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Saturday Evening Movie Thread 11-09-2019 [Hosted by: TheJamesMadison]

A Slap Fight!

scorsese vs marvel 01.jpg


There is nothing more vicious or stupid than an argument about taste, and that’s exactly what Martin Scorsese gave the world when he tried to watch a Marvel movie, gave up, and told the press that he didn’t think they were cinema, saying they were more like roller coaster rides.

Cue outrage from just about everyone. I saw one random comment that said Scorsese was just jealous because he hadn’t made a good movie since 1990. Apparently, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and freaking masterpiece Silence are all terrible films.

If there were to be a king of cinema geekdom, I think Scorsese would be it. (Quentin Tarantino would be the Clown Prince.) Not only is he one of the great filmmakers, but he knows more about the history of film and he’s done more for film preservation than just about any individual in history. Seeing him on Criterion Collection discs talking about preserving films (such as this from Laurence Olivier’s Richard III) is wonderful because he obviously has a great love for the medium in general.

Well, I think there’s an explanation for what Scorsese said, and I think it goes beyond his New York Times defense from this week.


Levels of Movies

The word cinema means something to film geeks. It's not just a synonym for movies. Back in the day, I read Ain’t It Cool News all the time. I never really liked the opinions of Harry Knowles, the owner and editor (his fulsome praise of the American Godzilla was literally bought by the studio), but he did say something that’s stuck with me. He said that, in his mind, there were four different levels of movies. The flick, the movie, the film, and cinema.

The classifications were all about ambition. The flick just wanted to entertain you on the lowest common denominator. The movie wanted to tell a story. The film wanted to take advantage of the art form in every way it could. Cinema wanted to advance the art form.

Now, it’s a model that I don’t really subscribe to myself, but I think it’s useful. It’s how I can give something like Independence Day a three star (out of four) rating and also something more ambitious, like Full Metal Jacket. The former has more modest goals that I feel it achieves rather well. The latter has more ambitious goals that I feel don’t quite hit as well as they could. The former is a flick. The latter is a film (maybe cinema), according to Knowles’ model. They’re both just about the same level of successful given their intended goals, though I would never claim them to be of equal quality.


Scorsese

scorsese vs marvel 02.jpg


This is a similar place that Scorsese is coming from. He says of the cinema of his youth, “It was about characters - the complexity of people and their contradictory and sometimes paradoxical natures, the way they can hurt one another and love one another and suddenly come face to face with themselves. It was about confronting the unexpected on the screen and in the life it dramatized and interpreted, and enlarging the sense of what was possible in the art form.”

So, Scorsese remembers a time when Fuller, Bergman, Gene Kelly, Anger, Godard, and Siegel were not only making movies but attracting large audiences across the world, including in America. It wasn’t just the B-movie genre stuff that was attracting large audiences, it was stuff like Persona by Bergman and Z by Costa-Gavras.

In addition to his yearning for yesteryear, he’s also had some recent things in his life that have shaded his view. He mentions his inability to get funding from anyone for The Irishman, his newest movie, except Netflix because every studio was terrified of funding the admittedly expensive film. Studios wouldn’t touch it because they didn’t know how to sell it and find an audience, so Scorsese went to the streaming giant, and theaters revolted in response. They condemned him for his choice going so far as to boycott screening the film in New York City for its limited run (it ended up in a stage theater on Broadway).

Well, Scorsese’s movie preceding The Irishman was Silence. Paramount funded it to a tune of $46 million, and it made $7 million in the United States. The distributor completely bungled the distribution, refusing to play it at any festival and dumping it into a small number of theaters right after Christmas where it, rather predictably, bombed. The studio failed the film. The theaters failed the film by not giving enough of a chance. Audience failed the film by not going. And, Silence is arguably Scorsese greatest film. It’s the sort of movie that could have found traction and an audience a few decades ago, but it got completely lost in a season dominated by Rogue One, Doctor Strange, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

And, to make it even worse, The Wolf of Wall Street, the movie that preceded Silence was completely independently financed. No major studios would give him the money, and it ended up his biggest box office success.

