Citizen Rules...Cinemaesque Chat-n-Review

[Citizen Rules]

Spotlight sounds OK to me, it depends on if they go for shock value or not. If shock value I won't like it.

I just looked up the other Oscar noms and these look good to me.

The Martian
Bridge of Spies
Room

[gbgoodies]

Spotlight sounds OK to me, it depends on if they go for shock value or not. If shock value I won't like it.

I just looked up the other Oscar noms and these look good to me.

The Martian
Bridge of Spies
Room


I'm kind of on the fence with both Bridge of Spies and Room. I'm not sure that either is my kind of movie, but I'm not sure that they're not either. But I always give Spielberg's movies a chance, so I'll probably watch Bridge of Spies before most of the other noms.

[seanc]

Glad you liked it CR. You take a trip to the cinema?

[Citizen Rules]

Nope...I didn't leave my house.:cool:

[Swan]

The only Oscar nominees I'm interested in seeing:

One half of The Revenant
Animolisa
The Martian
Room
The Hateful Eight

Other than that, I'm not that interested in any of them.

[Swan]

Of course, that does not mean I won't see others or that they won't surprise me. I'm an open book.

[Citizen Rules]

Room sounded interesting, I like to see how the story carries out. I'll probably watch The Hateful Eight at some time as it's a western.

[Citizen Rules]

Out of time, got a go....

You guys should check out Welcome to Me (2015) I thought it was a fresh idea and pretty well done.

[Swan]

Out of time, got a go....

You guys should check out Welcome to Me (2015) I thought it was a fresh idea and pretty well done.

You just like it 'cause there's a swan on the poster. :D

[TheUsualSuspect]

Spotlight sounds OK to me, it depends on if they go for shock value or not. If shock value I won't like it.

I just looked up the other Oscar noms and these look good to me.

The Martian
Bridge of Spies
Room

They don't. The facts they portray in the film are accurate. Even the most shocking scene, McAdams confronting a priest at his own home, is something that happened in real life.

[honeykid]

I'd like to see Spotlight and The Big Short. Maybe Room, too, but I don't see any need to see them in the cinema.

[Citizen Rules]

I'd like to see Spotlight and The Big Short. Maybe Room, too, but I don't see any need to see them in the cinema. A good cinema experience can result in a more positive view of a movie. The problem is, last time I went to the cinema it was a bad experience! I sat right next to this young couple, both were in the same seat too, yacking away, non stop for the entire movie:mad: That was also the last time, I went to the cinema.

[honeykid]

I'd go during the day, so it's unlikely there'll be anyone there who'd really annoy me. It's just that, while I'm interested in seeing those films, I don't want to see them enough to make the effort to go and do so. I think I'll enjoy/dislike them just as much on a small screen in a few years time as I will a big one now.

Unlike something such as The Revenant. I have little interest in seeing it and I don't think I'll like it, but if I'm going to see it, then, due to the scale of the film and the CGO, going to the cinema would give me the best chance of enjoying it.

[Citizen Rules]

I use to go to the cinema for half prize matinee. But geez, it's been like 10 years since I last went. One of these days I'm going to the Cinerama theater if they ever play an old classic that I want to see.

[Citizen Rules]

The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/static.screenweek.it/movie/514/poster/ita/original.jpg?1329138828



During the height of World War II, the U.S. Navy builds a highly advanced radar invisibility device. The experiment goes horribly wrong and the Navy ship vanishes into thin air. Two sailors who are abroad the ship are transported through time to 1984.

This is a fun sci fi film from the 80s. It has lots of romance and chase scenes. I like Nancy Allen and Michael Pare (whatever happened to him?

[gbgoodies]

I saw The Philadelphia Experiment a few years ago, and I remember is being a pretty good movie.

Have you seen The Final Countdown (1980)? It's a similar theme, and IMO a better movie.

[Citizen Rules]

No, and I remember a friend telling me about back in the 80s. He was keen on The Final Countdown (1980) and on Iceman (1984)....All this time and I still have not seen them:cool:

[gbgoodies]

No, and I remember a friend telling me about back in the 80s. He was keen on The Final Countdown (1980) and on Iceman (1984)....All this time and I still have not seen them:cool:


I haven't seen Iceman, but I highly recommend The Final Countdown.

[Citizen Rules]

I added The Final Countdown to my ever growing watch list, it sounds like a fun movie. Thanks for mentioning it:)

Good news, I did manage to watch one of the movies on my list.

So a BIG Thanks to Captain Steel for recommending the next movie I review.

[gbgoodies]

I added The Final Countdown to my ever growing watch list, it sounds like a fun movie. Thanks for mentioning it:)

Good news, I did manage to watch one of the movies on my list.

So a BIG Thanks to Captain Steel for recommending the next movie I review.


I'm glad someone is able to catch up their watchlist. Mine's been sidetracked by DVR problems and TCM recently. I think TCM knows that we have a 50's list coming up because they've been showing a lot of 50's movies recently. :lol:

But at least I was able to get in a rewatch of Ace in the Hole (1951) for the 50's HoF, and I even found a Gene Kelly movie, (NOT a musical), that I had never heard of before. :)

[Captain Steel]

I always got those two confused (Philadelphia Exp. & Final Countdown).

I agree with gbg that Final Countdown is better: first its got some major stars with Kirk Douglas leading the cast. Second, it's kind of a reverse plot from Philadelphia Exp. in that a "modern" aircraft carrier (1980) goes back in time to the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack and faces the question of altering time by intervening. It's been so long - I need to see that again.

P.S. I saw Iceman in the theater back in '84. It was a pretty decent sci-fi. I haven't seen it since, so I might end up enjoying it even more by seeing it again.

Maybe someone can help me here - Iceman reminded me of a film they showed us in school - it was about bringing a Neanderthal baby into the present via some kind of time machine. I only remember that a lady who takes care of the child ends up developing strong maternal feelings and (I think) she goes back in time with the child. I think that's how it ended (we never find out what happened to the woman once she went back to Neanderthal times.) I don't know if this was an independent film or what, but since they showed it in school it was probably short & more like an "after school special" or made-for-TV movie. I guess it made an impact because I always remembered it, but can't remember the title.

[gbgoodies]

I always got those two confused (Philadelphia Exp. & Final Countdown).

I agree with gbg that Final Countdown is better: first its got some major stars with Kirk Douglas leading the cast. Second, it's kind of a reverse plot from Philadelphia Exp. in that a "modern" aircraft carrier (1980) goes back in time to the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack and faces the question of altering time by intervening. It's been so long - I need to see that again.




In addition to Kirk Douglas, it also stars Martin Sheen, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. Definitely a great cast.

I'd like to read both of your reviews after you watch it. It's one of my favorite time travel movies.

[gbgoodies]

Maybe someone can help me here - Iceman reminded me of a film they showed us in school - it was about bringing a Neanderthal baby into the present via some kind of time machine. I only remember that a lady who takes care of the child ends up developing strong maternal feelings and (I think) she goes back in time with the child. I think that's how it ended (we never find out what happened to the woman once she went back to Neanderthal times.) I don't know if this was an independent film or what, but since they showed it in school it was probably short & more like an "after school special" or made-for-TV movie. I guess it made an impact because I always remembered it, but can't remember the title.


Capt, you might want to post this question in the Movie Questions section. You're more likely to get an answer there.

[mark f]

Maybe someone can help me here - Iceman reminded me of a film they showed us in school - it was about bringing a Neanderthal baby into the present via some kind of time machine. I only remember that a lady who takes care of the child ends up developing strong maternal feelings and (I think) she goes back in time with the child. I think that's how it ended (we never find out what happened to the woman once she went back to Neanderthal times.) I don't know if this was an independent film or what, but since they showed it in school it was probably short & more like an "after school special" or made-for-TV movie. I guess it made an impact because I always remembered it, but can't remember the title.
The Ugly Little Boy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176261/?ref_=kw_li_tt)

[Citizen Rules]

I'll try to bump the Final Countdown up so I can watch and review it sooner. I have to say Captain's recommendation which I watched the other night was pretty darn good. Both you and the Captain have given me some great film ideas to watch.

But I'm running out of time so I will review it, hopefully tomorrow. You can probably guess which film it is?

[Citizen Rules]

Wow! Mark got that one fast, I didn't have a clue to what the film was.

[gbgoodies]

I'll try to bump the Final Countdown up so I can watch and review it sooner. I have to say Captain's recommendation which I watched the other night was pretty darn good. Both you and the Captain have given me some great film ideas to watch.

But I'm running out of time so I will review it, hopefully tomorrow. You can probably guess which film it is?


Probably something from his obscure movies list. There were some interesting sci-fi movies on that list.

[Captain Steel]

The Ugly Little Boy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176261/?ref_=kw_li_tt)

Wow! Thanks Mark!
Hah! I never would have guessed that title (although it's fitting)!

I see it was written by Issac Asimov (I got to see him speak in person at a local high school back in the 80's)!

Run time: 26 minutes! (And I'm the guy always criticizing movies for being too long!) ;)

Looks like this was specifically made FOR classrooms. I just remember the end being really heart breaking.

For Rules - going on very limited memory here, but you might like Iceman because I think it's "cerebral." I don't remember it having much action or violence (if any). And I think that's why it didn't do well in theaters. But it's got a following because it's a sci-fi that relies on intelligent writing as opposed to eye-boggling special effects.

[Citizen Rules]

Nope not sci fi, but he did have some good ones in his list. It's dinner time for me.

The Ugly Little Boy (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uMJpj5YvyL8)is on Youtube and only 26 minutes long. It's based on a Isaac Asimov short story.

[Captain Steel]

Nope not sci fi, but he did have some good ones in his list. It's dinner time for me.

The Ugly Little Boy (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uMJpj5YvyL8)is on Youtube and only 26 minutes long. It's based on a Isaac Asimov short story.

I'm watching it on YouTube now. (It's painfully 70's!) And, don't mean to go on about it, but being a trivia nut, I now see that the scientist in it is played by Barry Morse who played the professor on Space 1999. :)

[mark f]

The woman doctor is Kate Reid from The Andromeda Strain.

[Gideon58]

http://patriciabarrera.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/vlcsnap-00184.jpg
Another Earth (2011)

Director: Mike Cahill
Writers: Mike Cahill, Brit Marling
Cast: Brit Marling, William Mapother, Matthew-Lee Erlbach
Length: 92 minutes
Country: USA...Indie Production

Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2011
Won: Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize
Won: Special Jury Prize
Nominated: Grand Jury Prize

Synopsis: A teenage girl driving home drunk from a party, slams into a car killing a mother and her child...only the husband survives. The story begins four years latter when the girl is released from prison. Guilt ridden, she seeks to apologize to the man who's family she's killed, instead she looses her nerve, lies to him and becomes his house cleaner.

Another Earth is a fine Indie film that won a slew of awards, including two prestigious Sundance Awards. It might look like a sci-fi, but it's not. Besides the news broadcast of the discovery of another Earth like planet, there's no sci fi elements. The film revolves around the relationship between the two survivors of the car crash. That relationship is based on a lie.

What I found fascinating was the way the movie explored the guilt that these people had and how they dealt with it. I believed I was watching real people, especially Brit Marling who's amazing.

As this is a small budget Indie film, don't expect to see fancy sets and beautiful scenery. Instead the film rewards the viewer with top notch acting and a unique story line.

rating_4
This movie sounds really interesting, I think I'm adding it to my watchlist.

[Gideon58]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcczAqshmCc/UxOenNEiXbI/AAAAAAAAEGs/pYI2uCHyRNQ/s1600/423684.1.jpg
Blue Jasmine (2013)

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard
Genre: Drama
Length: 98 minutes

Woody Allen manages to do it again...he writes himself into the movie. This time as a nervous-neurotic, pill popping woman, Jasmine. Her character like many characters written by Woody, is a bundle of live nerves, rambling million words a minute while lamenting everything in life.

Premise (no spoilers): Jasmine (Cate Blancett) is an ultra rich snobby woman who's married to a weaselly financial investor/swindler, aptly played by Alex Balwin. They loose their fortunate, so Jasmine leaves the glamorous life behind to live with her working class sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Franciso.

Actors: Cate Blancett is a well respected actress and she was admirable in the film. However her reserved nature is not so suited to playing a rambling neurotic woman. She's good, but another actress would have been better. Sally Hawkins is always great in her roles, she really adds much needed life to what feels like a very shallow film with people we don't really care about. Her scenes were the best part of the film. Andrew Dice Clay, yah that one, is pretty darn good as an opinionated working class stiff.

Cinematography: The camera work is fine but just look at that horrendous yellow tint in that photo. Most of the movie looks like that. This is the same over-satured yellow cast that Woody used in Magic In The Moonlight. It's very distracting, as is the flash back scene edits. They're abrupt and seem to happen at the wrong time in the film.

Conclusion: I didn't buy into the film or care about the characters, especially the relationship scenes. I wonder if Woody Allen knows much about women as the males who hit on the ladies in the film seem totally artificially....If you like Woody Allen type films, you should like Blue Jasmine at least the actors were good.

rating_2_5
I'm intrigued about your opinion of the casting of Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine...I thought she was brilliant. I think it was more of a case of casting against type rather than miscasting. Who would you have cast in the role?

[Gideon58]

See, I actually think he's funny on screen, or at least in his earlier movies he was. I'm watching Midnight In Paris tonight so keep your fingers crossed;)

I'll add Annie Hall and Bullets Over Broadway to my watch list, I've seen neither.
It's so nice to know that I'm not the only person who doesn't think Annie Hall is a freaking masterpiece...I think Woody has made half a dozen films that are better.

[Citizen Rules]

Gideon: If you watch Another Earth please give me a PM so I can see your review (just in case I miss the post).

I didn't like Blue Jasmine when I first seen it as I was only starting to watch Woody Allen movies and didn't like his movies....But a couple of MoFos challenged me to watch more of his movies and I found I do like a lot of his films. So I should rewatch Blue Jasmine as now I 'get' Woody and his films, so I bet I would like it more.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23974&stc=1&d=1454184859
Vacation (2015)

Directors:John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein
Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins
Genre: Comedy Farce
Rating: R
Length: 99 minutes

Mini Synopsis: Rusty Griswold is now grown up with a family of his own. He decides to relive his road trip vacation from his youth. So he takes the family on a wild road trip to the infamous theme park, Walley World.

