those random movies that I love, and I cannot watch it without breaking down at the end. I was also not a Knightley fan until this movie. What made me watch it? I've been watching a slew of sci fis for the upcoming countdown...and I had read about that movie and it sounded right up my alley...and it was!
That's one of the types of movies I love. Great ending too, real powerful.

It's one of those random movies that I love Why random?

[cricket]

Random because it's not especially well known, highly rated, or my type. I didn't think of it for The as I-Fi countdown. You don't think that's pushing it a little?

[Citizen Rules]

Agreed, it's not sci-fi (even though IMDB has it tagged that way)...It won't be on my list, even though I liked it a lot.

[cricket]

Ok I'll leave it off too. Any trouble I've been having with that list involves what is Sci-Fi in my eyes.

[Citizen Rules]

Ok I'll leave it off too. Any trouble I've been having with that list involves what is Sci-Fi in my eyes. Oh heck:p I would love to see it make the countdown, but I doubt it would. Like you said an under seen movie for sure. My problem in making my own list is I really love sci fi and I had a good 100 possible movies that I have to cut down to only 25, damn hard for me to do:(

[Gideon58]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/childstar/w856/childstar.jpg
Childstar (2004)




This sounds like fun...adding it to my watchlist...Jennifer Jason Leigh is always worth watching.

[Citizen Rules]

I though about you, when I wrote that review. I do think you would enjoy this one, it's grossly under seen and a little different. Think about all the obnoxious, messed up child actors there have even been and you get an idea of what the movie is like. And, a very plumb role for Jennifer Jason Leigh:)

[Gideon58]

I though about you, when I wrote that review. I do think you would enjoy this one, it's grossly under seen and a little different. Think about all the obnoxious, messed up child actors there have even been and you get an idea of what the movie is like. And, a very plumb role for Jennifer Jason Leigh:)


I was reading the synopsis and it reminded me of a movie that was on my favorite show biz movies list...Life with Mikey with Michael J. Fox.

[Roy C.]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28522&stc=1&d=1484798871

The Burbs (1989)



Director: Joe Dante
Writer: Dana Olsen
Cast: Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller

I had never seen this one before, even though it's well known. It sort of reminded me of the 1981 movie Neighbors with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The Burbs stars another comedy legend, Tom Hanks. These days we think of Tom Hanks as playing serious roles in pretentious movies, but here he's young, he's stressed out and married to Carrie Fisher. Hanks is real good at the straight laced, over worked, married man living in the suburbs, or the 'burbs as I like to call them. Hanks was a hot commodity in the late 80s, by the time he made this movie he had a number of successful comedies under his belt including Big (1988) and Splash (1984). Hanks is in top form here and the supporting cast and the crazy 80s antics really suit him.

https://table9mutant.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/img_0527.jpg

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28521&stc=1&d=1484798818


I watched this for Carrie Fisher. She doesn't have a big role and is Tom's sensible wife. She was really good in that role too and it was nice to see her.

The other stand out in the cast is Bruce Dern, who knew he could do comedy so well! He plays this whacked out para-military guy who believes there's conspiracies everywhere. I could have done without Corey Feldman. He was OK in small does, even funny. I don't know why they gave him so much air time as clearly the other actors was where the movie was at.
The weirdest thing was the crazy neighbor played by Rick Ducommun. He was funny but I kept thinking his lines sounded like they were written for John Candy. Now if Candy had been in this film, it would be golden! Still I liked it, it's fun! it's wacky! it's funny! What more could you want?

rating_3_5
.


If I didn't like Big, would you say I would like this film?

[Gideon58]

If I didn't like Big, would you say I would like this film?

Just making sure I read this correctly...why don't you like Big?

[Roy C.]

Just making sure I read this correctly...why don't you like Big?

Well, it's not that I didn't like it per se, but I thought it was way overhyped. Someone told me about how funny it was and at the time was appalled I never heard of it. So I watched it and it was a letdown judging by the way that person described it. I thought it was funny in some parts, but there's only so much of Tom Hanks' comedy I can take. Not my kind of humor. Basically, it's not something I would re-watch multiple times.

[Citizen Rules]

If I didn't like Big, would you say I would like this film? The Burbs is nothing like Big. The Burbs is more darker, more edgier, it's a dark comedy. Several members here really like The Burbs. I thought it was pretty cool.

[Roy C.]

The Burbs is nothing like Big. The Burbs is more darker, more edgier, it's a dark comedy. Several members here really like The Burbs. I thought it was pretty cool.

I just watched the trailer. It does look pretty funny...maybe I'll like it better than Big.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28546&stc=1&d=1485054854

Screamers (1995)

Director: Christian Duguay
Writers: Philip K. Dick (short story), Dan O'Bannon(screenplay)
Cast: Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis, Jennifer Rubin
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

About: A distant mining planet, Sirius 6B in the year 2078 that has been destroyed by a long civil war. The war is fought between an Alliance of miners and scientist who live there, and the Earth mining corporation NEB who has polluted the planet with toxic radiation.

In a last ditch effort to save themselves, the Alliance creates Autonomous Mobile Swords (AMS) which are A.I. self-replicating machines that burrow under ground and kill NEB soldiers. They're nicknamed screamers, for the sound they make.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28544&stc=1&d=1485054685


Review: Get your beer and pizza ready, kick back and and have a good time watching 1995's Screamers.

There's nothing to deep about the story, even though it's based on a short story by Philip K. Dick. Peter Weller makes for an interesting commander...and there's the usual number of grunts...which ones will get sliced to bits by the screamers? That's half the fun.

The cool thing about this movie is that they filmed it in Canada and the planet looks cold with distant cliffs and snow on the ground. The best thing is the huge, cavernous bunkers that the humans hide out in. It looks impressive because it's not a Hollywood set. The movie was partial shot deep in the bowls of the Montreal Olympic Stadium.

Don't expect anything fresh, just kick back and enjoy the carnage.

rating_2_5+

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28543&stc=1&d=1485054678

[cricket]

I can't believe all the Sci-Fi you've dug up.

[Citizen Rules]

That's thanks to MoFo:p I went through all the sci fi threads and copied the titles of the movies. There's a lot! Most I hadn't even seen. I still have more sci fi to watch too. Though I haven't really found anything that will make my list yet, but I've had a fun time doing it!

[Captain Steel]

Weird... I've heard of Screamers, but never saw it or knew what it was about (I just assumed it was horror). I'm a little shocked because I usually think I'm aware of all sci-fi movies and I thought I'd seen almost every movie Peter Weller has been in (after Robocop), but I wasn't aware this was a sci-fi or that Weller was in it!

[Citizen Rules]

It wasn't really horror, per say. The extent of the horror is more along the lines of fun shots like the disembodied arm in the photo I used.

Speaking of Peter Weller, I think he's interesting on screen, but he doesn't seem to have made that many highly rated movies. What films have you seen him in that you can recommend?

I've seen him in:
RoboCop
Bucaroo Banzai
Naked Lunch
Screamers
Star Trek: Enterprise

[cricket]

I liked Shakedown back when it was out.

[Captain Steel]

It wasn't really horror, per say. The extent of the horror is more along the lines of fun shots like the disembodied arm in the photo I used.

Speaking of Peter Weller, I think he's interesting on screen, but he doesn't seem to have made that many highly rated movies. What films have you seen him in that you can recommend?

I've seen him in:
RoboCop
Bucaroo Banzai
Naked Lunch
Screamers
Star Trek: Enterprise

He was in an underwater adventure called Leviathan (1989) - I think I saw it but don't remember if it was any good. He also appeared in Mighty Aphrodite (1995) which was a good film (I don't recall if Weller's part was major or not).

His career took a nose dive - most assume it was due to typecasting as Robocop. He seems to only have appeared sporadically in movies and on TV since his run as Robo.

[Citizen Rules]

Leviathan, I forgot to say that I'd seen that one. I think I'll check that out again it's one of those fun sci fi horror flicks.

Mighty Aphrodite, that's a Woody Allen film, I've been trying to watch his filmography. I will see that one sometime.


Thanks Capt and Cricket for the recommendations:)

[Captain Steel]

Leviathan, I forgot to say that I'd seen that one. I think I'll check that out again it's one of those fun sci fi horror flicks.

Mighty Aphrodite, that's a Woody Allen film, I've been trying to watch his filmography. I will see that one sometime.


Thanks Capt and Cricket for the recommendations:)

I don't think I've seen either of those since they came out, but I remember enjoying Mighty Aphrodite - it stars Paul Sorvino's daughter (who was pretty cute back then)! ;)

I have to admit I'm one of the people who typecast Weller as Robocop because, for me, there was no other Robocop. I hated the third movie (because they put someone else in the costume - not to mention that, in addition, it was just an awful movie) and I could never watch the TV series because it was not Weller in the suit. He was also the definitive voice of Robocop - no one else even came close. :) (Haven't seen the remake.)

[Citizen Rules]

I've only seen the first Robocop, and that's because someone said I should watch it;)

Naked Lunch, check that out! It's pretty bizarre and I'll be honest, some of the stuff crept me out, but it's a good showcase for Weller...David Cronenberg directed it.

[Captain Steel]

I saw Naked Lunch in the theater when it came out - didn't like it.
I started watching it again recently on a movie channel, but got about half way through before I had to leave. I may rewatch it again - I find I'm now appreciating a lot of movies I didn't care for when I first saw them (especially the weird ones).

[Chypmunk]

Yay, I've seen Screamers. That's all, nothing more - just thought it would be nice to note I'd actually seen one of your recent watches :)

[cricket]

You might enjoy Shakedown, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it to you. Maybe if you also like Sam Elliott and 80's action films that shouldn't be taken too seriously.

[Movie Max]

From what I remember, I didn't care for Naked Lunch. Other than that, I've only seen Weller as Robocop. More recently, I really enjoyed his presence in Longmire.

[Citizen Rules]

Yay, I've seen Screamers. That's all, nothing more - just thought it would be nice to note I'd actually seen one of your recent watches :) :), I bet you've seen the next movie that I will review. I bet most everyone has.

From what I remember, I didn't care for Naked Lunch. Other than that, I've only seen Weller as Robocop. More recently, I really enjoyed his presence in Longmire. I just read my old review of Naked Lunch and it looks like I didn't care for it much, though I did like Peter Weller in it. Naked Lunch review (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1208877#post1208877)

[Movie Max]

I just read my old review of Naked Lunch and it looks like I didn't care for it much, though I did like Peter Weller in it. Naked Lunch review (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1208877#post1208877)

I've already repped it in agreement, at some point.

[Chypmunk]

:), I bet you've seen the next movie that I will review. I bet most everyone has.
Is it Debbie Does Dallas? :goof:

[Citizen Rules]

:D:nope:

[Roy C.]

Is it Debbie Does Dallas? :goof:

Maybe I'll give that one a shot ;)

[Gideon58]

I don't think I've seen either of those since they came out, but I remember enjoying Mighty Aphrodite - it stars Paul Sorvino's daughter (who was pretty cute back then)! ;)

I have to admit I'm one of the people who typecast Weller as Robocop because, for me, there was no other Robocop. I hated the third movie (because they put someone else in the costume - not to mention that, in addition, it was just an awful movie) and I could never watch the TV series because it was not Weller in the suit. He was also the definitive voice of Robocop - no one else even came close. :) (Haven't seen the remake.)

Whenever you see Mighty Aphrodite, Citizen, I hope you review it, would love to know if you liked it, I think it's first rate Woody.

[Gideon58]

He was in an underwater adventure called Leviathan (1989) - I think I saw it but don't remember if it was any good. He also appeared in Mighty Aphrodite (1995) which was a good film (I don't recall if Weller's part was major or not).

His career took a nose dive - most assume it was due to typecasting as Robocop. He seems to only have appeared sporadically in movies and on TV since his run as Robo.

Weller is only in a couple of scenes in Mighty Aphrodite.

[Citizen Rules]

Whenever you see Mighty Aphrodite, Citizen, I hope you review it, would love to know if you liked it, I think it's first rate Woody. Oh I well alright:p:)...I try to review every movie I watch. Probably won't be seeing Mighty Aphrodite for awhile, as my movie watching plate is pretty full right now.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28551&stc=1&d=1485141838
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Gary K. Wolf(novel), Jeffrey Price(screenplay)
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy
Genre: Animation-Live Action, Adventure, Comedy

About: A down and out, toon-hating, boozen detective, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is Roger Rabbit's (voice by Charles Fleischer) only hope of beating a framed-up murder rap. The suspects include Roger Rabbit's voluminous & voluptuous wife, Jessica Rabbit (voice by Kathleen Turner). Into the mix comes the mysterious and dangerous Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) who takes a twisted pleasure in dipping toons in a deadly toxic solution.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28553&stc=1&d=1485141851


Review: Who Framed Roger Rabbit is the most innovative animated movie ever made. In 1988 it was the most expensive movie ever made...and one of the longest to make too. It took 7months for principal photography(filming of live actors), another month of blue screen work...and an excruciating 14 months in post production to do the complicated animation work.

Unlike previous attempt at live action intermixed with animation, this movie went to great lengths to teach the live actors how to do pantomime so that when a human picks up a toon, it looks like he's lifting weight and not just air.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28555&stc=1&d=1485141866


Many of the live props in the hands of the toons were shot with robotic controlled arms, then latter the animation was layered over top of it. A prime example of that is Baby Herman and his real cigar. Which moves realistically as it's a real prop shot on film and being controlled remotely.

To make it so the humans had eye contact with the toons an initial blocking scene was filmed with rubber dolls standing for the toons. Then the eye path could be checked and corrected so that humans and toons look like they're really interacting. And it works! It's easy to believe what you're seeing is true.