I would say that Scorsese’s frustration with the modern filmmaking world stems from his own personal experiences and is rather fully justified. Studios don’t treat him well. Theaters don’t want to give him any support after he had made them a lot of money. And he blames the studios mainly for this.


Homogenization

scorsese vs marvel 03.jpg


Do you know what the top ten box office movies of 1972 were? They were, in descending order of ticket sales: The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, Jeremiah Johnson, Cabaret, The Getaway, Last Tango in Paris, Fritz the Cat, The Valachi Papers, The Cowboys, and Pete ‘n’ Tillie. By genre, that would be mobster epic, disaster movie, western, musical, crime thriller, erotic drama, sex comedy cartoon, mob drama, John Wayne western, and romantic comedy. There isn’t a single sequel or remake in there.

Do you know what the top ten box office movies of 2018 were? They were, in descending order of ticket sales: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Incredibles 2, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Deadpool 2, The Grinch, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. By genre that would be comic book movie, comic book movie, super hero movie, disaster and monster movie, comic book movie, children’s animation remake, adventure movie sequel, spy thriller sequel, comic book movie, and science fiction sequel. There’s not a single original film there.

To break it down another way, the movies in 1972 represent ten different studios ranging from independents like Allied Pictures to the major players such as Paramount and Warner Brothers. The 2019 films? They represent only five studios. Half of the pictures were released by Disney.

A lot has happened in the last forty-nine years. There’s a proliferation of other mediums to deliver adult content like pay television and streaming that weren’t available in the early 70s. Movies have changed along with such new developments, becoming exercises in bigger spectacles but they’re not actually attracting larger audiences.

Some back of the envelope math. The Godfather made $133,000,000 in 1972 when ticket prices were about $1.65. That comes to roughly 81,000,000 tickets sold. Black Panther made $700,000,000 in 2018 when ticket prices were about $9.11. That comes to roughly 76,000,000 tickets sold.

People are still going to the movies, but they’re going to vastly different movies than they used to. Who’s fault is that? Scorsese blames the studios and theaters first. They’re the ones chasing the exact same financial goal in the exact same way, flooding theaters with product that all feels the same and designed to engage audiences in the same way. They’re not looking for new ways to attract audiences, they’re chasing the newest trend. Hollywood didn’t operate like that when Scorsese first started, and he sees no reason why they should continue.


Inception

scorsese vs marvel 04.jpg


Christopher R Taylor pointed me in the direction of this article from GQ. It was written in 2010 in the wake of Inception’s success. It includes this section:

Before anybody saw the movie, the buzz within the industry was: It's just a favor Warner Bros. is doing for Nolan because the studio needs him to make Batman 3. After it started to screen, the party line changed: It's too smart for the room, too smart for the summer, too smart for the audience. Just before it opened, it shifted again: Nolan is only a brand-name director to Web geeks, and his drawing power is being wildly overestimated. After it grossed $62 million on its first weekend, the word was: Yeah, that's pretty good, but it just means all the Nolan groupies came out early—now watch it drop like a stone.

And here was the buzz three months later, after Inception became the only release of 2010 to log eleven consecutive weeks in the top ten: Huh. Well, you never know.

I remember the success of Inception. It’s far from my favorite film, but it’s fun and original in a way that most studio backed films aren’t. I was actually pretty optimistic about the future of popular movies because of this movie’s success, but where are we nine years later? The only person who can still make big budget high concept movies that don’t have a tie to a pre-existing property is Christopher Nolan. Interstellar was big and made money. His next movie, Tenet will probably end up making money, and yet studios don’t want to take similar risks because they think it’s easier to make the money back if you slap a familiar name onto a product.

But, the William Golding turn of phrase, “Nobody Knows Anything” needs to come up. Sure, audiences like familiar things, but not always. Ghostbusters is a name we all know, but the 2016 remake bombed. Baywatch is a name we all know, but the movie version bombed. Terminator is a name we all know, but it’s most recent movie is in the middle of bombing right as we speak. But the Jumanji sequel was a money maker, so that justifies every giant gamble on an old property, apparently.