My Review...This sequel to the Chevy Chase, Vacation movies, is obnoxious, rude, crude and lewd... with sophomoric humor that mainly consist of graphic sexually rude jokes, an obnoxious 10 year old who drops the F bomb like clockwork and a cow that is graphically killed. OK it is a CG cow, but not something that needed to be shown. If Beavis and Butthead wrote a movie script this would be it!

There's very little to laugh at here, the director knows it too and that's why he goes to the Shock Humor. It's too bad because Christina Applegate is great as the new Mrs Griswald. She's smart, with a comic sense of timing and very watchable. The guy who plays Mr Griswald, the grown up Rusty (Ed Helms) is actually pretty darn good too. He reminds me of a young Chevy Chase. The two actors who played the kids are just OK, then again the kids in the Vacation movies were never the strong part.

There's some original humor here, like the Albania made rental van that the Griswalds use to travel cross country. Nothing works right on this 'concept' vehicle and all the features it does have like exploding windows are not only useless, but dangerous.

Too bad this movie mainly gets it's kicks from the gutter.

rating_2

[seanc]

Ed Helms can be very funny. He was great in The Office and the first Hangover movie. He has left a lot to be desired lately though. I have no interest in Vacation.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey Sean, you are not missing much with Vacation. I read that a lot of people took little kids to the film thinking it would be like the original Vacation. OMG! I feel sorry for any kid who had to listen to that junk. The only reason I got it was my Netflix Queue was empty and I didn't know what to get (I should have asked you guys for some suggestions).

[honeykid]

I don't get how this is any different to the older NL films? Which I assume you liked.

[Swan]

No need to insult Beavis and Butthead, Citizen. :D

[Citizen Rules]

Ha, I loved the original MTV Beavis and Butthead and seen every episode many times over. But boy are those guys idiots:D Couch Fishing! I love that one.

[Citizen Rules]

I don't get how this is any different to the older NL films? Which I assume you liked. Have you seen it? Some of the stuff they said belonged in a XXX film. At least this should have been rated NC17.

[honeykid]

I've not seen it, no. However, I can't think of anything said, at all, which should belong in a XXX film

[Captain Steel]

I haven't seen the new Vacation, but I like the originals.

The first had some blue humor (and some black humor as well, what with what happened to the dog & Aunt Edna strapped to the roof of the car!)

But I remember one F-bomb being dropped, and because it wasn't used throughout the movie, it was used to effect. It was at the point when Clark really started to lose it and Wally World was no longer a destination, but an obsessive quest for him. He used it as an adjective that was juxatopsed to the context of what he was saying & who he was saying to. (No, I'm not going to explain what that's supposed to mean!) ;)

Cursing for the sake of cursing isn't always funny and becomes labored when overdone.
Most comedies today seem to think that saying the "eff word" the thousandth time in an hour is somehow hilarious. And as Rules pointed out, the gutter seems the only place most modern comedies get their material.
I hear over & over that there really are no good comedies anymore - they're all the same thing: continuous cursing, graphic sex jokes & toilet humor - but we have a generation of audiences conditioned to think that if these elements aren't included, then a movie cannot be funny.

[cricket]

I really like Ed Helms but I have no interest in the Vacation remake. The original is a top 10 comedy for me. I don't even care for the sequels.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23977&stc=1&d=1454194245

Ocean's Eleven (1960) goes to show that just because a film is old doesn't make it a classic.

With a cast that includes the Rat Pack...Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop...along with other accomplished actors like Cesar Romero, Richard Conte and Angie Dickson....this has to be one heck of a great movie right? Wrong!

I've seen this before but couldn't remember a thing about the movie, and after watching it again last night I know why...There's nothing here to remember! The scenes are misplaced and feel incomplete. Nothing in the film makes much sense nor does it even try to be anything other than an excuse for the Rat Pack to make a film.

http://rarefilm.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Oceans-Eleven-1960-3.jpg


The first entire hour which dragged, is about gathering the 11 members for the casino heist. The movie doesn't even try to be dramatic or action packed. It's not comic or witty either and there's no romance, no fun.

The film is about the planning and execution of a daring robbery of 5 casinos simultaneously and the aftermath after the job is done. That should have made for a great film like the similar Stanley Kubrick film The Killing (1956). But here we see next to nothing of the robbery plans or of the robbery itself, so the film doesn't work.

This was a dull movie. Only three brief scenes where rewarding.
1 when Deano sings, Ain't That a Kick in the Head.
2 when Sammy sings, Eee-O-11.
3 the scene with a drunken Shirley MacLaine.
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23978&stc=1&d=1454195472

A very young Angie Dickson plays Frank's estranged wife. But with so many characters, she, like everyone else gets little screen time and so the film never gets deep or even fun.

rating_2_5

[cricket]

I wasn't a fan of the remake, and I never had much desire to see the original. That's despite my love for casinos.

[Citizen Rules]

I don't gamble but I still like movies about casinos. My aunt worked as a Change Girl in Harold's club for years, she might have been the oldest one there. And my uncle, her husband was the guy who collected the money from the gaming area and took it under heavy security to the vault. He had a title name too, but I forget it now. When I was a little kid we visited them in Reno and I got to go into the big casino, it was pretty darn cool.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen the new Vacation, but I like the originals.

The first had some blue humor (and some black humor as well, what with what happened to the dog & Aunt Edna strapped to the roof of the car!)

But I remember one F-bomb being dropped, and because it wasn't used throughout the movie, it was used to effect. It was at the point when Clark really started to lose it and Wally World was no longer a destination, but an obsessive quest for him. He used it as an adjective that was juxatopsed to the context of what he was saying & who he was saying to. (No, I'm not going to explain what that's supposed to mean!) ;)

Cursing for the sake of cursing isn't always funny and becomes labored when overdone.
Most comedies today seem to think that saying the "eff word" the thousandth time in an hour is somehow hilarious. And as Rules pointed out, the gutter seems the only place most modern comedies get their material.
I hear over & over that there really are no good comedies anymore - they're all the same thing: continuous cursing, graphic sex jokes & toilet humor - but we have a generation of audiences conditioned to think that if these elements aren't included, then a movie cannot be funny. Well said Captain. And you know I would have liked Vacation (2015) if they hadn't gone to the gutter so many times.

I loved the original Vacations and I'm OK if the f word is used in context for either extreme anger in a drama or as you described Chevy using it. But just to have a 10 year old saying it over and over is playing to the lowest common denominator.

Think about the TV show The Simpsons, it's ran for almost ever because it's funny and it's humor comes out of intelligences and wit.

[Captain Steel]

I've never been able to watch Ocean's Eleven - started watching it once and got bored. And this is despite having a fondness for the Rat Pack. (For instance, I'll watch Robin & the Seven Hoods - which actually isn't a Rat Pack movie, but just Frank and Dean ... and Bing.) So I'm glad Rules confirmed that it's dull.

I've never watched any of the re-makes since I've never seen the whole original.

Now... some of that great coincidental trivia - I didn't know Dean sang "How Lucky Can One Guy Be?" in the movie. I love that song. Where did I first hear it? In Nat'l Lampoon's Las Vegas Vacation (see... we were just discussing the Vacation movies AND cricket mentioned casinos!)
I like the Vacation sequels, none as much as the original of course, but I have a fondness for Las Vegas Vacation probably because a lot of people dislike it. I think "European" is the weakest in the series, but still has some classic moments.

[Citizen Rules]

Now that I went and read about it, I've never seen Las Vegas Vacation, I need to see that one. So that's another Captain recommendation for me:p

I don't remember Deano singing How Lucky Can One Guy Be? in Ocean's Eleven, but if you read it, I'm sure he did it. Maybe as a background piece? and not as a performance scene.

[Captain Steel]

One more thought on the Vacation remake - I know the fact that Rusty & Audrey were never played by the same actors became a running joke (in Las Vegas Vacation, Chevy practically breaks the fourth wall with a joke about how he hardly recognizes the kids anymore!) But shouldn't they have offered the role of Rusty to Anthony Michael Hall?
(Maybe they did, but I don't feel like looking at the remake's trivia.)

P.S. I like Christina Applegate. Did she help redeem the movie in any way, at least visually?

[honeykid]

Ocean's Eleven was just the Rat Pack getting to hang out in Vegas while they shot a film. Possibly the first instance of that that I can think of. Or, at least, which I'm aware of. Famously Michael Caine did the same thing with Jaws: The Revenge. First page of the script opened in Bermuda and he thought, "Yep. That'll do me."

[Captain Steel]

Now that I went and read about it, I've never seen Las Vegas Vacation, I need to see that one. So that's another Captain recommendation for me:p

I don't remember Deano singing How Lucky Can One Guy Be? in Ocean's Eleven, but if you read it, I'm sure he did it. Maybe as a background piece? and not as a performance scene.

My mistake, Rules. It's the same song!
The title is Aint That a Kick in the Head?
The first line of the song is "How lucky can one guy be? I kissed her and she kissed me."

And heck... we might as well all have a listen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb4P-MZMzJs

[Citizen Rules]

One more thought on the Vacation remake - I know the fact that Rusty & Audrey were never played by the same actors became a running joke (in Las Vegas Vacation, Chevy practically breaks the fourth wall with a joke about how he hardly recognizes the kids anymore!) But shouldn't they have offered the role of Rusty to Anthony Michael Hall?
(Maybe they did, but I don't feel like looking at the remake's trivia.) They broke the fourth wall in Vacation 2015 when the dad tells the family he wants to go on a road trip like he did as a kid. So then the kids say things like so we're just redoing it again? How's this going to be different than the first one? That part was actually funny.

P.S. I like Christina Applegate. Did she help redeem the movie in any way, at least visually?Did you not read my review;) (joking) Yes! She was excellent as Mrs Griswald, I liked her better than Beverly D'Angelo and I DID like Beverly. Christina not only looked great, shes very funny. I wish she had a better script:eek:

BTW Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo make a cameo. I would never had recognized Chevy he looked like David Crosby.

[Captain Steel]

And... (I'm really going on tonight! Too much coffee!) ...
My love for the song Aint That a Kick in the Head? is derived from how it's used as a background piece in Vegas Vacation (not from Ocean's Eleven, since I've never seen the whole thing).

And it's perfectly used too... right after Clark loses a hand of black jack and is comically berated by the dealer, the music cues up and you hear Dean singing "How lucky can one guy be?" and the movie moves into a montage of the Griswald family members situations in Las Vegas all set to Deano's snappy tune!

[Citizen Rules]

And... (I'm really going on tonight! Too much coffee!) ...In a couple of hours I will have a nice cold beer:) Then I will write my third review for the day! A movie you recommended a week ago....will it be a smash! or trash?

[Captain Steel]

...In a couple of hours I will have a nice cold beer:) Then I will write my third review for the day! A movie you recommended a week ago....will it be a smash! or trash?

I've actually been waiting for that with baited breath (come to think of it, I have no idea what that expression means... "baited breath" ...sounds like a job for Listerine!)

Anyway, I have an idea which movie it is (since you "Ruled" out sci-fi).

[Citizen Rules]

I've actually been waiting for that with baited breath (come to think of it, I have no idea what that expression means... "baited breath" ...sounds like a job for Listerine!) Ha:p....Sounds like what a seal would say after a dinner of sardines.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23981&stc=1&d=1454206244
Muriel's Wedding (1994)
Director/Writer: P.J. Hogan
Cast: Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Bill Hunter
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Length: 106 minutes
Indie Film

What an awesome movie this Indie Australian film is! This is like no other movie I've watched. Sure it's a comedy, but it has a real serious side to it too. Muriel (Toni Collette) lives in a small Australian town, Porpoise Spit, and lives with a dysfunctional and lazy family. This could have turned out to be just another wacky comedy, but nope this film takes a lot of chances.

First off let me say Toni Collette is freakin amazing in this! She's overweight and has never had a date and spends here days locked in her room listening to ABBA. Like a lot of people in her situation she tries to fit it and make friends with the popular girls, but they reject her, brutally reject her.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDGNlLtAHiI/UcmegcftlSI/AAAAAAAADrc/7Xw-G9u2miI/s1600/tumblr_m89nvgZpL31rcezxuo1_500.jpg


What I love about this film is, it has no limits. Muriel is not a saint and does some very questionable things, and yet we can still understand why she does them. And her actions also impact her family, which causes a very interesting side story to take place. This is a very intelligently written film! It's not always a happy film either.

I loved all of the very real and colorful characters, especially Muriel's family and her one friend. The way various ABBA songs are weaved through the movie, becoming a focal point, has to be seen to understand it. I'm not even a fan of ABBA but the soundtrack really added to the movie.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=23982&stc=1&d=1454207554


Muriel's Wedding is one of those unique Indie films that really strikes pay dirt. Every scene is memorable and has something relevant to say. There's a lot of real life in this comedy-drama.

rating_4

[Gatsby]

Ha, I loved the original MTV Beavis and Butthead and seen every episode many times over. But boy are those guys idiots:D Couch Fishing! I love that one.
Huh huh huh love...idiot huh huh huh :D

[gbgoodies]

Vacation (2015)


My Review...This sequel to the Chevy Chase, Vacation movies, is obnoxious, rude, crude and lewd... with sophomoric humor that mainly consist of graphic sexually rude jokes, an obnoxious 10 year old who drops the F bomb like clockwork and a cow that is graphically killed. OK it is a CG cow, but not something that needed to be shown. If Beavis and Butthead wrote a movie script this would be it!



I haven't seen any of the Chevy Chase Vacation movies, so I have no interest in this movie either, but I didn't know that it was a sequel. I thought it was a remake.

[gbgoodies]

Ocean's Eleven (1960) goes to show that just because a film is old doesn't make it a classic.

With a cast that includes the Rat Pack...Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop...along with other accomplished actors like Cesar Romero, Richard Conte and Angie Dickson....this has to be one heck of a great movie right? Wrong!

I've seen this before but couldn't remember a thing about the movie, and after watching it again last night I know why...There's nothing here to remember! The scenes are misplaced and feel incomplete. Nothing in the film makes much sense nor does it even try to be anything other than an excuse for the Rat Pack to make a film.