Bob Hoskins was the perfect choice for detective Eddie Valant, he looked the part and his annoyance at the outrageous Roger Rabbit made the movie all the more humorous.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28554&stc=1&d=1485141858

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28552&stc=1&d=1485141844


A big shout out, to Joanna Cassidy and Christopher Lloyd, both who helped make the movie a truly fine stand out film.

I enjoyed the nod to Film Noir, circa 1947 where Hollywood meets Disney and Looney Tunes. It's totally cool to a film buff to see Jessica Rabbit patterned in the style of Rita Hayworth (Mrs. Orson) and sporting a Veronica Lake peek-a-boo hairdo. Even more fun was seeing all the old cartoon characters from Disney and Warner Bros together on the big screen for the one and only time. And just as important is the animation is drawn in the original style of the 1940s...and voiced by many of the original vocal artist, including legendary Mel Blanc.

I really enjoyed this, it was well done, entertaining, fun, with great sets and lots of neat movie related stuff in the background.

rating_4+

[Roy C.]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28551&stc=1&d=1485141838
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Gary K. Wolf(novel), Jeffrey Price(screenplay)
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy
Genre: Animation-Live Action, Adventure, Comedy

About: A down and out, toon-hating, boozen detective, Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is Roger Rabbit's (voice by Charles Fleischer) only hope of beating a framed-up murder rap. The suspects include Roger Rabbit's voluminous & voluptuous wife, Jessica Rabbit (voice by Kathleen Turner). Into the mix comes the mysterious and dangerous Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) who takes a twisted pleasure in dipping toons in a deadly toxic solution.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28553&stc=1&d=1485141851


Review: Who Framed Roger Rabbit is the most innovative animated movie ever made. At the time it was made, 1988 it was the most expensive movie ever made...and one of the longest to make...taking 7months for principal photography(filming of live actors), another month of blue screen work, and an excruciating 14 months in post production to do the complicated animation work.

Unlike previous attempt at live action intermixed with animation, this movie went to great lengths to teach the live actors how to do pantomime so that when a human picks up a toon, it looks like he's lifting weight and not just air.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28555&stc=1&d=1485141866


Many of the live props in the hands of the toons were shot with robotic controlled arms, then latter the animation was layered over top of it. A prime example of that is Baby Herman and his real cigar.

To make it so that the humans had eye contact with the toons, an initial blocking scene was filmed with rubber dolls for the toons. Then they eye path could be checked and corrected so that humans and toons look like they are really interacting. And it works! It's easy to believe what you're seeing is true.

Bob Hoskins was the perfect choice for detective Eddie Valant, he looked the part and his annoyance at the outrageous Roger Rabbit made the movie all the more humorous.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28554&stc=1&d=1485141858

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28552&stc=1&d=1485141844


A big shout out, to Joanna Cassidy and Christopher Lloyd, both who helped make the movie a truly fine film.

I enjoyed the Film Noir, circa 1947 Hollywood meets Disney and Looney Tunes. it's totally cool to a film buff to see Jessica Rabbit patterned in the style of Rita Hayworth (Mrs. Orson) and sporting a Veronica Lake peek-a-boo hair do. Even more fun was seeing all the old cartoon characters from Disney and Warner Bros. together on the big screen. And just as important drawn in the original style of the 1940s...and voiced by many of the original vocal artist including legendary Mel Blanc.

I really enjoyed this, it was well done, entertaining, fun, with great sets and lots of neat movie related stuff in the background.

rating_4+

You know, I bought that movie on VHS years ago and never watched it. It's still in a box of my old stuff.

[cricket]

I haven't seen that in years. I remember liking it but not much else. Bob Hoskins was a great actor.

[Citizen Rules]

Now that you're a film buff you should check it out again. It was amazing all the references I spotted to older movies, like the Maltese falcon statue in the office of the detective. I'm sure I missed way more than I seen.

[Captain Steel]

Oh my! Now there's a favorite.
Yes, mixing live action with animation was old hat, but had never been done in such a way or on such a scale before.

I think most people don't realize all the "nods" and references in Roger Rabbit to other things (such as other films & movie genres as you pointed out as well as real film & animation history, and various media).

This was kind of a fantasy fulfilled for me because when I was little I would imagine that all the cartoon characters were real (they had real lives like real movie stars) they intermingled (despite who owned the rights to them), and all lived in a place kind of like Hollywood! I've met some people who feel the film is low-brow, kiddie entertainment, but to me, it's an artistic masterpiece.

My favorite line: when Roger & Eddie are handcuffed together and Eddie is desperately trying to cut through the handcuffs - Roger effortlessly slips out of them to help Eddie hold them down while he saws. Eddie stops and says, "You mean to tell me you could've gotten out of those at any time?" Roger replies, "No, not at ANY time... only when it was funny!"

[Citizen Rules]

You know, I bought that movie on VHS years ago and never watched it. It's still in a box of my old stuff. I heard the VHS tape has a quick 2 frame scene where Jessica's dress blows up, and you can see she has no underwear on:p...I swear that's true:cool:

[Citizen Rules]

Oh my! Now there's a favorite.
Yes, mixing live action with animation was old hat, but had never been done in such a way or on such a scale before. That's so true...and I wouldn't have known that, but I watched the DVD extras and they interviewed the director, animators and actors and talked in great length on how they made the movie, very impresive.

Now, I need to see it again! so I can appreciate all the work that went into it.

I think most people don't realize all the "nods" and references in Roger Rabbit to other things (such as other films & movie genres as you pointed out as well as real film & animation history, and various media).I want to rewatch it just for that reason, maybe with the commentary track, that would be fun.

This was kind of a fantasy fulfilled for me because when I was little I would imagine that all the cartoon characters were real (they had real lives like real movie stars) they intermingled (despite who owned the rights to them), and all lived in a place kind of like Hollywood! I've met some people who feel the film is low-brow, kiddie entertainment, but to me, it's an artistic masterpiece.You were an imaginative child! One of the animators said something about the animation mind, that reminded me of you when I watched it (I know you've done animation drawings in the past).

My favorite line: when Roger & Eddie are handcuffed together and Eddie is desperately trying to cut through the handcuffs - Roger effortlessly slips out of them to help Eddie hold them down while he saws. Eddie stops and says, "You mean to tell me you could've gotten out of those at any time?" Roger replies, "No, not at ANY time... only when it was funny!":up: Loved that line.

[Roy C.]

I heard the VHS tape has a quick 2 frame scene where Jessica's dress blows up, and you can see she has no underwear on:p...I swear that's true:cool:

I hope that's true ;)

[gbgoodies]

Nothing else to say here, if you want to see a good though provoking sci fi by Mike Cahill, watch his Another Earth.


Another Earth was a pretty good movie, but until the last few minutes of the movie, the sci-fi storyline about the second planet seemed completely irrelevant to the movie.

[Chypmunk]

You were right - I have seen that one too. Can't honestly say I remember too much of it outside of remembering it as being quite fun and thinking Freud would probably have had a field day with much of the male audience :D

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28551&stc=1&d=1485141838
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

[FONT=Arial Narrow]Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Gary K. Wolf(novel), Jeffrey Price(screenplay)
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy
Genre: Animation-Live Action, Adventure, Comedy


Can't believe you're just now seeing this for the first time...this movie is awesome...I think Robert Zemeckis was robbed of a directing nomination...gave it the same rating you did.

[Camo]

Great Roger Rabbit review :up:. I'm never quite sure what i think of it; as a kid i didn't like it much, in my early teens i liked it alot then in my late teens i thought it was pretty good but didn't like it as much. The most recent time i watched it i liked it more than usual but that was at least partially because it was the only movie commentary i did on this site; there was about eight of us and we kept straying into random topics, it was pretty funny. So yeah i at least enjoy it but i'm not sure how much.

[Citizen Rules]

Can't believe you're just now seeing this for the first time...this movie is awesome...I think Robert Zemeckis was robbed of a directing nomination...gave it the same rating you did.There's a ton of well known, popular movies that I've never seen. But I had seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit before...but like a million years ago. I didn't remember a thing about it, so in a way it was like a first watch. I'll have to see it again sometime. Yup Zemeckis deserved an Oscar for his effort.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28608&stc=1&d=1485315797
Equals (2015)

Director: Drake Doremus
Writers: Drake Doremus(story), Nathan Parker(screenplay)
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Vernetta Lopez
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
PG-13 1h 41min

About: Sometime in Earth's distant future, emotions have been eliminated and all people live and work as equals. As a result love, relationships and sex are banned. But not everything goes according to plan. There's an epidemic of Switched On Syndrome (S.O.S)...which causes the person to experience uncontrolled emotions. Suffers can be treated but there's no cure, Ultimately they are euthanized when they reach stage 4 of the 'disease'.

Two workers at a high tech company, both have S.O.S and fall in love, then start an illicit affair that puts their lives into danger.

Review: A sci-fi movie that's driven by classic sci fi ideas, while being an introspective romance story. But don't think romance means touchy-feely or overly sentimental, in fact it's a very despondent movie that's more somber and reflective, than emotional. I liked it!

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28609&stc=1&d=1485315850


Think of this in the vein of THX 1138 (1971) and you'll know what to expect. It's not a big budget film, there's no big CG scenes, no real excitement or adventure...and Tom Cruise is no where to be seen:p

It does have Nicholas Hoult who plays the futuristic, calm and collective human to a tee. He's a big part of the movie, the other equation is Kristen Stewart who plays a woman with a troubling secret. I liked both of them together.

The film has a beautiful pale blue color tone in most of the shots, which sets the mood well.

rating_3_5+

[Roy C.]

Have you ever seen the film "The Third Man"? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

[Citizen Rules]

Have you ever seen the film "The Third Man"? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Yup, I've seen a couple of times. IMO an awesome film noir with an annoying music score:p

My review of The Third Man (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1252100#post1252100)

[CosmicRunaway]

It does have Nicholas Hoult who plays the futuristic, calm and collective human to a tee. He's a big part of the movie, the other equation is Kristen Stewart who plays a woman with a troubling secret. I liked both of them together.
So is Kristen Stewart actually a good actor in this film? I was sort of interested until I saw her name.

[Roy C.]

Yup, I've seen a couple of times. IMO an awesome film noir with an annoying music score:p

My review of The Third Man (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1252100#post1252100)

Nice review. It looks interesting and it's so highly acclaimed that I really want to see it! But I can't find the movie anywhere, for cheap that is. The only ones of a decent price are UK versions which aren't playable on my DVD player. The only other is the Criterion Collection disc, but it's nearly $45 dollars!

[Citizen Rules]

So is Kristen Stewart actually a good actor in this film? I was sort of interested until I saw her name. Cosmic, it's kind of a tough question as it's a very subtle, quiet and somber film, so there's not a lot of highly dramatic moments for an actor to shine in.... But yes, she totally convinced me she was the character she was playing. I haven't seen her in much, but she fit this role well.

[Gideon58]

So is Kristen Stewart actually a good actor in this film? I was sort of interested until I saw her name.

Loved Nicholas Hoult in A Single Man.

[cricket]

Kristen Stewart was very good in Still Alice. I was surprised but she has ability.

[Citizen Rules]

Was she in Still Alice? (that's rhetorical, as otherwise you wouldn't have just said she was:p)
I forgot about her being in it, she must have been the daughter of Julianne Moore, if so I think I liked her? I'll have to go read my review of Still Alice to found out!:D

Edit update: I guess I was impressed with Kristen Stewart in Still Alice (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1363490#post1363490).

[Gideon58]

Kristen Stewart was very good in Still Alice. I was surprised but she has ability.


She was good in Cafe Society too...also loved her as Jodie Foster's daughter in Panic Room.

[Citizen Rules]

She was good in Cafe Society too...also loved her as Jodie Foster's daughter in Panic Room. Funny as this might seem, I didn't remember her in Cafe Society either, so I had to go and read my own review. It's a good thing I do reviews or I wouldn't know if I had liked a movie or not:p

Excerpt from my review of Cafe Society (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1600127#post1600127)
The two saving graces of this movie is: Woody does know how to dress and shoot a period piece film to make it look stunning. The other grace is Blake Lively (The Age of Adeline). Blake out charms and out classes the rest of the cast, especially the inept Jesse Eisenberg and the milquetoast Kristen Stewart.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28624&stc=1&d=1485483876
Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (2015)


Director: Mark Jean
Writers: Joanne Fluke(novel), Nancey Silvers(screen play)
Cast: Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison, Lisa Durupt
Genre: Cozy-Mystery Drama

About: Hannah, a single woman who's a pastry baker and owns a small cookie shop in a small town....she turns amateur detective after finding her delivery driver murdered behind her shop! She then takes it upon herself to find the elusive killer, which puts her at odds with the handsome detective, who's recently widowed.

Review: A fun little Hallmark movie based on the 'cozy mystery' novels by Joanne Fluke. Think of this as the TV show Murder She Wrote, only our detective is a much younger and attractive woman (Alison Sweeney) and she like to make fancy cookies! Hallmark made four of these movies so far, this is the first one in the series. Rumor has it, Hallmark will be cooking up more murder treats in the future.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28623&stc=1&d=1485483868



http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moH1_ZbayNI/VSV80Axy2CI/AAAAAAAAPf4/sV4Bz842V_4/s1600/MurderSheBaked-3.jpg


I though this was charming! An easy, relaxing watch. I liked Hannah, she was perky, likable (that's why I liked her;)) and she's in just about every scene...so it's a good thing she was cast in this.

It's a fun little murder mystery with a dash of romance and a pinch of comedy thrown in for good measure. This was filmed in a couple of small towns in British Columbia, Canada...so it feels like you are in a real small town and not in some studio. That's a big plus.

It feels like a Hallmark movie, because it is!

rating_3

[gbgoodies]

I don't think I've seen any of the Murder, She Baked movies, but I've seen a few of the Garage Sale Mystery movies and the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies on the Hallmark channel, and I like them, so I'll have to check out some of the Murder, She Baked movies.