And off to the side is someone like Martin Scorsese, one of the kings of the movie world, and he can’t get anything funded by a major studio. When he does get a movie funded, the theaters treat him terribly. When he finds an alternate route for funding and release, all the people who’ve treated him terribly give him endless grief over it. And instead of helping him fund his next movie, they need to set the funds aside for the action buddy comedy reboot of Welcome Back, Kotter because people remember that title.


Bringing It Back to Marvel

scorsese vs marvel 05.jpg


Scorsese doesn’t like Marvel movies. They’re not only not his cup of tea, and they don’t take advantage of the cinematic art form in ways that he finds satisfying.

That’s his taste. He admits it in his article. “The fact that the films themselves don’t interest me is a matter of personal taste and temperament. I know that if I were younger, if I’d come of age at a later time, I might have been excited by these pictures and maybe even wanted to make one myself. But I grew up when I did and I developed a sense of movies - of what they were and what they could be - that was as far from the Marvel universe as we on Earth are from Alpha Centauri.”

He’s doing an old man thing of bemoaning the loss of a world that once was, but I think there’s more to it than that.

There’s something magical about the cinema experience. There are no distractions. You sit in your seat, the lights darken, and the whole outside world falls away leaving just the world the filmmaker creates on the screen before you. That’s an experience that’s really hard to replicate at home. Television doesn’t create the same sense of immersion that you get in a movie theater, and Scorsese most likely shares that view. Something gets lost when you have the lights on, your phone goes off, you have to make sure the sauce is still just right in the kitchen, and your kids are struggling to brush their teeth. It’s not just the content, it’s the delivery that’s important to Scorsese.

And that type of storytelling is getting driven from the theaters to television where he feels like it’s a less than ideal delivery. He also thinks that the movie going audience would embrace more mature fare if studios and theaters would give the opportunity to them. Americans used to go see a wide variety of films aimed at adults, and he wants them to do so again. There’s a selfish quality to that since those are the sorts of movies that Scorsese makes, but I still think he has a strong point. The world of cinema has lost something over the last few decades, and it is within the power of the studios to help the course correction. They won’t do it, of course, but they could.


Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:
Doctor Sleep
Midway

Next in my Netflix Queue:
The Raid 2

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:
Prometheus (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "The movie overall is visceral and thematically weighty. It's a thrilling ride into interesting questions that are designed to have no answers with a horror element that ties in with the ideas at play. I love this movie." [Personal Collection]
Aliens (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "There are several ways to approach making a sequel to a successful genre film. One of them is "bigger is better". James Cameron’s 1986 Aliens might be the textbook example of how to do that." [Personal Collection]
Alien: Covenant (Netflix Rating 4/5 | Quality Rating 3/4) Full Review "David's fantastic and carries a large chunk of the film, but a lot of the horror stuff feels almost pasted on. None of it is bad, which helps things overall, but if just feels like another movie comes in and takes over for minutes at a time." [Personal Collection]
Five Graves to Cairo (Netflix Rating 4/5 | Quality Rating 3/4) Full Review "Though it does all come together in the end, producing an overall recommendable final product, I think this represents a slight step down for Wilder." ["Library"]
Double Indemnity (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "It's such a great exercise in entertainment with a twisty plot, great characters, and just plain fun. At only his third movie, Billy Wilder had made a great film and an American classic." [Amazon Prime]
The Lost Weekend (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "Wilder elevated the simple socially conscious narrative into something approaching cinema and art." ["Library"]
Sunset Blvd. (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "It's a great piece of entertainment that's thematically rich, visually resplendent, and just a fantastic time at the movies." [Personal Collection]
Ace in the Hole (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) Full Review "This might be the most thoroughly cynical movie I've ever seen, and I love it." [Personal Collection]


Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.

Follow me on Twitter.

I've also archived all the old posts here, by request.

