What DVD have you just watched?

A great film for anyone who is interested in watching people drink wine none stop for ninety minutes (I wonder how many bottles were used for the production) and keep asking each other if they were O.K.. In other words, quite shallow and boring.

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:

  

A good movie. I remember watching it in the theatre on a date. My gosh, has it really been almost 30 years ago? I'm still living with the lady I took on that date.

joerand posted:

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:

  

A good movie. I remember watching it in the theatre on a date. My gosh, has it really been almost 30 years ago? I'm still living with the lady I took on that date.

30 years indeed! I wish i could be remastered as well

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:

joerand posted:

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:

**Name of the Rose**

A good movie. I remember watching it in the theatre on a date. My gosh, has it really been almost 30 years ago? I'm still living with the lady I took on that date.

 

30 years indeed! I wish i could be remastered as well

Good film of a great book.

M

An enjoyable movie which had the wife shouting at the screen when the unexpected twist happened so I think it is safe to assume she enjoyed it as well.

This afternoons viewing. 

Last night,

I can recall seeing this all those years ago when it was released. At the time I felt it was the first serious sci-fi film I had seen. The enigmatic ending stimulated much discussion among my friends. It was a film that sparked my interest in Arthur C Clarke and I went on to read most of his novels. I enjoyed most of them and for me the story of 2001 was only bettered by Childhood’s End. A shame that has never been turned into a film.

Back to the story of 2001, while Clarke was overly optimistic about what man would be capable of by 2001, I found it interesting that the film’s rendition of computer screens and control panels has fallen well-short of what we live with in our pockets today.

On the film, I love the sparing dialogue and the attempt to portray space travel as accurately as possible i.e. the silence. So, yes, the film now looks dated in some ways but in many others it is still splendid, especially the musicals score. Must dig out the sequel 2010 soon.

tonym posted:

I really enjoyed this at the cinema, & the BluRay doesn't disappoint. As a full-on action movie it's the best I've ever seen; there's some good humour courtesy of Simon Pegg, a stunningly lovely but formidable heroine in Rebecca Ferguson, a truly sinister villain played by Sean Harris, some of the greatest car and motorbike chases ever, and Tom Cruise on top form. Highly recommended!

Just watched the Bluray with my family Xmas night. I agree with the points made by tonym about the humor, heroine, villain, and chase scenes. Spectacular in that regard, but I found the level of improbability of both the "intricate" plot and the outcomes in violent scenes far too over the top to hold much strong interest. Likewise, my wife and kids seemed disinterested in much other than the chase scenes. Sure, action movies take their liberties, but this is one goes into the realm of pure fantasy action where the only constant with reality is gravity.

Sorry no English subtitles....

joerand posted:

tonym posted:

I really enjoyed this at the cinema, & the BluRay doesn't disappoint. As a full-on action movie it's the best I've ever seen; there's some good humour courtesy of Simon Pegg, a stunningly lovely but formidable heroine in Rebecca Ferguson, a truly sinister villain played by Sean Harris, some of the greatest car and motorbike chases ever, and Tom Cruise on top form. Highly recommended!

Just watched the Bluray with my family Xmas night. I agree with the points made by tonym about the humor, heroine, villain, and chase scenes. Spectacular in that regard, but I found the level of improbability of both the "intricate" plot and the outcomes in violent scenes far too over the top to hold much strong interest. Likewise, my wife and kids seemed disinterested in much other than the chase scenes. Sure, action movies take their liberties, but this is one goes into the realm of pure fantasy action where the only constant with reality is gravity.

Fully agree with joerand. The thing was becoming way too silly. In terms of a believable plot, great action shots and a fast pace kept throughout the film there is nothing in my view that rivals the Jason Bourne films.

I agree with Joe .....but:

The MI films have always been an exercise in parking your brain in order to enjoy the high octane unrealistic treats. You either completely forget logical analysis or look elsewhere for your entertainment.

I do not own MI-I as I simply couldn't ignore the stupidity of flying a helicopter into the Channel Tunnel.

I think it is interesting to see how closely JJ Abrams is associated with high kinetic brainless cinema. He has undermined what little logic existed in franchises such as Star Wars and Star Trek; I think any influence he has had in MI is far less corrosive as it has always been complete fantasy, as was the TV series.

M

Christmas Films (ordered by enjoyment)

Miracle on 34th Street (1934)

Captain's Courageous

The Big Country

A Christmas Carol (Simms)

Muppet Christmas Carol

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation

Star Wars - The Force Awakens

Mr Smith Goes to Washington

M

The man from U.N.C.L.E.

What a pleasant surprise - an engaging spy movie that, for once, is vastly better than the series it is based on. More Bond than most official Bond films since Roger Moore quit the job. All of Ritchie's trademarkisms are here as well, but less invasive than usual. Great soundtrack, too.

EJ

Yes it's pretty old but still stylish. Oh, and I still don't think there's been a better 'bond girl' than the stunning Ursula Andress. 

The Lone Ranger

warning: spoilers

A lot better than what the reviews suggested; ultimately would have preferred it if the film had ditched the unreliable narrator plot device, but two scenes in particular stayed with me: the dramatic moment when Tonto realises the comanches are all slaughtered and his bird has died is harrowing; then John finds his horse climbed a tree for safety - and owing to great directing and editing, and Depp's deadpan performance, for once the slapstick doesn't ruin the mood but saves it while at the same sets the next act in motion. And the climactic scene on the train is just wacky but brilliantly choreographed. All in all, a flawed gem with more to it than meets the eye.

Clearly not for everybody, but I will be getting this on bluray.

cheers,

EJ

Christmas DVDs in order of decreasing enjoyment

Paths of Glory(1957)- great story, beautifully filmed and directed.

Murphys War(1970)- Peter O'Toole in good form.

The Maltese Falcon(1941)- Tough guys and broads. Very dated and very bad teeth in the 1940s. Over complicated script and billowing cigarette smoke everywhere. Emphysema city!

Dr Mabuse the Gambler(1922)- at 4 hours long utterly interminable. Histrionic eyebrows all round. Hopelessly dull.

Jurassic World(2015)- Wretched excess , accent on wretched. For mental age of 10. 

Saw yesterday the Floating Castle. And while I am normally fond of Samurai and Chinese Movies, this one was only partly appealing, a bit too much wrong humor in this one. So more or less a B-movie which I wouldn't recommend.

My expectations were pretty low, and lowered still further by Kiwi Cat's assessment, but I enjoyed it.  The special effects were good, a good use of humour, and a few twists and turns along the way.  I was entertained. Maybe I'm just a big kid. 

MDS posted:

Yes it's pretty old but still stylish. Oh, and I still don't think there's been a better 'bond girl' than the stunning Ursula Andress. 

Saw it on it's week of UK release and Ursula coming out of the sea in that white bikini at time was the most sexual thing I had ever seen in my life.

EJS posted:

The Lone Ranger

warning: spoilers

A lot better than what the reviews suggested; ultimately would have preferred it if the film had ditched the unreliable narrator plot device, but two scenes in particular stayed with me: the dramatic moment when Tonto realises the comanches are all slaughtered and his bird has died is harrowing; then John finds his horse climbed a tree for safety - and owing to great directing and editing, and Depp's deadpan performance, for once the slapstick doesn't ruin the mood but saves it while at the same sets the next act in motion. And the climactic scene on the train is just wacky but brilliantly choreographed. All in all, a flawed gem with more to it than meets the eye.

Clearly not for everybody, but I will be getting this on bluray.

cheers,

EJ

Wasn't so keen on it possibly because I watched the originals on a Saturday mroning at the local cinema.