[Citizen Rules]

I don't think I've seen any of the Murder, She Baked movies, but I've seen a few of the Garage Sale Mystery movies and the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies on the Hallmark channel, and I like them, so I'll have to check out some of the Murder, She Baked movies. I'm glad you mentioned those other Hallmark movie series, I'd never heard of them but they sound fun:p You know it's nice to watch a non serious movie just for the heck of it, now and then. So I added those to my movie list, I'll have to check them out, but first I need to see the other three Murder She Baked movies:)

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28624&stc=1&d=1485483876
Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (2015)


Director: Mark Jean
Writers: Joanne Fluke(novel), Nancey Silvers(screen play)
Cast: Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison, Lisa Durupt
Genre: Cozy-Mystery Drama



As a fan of former soap actors Allison Sweeney and Cameron Matheson, I might have to check this one out.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28640&stc=1&d=1485623416
I Saw the Light (2015)

Director: Marc Abraham
Writers: Marc Abraham, Colin Escott(book)
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, Maddie Hasson
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

The life and times of country western singer Hank Williams. Who in his short turbulent life wrote some of the greatest country western songs ever recorded. He died at age 29.

I'll keep this short because this movie isn't worth the time to write a long review. I'm not a fan of country western music but I'm a fan of well made bio pics...including Walk the Line (2005) a fine bio pic about Johnny Cash.

Here director Marc Abraham takes an amazing true story of Hank Williams, a talented and self destructive man, and makes a snooze fest movie!

I think what went wrong is that the director tried to include too many scenes from the novel and so had to edit them down to their bare bones, to fit into a 2 hour movie.

Scenes start, without ending. There's no completion of many of the scenes. It's like the scenes fruition is missing. Scenes start out interesting, but in a flash it's months latter and we wondered what happened in the last scene...and the director doesn't bother to give the viewer a clue that time has past either.

What appears on the screen is just images without much of a story or emotional impact. Not a well made movie and that's too bad as it seemed like it had potential.

rating_2

[gbgoodies]

I don't think I've seen any of the Murder, She Baked movies, but I've seen a few of the Garage Sale Mystery movies and the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies on the Hallmark channel, and I like them, so I'll have to check out some of the Murder, She Baked movies.

I'm glad you mentioned those other Hallmark movie series, I'd never heard of them but they sound fun:p You know it's nice to watch a non serious movie just for the heck of it, now and then. So I added those to my movie list, I'll have to check them out, but first I need to see the other three Murder She Baked movies:)


I highly recommend the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies. They also had a TV series for one season, but instead of renewing the series, they switched to a series of movies.

[gbgoodies]

It's kind of upsetting that the movie I Saw the Light sounds so bad. I was really looking forward to it.

I'll probably still watch it eventually, but it's dropped down quite a bit on my watchlist.

[Citizen Rules]

It's kind of upsetting that the movie I Saw the Light sounds so bad. I was really looking forward to it.

I'll probably still watch it eventually, but it's dropped down quite a bit on my watchlist.If it's any consultation, the music was pretty darn good. I mean Hank Williams is acourse a better singer than the actor but hearing the songs performed at the Grand Ole Opry was pretty cool. Definitely the high point of the movie for me. I'm sure you wouldn't hate it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVGNeyxT-2k/VWtpjiXq83I/AAAAAAAALPo/SBhxj_IZopo/s1600/real_genius_lazlo_diner1.png
Real Genius (1985)

Director: Martha Coolidge
Cast: Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink
Genre: Comedy

About: An awkward 15 year old genius joins a wacky but elite group of hyper-intelligent students working on a secret high power laser project at Pacific Tech. A technical university similar to Caltech.

Review: I'd never heard of this movie, have you? It's main claim to fame is a very young Val Kilmer, who provides the wacky comic relief. Ahh...he's pretty good at it, he's no Tom Hanks but does carry the movie. Unfortunately the other lead, the 15 year old boy genius played by Gabriel Jarret is a snooze fest in a forgettable role. Though Gabe went onto bigger and better movies so good for him!

The best part of the movie is the wacky, out of touch with reality college students who've been duped to work on a high power death ray laser by their evil professor...who's under the CIA's control.

The exploding house of popcorn has to be seen to be believed! It's crazy what they did to a very real house, and it ain't no model or special effect, they literally blow the roof off the house with popcorn!

The "Popcorn Trick" sequence began with the construction of a full-sized Victorian house. Within the house, special effects coordinator devised an elaborate network of conveyor belts, hydraulic lifts, air blowers and vacuum hoses which would, on cue, turn 190,000 pounds of popcorn into a hot buttered tornado, blowing out the windows, doors and roof of the structure.Worth watching just for the popcorn!

rating_2_5

[cricket]

I watched that a couple times back in the 80's, and I remember it being pretty popular back then. I like it.

[Citizen Rules]

Wow, I though I was the only person in the world who knew of that film. I guess not:p

[cricket]

No I think you'd be surprised. Or maybe I would be:p

[Swan]

Cricket knows all the 80's stuff. He's a big fan of Motley Crue, those hair metal chicks.

[cricket]

The Crue F'N rules!:cool:

[Roy C.]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVGNeyxT-2k/VWtpjiXq83I/AAAAAAAALPo/SBhxj_IZopo/s1600/real_genius_lazlo_diner1.png
Real Genius (1985)

Director: Martha Coolidge
Cast: Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink
Genre: Comedy

About: An akward 15 year old genius joins a wacky but elite group of hyper intelligent students working on a secret high power laser project at Pacific Tech. A technical university similar to Caltech.

Review: I had never heard of this movie, have you? It's main claim to fame is a very young Val Kilmer, who provides the wacky comic relief. Ahh...he's pretty good at it, he's no Tom Hanks but does carry the movie. Unfortunately the other lead, the 15 year old boy genius played by Gabriel Jarret is a snooze fest in a forgettable role. Though Gabe went onto bigger and better movies so good for him!

The best part of the movie is the wacky out of touch with reality college students who have been duped to work on a high power death ray laser by their evil professor...who's under the CIAs control.

The exploding house of popcorn has to be seen to be believed. It's crazy what they did to a very real house, it ain't no model or special effect, they literally blow the roof off the house with popcorn!

Worth watching just for the popcorn!

rating_2_5


Looks like a pretty kooky flick! I might just watch it for the popcorn scene. Is the plot decent enough?

[gbgoodies]

I love Real Genius. It's one of those movies that I've seen about a hundred times, and I still watch it every time it's on TV, I'm not much of a fan of Gabriel Jarret in the movie, but it's easily my favorite Val Kilmer movie. William Atherton is great as Professor Hathaway too.

[Citizen Rules]

Wow again! How come I just found out about that movie now? I guess you and Cricket knew about it. Yup Professor Hathaway was a very interesting, good bad guy, well he wasn't really bad more like the CIA was using him.

Roy, there you go, GBG likes it, maybe give Real Genius a shot.

[gbgoodies]

Wow again! How come I just found out about that movie now?


Because you weren't paying close enough attention when I posted about it last year:

http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1513473#post1513473

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28651&stc=1&d=1485833601
Pete's Dragon (2016)

Director: David Lowery
Writer: David Lowery(screenplay)
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley
Genre: Disney Family Fantasy

About: A boy who becomes lost in the deep woods and is befriended by a dragon. He spends six years of his life there, until a wildlife ranger discovers him.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28652&stc=1&d=1485833613


Review: I'm not the biggest Disney-Fantasy fan around, but my wife really liked this movie and I thought it was OK. So it's probably worth a watch, unless you have an aversion to cute green furry dragons and little kids. I'm not usually a fan of movies with child actors as the lead, but I still liked this. Probably because much of the time we spend with adults. The pretty redhead ranger is Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron Howard's daughter....and she's pretty darn likeable in this and a good actress too.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28653&stc=1&d=1485833621


Of course we get her nice-guy supportive boyfriend...And we get the wise mentor, her father, played by Robert Redford. Who looked way too old to be Bryce's dad, but whatever! He seen the dragon many years ago but no one believed him, would you? Then finally we get the arrogant SOB who wants to capture the dragon and make a lot of money off it...ala King Kong.

Well that's about that, the woods looks pretty cool. Bryce is pretty cute, the dragon very green and the kid? not bad at all.

rating_3

[CosmicRunaway]

Then finally we get the arrogant SOB who wants to capture the dragon and make a lot of money off it...ala King Kong.
I'm going to take a guess that this is the character Karl Urban plays. I have no interest in seeing the movie, but Urban being in it is rather tempting. I'm sure I'd be rooting for his character to capture the dragon. :lol:

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28651&stc=1&d=1485833601
Pete's Dragon (2016)

[FONT=Arial Narrow]Director: David Lowery
Writer: David Lowery(screenplay)
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley


Bryce Dallas Howard looks beautiful in the pictures you posted...God, Robert Redford is not aging well...do you have to have seen the original to appreciate this remake?

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28640&stc=1&d=1485623416
I Saw the Light (2015)

Director: Marc Abraham
Writers: Marc Abraham, Colin Escott(book)
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, Maddie Hasson
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

[/rating]



Will definitely be adding this to my watchlist...there was a movie made about Williams in the 60's called Your Cheatin Heart with George Hamilton playing Williams, that I always suspected was mostly fiction, it would be nice to get a more accurate picture of this music legend.

[Citizen Rules]

I'm going to take a guess that this is the character Karl Urban plays. I have no interest in seeing the movie, but Urban being in it is rather tempting. I'm sure I'd be rooting for his character to capture the dragon. :lol::pHa...

Good guess! Yup Karl Urban is the heavy. Though he's not really the bad guy per say, more of the bull headed, gruff type. He has some good scenes in the movie.

[Citizen Rules]

Will definitely be adding this to my watchlist...there was a movie made about Williams in the 60's called Your Cheatin Heart with George Hamilton playing Williams, that I always suspected was mostly fiction, it would be nice to get a more accurate picture of this music legend.I'd love to read your review on this one. Have you seen the bio pic about Johnny Cash? It's calledWalk the Line (2005), with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I highly recommend that one.

[Gideon58]

I'd love to read your review on this one. Have you seen the bio pic about Johnny Cash? It's calledWalk the Line (2005), with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I highly recommend that one.

Yes, there's a review of it in my review thread...Phoenix was brilliant, but I don't think Witherspoon deserved the Oscar she won.

[Roy C.]

Hey Citizen,

I was just checking out the earlier pages of this thread and I saw a modern movie that interests me—Ruby Sparks. Does it lean more towards the romance or the fantasy?

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Citizen,

I was just checking out the earlier pages of this thread and I saw a modern movie that interests me—Ruby Sparks. Does it lean more towards the romance or the fantasy?Oh, tough question. I'd say romance/fantasy. But it's not a chick flick. In fact I think women in general don't like it, as the premise is Paul Dano is a reclusive mental wreck who years earlier had written a successful book but now lives secluded. He then writes a new novel about a girl named Ruby Sparks who 'apparently' shows up in his real life and he can control her actions just by typing about her on his typewriter. It has some dark-comedy moments. And the movie makes sense once you watch it, if I said more it would ruin the mystery as it is a mystery too.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28668&stc=1&d=1486092983
Hunt for the Wilderpeople(2016)


Director: Taika Waititi
Writers: Taika Waititi(screenplay), Barry Crump(novel)
Cast: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama

About: An old, grumpy man (Sam Neill) and the young boy (Rima Te Wiata) who comes to live with him at his rundown farm in the remote back country of New Zealand. When the foster kid runs away and his 'uncle' goes looking for him, they both disappear into the deep New Zealand forest. Believing the child has been abducted by a dangerous man, a huge manhunt is undertaken to find the two recluses...who don't want to be found.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28669&stc=1&d=1486093086


Review: The independent New Zealand film maker, Taika Waititi writes/directs and even acts in a very unique and funny film. This is his fourth critically acclaimed film along with: Eagle Vs Shark (2007), Boy (2010) and What We Do In The Shadows (2014). For such a new director, Taika shows he can make a film that is fresh and lively. I laughed out loud at this, and comedies rarely make me laugh.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28667&stc=1&d=1486092897


The film is shot on location and we're treated to stunningly beautiful views of New Zealand's high country, which they call the bush. But there's nothing bushy about it, it's lush and green and amazing!

Sam Neill gets a lot of credit here for playing a likeable but very gruff loner type guy. I liked him and he paired well with the kid Rima Te Wiata, who has been kicked around so much that he lives in a make believe world. He's good in this too. Some of the stuff he says is just flat out hilarious.

I liked it so much that I want to see more from the director.
rating_3_5+

[FromBeyond]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28651&stc=1&d=1485833601
Pete's Dragon (2016)

Director: David Lowery
Writer: David Lowery(screenplay)
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley
Genre: Disney Family Fantasy

About: A boy who becomes lost in the deep woods and is befriended by a dragon. He spends six years of his life there, until a wildlife ranger discovers him.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28652&stc=1&d=1485833613


Review: I'm not the biggest Disney-Fantasy fan around, but my wife really liked this movie and I thought it was OK. So it's probably worth a watch, unless you have an aversion to cute green furry dragons and little kids. I'm not usually a fan of movies with child actors as the lead, but I still liked this. Probably because much of the time we spend with adults. The pretty redhead ranger is Bryce Dallas Howard, Ron Howard's daughter....and she's pretty darn likeable in this and a good actress too.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28653&stc=1&d=1485833621


Of course we get her nice-guy supportive boyfriend...And we get the wise mentor, her father, played by Robert Redford. Who looked way too old to be Bryce's dad, but whatever! He seen the dragon many years ago but no one believed him, would you? Then finally we get the arrogant SOB who wants to capture the dragon and make a lot of money off it...ala King Kong.

Well that's about that, the woods looks pretty cool. Bryce is pretty cute, the dragon very green and the kid? not bad at all.

rating_3

I liked the soundtrack.