I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

Posted by: OregonMuse at 08:00 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Popcorn time

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:00 PM (ZCEU2)

2 I dutifully called them this time.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:02 PM (ZCEU2)

3 I remember the success of Inception. It's far from my favorite film, but it's fun and original in a way that most studio backed films aren't.

I don't know what to think about Nolan. He makes good movies that I have no desire to see more than once. I don't know what it is about his style of filmmaking, but whether it's The Prestige or Inception or any of the Batman/Dark Knight movies, once I've seen them and understand what he's doing, I applaud at the end, and have no desire to ever revisit them. The only exception is Memento. Of course, that one you have to see 3 or 4 times just to understand what's going on.

It's the weirdest thing. No other movies, except Nolan's, affect me like that, and I can't figure out why.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Austere Religious Scholar at November 09, 2019 08:02 PM (+u+qV)

4 hiya

Posted by: JT at November 09, 2019 08:03 PM (arJlL)

5 I agree with Scorsese. Especially when half the movie is CGI . Doesn't mean they aren't entertaining.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:04 PM (2DOZq)

6 Is the blog broke?

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:06 PM (2DOZq)

7 Thanks for the nood, Skip.

Posted by: olddog in mo, uckfay ancercay at November 09, 2019 08:07 PM (Dhht7)

8 Starting Thursday night and finished this morning watched Metropolis 1927 on YouTube.
My take is it's about socialism, lots of symbolism as well as being a silent movie extreme dramatic acting, quite funny I thought.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:07 PM (ZCEU2)

9 Or you can read a book!
Posted by: Weasel
=====

But, but...I don't own an E-reader.

I claim standing for OT comment on the basis of the Almost Willowed rule.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (sHVgQ)

10 You had me until your glowing review of Prometheus. A flaming ziggurat made of horse puckeys.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (Dc2NZ)

11 3
It's the weirdest thing. No other movies, except Nolan's, affect me like that, and I can't figure out why.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Austere Religious Scholar at November 09, 2019 08:02 PM (+u+qV)

=====

I find them infinitely rewatchable.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (zZbCU)

12 I don't begrudge Sorcese his taste or preference. People can like different things...except Prometheus.

If you read his whole statement, in context, there's not a lot to be outraged about.

One thing that's telling is that he hasn't seen all the Marvel movies, and it sounds like he hasn't watched any of them all the way through. So if he hasn't seen Avengers 1 or Winter Soldier or Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy 1, then he might be making a statement of taste but also from an uniformed position.

Not all the Marvel movies are good, damn few are great.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:09 PM (d1uFV)

13
I claim standing for OT comment on the basis of the Almost Willowed rule.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (sHVgQ)
----
We have rules?

Posted by: Weasel at November 09, 2019 08:09 PM (MVjcR)

14 Have you ever scrolled up a Cinema? You don't know what you're missing.

Posted by: Aram Fingal at November 09, 2019 08:10 PM (aKsyK)

15 Also, I draw the line between movies that are 'good' and movies that are entertaining.

'Good' movies have objectively skillful composition, acting and storytelling. A movie can be 'good' but also be pretty damn boring. I can't get my wife to see Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and that's one of the best 'good' movies ever.

An entertaining movie is one that accomplishes the goals it sets out for itself. A Farrelly brother's movie like 'There's Something About Mary' or Porky's even aren't 'good' movies, but they deliver on their promise to the audience.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:11 PM (d1uFV)

16 Jeremiah Johnson is probably the only Redford movie I really like. The real star of that movie were the Rockie Mountains anyway. Damn good film with great cinematography.

Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (o8adb)

17 I claim standing for OT comment on the basis of the Almost Willowed rule.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (sHVgQ)
----
We have rules?
Posted by: Weasel
-------

And, Sub-rules. It's all very complex. Apparently modeled on Calvinball.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (sHVgQ)

18 Double Indemnity: Barbara Stanwyck in that tacky blonde wig got company man Fred McMurray to commit murder for her. I'd watch it every time it airs.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (tcamx)

19 I think a lot of the originality found in the studios has been driven out, and has gone to other channels, like HBO of old, and now Netflix and the like.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (ufFY8)

20 Midway might be watchable

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (ZCEU2)

21 Star Wars IX Rise of Skywalker is shaping up to be a dumpster fire.

How do I know? Because Epstein didn't kill himself.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (XVuno)

22 One thing that's telling is that he hasn't seen all the Marvel movies, and it sounds like he hasn't watched any of them all the way through. So if he hasn't seen Avengers 1 or Winter Soldier or Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy 1, then he might be making a statement of taste but also from an uniformed position.

Not all the Marvel movies are good, damn few are great.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:09 PM (d1uFV)

=====

My guess would be Ragnarok is what he tried to watch. I do not know why I say that, but that is my guess.

I do think he is shortchanging the whole series, but his anger is really directed at the uniformity of studio desire More than marvel success.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (zZbCU)

23 Yep.

I'm not allowed to say Joan Collins.

Posted by: JT at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (arJlL)

24 Midway should be pretty good. Especially the true story about the gay pilot, Ensign George Gay, and damnit that had better be the ONLY use of that word in the whole movie.

Posted by: Eromero at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (UUkQp)

25 Most Marvel movies suck. They insist upon themselves as a kind of ersatz religion for Poindexters.

Posted by: Ignoramus at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (HJAuR)

26 It's the weirdest thing. No other movies, except Nolan's, affect me like that, and I can't figure out why.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Austere Religious Scholar at November 09, 2019 08:02 PM (+u+qV)

I can't read your mind, sir but I have a theory about that since I feel much the same way.

I think Nolan movies are 'complete'. Once you've seen it, you've seen the story told and can chew it over and think about it; but they are a little cold. And they rarely have moments that hook me and make me want to go back and see them again and again.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (d1uFV)

27 Apparently, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and freaking masterpiece Silence are all terrible films.

They ARE all terrible. Just my taste.

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (786Ro)

28 Jeremiah Johnson is a favorite of mine, but think Will Gear stole the show.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (ZCEU2)

29 Greetings, all. Speaking of movies, here's my latest animation. Five minutes and change, but not the whole story. Thank you if you decide to watch.
https://tinyurl.com/y5s5xxrk

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 09, 2019 08:14 PM (l9m7l)

30 Rooster Cogburn just started . Katharine Hepburn. Reminds me of The African Queen which reminds me Bogart has five of my top 10 favorite movies.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:14 PM (2DOZq)

31 22 One thing that's telling is that he hasn't seen all the Marvel movies, and it sounds like he hasn't watched any of them all the way through. So if he hasn't seen Avengers 1 or Winter Soldier or Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy 1, then he might be making a statement of taste but also from an uniformed position.

Not all the Marvel movies are good, damn few are great.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:09 PM (d1uFV)

=====

My guess would be Ragnarok is what he tried to watch. I do not know why I say that, but that is my guess.

I do think he is shortchanging the whole series, but his anger is really directed at the uniformity of studio desire More than marvel success.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (zZbCU)

Ragnarok is a very....hmm...broad movie that is also going to mostly appeal to people who like Kiwi humor. So if he tried to watch that, yeah, I can see why he didn't finish it.

Studios are pretty damn stupid and risk adverse. If they were a little smart, they'd set aside 30 million and make 3 'cheap' movies a quarter. But they all want the billion dollar paydays, nobody wants a mere 60 million profit on a 30 million investment.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:16 PM (d1uFV)

32 Midway should be pretty good. Especially the true story about the gay pilot, Ensign George Gay, and damnit that had better be the ONLY use of that word in the whole movie.
Posted by: Eromero
-----
You probably should not read Anna Puma's commentary until after you have seen the flick.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:16 PM (sHVgQ)

33 Midway might be watchable
Posted by: Skip

Anna Puma gave it The Big Ixnay.

And that's good enough for me.

