What DVD have you just watched?

Dallas Buyers Club. Just watched on HBO. I'm more of a Matthew NcConaughey detester than fan, but have to regard his role here. I think the director did an excellent job of presenting what could have otherwise been an overly sympathetic premise in an objective, substantive manner.

Mexican Day of the Dead love story in Grim Fandango style - not flawless but loved it anyway.

EJ

Yes, saw this on a plane. Very good indeed. A little different to the increasingly formulaic animated fare.

Saw this a couple of years ago at the cinema. Still funny second time around:

It must have been 30 or more years since I last saw this. The first major movie from John Landis, and the Airplane! writing team of Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker . Very hit and miss, and very - thanks to the cultural references - rather dated, but still fitfully hilarious...

I think this is one of the best war movies I've seen.  The effects are stunning, giving as good a glimpse as I've seen in a movie of the horrors of combat. But it's also very emotional in parts, the ending in particular.  It never fails to leave me with a lump in my throat.   

I thought the effects were confusing and contradictory. For example, on one hand you had:

"To achieve a tone and quality that was true to the story as well as reflected the period in which it is set, Spielberg once again collaborated with cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, saying:

"Early on, we both knew that we did not want this to look like a Technicolor extravaganza about World War II, but more like color newsreel footage from the 1940s, which is very desaturated and low-tech."

Kamiński had the protective coating stripped from the camera lenses, making them closer to those used in the 1940s. He explains that "without the protective coating, the light goes in and starts bouncing around, which makes it slightly more diffused and a bit softer without being out of focus."

The cinematographer completed the overall effect by putting the negative through bleach bypass, a process that reduces brightness and color saturation."

On the other hand you had the last word in crisp digital sound of zigging and pinging bullets. So why would anyone want a scene with a 1940s look and a 21st century  sound?

Imitation Game, now on DVD, having seen it in the cinema late last year.

A great film that does not suffer from home presentation. It is all about the story and real tension.

ATB from George

Ok it's shallow...but it's also fun.

nonononoNO!

well OK, it was a bit fun but not a patch on the G1 cartoon. And it went downhill from there.

EJ

It's certainly giving the HT system a workout, Mike, and very nice it is too 

Hi Mike,

I would vary that slightly if I may:

First is fun;

Second is S**t;

Third is another turd;

....I then gave up.

The 2ns makes Battleship look like Hamlet, but I do agree with MDS, they do act as good demo fodder.

M

Battleship? Now you're talking Mr U.  The ACDC sound-track adds a delightful spice.   

I love the first one - two stupid and flawed but basically well-meaning characters. This first official sequel from the same makers is the same, only here the characters are stupid and flawed and basically mean-spirited. It makes a world of difference and, for me, renders this almost totally unwatchable. What a waste of talent.

EJ

It's a little dated now, being from the late Nineties, but the story-line is still strong. I also always enjoy the film-work and notice extra bits of detail every time I watch the movie - it must have taken obsessive care to achieve.  The sequels were enjoyable but not as good as this one. 

Well it's a public holiday and they were made for Die Hard movies, aren't they?  My favourite of the series remains the first (what a great villian Alan Rickman makes) but 4.0 is next.

Ben Hur

Topical - and a great movie.

My younger daughter came back from Uni today for the weekend, her comment, "I don't know why I used to hate this, it is really great!"

M

The first season is a bit variable - it's as if they're trying to emerge, not always successfully, from the shadows of the UK original - but I'm going to persevere with later seasons. Like thew cast though.

Season Two of this acclaimed US comedy. Much better than the first, as it's found the confidence to be itself, rather than trying to ape Gervais and Marchant's original. The large ensemble cast is terrific and the writing is great.

The problem is that Steve Carrell's character Michael Scott is so inept, so lacking in self-awareness that he is just obnoxious. At least David Brent was well-meaning, if a bit of an incompetent wally.

Hundred Year Old Man...

I enjoyed the book but sadly the film just didn't seem to work.  If you haven't read the book yet then hold out to do so.  Don't bother with the film.