[cricket]

I just first heard of Wilderpeople last week. I'll be trying it soon.

[Citizen Rules]

I just first heard of Hunt For The Wilderpeople last week. I'll be trying it soon. I think (not sure) but I think you will like it. I'll look for your post on it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28693&stc=1&d=1486266757
The Zero Theorem (2013)

Director: Terry Gilliam
Writers: Pat Rushin (screenplay), Terry Gilliam (additional dialogue)
Cast: Christoph Waltz, Lucas Hedges, Mélanie Thierry
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi


About: The story of a very odd, but highly intelligent, socially inept loaner Qohen (Christoph Waltz). Qohen spends his life waiting faithfully by the phone for that one important call that he believes will tell him his purpose in life. His job in this oddly futuristic world is a computer programmer. He's assigned the heady task of proving the Zero Theorem that the universe ends as nothing, which renders life meaningless. Indeed his life is meaningless, but he craves rectification.

Review: Hot chick with pink hair good! Movie bad!...And that's a pity as this starts off so promising. In the first hour, director Terry Gilliam builds an ecliptic world similar to his film Brazil, only this is much darker. The sets he builds and the details he packs into the background are artistic voyeurism, real eye candy. Very impressive.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28691&stc=1&d=1486266740


Waltz is interesting as a troubled man who prefers not to be touched and refers to himself in the plural. Good stuff. Enter the cyber space party girl who's assigned by management to relive our protagonist's stress. Mélanie Thierry the hot chick in the nurse get-up is awesome. I don't just mean her tight dress, I mean she's lively, spirited and interesting. Her and Waltz are the best part.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28692&stc=1&d=1486266746


But...and it's a big but, the second half blows, when they introduce a jaded teenager who's hyper intelligent and too hip to care. Lucas Hedges might be a good actor but his role is 180 degrees from the rest of the movie. He plays it like a typical teen you might see in your local grocery store buying a Red Bull. I don't blame him, I blame the director for the poor casting choice.

Brazil or 12 Monkeys... this is not.

rating_2_5

[TheUsualSuspect]

I was a big fan of Wilderpeople and look forward to seeing what Waititi can do with the next Thor flick.

[CosmicRunaway]

I had a similar experience with The Zero Theorem. It had great world building, that unfortunately was squandered. I'm also still not sure what I think about the ending haha.

[Citizen Rules]

I had a similar experience with The Zero Theorem. It had great world building, that unfortunately was squandered. I'm also still not sure what I think about the ending haha.:p I can't even remember clearly how it ended...that's how much it fizzled.

Oh, I did like one other thing besides the pink haired girl, the rat! Very cool how the rat would grab a piece of pizza and drag it into it's hole in the wall.:)

[Citizen Rules]

https://img.diply.com/article-images/a/541c744a-ddd5-4cae-834b-bf01f64a9290.jpg?impolicy=desktop
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)

Director: Kirk Jones
Writer: Nia Vardalos
Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance

About: The Portokalos family is back at it again! This time they're trying to marry off their 17 year old niece... and making sure she doesn't go to college out of state.

Review: This should have been called My Big Fat Dumb Ass Greek Wedding 2...While I enjoyed the original 2002 movie, this one, like a lot of sequels goes bigger and dumber. The Greek stereo types were so over done that I felt like calling the PC police and telling them a moving violation had occurred during the course of the movie. I don't know who was worse the loud grandmother or Andrea Martin. Check that...it was Andrea Martin who went so far over the top that she spend most of her time on the roof top. Speaking of roofs, the Greek grandparents have a house painted in Grecko white and cyan blue.

http://i.bug-a-boo.tv/images/553f89845418bdccbbec963b752b4844/bugabooimage.jpg
That girl has the right idea! Cover your ears whenever Andrea Martin appears.


There's a few laughs here in this unimaginative sequel, but sadly there's more moans and even a few groans. Nia Vardalos who wrote and stars in this movie, makes for a nice watch. If she could just lose her relatives, this might have been a better movie. But she doesn't get enough air time and we're stuck with too many cringe worthy moments from her annoying family. Mostly it's predicable and the movie falls under the 'why bother to make it' category.

rating_2

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen the sequel, but I saw the first My Big Fat Greek Wedding and I hated it. I don't even know why they bothered with a sequel.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen the sequel, but I saw the first My Big Fat Greek Wedding and I hated it. I don't even know why they bothered with a sequel. I know:p I liked Andrea Martin on SCTV and as Quark's mother on Deep Space Nine, but she's soooo annoying in this movie. I did watch a fun 1950s Debbie Reynolds movie that I bet you've seen. I'll be reviewing it soon.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28775&stc=1&d=1486611699

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Writers: Daniel Scheinert, Dan Kwan
Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

About: A lonely man (Paul Dano) who's been marooned on a deserted island with no food and no hope...One day he discovers a person laying on the beach (Daniel Radcliffe). Thinking that the man on the beach is alive, he rushes over to him and starts CPR. Much to his surprise he finds the body is dead....or maybe not....or maybe it doesn't really matter to him. He needs a friend, he's alone in the world and the body makes a good companion and a real good listener. Thus starts their strange odyssey to get back to civilization.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28776&stc=1&d=1486611715


Review: Weird, but likable. You will believe a dead man can be a best friend. Or at least I did. And that's thanks to an imaginative script that thinks outside of the box. Directors Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert team up and write and direct one of 2016's more interesting movies.

It takes a special type of actor to pull off such an outlandish idea and make us actually care about him. Paul Dano does just that. He creates a sympathetic character who has his share of foibles and is steeped in neurosis. And yet he is likeable. I cheered for him, I wanted him and his dead companion to make it back home.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28777&stc=1&d=1486611726


Speaking of the dead man, Daniel Radcliffe is equally good at playing dead! At first glance all he does is lay there, not much of an acting challenge. But as the story progresses and he seems to be able to communicate, we see just how good of an actor he is. He looked like a corpse, especially with the eye thing he does. And yet he too gives us a reason to care for him.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28778&stc=1&d=1486611735


The story is wildly creative and being filmed in the deep woods it was a very cool setting too. I loved the popcorn scene and the song that went with it.

rating_4

[CosmicRunaway]

I think I need to watch Swiss Army Man. People keep posting about it, and it sounds pretty entertaining.

[Citizen Rules]

Do it! If I can like it, anyone can!...It's funny, weird, but most importantly it made me think about life and was touching too.

[CosmicRunaway]

I definitely plan to. I'm trying to watch some good movies from 2016 (mostly for the MoFo Film Awards), and I have a good feeling about this one now. :up:

[cricket]

I'm going to try that, I like Paul Dano.

[Citizen Rules]

I didn't look it up but I bet it was filmed on Vancouver Island. At least the forest scenes looked like Vancouver. Have you been there before?

[Citizen Rules]

I'm going to try that, I like Paul Dano. There's some Cricket style humor in there that I think you'll like! I'm a big fan of Paul Dano. I was just thinking about finding another of his movies to watch.

[Chypmunk]

Just poking me nose in to say I'm still keeping up with the thread CR - just can't comment on anything of late :(

[Citizen Rules]

Just poking me nose in to say I'm still keeping up with the thread CR - just can't comment on anything of late :( Hey Chyp, always good to see you. I guess I'll have to try and watch something you've seen:p I do have 2 other reviews to write, but I just haven't felt like it. Maybe you seen one of those.

[Gideon58]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28775&stc=1&d=1486611699

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Writers: Daniel Scheinert, Dan Kwan
Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28778&stc=1&d=1486611735[/FONT]
[/FONT]

Radcliffe looks like hell here...

[CosmicRunaway]

I didn't look it up but I bet it was filmed on Vancouver Island. At least the forest scenes looked like Vancouver. Have you been there before?
A lot of things are filmed in Vancouver. You can thank subsidies from the Canadian government for that haha.

I haven't been further West than eastern Ontario. It's actually quicker to fly to the UK from here than it is to fly to Vancouver haha. I'd like to travel there sometime, but I don't have any family or friends on the West Coast, so it would probably be too expensive to visit.

[Captain Steel]

Swiss Army Man sounds like a new take on "Wilson"!

Since I love survival films, quirky psychological movies and Mary Elizabeth Winstead :love: it sounds like a film I'd really like to see!

[Citizen Rules]

Radcliffe looks like hell here... Yup, that's the idea, he's a dead body.

A lot of things are filmed in Vancouver. You can thank subsidies from the Canadian government for that haha.

I haven't been further West than eastern Ontario. It's actually quicker to fly to the UK from here than it is to fly to Vancouver haha. I'd like to travel there sometime, but I don't have any family or friends on the West Coast, so it would probably be too expensive to visit. Vancouver Island is beautiful, especially when you get to the norther part of it. If I was to move out of country, that's where I would go.

Swiss Army Man sounds like a new take on "Wilson"! Ha! that's funny, because I said the same thing when watching it. It was like they took the Wilson idea from Castaway and ran with it. It works too.

Since I love survival films, quirky psychological movies and Mary Elizabeth Winstead :love: it sounds like a film I'd really like to see! I'd never seen Mary Elizabeth Winstead before, she's not made up to be hot...but in doing the review I found some pics of her that were hot!

[Captain Steel]

I'd never seen Mary Elizabeth Winstead before, she's not made up to be hot...but in doing the review I found some pics of her that were hot!

Being a comic geek, I loved the movie Sky High (2005) - where I first noticed Mary Elizabeth Winstead!

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/9/9c/Gwen_Grayson.png/revision/latest?cb=20151024173412&path-prefix=es

[rasn]

Why do we love movies so much? Seems like a simply question, right? But think about it...why do us movie nuts devote so much time to watching, pondering and discussing movies?


I did some soul searching on that question and for me movies are like a time or travel machine. Through movies, one can image another life, getting a glimpse of what might have been if our lives had taken a different path. One can image what it would have been like to live hundreds of years ago or to see the wonders of the past world, or the amazement of future things to come.

For the time I'm watching a movie, my mind is there in the story. I'm experiencing in a small way, an out of body existences.

Does anyone else feel that way?

Being a new member around here and digging up some older messages I can honestly agree with what you wrote.

Through movies we identify ourselves with the main character who suffers immensely or who burst of joy. We identify ourselves with the plot, with all its characters and twists, we not only see what they see but feel with they feel, all the injustice done to the good guys, whenever the bad guys win the ladies heart, when good things go wrong and bad things end up being the best, it makes our empathy arise and let's us wonder through imaginationland, wondering inside all this scenarios, forgetting our daily life as boring or busy as it may be. Such a mix of powerful elements from all the other arts like Literature and Music and all the Visual Elements. It is indeed the greatest pleasure of mankind.

Not pretending to be cheesy but hey, that's something we all have in common, this passion for the 7th art.

I think I need to watch Swiss Army Man. People keep posting about it, and it sounds pretty entertaining.

Exactly what I thought. For what they write it seems like a good one. I'll give it a shot

[Citizen Rules]

Being a new member around here and digging up some older messages I can honestly agree with what you wrote.

Through movies we identify ourselves with the main character who suffers immensely or who burst of joy. We identify ourselves with the plot, with all its characters and twists, we not only see what they see but feel with they feel, all the injustice done to the good guys, whenever the bad guys win the ladies heart, when good things go wrong and bad things end up being the best, it makes our empathy arise and let's us wonder through imaginationland, wondering inside all this scenarios, forgetting our daily life as boring or busy as it may be. Such a mix of powerful elements from all the other arts like Literature and Music and all the Visual Elements. It is indeed the greatest pleasure of mankind.

Not pretending to be cheesy but hey, that's something we all have in common, this passion for the 7th art.



Exactly what I thought. For what they write it seems like a good one. I'll give it a shot
Well said! I like what you wrote. You're always welcomed on my thread to chat anytime:)

[edarsenal]

Been away from here FAR TOO LONG--

sorry to hear/read that greek wedding 2 was a bit of a failure - big fan of the first one

and great write up on Swiss Army Man. Excellent movie. VERY quirky but VERY touching as well. A crazy, but very beautiful mix that truly worked.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Ed, always happy to see you her....Heck, I'm happy to see anyone here at my little review thread:p

I wonder if Swiss Army Man will receive any Oscar nominations?

If I could nominate it I would say: Best Screenplay, Best Music Score...and I wouldn't complain if Paul Dano picked up a best lead actor nom and Daniel Radcliffe best supporting actor nom

[edarsenal]

definitely for screenplay and music score

[re93animator]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28693&stc=1&d=1486266757
The Zero Theorem (2013)

Director: Terry Gilliam
Writers: Pat Rushin (screenplay), Terry Gilliam (additional dialogue)
Cast: Christoph Waltz, Lucas Hedges, Mélanie Thierry
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi


:( I loved this. I'm a Gilliam fanboy though. One of my favorite movies of the 2000s so far.

[rasn]

Hey Ed, always happy to see you her....Heck, I'm happy to see anyone here at my little review thread:p

I wonder if Swiss Army Man will receive any Oscar nominations?

If I could nominate it I would say: Best Screenplay, Best Music Score...and I wouldn't complain if Paul Dano picked up a best lead actor nom and Daniel Radcliffe best supporting actor nom


I've just seen Swiss Army Man and it's like you said, weird but likeable. It made me laugh and feel bad for the man but it teaches you a valuable lesson, all it takes to a happy life are a couple of happy thoughts.
Oh and a man who doesn't fart in front of you is not a man who can be trusted :p

Who wouldn't you take out of the noms for best leading and supporting actor?

Overall a positively strange and good movie!

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28824&stc=1&d=1486862592

Sully (2016)

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Todd Komarnicki(screenplay), Chesley Sullenberger(novel)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney
Genre: Biography, Drama

The true life story of Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, an airline pilot who heroically saved the lives of 155 passengers by making an emergency crash landing in the Hudson River, after both of the plane's engines failed.