It's been a while since I saw the 1960 version of Ocean's Eleven, but like you said, it isn't very memorable. I only remember small bits and pieces of the movie, and if I remember correctly, it was one of the few times that I thought the remake was better than the original.


This was a dull movie. Only three brief scenes where rewarding.

1 when Deano sings, Ain't That a Kick in the Head.


However, IMO, any movie that has even one scene with Dean Martin singing is worth watching. :)

[gbgoodies]

My mistake, Rules. It's the same song!
The title is Aint That a Kick in the Head?
The first line of the song is "How lucky can one guy be? I kissed her and she kissed me."

And heck... we might as well all have a listen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb4P-MZMzJs


Thanks for posting this video Capt.

Like I said, any chance to listen to Dean Martin sing is time well spent. :)

[MovieMeditation]

I haven't seen any of the Chevy Chase Vacation movies, so I have no interest in this movie either, but I didn't know that it was a sequel. I thought it was a remake.
It is, but it's also a sequel.

you know, the new hollywood trend in making films that works as sequels and rebooting the series at the same time. Like Jurassic World.

[gbgoodies]

It is, but it's also a sequel.

you know, the new hollywood trend in making films that works as sequels and rebooting the series at the same time. Like Jurassic World.


Thanks for the clarification. I didn't really think of Jurassic World as a remake. I just thought it was a sequel, but looking back, I can see what you mean.

[Captain Steel]

So Rules, I take it you like Muriel's Wedding better than Betsy's? ;)

[honeykid]

I've always thought/assumed that the makers of Mamma Mia (the original musical) saw Muriel's Wedding and took it on from there.

[Captain Steel]

I haven't seen any of the Chevy Chase Vacation movies, so I have no interest in this movie either, but I didn't know that it was a sequel. I thought it was a remake.

Thus, I'll have to do a quick breakdown (like I did for the Mad Max films).

First, they all have some blue humor in them - but nothing compared to today's gutter-fest where producers pay on a scale of "F" words per page. ;)

Second, the kids (Rusty & Audrey) are played by different actors in each film. And even their ages vary as Audrey seems to be the older sister in Christmas Vaca., but in the other films she's either younger or around the same age as Rusty. It became a running joke how the kids were different in each film, but it's still a shame that they couldn't have used the originals throughout the series.

1. Vacation (1983) - The original family-road-trip movie will never be surpassed. People love this movie. It's been copied by other films that are good, but don't come close (like Summer Rental (1985), and RV (2006)). It's got some wonderful comedic cameos and a great soundtrack!

2. European Vacation (1985) - The Griswalds win a trip to Europe. Some consider this the weakest in the series of the original 4. But it's still loaded with memorable, classic bits and lots of funny scenarios that develop throughout the trip. Eric Idle shows up throughout the film.

3. Christmas Vacation (1989) - Great to watch over the holidays. This one is a bit different from the rest because the Griswalds don't go on a trip. We get to meet their extended family, and cousin Eddie (from the first movie) returns.

4. Vegas Vacation (1997) - Last in the series. This one pays some homages to the first as cousin Eddie & family are back again and Clark encounters the hot blond in the red Ferrari (Christie Brinkley) out on the road - but I don't want to give away the joke. The Griswalds decide they might all have a better time if they split up to enjoy their vacations privately, but end up learning a lesson about togetherness. Features a great role for Wayne Newton as himself!

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen any of the Chevy Chase Vacation movies, so I have no interest in this movie either, but I didn't know that it was a sequel. I thought it was a remake. That's funny because that happened on Gideon's thread. To be honest my brain works in a different way;) Once I get the notion of using a word it automatically pops into my head and becomes interchangeable. I have all sorts of strange words I use and my wife has to guess what I mean, no kidding.

I don't know if this is a sequel, a remake or a reboot...and I don't care. Sometimes I think in English we have too many redundant words. All that matters is that this movie is a flop:eek:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update: I just looked up the definition of sequel and I was right this is a sequel which surprises me as I usually get that term wrong.

So in this movie,. the kid from the original Vacation films, Rusty, has grown up, married and has his own family. So that would be a sequel I guess.

[Citizen Rules]

So Rules, I take it you like Muriel's Wedding better than Betsy's? ;) I liked it much better than Betsy's Wedding, thanks for the recommendation!

I've always thought/assumed that the makers of Mamma Mia (the original musical) saw Muriel's Wedding and took it on from there.

From IMDB trivia section on Muriel's Wedding.

The writer/director P.J. Hogan wanted to use the music of ABBA in the film. At first, permission for the music to be used was denied. When the director promised to fly to Europe to plead his case to the founders of the band, permission was granted, as long as the band received a percentage of the film profits. The film turned out to be a big international hit, and thus helped inspire the very successful Broadway show which became the movie Mamma Mia! (2008).

[honeykid]

Thanks for that, CR. :) That's two things like that I've thought that have turned out to be true. The other was that The Hitcher was based on/bore an uncanny resemblance to The Doors, Riders On The Storm. Which it turns out it was.

[Citizen Rules]

Have you seen Muriel's Wedding? I think it might be your type of movie.

[honeykid]

Yknow, I never did get round to watching it.

[Citizen Rules]

https://burrellosubmarinemovies.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/1c.jpg
Nothing But Trouble (1991)
Director: Dan Aykroyd
Writers: Peter Aykroyd (story), Dan Aykroyd (screenplay)
Cast: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Demi Moore
Genre: Comedy
Length: 94 minutes

Synopsis (spoiler free): A rich, financial investor (Chevy Chase) takes a wrong turn on a road trip and ends up in the middle of nowhere. There he finds he's in the clutches of an ancient Judge who's as wacky as he is dangerous. Chevy finds himself locked in a decrepit old mansion with Demi Moore and guarded by a cop, John Candy.

What the hell did I just watch! I had never heard of 1991's Nothing But Trouble, who has? It's an obscure and strange film that seems to be inspired by an 1988 movie, Beatlejuice. We get the same comic-fantasy characters, who are potentially dangerous and are set in a very fantastic looking mansion.

But was it any good? Ummm. The mansion and the colossal junk yard that surrounds it deserved and Oscar for set design! I mean it's really intricate with stuff everywhere. And inside the mansion there's more stuff, lots of stuff, and lots of secret compartments and trap doors. That's the best part of the film.

Into that mix through in, Dan Aykroyd who plays both the old judge and a sort of mutant thing, Chevy Chase, Demi Moore who plays herself (well sort of) and John Candy who plays the town cop and the judges granddaughter too.

http://i.imgur.com/5QcA59v.jpg


If ALL of this isn't enough, they through in a bunch of big name 90s rappers. Tupac Shakur and Digital Underground.

But for all that, the film hardly works, thanks to a stiff Chevy Chase and a boring Demi Moore. Roger Ebert hated the film so much that he refused to even review it. However, unlike Roger, I just did;)

rating_2_5

[gbgoodies]

I find that Chevy Chase movies are usually either very good, (like Seems Like Old Times or Foul Play), or very bad, (like Under the Rainbow or Modern Problems). It sounds like Nothing But Trouble probably falls on the side of very bad.

[Captain Steel]

I find that Chevy Chase movies are usually either very good, (like Seems Like Old Times or Foul Play), or very bad, (like Under the Rainbow or Modern Problems). It sounds like Nothing But Trouble probably falls on the side of very bad.

I recall Nothing But Trouble being really weird (while, as Rules mentioned, having some interesting visuals and bizarre make-ups). Don't remember much about it, but that I never had a desire to see it again.

In addition to the Vacation movies, Chevy Chase in Fletch (1985) was pretty good (however, I think the sequel was a bomb - although I can't really remember if I saw it).

[gbgoodies]

I recall Nothing But Trouble being really weird (while, as Rules mentioned, having some interesting visuals and bizarre make-ups). Don't remember much about it, but that I never had a desire to see it again.

In addition to the Vacation movies, Chevy Chase in Fletch (1985) was pretty good (however, I think the sequel was a bomb - although I can't really remember if I saw it).


I heard that Fletch was very good, but I haven't seen it yet. It's been on my watchlist for a while. But for some reason, I never had any interest in any of the Vacation movies.

[Captain Steel]

I heard that Fletch was very good, but I haven't seen it yet. It's been on my watchlist for a while. But for some reason, I never had any interest in any of the Vacation movies.

Watch them seasonaly! This summer check out the first Vacation movie - it's definitely a Summertime movie (and may or may not make you feel like travelling - probably depends on if you want to go with family across country in a car... and "Oh, that smell from the back seat")!
Then watch European in the Fall.
Christmas has to be watched in Winter, obviously, preferably around Christmas.
And not that Vegas has a season, but watch it the following Spring!

Just a suggestion.

[gbgoodies]

Watch them seasonaly! This summer check out the first Vacation movie - it's definitely a Summertime movie (and may or may not make you feel like travelling - probably depends on if you want to go with family across country in a car... and "Oh, that smell from the back seat")!
Then watch European in the Fall.
Christmas has to be watched in Winter, obviously, preferably around Christmas.
And not that Vegas has a season, but watch it the following Spring!

Just a suggestion.


The last time I went on a vacation with my family, we all ended up having a huge blowout fight. My sister and her family left early, and I almost left in the middle of the night.

And that was at Disney World. Imagine what could have happened it we weren't at the "Happiest Place on Earth".

[Captain Steel]

The last time I went on a vacation with my family, we all ended up having a huge blowout fight. My sister and her family left early, and I almost left in the middle of the night.

And that was at Disney World. Imagine what could have happened it we weren't at the "Happiest Place on Earth".

Sounds like it would make a good movie!

[gbgoodies]

The last time I went on a vacation with my family, we all ended up having a huge blowout fight. My sister and her family left early, and I almost left in the middle of the night.

And that was at Disney World. Imagine what could have happened it we weren't at the "Happiest Place on Earth".

Sounds like it would make a good movie!


I doubt it. At least I wouldn't pay to see it. It was basically just one self-centered person causing all the problems. Just a normal day in my family. :shrug:

[honeykid]

I've heard of (and seen) Nothing But Trouble. I think it was in the early/mid 90's, but it might've been later. Anyway, it's rubbish, as pretty much every Chevy Chase film is. Frankly, that cast was enough to keep me away. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and John Candy? It's unlikely to be my thing.

[edarsenal]

Nothing But Trouble WAS a weird flick reminding me of a VERY BAD tip of the hat to the family in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. A twisted lil flick that repelled instead of attracted.

I'm with the general consensus that early Chase (Foul Play, Fletch, Caddyshack and the first Vacation - I felt SO SORRY for him in the following ones I JUST COULDN'T re-witness his agony over and over again, though I LOVED his raging dialogue in Christmas) was his truly best.

[Citizen Rules]

I so agree that Chevy Chase was brillant early on but lost it latter in his film career. One of the saddest things I've seen was the original premier of the Chevy Chase talk show. He was so uncomfortable it was hard to watch. With Chevy it's like he had a spark in his youth but as he got older he lost it.

[edarsenal]

yeah, his inner Peter Pan grew up. Or like Mad Hatter said in the recent Alice in Wonderland: "You've lost your muchness."

[cricket]

I remember when Nothing but Trouble came out. It was panned so bad that I had no interest in it, despite my fondness for the cast.

I loved early Chevy Chase, mostly Caddyshack, Vacation, Foul Play, and Seems Like Old Times. Fletch and Funny Farm weren't bad either. From everything I've heard, he turned into a top shelf jerk.

[Gideon58]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413VO5GNhmL.jpg

All That Heaven Allows (1955)
The Criterion Collection

Director: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead

Don't think because this has a couple big name Hollywood stars that it's a typical Hollywood movie. It's not.

All that Heaven Allows flies in the face of 1950's conventionalism with a refreshing message that rejects wealth and status, while searching for personal freedom.

The mid 50s were a time when Americans clutched to time honored traditions. McCarthyism and the 'red scare' was prevalent. Those individuals who bucked the system by marching to a different drummer risked being ostracized by their neighbors.

Jane Wyman plays a well-to-do, widowed woman in a small New England town. The society women at the country club don't approve of her relationship with a younger man who's a simply gardener, played by Rock Hudson. Her life is made miserable by the town's bigotry and the pressure to conform. Even her own children refuse to accept her relationship with a common working man.

On the outskirts of town is a small group of people who have rejected the need for wealth and status, choosing to live a simply country life.

"Don't give importance to things that aren't important." That's the motto the gardener lives by. He refuses to be embarrassed by his old car and his simply life style. The widow has to choose between confirming to her rich friends wishes or choosing love.

The Criterion Collection DVD is beautifully restored. The technicolor and quality of the print is amazing.

All That Heaven Allows has a somber tone, with an uplifting message. It's worthy of any cinema lover.

rating_4



I think I'm adding this to my watchlist too Citizen...the storyline reminds a lot of the Julianne Moore film Far From Heaven, which I LOVED.

[Citizen Rules]

I really liked Far From Heaven with Julianne Moore too.

IMDB says "This film [Far From Heaven] is heavily influenced by the work of Douglas Sirk."

I haven't seen many Douglas Sirk films but I do really like the ones I've seen. I thought All That Heaven Allows was some of Rock Hudson's best work and yes it does remind me of Far From Heaven in away, but not real similar.

[Gideon58]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K2ZTjpoM_cY/U-IzkivtAkI/AAAAAAAAETQ/kutMn1UGSX4/s1600/nakedlunch2.png
Naked Lunch (1991)

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: William S. Burroughs (novel), David Cronenberg
Cast: Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm

A bug exterminator in the 1950s becomes addicted to his bug spray, hallucinates and has a wild adventure as a secret agent writing a report on alien-bug activity at a mysterious port in Africa.

If the subject matter wasn't so dark, this would be a fun kids movie, like Mars Attacks!..but instead we get a story that is ridiculously wacky with cheesy looking special effect aliens-bugs. I wanted to shut this off in the first half hour but I hoped it would get better, it never did. The notion of a poor, bug exterminator getting hooked on his bug spray and using it like a narcotic with hallucinations, could have been a clever, fresh idea. But thanks to an overly wacky script written by David Cronenberg, we get a story that waste the talents of Peter Weller by going way over the top to zaniness.

