What DVD have you just watched?

A very inspiring movie and an  extraordinary  man!

Yes. I really enjoyed the film, loving the cinematography, marveling at the uncertainties. It is very theatrical so I guess you would have to be in special mood to really appreciate it. I am planning to watch it again soon.

I love Prometheus, which I may watch tonight.

On the Alien quadrilogy - Alien is by far the best of the 4, Aliens is ok. Alien 3 is hmmm...just about ok. Alien 4 is ...pretty naff really...

Prometheus is simply beautiful in my opinion.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Almost every reviewer compared this with The Untouchables, some even went as far as referencing Scarface. But Gangster Squad is just a fun popcorn film using the history on which it is based as coat hanger, and with enough heart to allow us to invest in the story and the cast. 

EJ

Fun to watch.

I Know Where I'm Going

Mildly disappointing. Coming from the Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger stable I probably wanted more.

The story is of a middle class social climber who forges the opportunity to marry an aged industrial tycoon, and ends up falling for a landed lord, although one without ready money!

I find Roger Livesey eminently watchable, and there is a feel of a genuine connection between the locals and their laird ......but, I suppose I just didn't feel much in the way of empathy for the female lead.

M

Gotta disagree with you there Mr Underhill. It's one of their best IMO - very understated, almost "minor" compared to the great 1940s epics (TLADOCB, AMOLAD, Shoes and Narcissus). I felt like that the first time I saw it, but it definitely bears repeated viewing and is a grower!

Glad to see there's another Livesey fan on the forum.

Hi Kevin,

Love Livesey, and Powell/Pressburger, but this just didn't really catch me. I enjoyed the supporting cast, and actually the acting generally. I just couldn't sympathise with the character of the female lead, a woman who was prepared to ....., well I'll leave that for others to discover.

M

Haim, I finally saw A Late Quartet.  Cutting everyone some slack for being non-musicians and as predicted, clearly not being able to convince me they were one with their instruments (like real musicians) - this aside, I wasn't knocked off my feet.  The acting turned out to be not as bad as I had expected and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Christopher Walken.  I expected him actually to be more in the forefront though than he was.

I understood all the problems and issues they were trying to bring out here with musicians and groups etc. but if I could say anything about the story in one word I would have to say, "contrived."   That is how I felt after it was over.  It just got a little silly as the story just got messier and deeper and when are they going to stop this.  I would have been more satisfied had they chose to develop say one problem of one character - like that of Walken dealing with Parkinson's

The other thing that got to me was how they kept repeating, "...but what about the Fugue?"   I'm sure there was supposed to be some significant meaning behind this and that Beethoven's music and struggles were somehow being reflected by this groups struggles.

Clearly, Hollywood could never make a movie for me (to interest an audience of one).  I would have been perfectly happy to see a 90 minutes concert of a real string quartet. 

Quartet

Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut in a BBC funded indie movie, based in a home for retired musicians.

From memory the advertising for this film sold it as a light comedy, and this film is far from this. Yes, it does have amusing moments, but I would characterise it as a life affirming drama about love, mis-communication and ageing.

I was engaged, interested and moved; which I think adds up to a solid recommendation.

M

The Sweeney - another action flick about a crew of policemen who don't play by the rules to get the job done. Only they're incredibly poor at policing: they don't follow orders, take every opportunity to drive their cars to pulp, love running and shooting at the same time (emptying clip after clip on railings and walls), get beaten up every time they end up in a skirmish, don't come prepared, and never ever call for backup. London looks even emptier than in Fast & Furious 6, and that movie even had the decency of a car chase through the centre. This one makes do with a car chase in a holiday home park. It could have worked as a comedy, but everybody seems to think they are in Heat. Stinker of the year, so far.

EJ

EJ,

I think you deserve a medal for even bothering to try it - looked like a complete turkey.

M

Breaking Bad Series 3.

I watched series 1 and 2 at the time of release. Didn't like series 2, very disjointed, each episode was a separate story, a bit far fetched IMO.

Series 3 is the opposite, the whole series has a nice flow from start to finish. Excellent.

Off to watch Series 4. Did Jesse really shoot Walters other assistant.

Another supernaturally beautiful Technicolor epic from Powell & Pressberger. Ravishing.

I know what you mean about Hiller's character M, but for me the joy of the film lies in Livesey, the supporting characters, the unforced dialogue, the beautiful cinematography (done without light meters, fact fans!) and the sense of place. It resembles, in these latter respects, Powell's first major feature, the wonderful The Edge of The World.

After working for the Leung family for decades, a servant still takes care of filmmaker Roger Leung -- but when she falls sick, the tables are turned as Roger looks after her in this tale inspired by a true story.

After listening to the soundtrack by Vangelis I just had to watch the film. 

Great performance and a great film

One of my all-time favourites. The latest Blu-ray directors' cut edition is definitive in terms of quality of restoration. Exactly the right amount of digital tweaking to fix the most egregious FX gubbins (e.g. wires on flying police car). Perfectly clean, ideal contrast and saturation. They need do no more.

Winky, do you refer to the Bladerunner director's cut, or the 'final cut'? As I recall the director's cut didn't have any digital restoration done, but compared to the theatrical release includes a dream sequence and avoids Ford's closing narrative. The final cut is essentially a full restauration of audio and picture, with digital work done and a complete reshoot of zhora's death scene (with the original actress).

Brilliant film, in any of its editions.

Cheers,

EJ

Rust & Bone

and

The Impossible

Two great films, both engendering strong emotional reactions.

M

I have a running joke with a friend.  She thinks this is a masterpiece.  I think it is the most boring movie ever made.

Final Cut. You're right. The latest version (about 5 years old?). I didn't realize that they had re-shot Zhora's death scene. I thought they had digitally pasted a more plausible face on the body double. Much improved, eh?