What a wasted story. Director Clint Eastwood who usually knocks them out of the ballpark, delivers up a huge, incoherent mess of a movie. Sure the story of a plane crash with a heroic effort featuring Tom Hanks should be a winner.... I mean the actual real life story itself is riveting, but not in the way the film is edited and structured. Eastwood goes out of his way to make the most unemotional, un-intriguing telling of this amazing event possible. It's hard to believe Eastwood's name is attached to the film.

Right of the bat we're treated to an over the top CG plane crash into New York City...but surprise! it's a dream sequence! Really? a dream sequence with a super explosion CG crash....not needed! and it cheapened the story.

The entire movie jumps around from the investigation of Sully's decision to make an emergency landing in the Hudson, to moments before the crash, and to the crash and rescue itself. This nonlinear timeline does not suit the film and does nothing to develop interest in the story. The characters seem disembodied and we hardly know or care about them. This makes for a movie that lacks any interest...that's right one of the most amazing tales is turned into a lack luster movie.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28825&stc=1&d=1486862602


Even the plane crash and rescue was pretty much milquetoast.
It was mediocre, I have nothing else to say.

rating_2




.

[cricket]

I didn't think it was great but I thought it was a good watch. I'm very surprised you didn't like it.

[Citizen Rules]

Didn't you find the way the scenes were edited into the movie, disjointed? I did. I wish they had either went with a three act movie

Act 1, Sully before the flight, we get to know him, his relation with his wife and with his co pilot. The first act literally puts us into what it's like for a pilot to board a plane and do the preflight stuff. They did show some preflight shots but more would have been better.

Act 2, the crash and rescue in real time. They said it took 24 minutes. That would be perfect for act 2.

Act 3, the investigation, done more or less like it was in the movie.

That's what I would have done if I was the director.

[edarsenal]

I've heard a number of lukewarm receptions to this one

[Captain Steel]

I'll probably watch Sully because I was so interested in the real story. (Kind of like how I watched The 33 - which could have been a much better movie what with the miraculous, real-life subject matter of the Chilean mine workers).

I remember watching a documentary on the "miracle in the Hudson" - which told more of the less pleasant aspects of the story. Sure, the miracle was that Sully landed the plane and saved everyone on board = everyone survived, and that basic fact can't be overlooked or taken for granted. But a lot of the drama and trauma occurred between the time the plane touched down and getting everyone back to land. There were injuries, fear and some traumatic events for passengers and crew during the rescue operations.

[Citizen Rules]

I've heard a number of lukewarm receptions to this one I was so expecting to love this movie. I mean this is the type of film I love, a drama bio bic with a top notch actor. I was disappointed.

I'll probably watch Sully because I was so interested in the real story. (Kind of like how I watched The 33 - which could have been a much better movie what with the miraculous, real-life subject matter of the Chilean mine workers). The 33 is a good comparison.

[cricket]

One of the things I liked about Sully was the unusually short runtime for a movie like that. Instead of digging deeper, it was more of a straight to the point viewing. I thought that helped to hide any flaws and made it a more enjoyable experience.

[Captain Steel]

Another comparison might be Tom Hanks (again) in Captain Phillips (2013).
In that case I watched a documentary on the story and was enthralled, so I was really looking forward to the movie.

I had some personal connection to it as my cousin is a first officer in the Merchant Marine - and he was on the ship that took possession of the sole surviving Somali pirate from the group that had hijacked the Maersk Alabama in 2009. My cousin met him and described him as a "scared young kid."

Anyway, the movie could have been better. I noticed differences from the documentary I had watched and then was dismayed to learn that the movie had altered many of the facts for "dramatic effect." Geez! Some stories are dramatic enough - they don't need to be altered. It was a case where the real story as portrayed in the documentary was more exiting than the movie where they altered events to make it more exciting!

[Citizen Rules]

Another comparison might be Tom Hanks (again) in Captain Phillips (2013).
In that case I watched a documentary on the story and was enthralled, so I was really looking forward to the movie.

I had some personal connection to it as my cousin is a first officer in the Merchant Marine - and he was on the ship that took possession of the sole surviving Somali pirate from the group that had hijacked the Maersk Alabama in 2009. My cousin met him and described him as a "scared young kid."

Anyway, the movie could have been better. I noticed differences from the documentary I had watched and then was dismayed to learn that the movie had altered many of the facts for "dramatic effect." Geez! Some stories are dramatic enough - they don't need to be altered. It was a case where the real story as portrayed in the documentary was more exiting than the movie where they altered events to make it more exciting!

I had some personal connection to it as my cousin is a first officer in the Merchant Marine - and he was on the ship that took possession of the sole surviving Somali pirate from the group that had hijacked the Maersk Alabama in 2009. My cousin met him and described him as a "scared young kid." That's interesting, had his ship ever come under attack by Somalian pirates?

That movie convinced me, not to go to the west coast waters of Africa anytime soon.

It's funny you mentioned Captain Phillips (2013), I was talking about that in comparison to Sully to my wife today. I said I wish they had either made Sully more like Captain Phillips a straight linear story. Or like Spotlight (2015) and focus the entire movie on the investigation of the crashed plane.

[Camo]

Hey, i don't rep the same thing twice so i repped your post in RTLMYS that brought me here.

I've not seen it so may be way off but what else could Eastwood bring to the story; i mean it's already really flimsy. Sully was a normal Pilot not anything special, his real life background wasn't that interesting. Don't you think the problem was that there wasn't really a story there to begin with?

[Captain Steel]

That's interesting, had his ship ever come under attack by Somalian pirates?

That movie convinced me, not to go to the west coast waters of Africa anytime soon.

It's funny you mentioned Captain Phillips (2013), I was talking about that in comparison to Sully to my wife today. I said I wish they had either made Sully more like Captain Phillips a straight linear story. Or like Spotlight (2015) and focus the entire movie on the investigation of the crashed plane.

No (as far as I know). My cousin's been lucky in that respect. But he has undergone regular training (firearms & such) that relate to dealing with pirates, terrorists or hijackers. From what I understand there are certain areas merchant ships avoid and are ordered not to go near.

But after the surviving pirate was taken into American custody, it was my cousin's ship that was recruited to transport him back to the states. I believe the prisoner was kept in a cabin that was fitted into a makeshift brig.

I think my cousin is currently aboard a ship as Ex-O, but the ship is in port in VA.

I wonder how many real-life parts Tom Hanks has under his belt now?

[Citizen Rules]

Hey, i don't rep the same thing twice so i repped your post in RTLMYS that brought me here.

I've not seen it so may be way off but what else could Eastwood bring to the story; i mean it's already really flimsy. Sully was a normal Pilot not anything special, his real life background wasn't that interesting. Don't you think the problem was that there wasn't really a story there to begin with?

Don't you think the problem was that there wasn't really a story there to begin with? Just the opposite. There was a great chance for a stirring story as the real Sully made a hard decision that should have ended in disaster, but he pulled it off.

Then...the media calls him a hero and he even ends up on David Letterman (Letterman has a cameo in the movie). But Sully is uncomfortable with the attention and doesn't feel like a hero, he's just a man who's doing his job.

Then aviation authorities begin to question his decision to land in the Hudson river and discover information that shows he could have safely landed the disabled plane at the airport.

Which then leads to the bulk of the film which shows his frustration over knowing instinctively he made the right decision, despite the computer saying he was wrong.

Finally in the ending when he and his co pilot are ordered in front of an investigation committed and they watch live simulations of the flight proving he made an error, there's a troubled look in his eyes, then with new hope he realizes how he can prove he was right.

Wow, I should put that into my review, maybe I will.
So the story itself was exciting but the way Eastwood edited the movie it was hard to connect to.

[Citizen Rules]

No (as far as I know). My cousin's been lucky in that respect. But he has undergone regular training (firearms & such) that relate to dealing with pirates, terrorists or hijackers. From what I understand there are certain areas merchant ships avoid and are ordered not to go near.

But after the surviving pirate was taken into American custody, it was my cousin's ship that was recruited to transport him back to the states. I believe the prisoner was kept in a cabin that was fitted into a makeshift brig.

I think my cousin is currently aboard a ship as Ex-O, but the ship is in port in VA.

I wonder how many real-life parts Tom Hanks has under his belt now? Very interesting Capt, and scary work for your cousin. He's the EX-O, doing pretty good for himself. In movies the Ex-O and the captain of the ship often are at odds. But by the end of the movie they end up respecting each other, despite their different styles of command.

[cricket]

I actually agree with Camo. I thought Sully was limited in what it could be and I thought they made the most out of it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/wp-content/uploads/blogger/-VOKXRFTGlyk/Td8C_3_w3QI/AAAAAAAAZ_s/AH_zt4FLqTs/s800/40.JPG
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)


Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: John Berendt(novel), John Lee Hancock(screenplay)
Cast: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, Jack Thompson, Irma P. Hall, Jude Law, Lady Chablis

About: A writer from the north (John Cusack) who travels to the deep south to Savannah Georgia to cover a well-to-do social event for his magazine. During his visit, he befriends a local millionaire, who's days latter accused of murder. The writer begins his investigation into the crime where he discovers a bizarre underbelly to the quaint southern town.

Review: Clint Eastwood stretches his directorial talent by taking on a 1994, New York Times Best-Seller novel by John Berendt. This 1997 movie is based loosely on Berendt's novel. So fans of the book beware, this review is about the movie, I haven't read the book.

I had no idea of what to expect when I watched this. I had not read the book and had not seen the trailer or read a synopsis. So it was a complete mystery to me. At first the movie seems like a slower paced drama, about the lifestyles of the rich in Georgia, as seen through the eyes of a young, not so successful writer from the north, John Cusack. Cusack plays a regular guy and this juxtaposes well with the eccentric Savanna millionaire, Kevin Spacey. It's through the young writers eyes that we see what is really going on in this gentile yet strange place.

As the movie progress I figured out it had a light comic touch, which I liked. A couple of the characters were over the top, mainly the guy who has flys attached to his coat by strings. But overall a good movie, that I enjoyed.

rating_3

[cricket]

I saw that but barely remember it.

[Camo]

Just the opposite. There was a great chance for a stirring story as the real Sully made a hard decision that should have ended in disaster, but he pulled it off.

Then...the media calls him a hero and he even ends up on David Letterman (Letterman has a cameo in the movie). But Sully is uncomfortable with the attention and doesn't feel like a hero, he's just a man who's doing his job.

Then aviation authorities begin to question his decision to land in the Hudson river and discover information that shows he could have safely landed the disabled plane at the airport.

Which then leads to the bulk of the film which shows his frustration over knowing instinctively he made the right decision, despite the computer saying he was wrong.

Finally in the ending when he and his co pilot are ordered in front of an investigation committed and they watch live simulations of the flight proving he made an error, there's a troubled look in his eyes, then with new hope he realizes how he can prove he was right.

Wow, I should put that into my review, maybe I will.
So the story itself was exciting but the way Eastwood edited the movie it was hard to connect to.

Great film. It was tragic that part that happened in the second paragraph then the third paragraph gave me hope.

[Citizen Rules]

I saw that but barely remember it.

The fly guy? the voodoo lady? the drag queen? the 1967 Chevy Camaro?...any of those ring a bell?

[Camo]

I actually agree with Camo. I thought Sully was limited in what it could be and I thought they made the most out of it.

This has got to be the first time someone agreed with me about a film i've not seen.

Looking at my lists i've not seen Cabaret: Um.. eh. It was Fredo?

[cricket]

The fly guy? the voodoo lady? the drag queen? the 1967 Chevy Camaro?...any of those ring a bell?

Oh yea, I remember the dressing.

[cricket]

This has got to be the first time someone agreed with me about a film i've not seen.

It reminded me of Deepwater Horizon, which I had seen the week before. I think they're both huge news stories, but it's stretching it to make a movie about them. They're ordinary guys, so it's hard to dig deep and keep it interesting enough for film, if you want to stay close to the truth.

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen Sully yet, but despite the poor review, I still want to see it. However it's not near the top of my watchlist, so it will be a while before I get around to it.

I saw Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil many years ago, but I don't remember much about it except that it's about some kind of murder, it stars Kevin Spacey and John Cusack, (because that's why I saw it), and that Kevin Spacey spoke with an annoying accent in the movie. If I remember correctly, I liked the movie, but I didn't love it.

[Gideon58]

I saw Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil many years ago, but I don't remember much about it except that it's about some kind of murder, it stars Kevin Spacey and John Cusack, (because that's why I saw it), and that Kevin Spacey spoke with an annoying accent in the movie. If I remember correctly, I liked the movie, but I didn't love it.

I saw Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about 100 years ago...love the title...if memory serves, Kevin Spacey was brilliant.

[edarsenal]

I loved the characters in Garden of Good in Evil, just on that alone makes me want to visit Savannah Georgia.
Been a few years since seeing it but I have seen it a number of times.

[Citizen Rules]

I loved the characters in Garden of Good in Evil, just on that alone makes me want to visit Savannah Georgia.
Been a few years since seeing it but I have seen it a number of times. Ha, that was my thought too, after watching the movie I thought Savannah Georgia looked like a neat place to visit. I've never been to Georgia, not yet.:p

[edarsenal]

only drove through Georgia back in the early nineties, very beautiful. I stopped at a McDonalds that featured peach shakes, having searched for road side shops selling peaches and coming up empty. MY GOD the chunks were so big they clogged up the straw and that was BEFORE I had seen the movie. IF I had I would have made a serious side trip at the time.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28866&stc=1&d=1487043088
Them! (1954)


Director: Gordon Douglas
Cast: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi

Nine years after the first atomic test at White Sands, New Mexico, giant mutated ants terrorize the locals. When it's learned two breeding ant queens have escaped, humanity is put at risk!