I actually did like the scenes of Weller's talking alien-bug typewriter. That was the best part of the film as the typewriter serves as a narrator and Weller's subconscious too, giving him a chance to interact with himself. Had the script backed off a bit from the extreme hallucination scenes, it might have worked. There's an adage, 'less is more'. This is more.

The sets look great and are fascinating to see. They really give an illusion of a different reality. The art direction uses a rich pallet of warm colors, it's eye popping and that fits the mood of the film.

Even the direction is excellent with one biting exception....the director choice to use close ups of the alien-bug, holding the shots for a long time so that the viewer can easily see the alien is just a cheesy prop. Less would have been more here too.

If you want to see a film of this style by Cronenberg that actually works, watch Videodrome.

Naked Lunch, (the movie, not the novel) reminds me of something Hunter S Thompson might have done, only he would have done it up right. I'm giving high marks to Peter Weller who's always great in his films. And to the sets, art direction, editing, scoring and even directing.

rating_2
I'm sorry you were disappointed with this film...I was thinking about watching it because I LOVE Judy Davis, but your review tells me I can put it on hold for awhile.

[Citizen Rules]

Gideon, Naked Lunch might be a great movie, but it just wasn't my type of movie. There are people who really like it. I can say this, it's very different, never boring.

[Gideon58]

Sorry you didn't like this...I have always admired Naomi Watts work but no arguing that she looks nothing like Diana.

[Citizen Rules]

Sorry you didn't like this...I have always admired Naomi Watts work but no arguing that she looks nothing like Diana. This one?
http://www.wthejournal.com/images/made/images/actualites/Chopar_Diana_affich_film_ok_640_360_s_c1_center_center.jpg

I definitely didn't like it. But great artwork in that movie poster, she does look like Diana there.

[Gideon58]

Your mention of Vincente Minnelli made me want to add this to my watchlist.

[Gideon58]

I'll have to watch all of Friends again some day. I only saw it in rewinds, here or there and missed many episodes.
I remember Monica's storyline with Jon Favreau....maybe it was just me, but I didn't think Courtney Cox had any chemistry with Jon Favreau...she had more chemistry with Tom Selleck.

[Gideon58]

I am one of the people that didn't care for the first one, so I had no desire to watch the second. Out of Jim Carrey's comedies I liked The Cable Guy and Yes Man but my favorite Carrey movie is probably The Truman Show, followed very closely by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Don't remember too many movies from 2014. The ones I liked are: The Grand Budapest, Pride and St. Vincent. Movies I still want to see: Wild, Big Eyes, and The Salt of the Earth (documentary).

Do you have a running list of the movies you have reviewed already?
I didn't like the first Dumb and Dumber either and have no desire to see the second one.

[Gideon58]

I was thinking about adding this to my watchlist because it appeared to be sort of a distaff version of Into the Wild with Emile Hirsch, but after reading your review, I don't know....I'm hot and cold with Reese Witherspoon anyway.

[Citizen Rules]

I liked Reese in her first movie The Man in the Moon. I haven't seen enough of her films to have a strong opinion on her. Have you seen that one, it's set in the 1930s, I really liked it.

[Gideon58]

http://pier13hoboken.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Top-Gun-H.jpg
Top Gun (1986)

Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Kelly McGillis, Tom Skerritt, Val Kilmer, Michael Ironside
Genre: Action
Length: 110 minutes


Can you believe this? I've never seen Top Gun before. Ya, I know everyone these days is hatin' on Cruise but back in the day he was very popular.

Top Gun starts out with a dramatic launching of F14A Tomcat Jets from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Yup that's actual footage, not CG and not scale models. And that's the high light of this movie! Real jet planes that are really flying up in the sky and doing aerial dog fights too. Pretty cool.

The film starts out with a beautifully filmed scene of F14A Tomcats leaving the deck of an aircraft carrier. Colored lens filters are used to give a dark silhouette look in warm golden sepia tones. Very stylish. Later in some romance scenes, back lit silhouette is done again, this time with Cruise and his love interest, Kelly McGillis making out, all in dramatic blue tint....Geez, put your tongues back into your mouths you two!

Don't expect a riveting story, it ain't that. You get a rivalry between the impulsive and reckless Maverick (Tom Cruise) and the fly by the book, top ace, Ice Man (Val Kilmer). Val never looked slimmer. There's some cool life and death dog fighting scenes with a couple of Russian Migs, I mean Soviet Migs as this is 1986 and the Soviet Union is still around.

Too bad Cruise is annoying in the film. Ya I know he's suppose to be annoying, well he is, he just sort of hams it up with his too cool to care grin. Kelly McGillis is looking good, but seems a poor match for Tom as she is bigger than him. Oh and don't forget to check out a young Meg Ryan playing a flaky Navy wife.

Not a deep movie, but fun. Great sound track too. Kudos for the actual footage shot of jets and the aircraft carrier that gives the film a realer feel.

rating_3


I liked Top Gun when it first came out, but the movie has really not aged very well...Cruise and McGillis have no chemistry at all (learning later that McGillis was a lesbian explained that) and Val Kilmer has never looked better...the only thing in this movie that still works in 2016 is the shirtless volleyball scene.

[Citizen Rules]

Cruise and McGillis have no chemistry at all Totally agree.

(...learning later that McGillis was a lesbian explained that) I never knew that until now. I thought she just seemed physically larger than him and they just didn't match up.

I'm still working on watching Tom Cruises filmography, I've just been side tracked lately, but hope to watch some more of his movies.

[honeykid]

I remember Monica's storyline with Jon Favreau....maybe it was just me, but I didn't think Courtney Cox had any chemistry with Jon Favreau...she had more chemistry with Tom Selleck.

I agree with you Gideon. Though I'm not helped by the fact that I really don't like Job Favreau at all.

[Gideon58]

I liked Reese in her first movie The Man in the Moon. I haven't seen enough of her films to have a strong opinion on her. Have you seen that one, it's set in the 1930s, I really liked it.
She was good in The Man in the Moon, but Election was best performance.

[Captain Steel]

Totally agree.
I never knew that until now. I thought she just seemed physically larger than him and they just didn't match up.

I'm still working on watching Tom Cruises filmography, I've just been side tracked lately, but hope to watch some more of his movies.

Just had to comment on that thought - I recently viewed Tropic Thunder (based on MoFo mention) and Tom Cruise is in it - though not immediately recognizable.

[Citizen Rules]

OK...Tropic Thunder...I'll put it on my ever growing to watch list. And Tom was in a recent 2015 sci fi film I need to see.

[Captain Steel]

OK...Tropic Thunder...I'll put it on my ever growing to watch list. And Tom was in a recent 2015 sci fi film I need to see.

Just for the record, I wasn't really recommending it, just mentioning that Cruise is in it. As a comedy it's okay, but probably not worth bumping onto your watch list (unless you find yourself in the mood for a Ben Stiller / Jack Black level comedy).

[Citizen Rules]

Oh OK...I will still watch it someday but now later than sooner:p

[honeykid]

Like never? That'd be my advice.

[Citizen Rules]

Can't be that bad?

[gbgoodies]

Can't be that bad?


Yes, it can.

[honeykid]

Have you ever seen a Ben Stiller or Jack Black film? Yes, it's that bad. :D

[Citizen Rules]

:eek:

[Captain Steel]

If Ben Stiller / Jack Black are a "level" (say as 3 on a 1 to 10 scale of comedy) then where does Adam Sandler fall?

(Probably in the negative numbers I'd guess?) ;)

[honeykid]

I think they're all on the same level.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24049&stc=1&d=1454619458
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writer: John Michael Hayes(screenplay)
Cast: James Stewart, Doris Day, Daniel Gelin, Brenda de Banzie
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Length: 2 hours
Studio: Paramount

Synopsis (Spoiler Free): On a family vacation to Morocco a husband and wife accidentally stumble into a secret assassination plot. The conspirators are determined to keep the family from going to the police with information that would spoil the conspirators plans.

Review: Hitchcock films are almost always masterpieces. Hitch put maximum effort into planning out each of the scenes. He would spend his time off set, visualizing the next scene that he would be shooting...Hitch would 'see' the scene in his head from every imaginable camera angle, and that's a big reason why his films almost always work so well. He left nothing to chance.

Hitch knew how to evoke the audiences reactions. Just as importantly he knew when to 'relieve' that tension. As the mystery deepens in the movie and the tension grows, Hitch included some lighter comic scenes to give the audience a chance to reset their emotions. Without that break, we would emotionally burn out during a two hour tension filled movie. Hitchcock is rightful called a genius as he understands that his film pacing went hand and hand with the audiences attention spans.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24056&stc=1&d=1454620504

Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart enjoy a happy moment before their lives are turned upside down.


There's another important component that Hitch utilized so well, the actors. Hitch knew how to pick them. James Stewart was one of the most likable and talented actors at the time. Stewart was in four of Hitch's films. Stewart works so well because he represents the average guy. When you watch Stewart you don't think your watching a big Hollywood star, you believe he's actually a small town doctor on a vacation.

But it takes two, and the flip side is Doris Day. Doris is like the female equivalent of James Stewart. She's pretty, but not Hollywood glamorous. She's likeable and seems like a person who you could know in real life. Like Stewart she's very believable in her role. She's usually remembered for her many comic musical movies...but here Doris does an amazing job of acting. I believed I actually was watching a frightened, panic mother.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24051&stc=1&d=1454619487


Que Sera Sera is the song Doris sings twice in this movie. She sings it once beautifully with her son. The second time is at the climax of the movie and she sings it rushed with clipped notes. That's a testament to her acting ability, even during the song she stays in character.

No review of this movie would be complete without mentioning the music score, done by Bernard Herrmann who wrote the amazingly effective, but low key score. He's prominently featured on screen as the conductor of the London Symphony.

The lasts 12 minutes of the film are done without a single word of dialogue being spoken and consists of 124 shots in that time. The cinematography in the Albert Hall is sublime.

One last thing about this movie. In the 1950's TV was growing in popularity and taking a huge revenue chunk out of the movie studios profits. Some thought TV would kill the movies. To make up for this, the big American studios started shooting more color films and in wide screen format with improved sound. This movie is 1.85:1 VistaVision with Motion Picture High-Fidelity sound.

The other big draw for movies of this time, was on location shooting. Here we're treated to exotic on location shooting in Morocco and in London.

The Man Who Knew Too Much is a masterpiece, but that's not surprising after all it's Hitch.

rating_4_5+

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24050&stc=1&d=1454619474

[Daniel M]

I need to rewatch that film. I saw it ages ago and whilst I enjoyed it and thought it was good, I thought it was one of Hitchcock's weaker films. I remember enjoying the beginning, the usual spy/wrong man/confusion stuff and how it was set in Morroco, but then I kind of lost interest in the middle. The ending is great though, seeing Herrmann in person, and also Doris Day singing Que Sera, such as a great song. I have it on Blu-ray now so I will watch it again eventually :)

[Citizen Rules]

Daniel when you watch it, look at Hitch's use of subtle green lighting in the hotel scene at the beginning of the film. I didn't notice it at first, but Doris Day and the French man are back-side lightened with a green light. I thought that was kind of neat as it gave a sort of eeriness to the scene without being obvious, more subliminal.

[gbgoodies]

It's been a while since I watched The Man Who Knew Too Much, but I'm looking forward to rewatching it soon.

As much as I love Doris Day in rom-coms, I think she's terrific in this movie too. (Surprisingly, I think this was the first movie that I saw her in, and I was thrilled to hear her sing the song "Que Sera, Sera" because it was a childhood favorite song for me.)

[Gideon58]

I'm glad I watched it, just wasn't the best Eastwood film I've seen. I forgot to mention I liked Christopher Walken in it.
I liked Jersey Boys a lot more than you did, Citizen, but I did enjoy reading your review.[ I do agree with you that Vincent Piazza gave the film's best performance as Tommy.

[Gideon58]

I never got to see "Camelot" on Broadway, but I've heard the Broadway cast album, and I agree 100% that the movie version didn't even come close to living up to the stage version. I don't know what they were thinking when they cast the movie, but they blew it big time. :(
I, too, can't stand the film version of Camelot.

[cricket]

Great review CR! You picked the perfect pictures to go with it too!

[Gideon58]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKBznF45lt8/UUlBnYxdhXI/AAAAAAAACbs/PbMpVLF7_iA/s1600/314806_large.jpg
Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986)
Director: Gene Saks
Writer: Neil Simon
Cast: Jonathan Silverman, Blythe Danner, Stacey Glick, Lisa Waltz,
Genre: Period Piece Comedy
Length: 108 minutes

Based on Neil Simon's life as a boy growing up in a poor Jewish family in Brighton Beach, New York. Originally wrote as a play by Simon and is 1 of 3 films in a series that chronicles his life. The other two are Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. The film is set during the 1930s depression era which gives it a nostalgic feel. The period piece sets look authentic.

Eugene (Jonathan Silverman), a 15 year old teenager struggles with hardships, puberty and conflicts that arise from his many family members. The crowded household is shared by his widowed aunt (Judith Ivey) and her daughter, Eugene's cousin Nora (Lisa Waltz)...Eugene has a big crush on Nora.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=22623&stc=1&d=1441505085

Blyther Danner plays the strong willed bossy but caring mother. Her widowed sister how lacks confidences and is played by Judith Ivey.

One of the strong points of the film is how Eugene has a different relationship with each of his family members. The scenes with his older brother were reminiscent of a coming of age film. The way his mom (Blythe Danner) bossed him around and how he rebelled against it, was both funny and very well done. At the same time we get a more serious relationship between the mother and her widowed sister (Judith Ivey). Neil Simon knows how to write people who are 3 dimensional and believable.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=22624&stc=1&d=1441505093


I thought this film was funny in a realistic way and at the same time serious too. It dealt with real problems that families and teens face with a straight forward telling. It never crossed over into cheesy territory. All of the family members are well fleshed out, memorable characters. The dialogue sparkles with wit and wry humor done with a very humanistic and believable style.

This was a treat and I wish more films were made like this.

rating_4_5


.
Really liked your review of this film...I like it too. Loved Blythe Danner and Bob Dishy.

[Citizen Rules]

Great review CR! You picked the perfect pictures to go with it too! Thank you! I'm glad someone noticed the pictures. I spend way too much time fussing with the pictures:eek: I feel they also tell the story, so that's why I put some effort into them. Many I take into Photoshop and tweak. But not always.