Posted by: JT at November 09, 2019 08:16 PM (arJlL)

34 Heard a commercial for the Ford vs Ferrari movie so guess it's coming out imminently

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:17 PM (ZCEU2)

35 Easy Andy @ 30, If I live long enough to adopt (excuse me I meant be adopted by) a cat, that cat's name will be General Sterling Price.

Posted by: Eromero at November 09, 2019 08:18 PM (UUkQp)

36 Sunset Blvd. amd The Lost Weekend too. Did you see Some Like It Hot and The Apartment also?

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:18 PM (tcamx)

37 Not really much of a movie viewer, but Inception is one of the few DVD's I have ever bought to watch and re-watch because I wanted to review the cinematic tricks therein.

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar knows that EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:18 PM (BiNEL)

38 Heard a commercial for the Ford vs Ferrari movie so guess it's coming out imminently
Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:17 PM (ZCEU2)


----------

Interesting concept. Do any of them change into Transformers?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:19 PM (XVuno)

39 36 Sunset Blvd. amd The Lost Weekend too. Did you see Some Like It Hot and The Apartment also?
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:18 PM (tcamx

======

I'm watching all of Wilders films in order. So they are pretty much next. They are staring at me from my shelf right now.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:19 PM (zZbCU)

40 34 Heard a commercial for the Ford vs Ferrari movie so guess it's coming out imminently
Posted by: Skip



I may have to go see that one too. Can't stand MATT DAMON but I do love a good racing movie. Rush from a few years ago was fantastic and of course LeMans and Grand Prix are superb.

Posted by: Puddlglum at November 09, 2019 08:20 PM (o8adb)

41 Jeremiah Johnson is probably the only Redford movie I really like. The real star of that movie were the Rockie Mountains anyway. Damn good film with great cinematography.
Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (o8adb)

The Sting
Brubaker
This Property is Condemed

And of course Jeremiah Johnson.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:20 PM (2DOZq)

42 does the comparison between the top grossing movies of 72 vs. 18 tell you more about hollywood or more about the populace?

Posted by: guywholikeszombeavers at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (fpVX4)

43 I claim standing for OT comment on the basis of the Almost Willowed rule.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (sHVgQ)
----
We have rules?
Posted by: Weasel
-------

And, Sub-rules. It's all very complex. Apparently modeled on Calvinball.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:12 PM (sHVgQ)


Matey, they be more like suggestions 'ere!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar knows that EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (BiNEL)

44 Silence failed because the story insults the target audience.

It's the opposite of Gibson passion. In both cases the writer of the story is responsible for the result, not so much the director.

Posted by: Simplemind at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (ZuGkg)

45 Midway might be watchable
Posted by: Skip

Anna Puma gave it The Big Ixnay.

And that's good enough for me.
Posted by: JT
-------

Anna's very well-founded criticisms are based on technical accuracy, and ought to be held in high regard. That does not mean, however, that it is not entertaining, however inaccurate sundry portrayals might be.

I won't see it, because I just don't want to pay the freight to the theaters.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (sHVgQ)

46 Some movies are mass entertainments, some movies are spectacles, some movies are masterpieces and some movies are pieces of crap, they are all part of the thing called cinema.

I'm not going to get into an argument with a director with the body of work of Mr. Scorsese, so I'm just going to nod, and watch Jaws for the seven billionth time.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (Qs/Su)

47 and watch Jaws for the seven billionth time.
Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium
------

This is no accident! You're gonna need a bigger boat.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:22 PM (sHVgQ)

48
To me, they're all movies.

Some are schlock pop-culture, like "Fifth Element."

Some are more ambitious pop-culture, like "Inception."

Some are more arty, like "Godfather."

Some are fine art, like "Lives of Others."

But they're all movies. It's a business. Anyone who pretends it's anything else misses the point of why anyone picks up a camera. It's to make some of that sweet, sweet green.