Make no mistake about it, 1954's Them! is no B-budget movie. Warner Brothers studio went all out with an expensive production that used real military equipment and personal. There's a real military helicopter, plane and a number of jeeps too.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28868&stc=1&d=1487043108

Left to right: James Arness, James Whitmore, Joan Weldon, Edmund Gwenn.


Most impressive are the real flame throwers, that were operated by actors who had been in WWII and used them in combat. Add to that the on-location filming in a real California desert where the temperatures were 110 degrees!

We get authenticity not often seen in giant mutated insect movies. Plus we're treated to a unique view of the underbelly of LA, when the military go under the city into the actual water basins and viaducts of LA. This is an A list movie with a lot of money spent on it and it shows!

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28870&d=1487043125

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28869&stc=1&d=1487043118


One of the strengths of this movie is the attempt to add science and explain the life cycle of the ants, which adds a lot to the story. We not only see a very believable military hearing on the dangerous ants, we get to go deep inside a giant ant nest to find what dangers lurk there.

rating_3_5+

[edarsenal]

wow, I never knew they had all of that in this movie. Was always under the impression that it was just another B-Movie using large creatures attacking the populace. Very cool.

[Citizen Rules]

I know, I was impressed.

Thanks to RoyC's review of Them! I decided to watch it and was impressed for what it was. Even my wife liked it. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up on the sci fi countdown.

[Captain Steel]

I know, I was impressed.

Thanks to RoyC's review of Them! I decided to watch it and was impressed for what it was. Even my wife liked it. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up on the sci fi countdown.

Watched it again a couple years ago and agree. One of the great atomic-age monster movies. And it even contained a little documentary film within the movie!

[Chypmunk]

Gets a popcorn less from me but rightly regarded as one of the classic sci-fi's of the fifties.

[Citizen Rules]

Watched it again a couple years ago and agree. One of the great atomic-age monster movies. And it even contained a little documentary film within the movie! That was a neat part of the movie, it made it seem serious like there was an actual world wide threat.

Gets a popcorn less from me but rightly regarded as one of the classic sci-fi's of the fifties. I guess I was enthusiastic over the high production values. Some of the secondary acting wasn't that great, but I like the three lead actors.

I really liked Tarantula (1955) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048696/) it has a similar theme.

[Chypmunk]

I guess I was enthusiastic over the high production values. Some of the secondary acting wasn't that great, but I like the three lead actors.

I really liked Tarantula (1955) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048696/) it has a similar theme.
Enthusiasm is good :)
Yeah super-sized critters was a bit of a craze for a while back then, more often than not connected to the atomic issue and sadly also with cheap as chips productions.

Another critter one from around the same time I remember very fondly (and really must source in the near future for a watch), albeit not involving super-sized critters and therefore not sci-fi, is The Naked Jungle.

[Citizen Rules]

Ahh....The Naked Jungle...I learned about that movie when I did research for possible sci fi movies for the countdown. I have yet to watch it, but I will!

I'm glad to hear some love for it. And hey. it has Chuck Heston and he's got a gun!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cb/ef/d9/cbefd9eb4bed5a57914f1480deb6796d.jpg

[Chypmunk]

And hey. it has Chuck Heston and he's got a gun!
And a box of matches too if I remember correctly :)

[Roy C.]

I know, I was impressed.

Thanks to RoyC's review of Them! I decided to watch it and was impressed for what it was. Even my wife liked it. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up on the sci fi countdown.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Knew you would :) Yes, the authenticity pays off.

[Citizen Rules]

I love those sci fi monster 50s movies. I could watch them all the time. Good review you did on your thread of Them!

[Roy C.]

I love those sci fi monster 50s movies. I could watch them all the time. Good review you did on your thread of Them!

Thanks. What is your favorite monster movie of the decade?

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks. What is your favorite monster movie of the decade? Good question! but I'm just about to head out the door, so let me think on that and I will post my top 10 monster sci fi of the 50s.

[CosmicRunaway]

Since you have profile comments turned off, I figured I'd post here:

I watched Swiss Army Man earlier (it's what I was watching during the fire event I posted about in the Chill Club), and really liked it. :up:

[Citizen Rules]

Since you have profile comments turned off, I figured I'd post here:

I watched Swiss Army Man earlier (it's what I was watching during the fire event I posted about in the Chill Club), and really liked it. :up:Oh sorry about that, I just turned my profile comments on. I've never used them and they've been off since I joined. But yea! they are on and open for business!

I haven't read the Chill Club, I hope the fire wasn't serious.

Glad you liked Swiss Army Man:p...What did you like the best? The least? any complaints?...and did you like the popcorn song!

[Camo]

They are still off Citizen! I wanted to be first haha.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28893&stc=1&d=1487213033

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Director: George Nolfi
Writers: George Nolfi(screenplay), Philip K. Dick(short story)
Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance

In the present day, an up and coming political candidate (Matt Damon) runs up against a secret organization with unworldly powers to control the destiny of humans. Despite his attempts to find his true love, a dancer (Emily Blunt) who he had a chance encounter with on a bus...the mysterious force of The Adjustment Bureau keeps the two apart.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28892&stc=1&d=1487213022


Review: Based on a short story by renowned sci fi writer Philip K. Dick called the 'Adjustment Team'. The movie draws from the Matrix with both the look and feel of the men in long trench coats and hats. Their hats are very special as they open doors that connect the city to different places, sometimes miles apart. Think of the common doors that we all use, now image if you had a device that when your turned the door knob counterclockwise would open a corridor to the other side of the city. Pretty neat.

The Adjustment Bureau is a fine, but none too serious film. It alludes to some deeper meaning to our lives suggesting that the happenstances that change our destiny, are not accidents but under the careful guidance of supreme beings, who just happen to look like everyday humans.

I actually liked Matt Damon in this, he was well suited to playing a maverick congressman running for the senate. The scenes that show him on various newscast and talk shows as he campaigned were done well.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28890&stc=1&d=1487212999


As much as I liked Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow (2014), I didn't care for her here. Especially in the first part of the movie where she has a couple of chance encounters with Matt Damon and is suppose to be his soul mate with an instant love connection. To me she leered at him like a cross between a call girl and a stalker. Later in the film I did like her performance.

Not a bad film, not a great film.

rating_2_5+

[Citizen Rules]

They are still off Citizen! I wanted to be first haha. That's weird, I just double checked and I checked this:
If you do not want to receive profile comments, you may disable the visitor messaging system.
Enable Visitor MessagingIs that not it? Where's it at?

[Camo]

That's weird, I just double checked and I checked this:
Is that not it? Where's it at?

Yeah that's it. Do you maybe have the one below it only allowing contacts and moderators to send them ticked too? If not i don't know what it is, it's telling me they are off.

[Citizen Rules]

Yeah that's it. Do you maybe have the one below it only allowing contacts and moderators to send them ticked too? If not i don't know what it is, it's telling me they are off. No, it's unchecked.

Maybe it's because I'm in Invisible Mode? Have you ever sent a profile comment to someone invisible.

[mark f]

Yes.

[Citizen Rules]

Yes. Thanks Mark:)

[Camo]

Don't think it's that. I was on invisible for quite a while and i'm sure i sent and received profile comments. Could be wrong though. It doesn't really matter anyway, i was jokingly trying to get the first comment.

[seanc]

Don't think it's that. I was on invisible for quite a while and i'm sure i sent and received profile comments. Could be wrong though. It doesn't really matter anyway, i was jokingly trying to get the first comment.

Beat you. :p

[Camo]

It's just not working for me then. Same thing happened with funny face :(:laugh:

[Citizen Rules]

I see a profile comment from Sean. I'll see if I can send one.

[seanc]

It's just not working for me then. Same thing happened with funny face :(:laugh:

Profile comments perceive spam.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28894&stc=1&d=1487215799
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

Director: Stephen Frears
Writer: Nicholas Martin
Cast: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama

A bio-pic based on the true life story of Florence Foster Jenkins. Who was a wealthy, New York heiress with aspirations to becoming an opera singer...but one problem, she sang horribly! So her husband used their vast wealth to buy stage bookings for her and pay the audience to attend and applaud the would be song bird.

Review: I liked this! It was a comedy that was done subtly and the comic parts came from the real life situations and not from prat falls of slap stick. It plays out like a nice and easy drama with some lighter moments to it. I really appreciate that the film makers didn't make this over the top.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28896&stc=1&d=1487215817


Meryl Streep is a gem, she gives us a wonderfully dear woman who is completely oblivious to the fact that she can't sing a note! The scenes with her on stage performing are funny, because she's enjoying herself even though she's no singer. That's a good message too, enjoying who you are and not worrying about the critics.

Hugh Grant has makeup to give the appearance of an older man who's the same age as Florescence. Hugh was really good in this, and this is one of my favorite movies of his. Grant and Streep really paired well and had solid chemistry.

Simon Helberg, I liked the actor, I liked his character, but I found his breathy-effeminate vocalization, contrived and too noticeable. It's a small thing and I can overlook it but I wish he had spoken in a more natural voice as I found his movie voice distracting.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28895&stc=1&d=1487215808


Florence Foster Jenkins is another fine movie to the credit of Meryl Streep.

rating_4

[Chypmunk]

The Adjustment Bureau was only mediocre for me too and aside from the basic premise I have virtually no recollection of events now.

[CosmicRunaway]

I haven't read the Chill Club, I hope the fire wasn't serious.
Oh yeah, it was just a small fire in the kitchen. If you wanted to read my slightly amusing story about it, it's here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1646948#post1646948).

Glad you liked Swiss Army Man:p...What did you like the best? The least? any complaints?...and did you like the popcorn song!
One of the reason why I didn't write anything about it in the RTLMYS thread is because I don't really know what to say about it. I really enjoyed Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe's performances. The writing was funny, I thought it looked great, and I liked the ending. It was borderline too ridiculous at times, but that just added to its charm for me. If there was one thing I didn't really like it would probably be...

...the boner compass. That was a bit weird. I would've preferred a more logical explanation for that one, like...he had a genital piercing that was magnetically attracted to something in civilization. I don't know.
After a few 2016 films in a row I just couldn't get into, it was nice to watch something I actually liked. :up:

[Citizen Rules]

The Adjustment Bureau was only mediocre for me too and aside from the basic premise I have virtually no recollection of events now.I should've wrote that for my review:p I totally agree: The Adjustment Bureau was mediocre and forgettable.

But not a bad movie. Just no really standout moments.

[Citizen Rules]

....One of the reason why I didn't write anything about it in the RTLMYS thread is because I don't really know what to say about it. I really enjoyed Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe's performances. The writing was funny, I thought it looked great, and I liked the ending. It was borderline too ridiculous at times, but that just added to its charm for me. If there was one thing I didn't really like it would probably be...

After a few 2016 films in a row I just couldn't get into, it was nice to watch something I actually liked. :up:

It was borderline too ridiculous at times, but that just added to its charm for me....
I like that! and you know what? at the start of the movie when the dead guy was gas powered and making all those weird, disguisting noises & bouncing around on the beach...I though, what the hell am I watching!...

It seemed overly silly, but then the concept grew on me and I ended up liking it...even though that type of humor is soooo not what I usually like.

My favorite body function of the dead guy was: how he had a fountain of water come out of his mouth and poor thirsty Paul Dano drank it, :eek:

[Movie Max]

I know I've watched The Adjustment Bureau, but I can't remember anything about it. It's like it left no impression on me at all. I have to agree with your rating.

[Citizen Rules]

I know I've watched The Adjustment Bureau, but I can't remember anything about it. It's like it left no impression on me at all. I have to agree with your rating. You and Chyp have it right:p...it's memory erasing!

[CosmicRunaway]

I like that! and you know what? at the start of the movie when the dead guy was gas powered and making all those weird, disguisting noises & bouncing around on the beach...I though, what the hell am I watching!...

It seemed overly silly, but then the concept grew on me and I ended up liking it...even though that type of humor is soooo not what I usually like.
Yeah, same! :up:

My favorite body function of the dead guy was: how he had a fountain of water come out of his mouth and poor thirsty Paul Dano drank it, :eek:
That was really disgusting to watch the first time. I was kind of gagging for him. He did whisper something like "that is gross" under his breath after he had a sip...but then drank the rest of it anyway haha. I mean, when you're desperate, you'll probably try anything. I figured it could be saltwater and thus undrinkable, but I guess not haha.

[Citizen Rules]

Yeah, same! :up:


That was really disgusting to watch the first time. I was kind of gagging for him. He did whisper something like "that is gross" under his breath after he had a sip...but then drank the rest of it anyway haha. I mean, when you're desperate, you'll probably try anything. I figured it could be saltwater and thus undrinkable, but I guess not haha. Yeah, I was thinking it was saltwater too, wouldn't it have to be. The funniest/grosses thing about that scene was...I was eating dinner at the time:eek: But...I was having pizza and nothing can make me loose my appetite for pizza!

[CosmicRunaway]

I guess it wasn't water Manny had "swallowed" during his time in the ocean, but rather...internal water (our bodies are mostly water after all) that has somehow been expelled. Perhaps internally secreted over time, then expelled from pressure? Is that a thing that happens to bodies? Whatever it was, it was gross anyway haha.

[Citizen Rules]

Ha, that's even grosser! But your probably right:p

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28901&stc=1&d=1487301656
Susan Slept Here (1954)

Director: Frank Tashlin
Writers: Alex Gottlieb (screenplay), Steve Fisher(play)
Cast: Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

About: On Christmas Eve, Mark Christopher (Dick Powell) a burnt out Hollywood movie screenwriter who wants nothing more than to write a serious drama...finds a teenage girl at his apartment door. Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds) is a good kid, but has no home and no place to go.

Because she was picked up for fighting and vagrancy, the cops are going to haul her off to juvenile detention. It's the 50s! But the cops do have a heart, well sort of, and let her spend the evening at the writer's apartment so she can stay out of jail on Christmas Eve and he can write a serious drama about teen delinquency.