[Citizen Rules]

Really liked your review of this film...I like it too. Loved Blythe Danner and Bob Dishy. Thanks Gideon, Silent Vamp recommended that one to me. I loved it to. I've found so many great films thanks to the people on MoFo.

[edarsenal]

excellent review on The Man Who Knew Too Much. Especially regarding the talent of Day and Stewart to "be" the everyday married couple and not two stars portraying them.

[Captain Steel]

Rules, I saw Brighton Beach Memoirs so long ago. I can remember almost nothing about it, but remember liking it (like most Neil Simon movies).
Is there a scene in it involving a prostitute? I only ask because I may be mixing it up with something else (like Biloxi Blues - where I know there's a scene like that. Or Summer of '42 - which might be a similar type movie to Brighton.)

[Citizen Rules]

Is there a scene in it involving a prostitute? I don't think so. I tend to forget details of movies after awhile but I'm going to say no.

I've neither seen Biloxi Blues or Summer of '42, should I add them to my watch list?

[Captain Steel]

I don't think so. I tend to forget details of movies after awhile but I'm going to say no.

I've neither seen Biloxi Blues or Summer of '42, should I add them to my watch list?

Sure. I've seen Biloxi Blues (1988) a couple times - it's another Neil Simon film with Matthew Broderick as a young Army recruit entering boot camp at the start of WWII and Christopher Walken in a standout performance as a slightly psychotic drill sergeant. Great film, especially if you like boot camp movies!

I can't really remember Summer of '42 (1971) but I think it's a coming-of-age film set on the home-front during the WWII era.

[Citizen Rules]

Oakie doakie...I added them:)

[gbgoodies]

Rules, I saw Brighton Beach Memoirs so long ago. I can remember almost nothing about it, but remember liking it (like most Neil Simon movies).
Is there a scene in it involving a prostitute? I only ask because I may be mixing it up with something else (like Biloxi Blues - where I know there's a scene like that. Or Summer of '42 - which might be a similar type movie to Brighton.)


I'm pretty sure that Biloxi Blues has a scene with a prostitute, but I don't remember one in Brighton Beach Memoirs. I think Brighton Beach Memoirs has a scene where he watches a girl getting undressed, but she's not a prostitute. I haven't seen Summer of '42.

[ShadowMatt]

Citizen, on a totally unrelated note, how do you code an image with a caption under it for a review?

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24097&stc=1&d=1454813383
Airport (1970)
Director: George Seaton
Writers: Arthur Hailey(novel) George Seaton(screen play)
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Jacqueline Bisset, Ven Heflin, Helen Hayes
Genre: Soap Romance Drama, Action Thriller
Length: 2h 17min

A snowed in airport must move a stuck 707 that is blocking the only runway that is desperately needed by another 707 which is in trouble in the sky...it has a bomber on board.

This is the first of the 1970's big disaster movies. These movies were part disaster, part soap opera and had a ton of big name stars. These disaster flicks made a lot of money too: Towering Inferno, Earthquake, The Poseidon Adventure and the four Airport movies.

Unlike the other disaster movies, the action here has about the same on screen time as does the soap opera drama scenes. That makes this film slower paced and more about the people than the plane. Which isn't a bad thing, unless you expect a big bang for your bucks.

http://33.media.tumblr.com/a8b03573a20af0a27ef944327a9170ce/tumblr_inline_mzqetr1SUk1qkvbsi.jpg

What you do get is stars! A lot of big name stars.


Burt Lancaster is the head of the airport and is unhappily married to Dyan Winter (the brunette). His girlfriend is Jean Seberg (the blonde).

Dean Martin, is the pilot of the unlucky plane, and has the hots for one of the stewardess (it figures), Jacqueline Bisset.

George Kennedy is the feisty cigar chomping, airplane mechanic. He was in all four of the Airport movies.

Ven Heflin makes his last movie appearance as a down and out man with a bomb in his attache case.

Helen Hayes, the veteran actress won a Best Supporting Actress for her role as the sneaky but likable stowaway.

Also making appearances are veteran actor Lloyd Noland and 70s star Gary Collins. Probably some more too that I forgot.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24100&stc=1&d=1454815464

Should you rush to see this movie?

Not if you've been spoonfed on modern Hollywood, fast paced, fast cut, a-thrill-a-second, CG blockbuster movies. There's none of that here. But if you like airports from the 1970s and wish you could cruise the sky in smoke filled cabins with sexy stewardess and a swinging Captain at the controls, well then this is your movie!

rating_3

[gbgoodies]

I know that I saw Airport many years ago, but I don't remember much about it. After a while, all these disaster movies start to just blend together for me. :shrug:

[Citizen Rules]

I had never seen this one. I've seen the other big name ones and thought they were a hoot. This DVD came with all four of the Airport Movies, so it will be interesting to see how they change as the years go by.

[gbgoodies]

I had never seen this one. I've seen the other big name ones and thought they were a hoot. This DVD came with all four of the Airport Movies, so it will be interesting to see how they change as the years go by.

My parents used to watch the old disaster movies, so I've seen most of them, but they were never really something that I was interested in watching. (TBH, they used to give me nightmares. :eek: )

[Citizen Rules]

Ha! (not laughing at you) I thought the same thing, I thought I better watch these Airport movies now, instead of just before getting on a plane:eek:

Earthquake, I seen that one at the theater. I think my favorites are Towering Inferno and Poseidon Adventure which I also seen at the theater when it first came out.

[Captain Steel]

Great review, Rules!
Airport's always been something of a guilty pleasure for me. That doesn't mean that I think it's bad, just that over the years many of its scenarios have become terribly cliched. I like it mostly for the cast. It's probably still the best of the 4 (as they became increasingly more ridiculous as they went on... which is probably why Airplane (1980) was made.)
Airplane probably spoofed the first Airport movie most directly. Not to mention Airplane's precursor - The Big Bus (1976) which drew much material from Airport.

The first Airport movie is probably one of my favorite movies of the genre - with Executive Decision (1996) being my favorite airplane movie!

[gbgoodies]

Ha! (not laughing at you) I thought the same thing, I thought I better watch these Airport movies now, instead of just before getting on a plane:eek:
Earthquake, I seen that one at the theater. I think my favorites are Towering Inferno and Poseidon Adventure which I also seen at the theater when it first came out.

I remember when Earthquake was broadcast on TV with a radio simulcast. My whole family watched it together.

[gbgoodies]

Great review, Rules!
Airport's always been something of a guilty pleasure for me. That doesn't mean that I think it's bad, just that over the years many of its scenarios have become terribly cliched. I like it mostly for the cast. It's probably still the best of the 4 (as they became increasingly more ridiculous as they went on... which is probably why Airplane (1980) was made.)
Airplane probably spoofed the first Airport movie most directly. Not to mention Airplane's precursor - The Big Bus (1976) which drew much material from Airport.

The first Airport movie is probably one of my favorite movies of the genre - with Executive Decision (1996) being my favorite airplane movie!


I watched The Big Bus recently. I thought it was pretty funny. Not as funny as Airplane, but much better than its rating.

[Citizen Rules]

Yeah, when I went to the theater with my family to see Earthquake we got ripped! The movie was in Sensurround, which used lots of low frequency signals to shake your theater seat...but not the theater we went to:( I seen Earthquake again a few years ago, still no Sensurround...


Captain...thanks:p for mentioning:
Airplane (1980)
The Big Bus (1976)
Executive Decision (1996)

I put those on top of my too watch list, that way I can check them out after the 4 Airport movies. Should be fun!

[Captain Steel]

I watched The Big Bus recently. I thought it was pretty funny. Not as funny as Airplane, but much better than its rating.

I remember that, gbg! We had some nice discussions about it. The Big Bus is another guilty pleasure. (A lot of people can't stand it, but I think it's got enough classic comedy bits to make it something to watch at least once.)

One bit of trivia I just realized - in The Big Bus, a pick-up truck crashes into it and the bus ends up with the truck sticking out of the front of the bus. This bit was a direct spoof of Airport 1975 (the second "Airport" movie) where a small plane collides with a 747 and is sticking out of the front of the larger plane! :)

[Citizen Rules]

This bit was a direct spoof of Airport 1975 (the second "Airport" movie) where a small plane collides with a 747 and is sticking out of the front of the larger plane! http://www.movieforums.com/community/data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDwAPANUAAPfXAPPTAO3NAOrKAOPDAODBAN6+ANi5ANO0ANGyANCxAM2uAMGjAManAMWmAMDAwLyeALmbA LaYALWXALGTAK2PAKyOAKqNAKmMAKKFAKWHAKCCAJ+CAJ1/AJl8AJR3AJJ1AJB0AI1xAI5xAIlsAIltAIhrAIVoAIJmAL+/vwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAEAAA8A LAAAAAAPAA8AAAaUwIdQqCoWh8hH0XBQNCBHpGogGBAOC4YEoxpOA4DAwJBwRCycrlIAKAoKiGJl01UZBoHiOFFEg4oHBFRWWFoY HSFFCgcGBUxOEBQaHiJFDQsJCAkLTxMXHB8lRRAMKg0ODBATFhkqIyd1EhEqERIUF60hJmoqGBYVRkUhJChqShwbHB0eHyMmxUlF ICEiJbDG0cFJQQA7 Spoiler alert!:D....I'm watching Airport 1975 in a few minutes.:)

[gbgoodies]

I remember that, gbg! We had some nice discussions about it. The Big Bus is another guilty pleasure. (A lot of people can't stand it, but I think it's got enough classic comedy bits to make it something to watch at least once.)

One bit of trivia I just realized - in The Big Bus, a pick-up truck crashes into it and the bus ends up with the truck sticking out of the front of the bus. This bit was a direct spoof of Airport 1975 (the second "Airport" movie) where a small plane collides with a 747 and is sticking out of the front of the larger plane! :)


I think people who watch The Big Bus now expect it to be as good as Airplane, but you have to just accept it for what it is to enjoy it. You can't really compare the two.

[Captain Steel]

Yeah, when I went to the theater with my family to see Earthquake we got ripped! The movie was in Sensurround, which used lots of low frequency signals to shake your theater seat...but not the theater we went to:( I seen Earthquake again a few years ago, still no Sensurround...


Captain...thanks:p for mentioning:
Airplane (1980)
The Big Bus (1976)
Executive Decision (1996)

I put those on top of my too watch list, that way I can check them out after the 4 Airport movies. Should be fun!

Just to let you know, Executive Decision is an action film (as opposed to a comedy spoof).
IMO, it's an edge-of-your-seat action film. It's fun & exciting, but has some serious themes. Some people find it slightly eerie since it was made before 9/11, yet it involves a plot by Islamic Terrorists to use the plane (or something on it - without giving spoilers) to attack the United States.

[Captain Steel]

Spoiler alert!:D....I'm watching Airport 1975 in a few minutes.:)


I'm sorry, Rules. I thought you'd said you'd seen the other three airport movies.
(Still, it doesn't mean everyone else reading this has seen them - so I'll take note about potential spoilers.)

[Citizen Rules]

I was joking with you Captain, it's all good! Besides I knew it involved a plane:p

Off to watch Airport 1975:p

[Gideon58]

The comedy part isn't hard to see, when you look back at movies like Max Dugan Returns and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but I never saw the musicals part coming.

I remember when I saw him in The Music Man, (on PBS), I thought he was good, but I didn't think that he had the "wow" factor. Maybe it was just because Robert Preston was just so hard to live up to, but I just expected a bit more from him than what I got. :shrug:
Yeah, I saw Matthew on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and thought he was fantastic, but I found his performance as Harold Hill very one-note and kind of bland...I know I'm in the minority on this, but the only thing I loved in that production was Kristen Chenoweth as Marian the Librarian.

[Gideon58]

Have you seen this video of Hugh Jackman singing "The Music Man"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk3l05_XveA
I'm pretty sure that there isn't a male lead in musical comedy that Hugh Jackman couldn't do...if they ever did a film remake of the musical Guys and Dolls, I think Jackman would be a perfect Sky Masterson...I have a myriad of issues the 1955 film, the primary one being Marlon Brando playing Sky Masterson, what were they thinking?

[Gideon58]

The silver-nosed gunman is named Tim Strawn.

[Citizen Rules]

No, I hadn't seen that, thanks for posting it.

What didn't you like about Brando as Sky Masterson? Besides the fact his singing is average.

[Gideon58]

Don't even start with that. :D

I think I saw it, or some of it, when I was young. What I can be sure of is that my mum really liked it (as did my grandparents) and I can remember hearing that soundtrack over and over for years. I hate that bloody album. In fact, it's entirely possible that my hatred for westerns comes from that album. Both the music and the horrible, horrible album cover.

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51ddxG2KcUL.jpg&f=1

Look at that horrible brown scratchy thing. :sick:
God, I hate this movie.

[Gideon58]

No, I hadn't seen that, thanks for posting it.

What didn't you like about Brando as Sky Masterson? Besides the fact his singing is average.
I just didn't believe him in a musical comedy role, even he seemed uncomfortable, and as far as singing, I don't think I would have liked the performance even if they had dubbed his singing.

[Citizen Rules]

OK thanks. I've only seen Guys and Dolls once a few years ago. I liked it at the time as I like Sinatra's character and I liked most all of the songs very well.

[gbgoodies]

I'm pretty sure that there isn't a male lead in musical comedy that Hugh Jackman couldn't do...if they ever did a film remake of the musical Guys and Dolls, I think Jackman would be a perfect Sky Masterson...I have a myriad of issues the 1955 film, the primary one being Marlon Brando playing Sky Masterson, what were they thinking?

I agree 100% about Hugh Jackman. I don't think there's anything he can't do.

I can't wait to see him in The Greatest Showman on Earth as P.T. Barnum. I've seen (and loved) both Jim Dale's and Michael Crawford's versions, and I think Jackman is perfect for that role.

[Citizen Rules]

Hugh Jackman. I don't think there's anything he can't do...one thing he should not do, is all those X-men movies. I just looked him up at IMDB and I've never seen a movie with him in it.

[MovieMeditation]

Hugh Jackman. I don't think there's anything he can't do...one thing he should not do, is all those X-men movies. I just looked him up at IMDB and I've never seen a movie with him in it.
Lol seriously? Not one?