It's been the point since the first nickelodeon opened. The artwork is, at best, icing. Usually it's just annoying.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at November 09, 2019 08:22 PM (PJG1b)

49 Watched a couple of sea tale movies this week.
First, Northern Limit Line on Free Youtube movies. South Korean navy action during the World Cup. Ship to ship shoot 'em up with bravery, duty, action, sacrifice, heroes and villians. Based on a true story and real people. Closed Captioned in good english. If your eyes are dry at the end, your house is not sufficiently dusty.

Second, The Bounty with Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, a young Liam Neeson, and many other future stars. And naked native girl boobies galore.
Both were entertaining and I would call a MOVIE on the aforementioned rating scale.

Posted by: Count de Monet at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (5v5Zx)

50 I wonder how much of Rise of Skywalker being crap is because JJ Abrams doesn't have an original idea for Star Wars in his head, or because he's had to continue with Kathleen Kennedy's stupid Star Wars Mary Sue Skywalker fantasy that no one else likes.

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (Z7lwY)

51 Easy Andy @ 30, If I live long enough to adopt (excuse me I meant be adopted by) a cat, that cat's name will be General Sterling Price.
Posted by: Eromero at November 09, 2019 08:18 PM (UUkQp)

You will have to serve it beer.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (2DOZq)

52 ooh movie thread!

so I just watched Midsommer - strange movie, kind of like Wicker Man.
Strangely interesting.

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (G546f)

53
42 does the comparison between the top grossing movies of 72 vs. 18 tell you more about hollywood or more about the populace?
Posted by: guywholikeszombeavers at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (fpVX4)

====

Chicken or egg, really.

I would place the blame on the studios first, though. Audiences do give success to the occasional original film and studios don't chase them very often.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (zZbCU)

54 Skip, if Anna Puma says nyet to Midway, so be it. She knows her military/aviation/history. These horoywierdos don't know history and hate the military. But hey, history can't be changed and the military will defend their right so say whatever the fcuk they want on screen. And yours truly can take his 22-odd years of service and stay the fcuk home.

Posted by: Eromero at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (UUkQp)

55
Remember the slow, depressing movie starring Bruce Willis as a guy who lived in Virtual Reality because he was such a turd and a loser?

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 08:23 PM (4f9mN)

56 Heard a commercial for the Ford vs Ferrari movie so guess it's coming out imminently
Posted by: Skip
---

Spoiler: Ford wins

You can't beat cubic money.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (sHVgQ)

57 I don't care for superhero movies either. BORING. Same thing over and over, nothing new and nothing and no one for me to care about.

Posted by: Memories at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (mwcEF)

58 50 I wonder how much of Rise of Skywalker being crap is because JJ Abrams doesn't have an original idea for Star Wars in his head, or because he's had to continue with Kathleen Kennedy's stupid Star Wars Mary Sue Skywalker fantasy that no one else likes.

---------

His biggest challenge is coming up with a coherent storyline after the narrative carnage that Rian Johnson inflicted in The Last Jedi.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (XVuno)

59 41 Three Days of the Condor

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (tcamx)

60 Crud Buckets! Now I cant watch Hogan's Heroes anymore!! Can you believe those jokers trying to pass off a M7 Priest as a Pz VI Tiger!!

Just plain awful. Cant believe that show ever made me laugh!!

Posted by: The tank guy at November 09, 2019 08:25 PM (vqIkG)

61 Watching Svengoolie.

Faith Domergue was....perky.

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at November 09, 2019 08:26 PM (oVJmc)

62 The Bounty with Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, a young Liam Neeson, and many other future stars. And naked native girl boobies galore.


mmmmm, naked native girl boobies.

Plus, a great Vangelis soundtrack.

Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 08:26 PM (o8adb)

63 I'm not old enough to have lived through 1972, much less remember it, but I think that's a great point. Fewer studios being more risk averse equals less to choose from in terms of movies.

But now that Midway is out I want to give that a spin. I just hope it isn't a crapfest like Pearl Harbor (which showed so much promise in the trailers but was so horribly done).

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 08:26 PM (jCDlI)

64 Good evening.

Holy shit...someone else enjoys Prometheus.