Review: This might be one of the very few older films that's more shocking now, than when it was first shown in 1954. Dick Powell plays a 35 year old man who has a 17 year old teenage girl spend the night at his apartment. Of course no hanky panky ensues.

But, what happens is creepy because a romance develops that smacks of wrongness. Dick Powell was 50 years old when he made this movie and he looks older than that. And when a fresh faced girlish Debbie Reynolds falls for him, it just feels plain icky.

In the 50s an older guy shacking up with a younger girl might have been the stuff everyone winked at, but today it seems wrong.

I still enjoyed the movie, Debbie Reynolds was very energetic and funny in this. The movie was shot in Technicolor and was based on a stage play of the same name. The movies story was later redone as 1962's Bachelor Flat. This was Dick Powell's last film role, though he did go onto television where he had his own show.

rating_3


.

[gbgoodies]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28893&stc=1&d=1487213033

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Director: George Nolfi
Writers: George Nolfi(screenplay), Philip K. Dick(short story)
Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance

In the present day, an up and coming political candidate (Matt Damon) runs up against a secret organization with unworldly powers to control the destiny of humans. Despite his attempts to find his true love, a dancer (Emily Blunt) who he had a chance encounter with on a bus...the mysterious force of The Adjustment Bureau keeps the two apart.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28892&stc=1&d=1487213022


Review: Based on a short story by renowned sci fi writer Philip K. Dick called the 'Adjustment Team'. The movie draws from the Matrix with both the look and feel of the men in long trench coats and hats. Their hats are very special as they open doors that connect the city to different places, sometimes miles apart. Think of the common doors that we all use, now image if you had a device that when your turned the door knob counterclockwise would open a corridor to the other side of the city. Pretty neat.

The Adjustment Bureau is a fine, but none too serious film. It alludes to some deeper meaning to our lives suggesting that the happenstances that change our destiny, are not accidents but under the careful guidance of supreme beings, who just happen to look like everyday humans.

I actually liked Matt Damon in this, he was well suited to playing a maverick congressman running for the senate. The scenes that show him on various newscast and talk shows as he campaigned were done well.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28890&stc=1&d=1487212999


As much as I liked Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow (2014), I didn't care for her here. Especially in the first part of the movie where she has a couple of chance encounters with Matt Damon and is suppose to be his soul mate with an instant love connection. To me she leered at him like a cross between a call girl and a stalker. Later in the film I did like her performance.

Not a bad film, not a great film.

rating_2_5+


I liked The Adjustment Bureau much more than you did. I loved the idea of fate vs. free will. Was it fate that they belong together? Do we have free will to even decide what happens in our lives? These two people who seem to be soulmates were being kept apart because some book says that they don't belong together, but they seem to know better. Is the book right and they're ultimately bad for each other, or is their love so strong that they're destined to be together no matter what, and nothing or nobody can stop them?

Having said that, I agree with you about Emily Blunt. I didn't like her in the beginning of the movie, but she became more likable as the movie went on.

[gbgoodies]

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Susan Slept Here (1954)

Director: Frank Tashlin
Writers: Alex Gottlieb (screenplay), Steve Fisher(play)
Cast: Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

About: On Christmas Eve, Mark Christopher (Dick Powell) a burnt out Hollywood movie screenwriter who wants nothing more than to write a serious drama...finds a teenage girl at his apartment door. Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds) is a good kid, but has no home and no place to go.

Because she was picked up for fighting and vagrancy, the cops are going to haul her off to juvenile detention. It's the 50s! But the cops do have a heart, well sort of, and let her spend the evening at the writer's apartment so she can stay out of jail on Christmas Eve and he can write a serious drama about teen delinquency.

Review: This might be one of the very few older films that's more shocking now, than when it was first shown in 1954. Dick Powell plays a 35 year old man who has a 17 year old teenage girl spend the night at his apartment. Of course no hanky panky ensues.

But, what happens is creepy because a romance develops that smacks of wrongness. Dick Powell was 50 years old when he made this movie and he looks older than that. And when a fresh faced girlish Debbie Reynolds falls for him, it just feels plain icky.

In the 50s an older guy shacking up with a younger girl might have been the stuff everyone winked at, but today it seems wrong.

I still enjoyed the movie, Debbie Reynolds was very energetic and funny in this. The movie was shot in Technicolor and was based on a stage play of the same name. The movies story was later redone as 1962's Bachelor Flat. This was Dick Powell's last film role, though he did go onto television where he had his own show.

rating_3


.


Like you said, Susan Slept Here is an enjoyable movie, but Dick Powell was way too old for Debbie Reynolds, so the romance doesn't work. It doesn't feel like they belong together, so it doesn't make you want to see them end up together. I thought Debbie Reynolds was great in the movie, so Dick Powell was the one who was miscast because he was too old for her. They really couldn't recast Debbie Reynolds' role with someone older than her because as it is, it was a stretch to believe that she was only 17 years old, so they should have cast someone younger in his role.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=28901&stc=1&d=1487301656
Susan Slept Here (1954)

Director: Frank Tashlin
Writers: Alex Gottlieb (screenplay), Steve Fisher(play)
Cast: Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

About: On Christmas Eve, Mark Christopher (Dick Powell) a burnt out Hollywood movie screenwriter who wants nothing more than to write a serious drama...finds a teenage girl at his apartment door. Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds) is a good kid, but has no home and no place to go.

Because she was picked up for fighting and vagrancy, the cops are going to haul her off to juvenile detention. It's the 50s! But the cops do have a heart, well sort of, and let her spend the evening at the writer's apartment so she can stay out of jail on Christmas Eve and he can write a serious drama about teen delinquency.

Review: This might be one of the very few older films that's more shocking now, than when it was first shown in 1954. Dick Powell plays a 35 year old man who has a 17 year old teenage girl spend the night at his apartment. Of course no hanky panky ensues.

But, what happens is creepy because a romance develops that smacks of wrongness. Dick Powell was 50 years old when he made this movie and he looks older than that. And when a fresh faced girlish Debbie Reynolds falls for him, it just feels plain icky.

In the 50s an older guy shacking up with a younger girl might have been the stuff everyone winked at, but today it seems wrong.

I still enjoyed the movie, Debbie Reynolds was very energetic and funny in this. The movie was shot in Technicolor and was based on a stage play of the same name. The movies story was later redone as 1962's Bachelor Flat. This was Dick Powell's last film role, though he did go onto television where he had his own show.

rating_3


.

I'm just searching thru your thread and I must say with all due respect and not sarcastically that you are a brave reviewer . This my comment is not meant to be invasive, offensive, sarcastic or such. Well, my point is, I see quite an amount of comedies under your reviewer eye and in my opinion the comedy is a genre that is very personal and subjective to judge or critique objectively in any way. I could have lots of laughs with cheesy Italian films with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill or antique Louis de Funès films but today nobody would care. I could laugh like crazy and be entertained by some Hollywood stinker. I could laugh or not with Clerks (Kevin Smith) only because I used work and live in Americas for some time and could comprehend a bit better. Otherwise, Kevin Smith's films wouldn't tell me absolutely nothing. I simply admire your bravery to comment on comedies at all. I'm still to discover the beauty of comedy genre as I've preferred otherwise. Thank you. :)

[Citizen Rules]

Nestorio_Miklos

Well, thank you:p I try my best!....I know what you mean, a lot of people don't like comedy, and like you said humor is subjective. I like comedies, they all don't work for me but usually there's something in them to make me smile:) I hardly ever laugh out loud, but I laugh on the inside.

Glad you stopped by! I welcome all comments, these reviews are just my opinion and I know people will not always agree, which is fine:p

[Nestorio_Miklos]

[CENTER]Donnie Darko The Director's Cut

Indeed, it's a great film. I watched the first release like 7 - 8 times and then today finally I watched the Director's cut. Everything was fine until Cherita Chen with Autumn Angel, I simply miss that single rude whistle from someone in audience and someone's shouting: "Get off the stage, Cherita! You suck!" . Why did he cut it off? It belongs there. I'm not supporting harassment here, it's just for these tiny details, the short moments that you remember, you love a movie even more. :)

[Citizen Rules]

Which do you prefer? The directors cut or original theatrical release?

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Which do you prefer? The directors cut or original theatrical release?

I don't automatically reject director's cuts, but in this case I prefer original theatrical release. I miss those little things like I mentioned above, plus I didn't like those shots of 3D building and waves. But hey, other than that, it was still good old Donnie Darko. Actually, I'm motivated to re-watch the original. :):)

[Citizen Rules]

I don't automatically reject director's cuts, but in this case I prefer original theatrical release. I miss those little things like I mentioned above, plus I didn't like those shots of 3D building and waves. But hey, other than that, it was still good old Donnie Darko. Actually, I'm motivated to re-watch the original. :):) Glad you posted:p Others have also said they prefer the theatrical cut. I've only seen the directors cut and so really want to watch the original theatrical version one of these days.

Generally I find that the directors cut of any movie, is not as good as the original theatrical cut. I know many will disagree with me, but that's how I see it.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Well, let me know then if you like that whistle and rude yelling while Cherita's on stage:D:D. Speaking of Directors cuts, I actually did like Apocalypse Now Redux.

[Citizen Rules]

Well, let me know then if you like that whistle and rude yelling while Cherita's on stage:D:D. Speaking of Directors cuts, I actually did like Apocalypse Now Redux.I've not seen Apocalypse Now Redux. I prefer the theatrical cut of Dune and Blade Runner over the latter cuts.

[CosmicRunaway]

I keep getting the different cuts of Blade Runner mixed up, and no longer remember which one I liked the most haha.

[Citizen Rules]

Me too! I just remember that the original theatrical cut of Blade Runner has the voice over narration, the happy flying over the countryside ending and Deckard's origins are left ambiguous.

[Roy C.]

I've not seen Apocalypse Now Redux. I prefer the theatrical cut of Dune and Blade Runner over the latter cuts.

I agree with you on a number of cases regarding director cuts, but the Apocalypse Now Redux is better IMO. It doesn't substitute any scenes for others, but adds 49 additional minutes of film. Most of it consists of the French Plantation sequence and one with the Playmates. There's also extra conversational footage between Brando and Sheen. The film is basically a long journey, and the extra scenes are more sights to see. Not necessary to the trip, but still worthwhile and complementing.

[Citizen Rules]

I agree with you on a number of cases regarding director cuts, but the Apocalypse Now Redux is better IMO. It doesn't substitute any scenes for others, but adds 49 additional minutes of film. Most of it consists of the French Plantation sequence and one with the Playmates. There's also extra conversational footage between Brando and Sheen. The film is basically a long journey, and the extra scenes are more sights to see. Not necessary to the trip, but still worthwhile and complementing. Sold!...I'll watch that one of these days. I've only seen Apocalypse Now, once and that was 20 years ago? so long ago I don't remember anything about it.

[Citizen Rules]

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Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Joseph Stefano (screenplay), Robert Bloch (novel)
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Genre: Horror,Mystery, Thriller

Psycho...the guts of the movie


Fans of Hitch's 1960 horror cult classic have watched Psycho so many times that they know by heart every scene, every word of dialogue and each nervous glance by Norman Bates. Hitch is the master, so what else can be said?

A lot! Psycho is the result of many talented people who came together to tell one of the screen's most vivid horror stories.

Psycho starts not with Hitchcock but with a real life, grisly murderer
Ed Gein, who in 1957 was arrested for the murders of two women. In his home, police found artifacts made from his victims body parts. Most disturbing was clothing made of human skin. Psychiatrists came to the conclusion that the psychotic murderer was trying to make a woman suit to wear, so that he could become his dead mother! His mother had dominated him in life...and also in death. Obviously he inspired more than one classic horror film classic.

Living just miles away from the murder was a novelist working on a suspense thriller murder book. Robert Block published his novel Psycho in 1959. Also in 1959 Hitch was nearing completion on North by Northwest and was looking around for his next project. Reading the book Psycho on a flight over to England, Hitch then decides that this would be his next movie.

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Hitch Goes Roger Corman style: Hitch notices that a certain movie producer is churning out low budget, low quality horror films and making lots of money at it. The fans love them, though the critics don't.

Paramount studio has Hitch under contract for one more movie but they were nervous about making a big budget film from such a controversial book. This forces Hitch to use his own production company Shamley Productions...which then gave Hitch the opportunity to make one of those Roger Corman type movies, with a small budget and lots of grisly bang for the buck.

Joseph Stefano...most people don't know that name but they should. He's the screen writer who created Norman Bates and wrote the screenplay for Psycho. Some of the film's legendary status rightly belongs to him.

Stefano was a new kid on the block and Hitch disliked working with new writers, so Stefano knew he had to sell Hitch on his story treatment. He did that by solving one of the stories main problems: how to keep the audience feeling empathy after Marion Crane is killed off in the first quarter of the film.

The original Normal Bates in the novel and in an earlier screenplay had been a middle aged, balding, quiet man who was a homicidal murder. Hardly the kind of character the audience would warm up to...but they needed to do just that, as Marion is out of the picture right at the start...So out of that need is born a young, quirky and even likable Norman Bates, who exist thanks to Joseph Stefano.

Hitchcock: "I don't care about the subject matter; I don't care about the acting; but I do care about the pieces of film and the photography and the sound track and all of the technical ingredients that made the audience scream.."


Hitch's style, Hitch is known as a technical director who creates his movies in his head even before he starts shooting. Hitch works from storyboards and plots out each camera shot, leaving nothing to chance. The camera angle, the distances to the actors, the lighting, the lens focal length and camera movement is all done according to Hitch's master plan.

One thing Hitch is not known for is micro managing the film. He takes a hands off approach to both the script and the acting. Relying instead on choosing talented people who can do their job well.

Screenwriter Joseph Stefano tells the story that: one day in Hitch's office he asked Hitch about one of the story character's motivation for doing what they do. Hitch replied in his usual calm and cool manner, 'Joseph, that is for you to decide.'