Anyways, I see a new avatar there, CR! :up:

[Citizen Rules]

Australia has been on my radar to watch but that's the only one I recognized (except the X men movies)

[Captain Steel]

...one thing he should not do, is all those X-men movies. I just looked him up at IMDB and I've never seen a movie with him in it.

You haven't seen any X-Men movies, Rules?

My thoughts on Jackman as Wolverine (the role he made famous and which made him famous) is he did a good job with the acting, (as gbg said, he's very good!) But physically he was all wrong for the role. Wolverine in the comics was 5 foot 3 inches tall - the idea being that wolverines are very short, squat animals that are incredibly strong & ferocious for their size.

Jackman pulled off the ferocity quite well, but there wasn't anything they could do about his height - on some of the X-Men movie posters he's the tallest in the cast.

One thing I will say is that somebody was able to give him a hairstyle in the movies that simply can't exist in real life (only in comics) and still had it look somewhat natural. :)

P.S. I know the role of Wolverine made Jackman famous, but he probably would've become famous without the role sooner or later. The role as a superhero - from a comic book that had soared to cult-level status - in a major movie dedicated to that comic, launched him into becoming a virtual household name almost overnight.

[gbgoodies]

...one thing he should not do, is all those X-men movies. I just looked him up at IMDB and I've never seen a movie with him in it.

Seriously?! You've never seen any movies with Hugh Jackman?! You don't know what you're missing. He's great in the X-Men movies, but if you don't want to watch superhero movies, try Kate & Leopold, The Prestige, Real Steel, and Les Misérables. Also, check out the 1999 version of Oklahoma! with Jackman as Curly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRaSPLwHzk&list=PL9DD3B79C99A671EF

[gbgoodies]

Australia has been on my radar to watch but that's the only one I recognized (except the X men movies)

Australia is okay, but it's not one of his better movies.

[edarsenal]

I'll second The Prestige as well.

And I'm sure you'll have fun watching all the old Airport flicks. With the disaster flicks Poseidon Adventure was my favorite followed by Towering Inferno

[Citizen Rules]

You haven't seen any X-Men movies, Rules? Nope, but I finally watched Robocop:p

Seriously?! You've never seen any movies with Hugh Jackman? Nope not a one. Of the ones you listed, here's my thoughts:

Kate & Leopold, sounds kind of interesting, but I'm luke warm on it.

The Prestige, (Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.) That sounds totally cool! I will add that to my watch list, thanks:)

Real Steel, I don't think so.

Les Misérables. I love movies based on classic literature and try to watch all the various versions of them. But so far I've never seen a film based on Les Misérables, one of these days I will get around to this.

Thanks for the recommendations. You guys always give me great movie ideas.:)

[Citizen Rules]

I'll second The Prestige as well.

And I'm sure you'll have fun watching all the old Airport flicks. With the disaster flicks Poseidon Adventure was my favorite followed by Towering Inferno Ed hi! you snuck in while I was taking a looong time to type my reply. Thanks for the thumbs up on The Prestige, when I just now read about it at IMDB, I thought: OK I have got to see this one. It sounds cool.

Poseidon Adventure was my favorite followed by Towering Inferno :up:

[gbgoodies]

Nope not a one. Of the ones you listed, here's my thoughts:

Kate & Leopold, sounds kind of interesting but I'm luke warm on it.

This is one of my favorite rom-coms. (I'm watching it right now on Showtime. :) )


The Prestige, (Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.) That sounds totally cool! I will add that to my watch list, thanks:)

A great movie, but not my favorite of his movies.


Real Steel, I don't think so.

Trust me. Try this movie. I didn't think I would like it, but it's probably my favorite of his movies.

Les Misérables. I love movies based on classic literature and try to watch all the various versions of them. But so far I've never seen a film based on Les Misérables, one of these days I will get around to this.

This is the musical version, based on the Broadway show. Most of the cast is amazing. (Russell Crowe is the weak link.)

[Captain Steel]

Come to think of it - the only movies I've seen with Hugh Jackman are the X-Men / Wolverine movies! :o

[Citizen Rules]

You could always join the 10th Hof when I host it and you could nominate one of those. Kate & Leopold sounds like a nice film. But I got this feeling I won't like Real Steal, but who knows?

[gbgoodies]

Come to think of it - the only movies I've seen with Hugh Jackman are the X-Men / Wolverine movies! :o

Then you have to correct that too. See the movies that I listed for Rules. :)

[Citizen Rules]

Captain, guess what? I seen Airport 75 last night and liked it. I mean I really liked it.

It was exciting, it was fun, it had tons of big name stars and even some classic actors.....but the best part was it had all this odd unintentional humor in it. It just cracks me up just to think about it:laugh:

[gbgoodies]

You could always join the 10th Hof when I host it and you could nominate one of those. Kate & Leopold sounds like a nice film. But I got this feeling I won't like Real Steal, but who knows?

Don't just take my word for it. Read Rodent's review of Real Steel.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1444510#post1444510


You could always join the 10th Hof when I host it and you could nominate one of those.

You're gonna have rules about no foreign films, no horror films, etc., right? ;)

[Citizen Rules]

Originally Posted by Citizen Rules (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1455067#post1455067)
You could always join the 10th Hof when I host it and you could nominate one of those.
You're gonna have rules about no foreign films, no horror films, etc., right? ;) Ha:p I know you're just kidding!....but if anyone is reading this, all films will be allowed same as the 9th Hof, 8th Hof, 7th Hof, etc. I will honor the traditional way of doing the main Hofs. In the 8th Hof we had lots of great films! I haven't started watching any for the 9th, but they look good too.:)

[gbgoodies]

Ha:p I know you're just kidding!....but if anyone is reading this, all films will be allowed same as the 9th Hof, 8th Hof, 7th Hof, etc. I will honor the tradional way of doing the main Hofs! In the 8th Hof we got lots of good films! I haven't started watching any for the 9th, but they look good.

Yeah, I was just kidding, but I can dream, can't I? :lol:

BTW, did you get my PM about the song tournament?

[Citizen Rules]

Yes I did, I'm downloading a movie and I can't click on any link until it's done...but it's say 5 minutes to complete. Then I will PM with the info.

[gbgoodies]

Yes I did, I'm downloading a movie and I can't click on any link until it's done...but it's say 5 minutes to complete. Then I will PM with the info.

Okay, thanks. :)

We're still waiting for Mistique to fix a link too, so you have time.

[Citizen Rules]

It's done with the download, I will PM you in a couple minutes.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24135&stc=1&d=1454961186
Ex Machina (2015)
Director: Alex Garland
Writer: Alex Garland
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
Indie Film

Synopsis (spoiler free): Caleb a young programmer wiz wins a competition at his internet company to spend one week at a remote mountain retreat belonging to the CEO of the company he works for. He finds Nathan, the reclusive CEO to be an enigmatic genius with a dark side. Caleb then finds he's the crucial element in a ground breaking experiment in artificial intelligence. Enter Ava, who's the beautiful and very human like machine. Ava's self awareness is being tested.

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/images/articles/ExMachina_Trio.jpg
Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander and Domhnall Gleeson make up the primary cast.


Ex Machina is not at all a sci-fi film in the typical sense. Oh sure that poster looks as sci fi as you can get but the film's focus is on drama, mystery and even romance....It focuses on three individuals who are alone in a remote country setting. But beyond that this is an existential film that explores what it means to be a human and and what it means to be sentient. A story about when is it wrong to treat a creation as property.

The film requires that the viewer cares about the A.I. creation 'Ava' and feels for her plight. If you only view her as an 'it', or as a machine then the movie failed. But I bet anyone who watches this will care about Ava and view her as alive. I did

http://streaming1.danviet.vn/upload/1-2016/images/2016-01-04/1451896522-ex_machina.jpg


Ex Machina is an intimately shot, Indie film. It takes a close up look at three people with a minimum of outside influences. This allows the film to focus on the implications of creating a sentient A.I. machine.

rating_4



.

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen Ex Machina, but your description kind of reminded me of the original Star Trek episode "Requiem for Methuselah".

[Citizen Rules]

Exactly. That's not to say both stories are the same, but yes they do have a lot of similarities.

BTW I think Ex Machina has the coolest poster for any 2015 movie, just something to keep in mind for the 2015 Mofo Film Awards - Nominations (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=43318)

[gbgoodies]

Exactly. That's not to say both stories are the same, but yes they do have a lot of similarities.

BTW I think Ex Machina has the coolest poster for any 2015 movie, just something to keep in mind for the 2015 Mofo Film Awards - Nominations (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=43318)


So if I love the original Star Trek episode "Requiem for Methuselah", do you think I would like the movie Ex Machina?

[Citizen Rules]

Hmm....I don't know? and you might think I would after talking all this time. So my best guess is you won't really like it, but you won't be opposed to. I don't think it's totally you're type of film and with a girl robot, it's more like a guy film. But I really don't know?:D

[mark f]

Yeah, but she recently liked Affliction and Mikey and Nicky, two "guy" flicks I thought she wouldn't like. :)

[Citizen Rules]

She's a sneaky one:D I never know what she'll like!

[gbgoodies]

Yeah, a lot of times, I can't even figure out what I'll like. :shrug:

[Citizen Rules]

GBG have you seen the Disney film Miracle 2004

http://data.whicdn.com/images/43978693/superthumb.jpg

[colejwalker]

I don't feel like Ex Machina is that rewatchable because I have seen it three times and it's slowly starting to dwindle in my mind. Domnhall Gleeson is terrible in it also and he is pretty much always bad ;).

[gbgoodies]

GBG have you seen the Disney film Miracle 2004

http://data.whicdn.com/images/43978693/superthumb.jpg


I think I watched it a while back, (because Hubby wanted to see it), but I don't remember much about it.

[Citizen Rules]

Did Hubby like it? I just watched it last night and I'm working on my review right now.

[gbgoodies]

Did Hubby like it? I just watched it last night and I'm working on my review right now.


I just asked him, and he said that he thinks he liked it, but he doesn't remember much about it either. He's not really a sports fan, so he didn't watch it for the story. He usually likes Kurt Russell movies, so he wanted to see Miracle.

[Camo]

Loved Ex Machina. Interesting that you called it a "guys movie", i read this a few days ago the first commenter puts forward a very good case that it is a strong feminist movie particularly the ending, well it is actually more than a case since the director said it is too ;). I'm going to spoiler tag the link because the ending is spoiled in the title.

https://www.quora.com/Ex-Machina-2015-movie/At-the-end-of-the-movie-why-does-Ava-ask-Caleb-to-stay-in-the-room

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24137&stc=1&d=1454979677
Miracle (2004)
Director: Gavin O'Connor
Writer: Eric Guggenheim
Cast: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West
Genre: Sports Biography, Drama
Length: 2hours 15minute

Miracle is a dramatized biographical movie that tells the story of a real life coach, Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell). Coach Brooks fought tooth and nail to turn the U.S. Olympic hockey team into a cohesive squad of players who would stand a chance of defeating the world reining champs, the Soviet team, at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games.

I like this and I'm not a sports fan, and I'm not usually a fan of sports movies, so that's high praise for Miracle. I'm going to call the movie a down to earth telling of one of the most dramatic events in U.S. and Olympic sports history. This movie could have easily went cliche and created a villainous character and emotionally charged scenes that tugged at our hear strings, but luckily it didn't do that. Yes this is a Disney film but don't be fooled by that, any sports fan should find at least something here to like.

http://40.media.tumblr.com/c86f9acad42f1f9f1f689bd04f7097af/tumblr_nmoc9mltY81rcb0d2o1_500.jpg


Kurt Russell, I usually like him but at first I thought he was a bit stoic, then I realized the coach that he played was well known as an 'ice man' and Russell nailed that performance. Also kudos to Kurt for attempting to do a Midwestern accent, many actors won't even try to alter their vocal inflictions. Kurt did and did it well. His accent was subtle but effective.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24138&stc=1&d=1454981178


http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/blogs/lists/Miracle.jpg

Hockey, of course a big draw of this film will be the actual hockey matches. I've never seen a hockey game before but to me the hockey in the movie looked exciting and well filmed too. I found myself getting into the action and rooting for the U.S. team. History much to my surprise they included a lot of current event history from the late 70s into the film, which made it seem more authentic and placed the events in a time frame.

Miracle isn't the greatest film I've seen, but it was enjoyable.

rating_3

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24139&stc=1&d=1454987903
Airport 1975 (1974)
Director: Jack Smight
Cast: Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Susan Clark, Helen Reddy, Linda Blair, Dana Andrews, Sid Caesar, Myrna Loy, Erik Estrada, Nancy Olson, Gloria Swanson
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Length: 1h 47min

Woo Hoo! what a fun and zany ride Airport 1975 is! We get an all star cast in this second of four Airport movies. That includes some golden oldie actors like Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy and even Gloria Swanson. This was Gloria's first film appearance in 22 years (last one was Sunset Blvd) and this is her last film appearance too.

This movie hits the ground running and never stops. I found myself quiet engrossed in this tragedy in the sky. As a jumbo jet 747 is smashed by a small single plane, which leaves a gaping hole in the front of the 747, incapacitating the flight crew and leaving Karen Black, head stewardess to fly the plane. Only one problem, she doesn't know how to fly the plane.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CM6BKAGVAAABFPM.png

One thing that makes this movie rock is the very professional stunts and spectacular special effects. The producers rented a real 747 to film flying. I swear during the movie the scenes of the 747, 100 feet over the mount tops look real, as does the scene of the plane's wing smashing a building. I have no idea how they did this....And the scenes of the in-air plane to plane transfer has got to be seen to be believed. Damn impressive for 1975 and in the 2015 you would never see such real stunts being attempted.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0fV15P7uQo/R4pQhfAS0fI/AAAAAAAABj0/Q6b5z2cnzVs/s400/AIRPORT75PHOT.jpg

With all this impressive cast and stunts, we also get some odd things happening that makes one wonder if the producer wasn't having fun at the audiences expense. There's to many unintentional funny things that happen in this movie to name them all, a few are:

The color purple, it's everywhere! the coach section seats are an eye popping purple and so is the stewardess uniforms...and back in the control tower they have purple everywhere. Then there's Karen Black's tongue trick, not to be outdone by her hand trick. All the male flight crew refer to the stewardess as 'honey' or 'babe'

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsH/7905-357.jpg
"Fly Baby, Fly"


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GU0LwhIJGYU/TW_xy-64r3I/AAAAAAAABJ8/SfdZ3Uh5JVg/s1600/airpi.jpg
Helen Reddy sings to kidney transplant recipient Linda Blair.