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Janet Leigh also said in an interview, that Hitch wouldn't give her specific acting directions. Which is something other actors have said about him as well. Instead he left it up to her to interpret the script as she seen fit. But he was strict about one thing! Janet had to stay within the camera frame and not improvise by moving out of the frame. The camera dictated the scene, not the other way around.

"The Hitchcock touch has four hands, and two of them are Alma’s."

Charles Chaplin, Los Angeles Times


Alma Hitchcock, Hitch's wife and partner in the movie making business. Alma had a big influence on Hitch's film including Psycho. She would let Hitch know if his next movie idea was a good one. If Alma liked it, it got made. She read and approved of Stefano's script and the next day Hitch tells Stefano that Alma liked the script.

Alma was also in on casting and approved of the actors selected. Hitch always listened to her. In some ways Alma is the chairman of the board. She even sat in on editing. Much of Hitch's touch is Alma's.

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Anthony Perkins, when Stefano was writing his updated script of Psycho he had in mind this young stage actor as Norman Bates. At the start of production Hitch tells Stefano that Anthony Perkins is going to play Bates. Stefano couldn't believe the coincidence.

If Anthony Perkins hadn't been cast as the twisted but likable Norman Bates, I wouldn't be writing this review. He's that important to the movie. Perkins performance is the soul of Psycho! His improvisations of a nervous stuttering young man, under the thumb of his mother, is the stuff of movie legends. Reportedly Perkins engrossed himself so deep in the role he had a hard time shaking the specter of Bates after filming was over.

Janet Leigh, Hitch decided the role of Marion called for star power. No doubt he was familiar with her work from Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958), in which Janet Leigh played a woman held captive in a hotel room, while wearing not much more than her lingerie. Poor Janet, needed to stay away from motels!

Her role is brief as she's killed off towards the start of the film, but her part is pivotal. We get to see her at work at a bank, as she takes a wad of money from a rich and leering Texan. This is also when we see Hitch's daughter Pat Hitchcock, who provides some lighter moments that helps to take us off guard so that when the infamous shower scene takes place it has maximum effect.

Other Actors...It's easy to focus on Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh but there were other actors who helped shape the movie. Vera Miles plays Lila Crane, the sister of Marion who goes looking for her. Vera was slated to star in Vertigo but had to drop out due to a pregnancy. Vera has a small but pivotal role and adds depth to the film. I can't say the same for the actor who played Marion's boyfriend John Gavin...who comes across more like a Hollywood leading man than an actual character. However what Gavin lacks, Martin Balsam makes up for in his role as an investigator who's come looking for Marion and the $40,000 in cash she has stolen.

Bernard Herrmann...his name might not ring a bell but his music score for Psycho sure does...rheee! rheee! rheee! We all know that music from the shower scene that screeches terror at us. Herrmann made a bold decision and scored the movie only with string instruments. He explained he wanted a stark black & white sound to match the starkness of the movie. The screeching violins give an effect of fingernails being raked across a chalk board...very effective!

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The other big factor, that made Psycho an instant hit was it's highly creative and unusual ad campaign. Hitch insisted that all the theaters showing Psycho would agree to not allowing anyone to be seated once the movie had started. This was a very big deal...it was on the posters at the theater and in the newspaper ads. In some cases people even stood in a special queue line with prepaid tickets, just to make sure the policy was adhered to. The public were also told not to reveal the ending. This much sensationalized hype, generated even more interest in Psycho.

Does Psycho deserve all the praise that's been heaped on it over the years?...Well we're still watching it...and still being amazed by it! and that says a lot!
rating_5

[MovieMeditation]

Wow, that's impressive, CR! :up:

[Citizen Rules]

Wow, that's impressive, CR! :up: Thanks:p...and that is the last time I write a long review. Ugh!

[Chypmunk]

Love Psycho, Perkins is brilliant. Very nice write-up CR!

[Citizen Rules]

Love Psycho, Perkins is brilliant. Very nice write-up CR!
Most of that I learned from watching a neat documentary on the making of Psycho that was composed of interviews with the screenwriter Joseph Steffano who latter produced/wrote the Other Limits, Janet Leigh, Pat Hitchcock, Hitch's assistant and a few others. Really interesting doc.

[Chypmunk]

Most of that I learned from watching a neat documentary on the making of Psycho that was composed of interviews with the screenwriter Joseph Steffano who latter produced/wrote the Other Limits, Janet Leigh, Pat Hitchcock, Hitch's assistant and a few others. Really interesting doc.
So I should really be congratulating the documentary maker then :p ;)

[Citizen Rules]

So I should really be congratulating the documentary maker then :p ;) No, you should be congratulating me:p...I did all of that from memory and it took me like 3 days to get done! Never again do I want to write a review that long:cool:

[Chypmunk]

No, you should be congratulating me:p...I did all of that from memory and it took me like 3 days to get done! Never again do I want to write a review that long:cool:
Oh go on then ... keep the rep :)

[Citizen Rules]

Ha:p

Hey I seen another 50s B sci fi film, I bet you seen it too. Off I go to work on my short review.:)

[MovieMeditation]

Thanks:p...and that is the last time I write a long review. Ugh!
C'mon, you are not even close to my Rogue Nation review. :p

[Citizen Rules]

C'mon, you are not even close to my Rogue Nation review. :pHow many words was that? I remember you wrote a realllly long one once, and I read it too.:p

[MovieMeditation]

How many words was that? I remember you wrote a realllly long one once, and I read it too.:p
That must have been the one, yes.

It was more than 5,000 words. :D

And I almost duplicated the length, unintentionally I promise, with my Before Midnight review. The Hateful Eight one wasn't short either...

[Citizen Rules]

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Attack of the Puppet People (1958)

Director: Bert I. Gordon
Writers: George Worthing Yates(screenplay), Bert I. Gordon(story)
Cast: John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney
Genre: B budget Sci fi
Length: 1 hour 19 minutes

About: A lonely, old doll-maker (John Hoyt) who has become deeply afraid of being alone, ever since his wife left him. In his deranged state, the otherwise kindly, old man takes to shrinking humans down to doll size for company. Then placing them in suspended animation jars, he occasionally takes them out, to talk to.

Review: A totally riotously fun 50s B sci fi horror flick produced by American International who produced 100s of low budget drive-in movies in the 60s-70s-80s.

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Sure the plot has holes and the acting isn't Oscar worthy, but damn is it fun! And at only 79 minutes the movie flys by. The two most noteworthy actors are John Agor most famous for marrying Shirley Temple (after she grew up!) and John Hoyt who among his credits list Spartacus, Blackboard Jungle and to me the coolest credit is he played the aged scientist in the original Star Trek pilot The Cage.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29034&stc=1&d=1487818412
John Agar and June Kenney look on in apprehension at the mad doll maker who just shrunk them.


By far, the best reason to watch this is June Kenney, who looks like a living doll, she's so tiny, no doubt that was why she was hired.

Fun Factorrating_2_5+++


.

[Chypmunk]

Nope, never seen it. See it's on YT though so might give it a whirl at some point.

[Citizen Rules]

Nope, never seen it. See it's on YT though so might give it a whirl at some point.You might like it, if you just want a fun movie, that has many nonsensical parts. It's cute-fun and a bit silly...but I liked it.

[Chypmunk]

You might like it, if you just want a fun movie, that has many nonsensical parts. It's cute-fun and a bit silly...but I liked it.
Everybody knows I watch any old crap :)

[Citizen Rules]

Ha:D...I seen some old crap that was pretty good old crap last night, another 50s sci fi film, but one with a bigger budget...I need to review it!

[Gideon58]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Arial]Alma Hitchcock, Hitch's wife and partner in the movie making business. Alma had a big influence on Hitch's film including Psycho. She would let Hitch know if his next movie idea was a good one. If Alma liked it, it got made. She read and approved of Stefano's script and the next day Hitch tells Stefano that Alma liked the script.

Alma was also in on casting and approved of the actors selected. Hitch always listened to her. In some ways, Alma is the chairman of the board. She even set in on editing, much of the Hitch touch is Alma's.



All this was documented in the film Hitchcock with Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren which motivated me to check the IMDB page for Psycho and imagine my surprise that Alma's name was not listed anywhere among the production crew. Whatever contribution she made to Psycho, she received no onscreen credit for it.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29081&stc=1&d=1487991904
4D Man (1959)

Director: Irvin S Yeaworth Jr.
Cast: Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether, James Congdon, Robert Strauss, Patty Duke
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Romance

About: Two brothers who are brilliant scientists working with atomic molecular cohesion. The two haven't seen each other in years and parted on bad terms. Older brother Scott has a prestigious job working on government defense projects. Tony is a bit of a rogue and after accidentally burning down his last employers building, he travels to meet his brother and show him a field intensity amplifier which enables a person to enter into the 4th dimension, allowing them to freely pass through any object, even steel.

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Review: A very impressive movie that kept me guessing as to what was next, right up until the end. Right away I could tell this was no cheap B budget film. It's a color film, with lots of on location settings and high production values. The sets look genuine. Also what's cool is it's the film debut of both Robert Lansing and Lee Meriwether.

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A young Lee Meriwether makes her first film appearances, only a few years after being crowned Miss America in the 1955 beauty pageant.


For almost half the film, the story revolves around Lee Meriwether falling in love with the younger brother, behind her fiances Robert Lansing back. I really thought that this was becoming a melodrama which was so popular in the late 50's, when low and behind one of the brothers becomes a 4D man who draws energy out of living humans by merely touching them.

Some of the scenes were quite shocking, especially what happens to the young girl in the convertible and to a very young Patty Duke...I must say the last half of the movie was tense and the special effects looked pretty good!

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Robert Lansing in his first movie role, has 'ageing make up' to make him look older. In his 'Mr Hyde' state of mind, he ogles a young B-girl that he picked up in the bar. She's going to get more than what she's bargained for.


I really liked this one!

rating_3_5+

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen (or even heard of) Attack of the Puppet People or 4D Man, but it might be fun to watch some old movies with some Star Trek: TOS actors in them. I might give these movies a try.

[Chypmunk]

Cheers, added 4D Man to the list to watch sometime .... probably get round to a few more older sci-fi while the 40s list is being revealed.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen (or even heard of) Attack of the Puppet People or 4D Man, but it might be fun to watch some old movies with some Star Trek: TOS actors in them. I might give these movies a try. I think you would like both movies. 4D Man has three actors from ST TOS: Lee Meriwether and Robert Lansing and a third actor who was in your favorite episode of ST TOS. I won't tell you who it is so you can have the fun of spotting him:p

If you watch it, it would be cool if you post back here and let me know what you think. Same for Chyp or anyone actually. I'm always interested to hear if anyone watches any of these old movies besides me:p

[Citizen Rules]

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Arrival (2016)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers: Eric Heisserer(screenplay), Ted Chiang (story)
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery

About (spoiler free review): Earth is visited by twelve strange alien spacecraft that hover above the ground, on different places on the planet. What do they want? And how to communicate with them?
Enter into the picture, a college linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) who's pressed into helping translate the alien's language by a U.S. Colonel (Forest Whitaker). Her task is a daunting one and at stake is escalating chaos and war mongering that erupts among nervous humans.

Review: I love sci fi!...And I bet if I watched Arrival at the theater on the big screen with an impressive sound system, this would have gave me goose bumps, in the way that Gravity (2013), wowed people in the theaters. But I watched this on my relatively small 46" TV screen...I wasn't impressed. It was the same old first contact story with mysterious aliens visiting Earth, and humans getting nervous and then the military acting like dummy, blunder heads. I was hoping for something more intelligent than this from director Denis Villeneuve...

I mean some of the scenes with an ignorant military was so pot boiler cliche that it made me laugh out loud. I don't for a minute believe the U.S. military or any world power is going to look at an advance alien ship that lands on Earth, freak out and decide to attack them. Yeah, I know it adds drama! but it's improvable and been done a zillion times before.

The strong point of the film, and it's a very strong point is: The way the aliens look (their design and movement), the way we see them (the camera angle), the way the scene is set up and most impressively is what we don't see of them. That's important as the mind can generate a much richer image than any CG effect can. The alien encounter scenes are among the best I've ever seen in a sci fi. But that's not enough to make up for a weakly contrived plot.

Amy Adams is good, she's always good. I didn't care for the tacked on back story about her dying daughter, nor did I believe she could interpret the aliens communications. I mean people were baffled for decades by the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, and only deciphered them when they found the so called rosetta stone, which had the same message written in three different languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs & Egyptian written, and Greek.

Arrival has been done before on the Outer Limits TV show.

rating_3-

[Tugg]

Couldn't disagree more. "Arrival" is my #2 movie of 2016 so far. Amy Adams could communicate with aliens, because aliens changed the way her mind works.

[Citizen Rules]

Tugg what is your #1 movie of 2016?

[cricket]

I know I didn't completely get Arrival, but I think you missed it completely.

[Citizen Rules]

No, I didn't miss anything, I just didn't like it. Especially the over used protagonist military ploy. Old hat.

[Tugg]

Tugg what is your #1 movie of 2016?
Green Room
https://afterlobbydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/m5.jpg

[CosmicRunaway]

I saw Arrival in the theatre, but I actually would've preferred to watch it at home, where the ambient sound was much quieter. I don't think the size of the screen or the quality of the sound system would've changed my opinion of the film itself though.

I enjoyed the cinematography, and the designs of the heptapods were great, but I just didn't love the movie. I liked it, yes, but it didn't blow me away. I did appreciate it, and I definitely want to see more science fiction films like Arrival, but it was just missing something for me (maybe more Jeremy Renner would help? I like him). It may or may not have still earned a spot on my sci-fi list, and its still one of the better films I've seen from 2016, but I think I just wanted more from it.