Perhaps the oddest thing in the movie is that Gloria Swanson who wrote all of her own dialogue mentions by name, Carole Lombard and Grace Moore, both who were killed in a plane crash.

http://lileks.com/bleats/archive/12/0712/0704art/airport752.jpg


Fun Rating rating_4

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.silenzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/martian-gallery9.jpg
The Martian (2015)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Drew Goddard(screenplay), Andy Weir(book)
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels
Genre: Adventure Sci Fi
Length: 2h 24min

Synopsis: During a manned mission to Mars, an intense wind storm comes out of nowhere and threatens to destroy the landing craft. As the crew on the ground rushes towards the ship for an emergency lift off, one of the astronauts (Matt Damon) is struck by flying debris and left for dead. Only he's still alive and stuck on Mars with no hope of rescue, for a couple of years. But his water and food supplies will not last that long, forcing a struggle for survival.

Review: An entertaining film from Ridley Scott, just don't expect a masterpiece like Blade Runner...The Martian is not that kind of movie. So what is it?...It's a fun popcorn movie with lots of great special effects and action/suspense. Mars never looked cooler and that's the best part. There's lots of obstacles for Matt Damon to overcome and that adds to the excitement. Ridley Scott is known for 'universe building' in his movies and in that regard he does show us a good deal of what a Mars space program would be like.

http://cs628523.vk.me/v628523614/34d68/R-oalbQrMio.jpg

It might have been a better film had Ridley not injected so much 'humor' into it. The jokes at first seem OK, but then you realize that's about all Matt Damon gets to do, well that and survive challenge after challenge after challenge. We get little introspective into the solitude of being alone.

There's very little existentialism to the film and it needed more. We need to feel his humanity and emotions. Matt's character never connects to us, probably because he's too busy making jokes. And the folks at NASA and JLP look like boobs. It's not Matt Damon's fault, he's very good in this. But if you want a deeper Mars film, try Robinson Crusoe on Mars.

I found The Martian pretty interesting for the first 90 minutes, then it got repetitive. At almost 2 and half hours The Martian runs out of steam long before the credits role.

rating_3

[gbgoodies]

I liked The Martian a lot more than you did, but my expectations going into it were very low. I didn't read much about it before watching it, but I couldn't figure out how a movie about one guy stuck on Mars by himself would hold my interest. (It reminded me of Silent Running a little bit.)

But this movie held my interest from start to finish. It's my favorite of the Best Picture nominees that I've seen so far.

[Captain Steel]

To Rules & GBG... so, I take it The Martian is good, but it's no Airport '75! ;)

[gbgoodies]

To Rules & GBG... so, I take it The Martian is good, but it's no Airport '75! ;)


IMO, The Martian is much better than any of the Airport movies.

[MovieMeditation]

I loved The Martian. I see many people saying they wanted a deeper story and characters and some say they also wanted more about families on earth etc.

But all that would only turn this film into exactly what other movies of its kind have done. I was glad this did something different and the humor was great and was like some kind of symbolism for optimism and hope and I love how all the insane challenges he met became more and more insane and I was honestly caried away by it all and was very entertained. Such a fun and exiting film, which of course is expertly crafted.

But glad to see you watching it, CR. :up:

[Swan]

I just thought the film was rather lifeless cinematically. There wasn't much interesting in the way of craft and technique on Scott's part, and add to that nothing being at stake... just felt a bit dull. I kept wanting it to be over.

[ursaguy]

It didn't "need" existentialism. That's not the kind of movie it is. Not every movie has to be deep and dark and cynical. I found it fun and enjoyable, and it's understandable if you didn't find it enjoyable, but this was never going to be an existential film, and that was an unfair expectation to put on it, especially because the book is even more focused on jokes. I thought that having Damon spend so much time joking around made it more powerful when he did feel emotions, like when his potato dome collapses, or when he's blasting off near the end, because you knew that when something got to this guy, it was a serious problem.

[gbgoodies]

I just thought the film was rather lifeless cinematically. There wasn't much interesting in the way of craft and technique on Scott's part, and add to that nothing being at stake... just felt a bit dull. I kept wanting it to be over.


I can't even imagine how you found The Martian to be dull. I thought it was fascinating watching this guy who's all alone on Mars figure out how to survive until he can be rescued. He managed to keep his spirits up, and that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm pretty sure that if I was ever in that type of situation, I probably would have given up hope within a couple of days. Remember, he wasn't stranded in some desolate place where they could easily get to him once they located him. He was stranded on Mars. :eek:

[Swan]

Yeah that's the thing, the movie shouldn't be a bore at all, it had so much potential but just fell flat for me.

[Daniel M]

I gave the film a positive rating after seeing it in the cinema, but now some time has passed I'll remember it as decent/average and not much more, so I pretty much agree with what you say CR.

[cricket]

Nice reviews, CR! I've got The Martian on tap for this weekend. I'm not much of a sci-fi fan, but we'll see.

[TheUsualSuspect]

[QUOTE=Citizen Rules;1457660
It might have been a better film had Ridley not injected so much 'humor' into it. The jokes at first seem OK, but then you realize that's about all Matt Damon gets to do. [/QUOTE]


You can't fault him for this, since there is a lot of humour in the book. The difference is that in the book, we are reading his video logs from mars. So he's essentially 'acting' for the people back home. There are a few times we see a side of Mark that shows his true horror and isolation mixed with fear. The humour aspects are to mask his fear and to cope with the isolation. On top of that, it's for the people viewing the logs back home, such as family and the general public.

The book was a great read, but if you felt the movie was repetitious, I'd skip the book. There are even more "challenge/solution" aspects, that the filmmakers needed to cut out; such as...

losing communication with Earth and the rover tipping over...


I liked the film. Better than Scott's latest output.

[Citizen Rules]

Hey guys! I'm happy to see some activity here at my thread, thanks:) I'll answer in one long multi post reply.I liked The Martian a lot more than you did, but my expectations going into it were very low. ...My expectations can influence me and they were high for this. I mean it's Academy nominated for best picture and people are saying Ridley is back. So I was expecting something more that just a good entertainment film. And it was good fun, but didn't strike me as special.

I couldn't figure out how a movie about one guy stuck on Mars by himself would hold my interest. I like that kind of story, one of my favorites is Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). And as luck would have it, I'll be watching another lone survival tale in a few days, Robert Redford in All is Lost (2013).

To Rules & GBG... so, I take it The Martian is good, but it's no Airport '75! ;) Ha:p you noticed my ratings for the two films, I wondered if someone would. I was really entertained by Airport 75 and amazed at the special effects. But I got bored towards the end of The Martian.

I loved The Martian....Such a fun and exiting film, which of course is expertly crafted.

But glad to see you watching it, CR. :up: Oh yeah, I love sci fi and I'm trying to watch some 21st century films, (don't laugh at that:eek:)

I just thought the film was rather lifeless cinematically. There wasn't much interesting in the way of craft and technique on Scott's part, and add to that nothing being at stake... just felt a bit dull. I kept wanting it to be over.Swan I totally agree. Mars and the scenery looked great but there were no goose bump moments from camera movement/compositions that relayed emotions to me through artistic cinematography.

It didn't "need" existentialism. That's not the kind of movie it is. Not every movie has to be deep and dark and cynical...You're totally right about that. It succeeded in being what it intended to be: an interesting, fun, exciting Hollywood big budget film. I guess that's not what I was expecting, I thought maybe it might have had more to say...It probably will in 10 years when Ridley has reworked the movie a dozen times into one of his directors cuts, then we'll find out that Matt Damon was a replicant;)

...The book was a great read...I liked the film. Better than Scott's latest output. I bet the book got more into his 'head', which would be interesting to read....I'm not sure what Ridley Scott's last movie was?


I gave the film a positive rating after seeing it in the cinema, but now some time has passed I'll remember it as decent/average and not much more, so I pretty much agree with what you say CR. Thanks Daniel, coming from you I appreciate that.

[Swan]

Question for anyone who read the book:

Was the bit with him carving up the little cross with the Jesus on it in the book?

[gbgoodies]

My expectations can influence me and they were high for this. I mean it's Academy nominated for best picture and people are saying Ridley is back. So I was expecting something more that just a good entertainment film. And it was good fun, but didn't strike me as special.

One of the good things about my unique taste in movies is that just because a movie is Academy nominated for best picture, it doesn't raise my expectations for that movie. There are plenty of Best Picture nominees that I hated. (Two this year so far. :shrug: )


I like that kind of story, one of my favorites is Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). And as luck would have it, I'll be watching another lone survival tale in a few days, Robert Redford in All is Lost (2013).


I haven't seen Robinson Crusoe on Mars, so I'll add it to my watchlist. I liked All is Lost, but I didn't love it, however Redford was great in it.

[Citizen Rules]

Robinson Crusoe on Mars is like it sounds, a classic Robinson Crusoe tale but set on Mars. No gore, no violence, and it has a cute monkey named Mona. It's straight sci fi.
I liked All is Lost, but I didn't love it, however Redford was great in it. I think all women love Robert Redford. He's to women what, Marilyn Monroe is to us guys;)

[gbgoodies]

I think all women love Robert Redford. He's to women what, Marilyn Monroe is to us guys;)


Yeah, but he's not aging well.

http://www.mindblowingworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Robert-Redford-Plastic-Surgery.jpg

[honeykid]

But he is 79. How good do you expect him to look?

Obviously that side by side has been chosen for maximum effect, but then I don't understand the appeal of the man at all at any age. :D

[Gideon58]

Well, that's just a matter of personal taste...I thought he was gorgeous in Barefoot in the Park, All the President's Men, and The Way We Were, but I also agree that the man is not aging well. But, as you said, the man is 79, we can't expect him to look 30 forever.

[honeykid]

The other thing is, if he did look as good people would either mock him for having surgery and growing old gracefully or insist that he has had surgery even though he denied it.

[gbgoodies]

Well, that's just a matter of personal taste...I thought he was gorgeous in Barefoot in the Park, All the President's Men, and The Way We Were, but I also agree that the man is not aging well. But, as you said, the man is 79, we can't expect him to look 30 forever.


He can in my dreams. :)

[Swan]

He can in my dreams. :)

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/i-love-nerds/officehappygasp.gif

[TheUsualSuspect]

Question for anyone who read the book:

Was the bit with him carving up the little cross with the Jesus on it in the book?

If he did, I don't remember it. The biggest change was the denouement. That doesn't happen in the book.

[Citizen Rules]

I noticed the cross scene too and thought it must have had more significance than was shown. My guess is that another scene that would have explained it, was edited out.

[Swan]

I noticed the cross scene too and thought it must have had more significance than was shown. My guess is that another scene that would have explained it, was edited out.

The reason I asked is because the book has been praised, at least by certain people, for never having the characters thank God or anything like that for their successes, and instead just uses science and human willpower. I haven't read the book, so I don't know if the cross scene was added, and it's really not a big deal - but that possible addition could be interpreted in a few ways, and is kind of a weird addition, if it is one.

[Citizen Rules]

Swan...The reason I asked is because the book has been praised, at least by certain people, for never having the characters thank God or anything like that for their successes, and instead just uses science and human willpower. Good point, Swan. In the movie he did use the cross to start a fire, by first destroying it to get the metal filings out, so that was like destroying a religious symbol for a scientific reason. Which makes me think Ridley needed to have more guts and take a stance on science vs faith, in keeping a person alive on Mars. But Ridley didn't do that and that's why I think the movie is just good fun entertainment.

[Captain Steel]

One of the good things about my unique taste in movies is that just because a movie is Academy nominated for best picture, it doesn't raise my expectations for that movie. There are plenty of Best Picture nominees that I hated. (Two this year so far. :shrug: )




I haven't seen Robinson Crusoe on Mars, so I'll add it to my watchlist. I liked All is Lost, but I didn't love it, however Redford was great in it.

You'll probably like Crusoe on Mars, gbg, simply because Adam West has a small role in it! Yes, a pre-Batman Adam West appearance in a movie! And I said it's a "small role," but in a movie with very few characters is any role (except the title one) really "small"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDC78eOFPdM

[gbgoodies]

You'll probably like Crusoe on Mars, gbg, simply because Adam West has a small role in it! Yes, a pre-Batman Adam West appearance in a movie! And I said it's a "small role," but in a movie with very few characters is any role (except the title one) really "small"?



Adam West is going to be on the 200th episode of "The Big Bang Theory'" on Feb 25th.

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/big-bang-theory-200-adam-west-wil-wheaton-1201696209/

[gbgoodies]

You'll probably like Crusoe on Mars, gbg, simply because Adam West has a small role in it! Yes, a pre-Batman Adam West appearance in a movie! And I said it's a "small role," but in a movie with very few characters is any role (except the title one) really "small"?



I just remembered that I saw The Young Philadelphians (1959) recently. He had a small role in that movie too.

[Captain Steel]

Adam West is going to be on the 200th episode of "The Big Bang Theory'" on Feb 25th.

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/big-bang-theory-200-adam-west-wil-wheaton-1201696209/

That should be good. I'm surprised Adam West has never been on the show before (he's usually chomping at the bit for work.) And it's hard to imagine that THIS show hasn't invited him before now.

Also of interest: I've seen Starring Adam West (2013) - a biographical documentary that's pretty entertaining, often funny (and even a little sad at times). I give it a high rating on the nostalgia scale. I especially liked a part where an agent told West he was going to be in a select group of up-and-coming young stars who would all make it big someday, among them were Clint Eastwood & Steve McQueen. Poor Adam!

[Citizen Rules]

GBG you should do a top fav actors list. I can think of three of your favs (Redford,Falk,West) I'm sure there's more.

[gbgoodies]

That should be good. I'm surprised Adam West has never been on the show before (he's usually chomping at the bit for work.) And it's hard to imagine that THIS show hasn't invited him before now.

Also of interest: I've seen Starring Adam West (2013) - a biographical documentary that's pretty entertaining, often funny (and even a little sad at times). I give it a high rating on the nostalgia scale. I especially liked a part where an agent told West he was going to be in a select group of up-and-coming young stars who would all make it big someday, among them were Clint Eastwood & Steve McQueen. Poor Adam!

They talked about Adam West on TBBT a few times, but he hasn't been on it yet. I can't wait to see it.

I DVRed Starring Adam West, but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.


GBG you should do a top fav actors list. I can think of three of your favs (Redford,Falk,West) I'm sure there's more.

I doubt Adam West would make my faves list. I like him, but I haven't seen him in enough stuff outside of the old "Batman: TV series.

I'd have to think about it, but Cary Grant would probably be at the top of my list.

[Citizen Rules]

How could I forget Cary Grant.

[gbgoodies]

How could I forget Cary Grant.

And Gene Kelly?

[Citizen Rules]

That's right! You should do a list, I'm serious about that. I've even thought about doing some type of Top List Countdown. I just can't decide on the subject????

[gbgoodies]

That's right! You should do a list, I'm serious about that. I've even thought about doing some type of Top List Countdown. I just can't decide on the subject????


I'll think about it. Some of my favorites actors might even surprise you.

[Gideon58]

Cat Ballou is a 60's comedy western. Which part of that description makes you think I'd like it? :D I seem to remember singing, too. All too, too awful.

No, nothing to do with her politics at all. For me it was much as Christine said and, by the time I was of an age to know who she was, her movie career wasn't really a thing. Certainly not when compared to her fitness stuff. As I remember it, I knew she 'used' to be a movie star and now did these videos. Men liked her, but that seemed to be because she was in Barbarella and Klute. That's about all I knew about her.

I've never cared/bothered about what actors/actresses think in relation as to whether I like them or not. I don't care about/for her, though and, with the exception of The China Syndrome and On Golden Pond, I can't think of a film she's in that I'd care to see and haven't. For the most part, she just doesn't choose films I'm bothered about seeing.

Lee Marvin is in it too and, while I don't dislike him, he's never someone I'm pleased to see onscreen. Again, that's probably as much to do with his work choices as anything else.
I sure wish you would consider a re-watch of Cat Ballou, Honeykid...it's one of the few westerns I can actually sit through and the singing is limited...Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole appear sporadically as sort of balladeers narrating the story, the movie is nothing resembling a musical, but the movie is a lot of fun and Fonda has rarely been more charming onscreen.

[Gideon58]

Mrs Rules like Murphy Brown too, I never seen it. The only other film I've seen her in is The Sand Pebbles (1966). I seem to recall she was OK in that film. One thing, you do not want to watch this film:eek: it has more gratuitous gore than a slasher horror film.
I loved Murphy Brown, but her movie career before that was nothing to write home about...it wasn't until her Oscar-nominated performance in Starting Over that some genuine talent materialized...her performance in Starting Over was one of the primary reasons she was approached with Murphy Brown.

[Gideon58]

Oh ya....Carlton the Doorman rules, always funny. He's one of the producers of the show too.

I also heard that Rhoda was so popular on Mary Tyler Moore that she received numerous offers and the MTM producers were afraid of loosing her, so they spun her off to her own show. I think her departure from MTM hurt that show some, still a great show. I finished watching MTM last month.

a short 2 minute clip of the power of Richard Mulligan's (Burt) acting ability from Soap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wPTTHCQRvo

and an even shorter 30 second clip of a drunken Burt, funny!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-YJZ1JQapM

Richard Mulligan was brilliant on Soap...he won his first Emmy for that show. I also agree with you that it was really hard adjusting to The Mary Tyler Moore Show without Rhoda, but the additions of Georgette (Georgia engel) and Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) helped.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24231&stc=1&d=1455592747
Airport '77 (1977)
Director: Jerry Jameson
Cast: Jack Lemmon, Lee Grant, Joseph Cotten
Genre: Action Disaster, Mega Drama
Length: 1h 54min

A rich guy...really, really rich, loads all of his valuable art work onto a brand spanking new 747 plane and flies his art to a museum that he's opening. So far so good...

But some bad guys want to steal the art, so they poise as flight crew and take over the plane. So far so good, for the bad guys that is...

The bad guys aren't great pilots and while flying low to avoid radar they hit an off shore oil drilling platform. Which is bad, very bad!...

The plane makes an emergency crash landing into the ocean and everyone survives, which is good...

But the plane then sinks to the ocean floor which is very bad. Especially as the plane leaks!

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24232&stc=1&d=1455593576

As these 1970s mega disaster movies go, this one's alright. You get a mega star cast, some soap opera drama...along with suspense and action too. What's not to like about a 747 under the bottom of the ocean! ala Poseidon Adventure. And to make this even more exciting, it's sunk smack dab in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle...Ohh scary.

What's cool is the use of actual Navy ships and rescue equipment. And we get a good, close up view on board the Navy ships too. The best part? A huge case of famous and semi famous actors.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24233&stc=1&d=1455593584

How many stars can you spot in the photo?

Like the other Airport movies, this has a large cast of stars. James Stewart is the rich guy. Jack Lemon is the pilot. Christoper Lee is a good guy for once, his wife is the drunken Lee Grant. George Kennedy reprise his role. Olivia de Havilland and Joseph Cotton are on board, so is almost everyone else!

This is good clean popcorn fun.
rating_3

[Captain Steel]

Oh... I can't wait to see the review for The Concorde... Airport '79. :eek:

[gbgoodies]

I don't think I've seen Airport '77. I may have to watch that one. It sounds interesting.


Oh... I can't wait to see the review for The Concorde... Airport '79. :eek:

There was a disaster movie about The Concorde? I didn't know that. I'll have to look for that one too. I remember all the protests that were going on when they first announced that The Concorde would be coming to JFK Airport. (My Mom's friend wanted us all to go and lie down on the runway at JFK so the plane couldn't land there. Yeah, right. Like that was ever going to happen. :rolleyes: )

[Captain Steel]

I don't know what to say about The Concorde... Airport '79 without giving things away or creating expectations. Just... be prepared.

[gbgoodies]

I don't know what to say about The Concorde... Airport '79 without giving things away or creating expectations. Just... be prepared.


It's probably going to be a while before I get a chance to watch it. I'm trying to catch up on 2015 movies before the Oscars, and then I have a watchlist of '50s movies for the upcoming Top 1950's Movies Countdown, but I added both Airport movies to my watchlist.

[Captain Steel]

I'll say this... after Airport '79... Airplane! (1980) was the only next logical step.

[gbgoodies]

I'll say this... after Airport '79... Airplane! (1980) was the only next logical step.


Well that certainly piqued my curiosity. :lol:

[Captain Steel]

Well that certainly piqued my curiosity. :lol:

That's all I'll say until Rules (or anyone else) puts up a review.
I watched Airport '79 a few years back, (from start to finish!) so have some recent memory of it.

I remember re-watching the original Airport (1970) as an adult (and felt it was pretty good.)
I have some memories of both '75 & '77, but don't remember seeing either as an adult or if I've ever seen them in their entirety (probably just saw parts on TV as a kid or "watched" them on the "4:30 movie" after school while playing with my Mego action figures!).

[gbgoodies]

That's all I'll say until Rules (or anyone else) puts up a review.
I watched Airport '79 a few years back, (from start to finish!) so have some recent memory of it.

I remember re-watching the original Airport (1970) as an adult (and felt it was pretty good.)
I have some memories of both '75 & '77, but don't remember seeing either as an adult or if I've ever seen them in their entirety (probably just saw parts on TV as a kid or "watched" them on the "4:30 movie" after school while playing with my Mego action figures!).


Like you, I'm not sure if I saw the complete Airport movies, or just parts of them on TV. It's been a long time since I watched the disaster movies from the '70's, but I've never really had a desire to rewatch them. They seem to all blend together for me.

I know that my memory isn't the best, but I don't remember any of them having a plane at the bottom of the ocean, or in the Bermuda Triangle, and I don't remember any of them about The Concorde, so those two might be completely new to me.

[honeykid]

Remember when The Bermuda Triangle was a thing? Now it's in the same legends bin as The Millennium Bug. :D

[Citizen Rules]

True, I bet those under 35 haven't heard of the mysteries:eek: of the Bermuda Triangle.

Just for fun, here's a pic I took of a corner of the Bermuda Triangle, luckily I made it back in one piece;)

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24235&stc=1&d=1455637636

[Citizen Rules]

Oh... I can't wait to see the review for The Concorde... Airport '79. :eek: It's coming:p But first I got to watch it. I'm not sure what I will say in my review about it? Maybe big plane, big crash, big thrills....I kinda like the sound of that:p

[Captain Steel]

It's coming:p But first I got to watch it. I'm not sure what I will say in my review about it? Maybe big plane, big crash, big thrills....I kinda like the sound of that:p

I can't wait because...
oh... you'll see.

Do you have any alcohol in the house?

[Citizen Rules]

Ha! that made me laugh out loud:D, I have no idea what that means, but it sounded funny to me:)

Umm, drunken pilots crash the Concord perhaps? Now I'm excited to watch it! I'm liking these Airport movies too.

[Captain Steel]

Again, without giving anything away... I was doing a little looking on IMDB and found that George Kennedy plays the same character in all four Airport movies, thus being a single constant that loosely links them all together!
That's a pretty amazing bit of trivia as I always thought they were all very separate films, but then I kept seeing Kennedy's name in the cast and wondering why they used the same actor in all the movies... well, because he's playing the same character. Thus, George Kennedy is the "missing link"!

If you ever get on a plane and see that "Joe Patroni" is on board or is one of the pilots, get off quick!
With his track record they should have had him in Airplane! just on principle! (I wonder if they tried to get him?)

[Citizen Rules]

Say what? Kennedy isn't in Airplane!....rats! Yup that would have seemed like a natural to include him.

I'm watching Airport The 'Terminal Pack' which is a 2 disc-4 movie DVD. I was going to post a picture of it, but I see they have a deluxe Collectors Edition. I wonder if it has any more special features on it?

http://www.covershut.com/covers/Airport-Terminal-Pack--Front-Cover-79896.jpg

[Captain Steel]

That's a cool collection! I love when they package full collections like that.

Another bit of trivia - Jimmie "J.J." Walker is in Airport '79 and then had a cameo in Airplane! the following year.

[Citizen Rules]

That's a cool collection! I love when they package full collections like that.

Another bit of trivia - Jimmie "J.J." Walker is in Airport '79 and then had a cameo in Airplane! the following year.Good! I liked him in Good Times. I just saw him on an old episode of The Love Boat. When I was a kid his show Good Times was one of my favorites.

[Citizen Rules]

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24295&stc=1&d=1456104909 Red Army (2014)
Director/Writer: Gabe Polsky
Cast: Viacheslav Fetisov, Scotty Bowman, Mark Deakins
Genre: Documentary, Biography, History, Sports
Length: 1hour 24min

I love that movie poster, it's very Soviet retro. But you can't judge a movie by it's cover...or poster. Red Army is a documentary about the famed Soviet era Red Army hockey team. The film consist of rare archival Soviet footage (though I wish there was more of it)...and interviews of the surviving members of the team. Now they're older but their memories of living under a Soviet controlled sports program is still fresh in their minds. And if you watch this you will know their story.

It ain't pretty, the life these Soviet sports heroes lead was harsh. They were actual members of the Soviet army but played hockey and were literally held captive in training camps and forced to train around the clock, until they pissed blood...that's what they said! I took that to me their training was so hard it damaged their kidneys. It certainly damaged their souls. The team leader after having promises broken to him by an abusive couch, quit. He told a high ranking Soviet offical to ****, later he was beaten to a pulp for it.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=24296&stc=1&d=1456104915

Not for sports fans, oh sure, those photos I montaged make it look like this is a sports doc for sports fans, it's not. It's part Soviet history and part Western history as events in the USA & Canada played a big part in how the Red Army hockey players lives unfolded. But mostly this is a human story and it's rather shocking at times just how brutally harsh life was in the Soviet Union in the 70s-80s.

http://kinopavasaris.lt/img/media/3/3718/big_2efc637b4708cc15cd365ee2dc7ff2a4.jpg

The five man team that made up the heart of the winning Red Army team. These five were more than team mates, they were best friends.

http://media2.fdncms.com/sfweekly/imager/red-army-documentary-revisits-the-cold/u/slideshow/3376823/film4-redarmy.jpg

Four of the Red Army team and their notorious coach, all decked out in the military uniforms.

There's so much more I could say about this film...but know this: I'm not a hockey fan, I've never even seen a game, but I did really enjoy Red Army.

rating_4



.

[Captain Steel]

I've seen this listed, but had no interest in seeing it. After reading your review I may check it out (the part that hooked me was "Not for sports fans")!

I'm one of those people who love sports movies (one of my favorite genres) but don't watch professional sports.
This is bizarre, but if I see curling on TV, I stop to watch because it is such a weird sport. It's basically shuffle-board, but on ice and people with brooms!!! :)

[Gideon58]

Say what? Kennedy isn't in Airplane!....rats! Yup that would have seemed like a natural to include him.

I'm watching Airport The 'Terminal Pack' which is a 2 disc-4 movie DVD. I was going to post a picture of it, but I see they have a deluxe Collectors Edition. I wonder if it has any more special features on it?

http://www.covershut.com/covers/Airport-Terminal-Pack--Front-Cover-79896.jpg
This is totally cool...I never knew there was a collection of all four movies...never seen Air[port '77 and, as you might remember, the original film is one of my guilty pleasures.

[Citizen Rules]

I've seen this listed, but had no interest in seeing it. After reading your review I may check it out (the part that hooked me was "Not for sports fans")!Good! my job as a reviewer is working:p


I'm one of those people who love sports movies (one of my favorite genres) but don't watch professional sports.
This is bizarre, but if I see curling on TV, I stop to watch because it is such a weird sport. It's basically shuffle-board, but on ice and people with brooms!!! :)Captain, we have something in common then, I don't watch or follow professional sports either...but I have watched curling! Actually I love watching the Olympics, unless it's Olympic team sports, then I could care less. It must be that sci-fi influence:p

I remember that we're about the same age and from the same era. So I bet you have school age memories of the scary, Iron Curtain. I know I did and I always was fascinated with what went on in the CCCP. That's why I liked Red Army. If you get a chance to see it, I think you would like it, comrade;)