I don't...feel alone anymore.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (gqfZg)

65 If you're thinking of going to see "Midway", the current remake of the original film from 1976, don't.

---

https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=92534

Posted by: SMH at the way EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (RU4sa)

66 Remember the slow, depressing movie starring Bruce Willis as a guy who lived in Virtual Reality because he was such a turd and a loser?


Hudson Hawk?

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (786Ro)

67 Guardians of the Galaxy is the only Marvel movie I enjoyed. I never read comics and my family took me to Avengers 2. I spent most if the movie asking who the characters were and what was going on. I never saw another one.

Posted by: Abby at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (1hWhC)

68 Redford was also in Barefoot in the Park. He was there to play the Pretty Boy opposite She Who Must Not Be Named.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (tcamx)

69 Midway might be watchable
Posted by: Skip

Anna Puma gave it The Big Ixnay.

And that's good enough for me.
Posted by: JT



The '70s Midway? I agree with Anna.

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (oVJmc)

70 Matey, they be more like suggestions 'ere!
Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar
----------
Ah! See? That's the sub-sub-paragraph that addresses spontaneous talk-like-a-pirate.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (sHVgQ)

71 63 I'm not old enough to have lived through 1972, much less remember it,

==

oh, it's a PG thread...

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (G546f)

72
The thing that irritated me about that Scorsese rant on Marvel is that it kind of glosses over the fact that film started off as a lowest-common-denominator novelty, shown in carnival sideshows by toothless, drunken carnies along side the bearded lady and The Amazing Fish Boy. The first really successful narrative film was as western about a train robbery that ended with a gimmick shot of a cowpoke aiming and firing his six-shooter directly at the audience.

The whole "art" thing about film came about later.

And in that list of Scorsese's films since 1990 are two remakes and one film that was based on a book that's sort of a graphic novel.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (nJBeS)

73 Come to think of it, can't watch Kelly's Heroes either. Those scammers were trying to pass off a Yugoslav T-34 as a Tiger also!!
What is it with theses "Heroes" and Tiger Tanks anyway?

Posted by: A un Tiger here and a un Tiger there at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (vqIkG)

74 "Ok, Boomer!"

Posted by: Marvel movie conniseurs at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (gHCnG)

75
64 Good evening.

Holy shit...someone else enjoys Prometheus.

I don't...feel alone anymore.
Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 08:27 PM (gqfZg

=======

Welcome, brother. We follow the true religion.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (zZbCU)

76 Three Days of the Condor
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (tca

I forgot about that one. Pretty good.

Everyone also says BCandTSK but also not a favorite.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (2DOZq)

77 @58
Actually the even more inexplicable thing is that after acquiring 4.5 billion dollars worth of IP, with decades of stories and series to mine, they literally had no fucking idea what story they wanted to tell and just winged it.

Incredible.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (Qs/Su)

78 Did any of you watch Jojo Rabbit? That movies looks about as original as anything I've heard of in a good number of years. I'm actually excited about the prospect of seeing that one. It's been a few years since I felt that way about a new movie.

Posted by: Jeffrey at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (FsRGZ)

79 "A Slap Fight!"

Or, as the kids at Disney would say, "OK Boomer."

Posted by: mikeski at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (P1f+c)

80 57 I don't care for superhero movies either. BORING. Same thing over and over, nothing new and nothing and no one for me to care about.
Posted by: Memories at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (mwcEF)

They are good in moderation. I was content seeing the Sam Raimi directed Spider-Man movies back in the day (but I have always been a huge Spidey fan so there's that) but watching every single DCU or Marvel movie that has come out does not interest me in the least.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (jCDlI)

81 Anna Puma gave it The Big Ixnay.


Puma hasn't seen the movie, only the trailer. And the Puma comments were strictly technical that plane wouldn't have had seven rivets on the aileron it would have had eight port and nine starboard.

We all cherish our pet obsessions.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (gd9RK)

82 I think a big factor in comparing 1972 to 2018 box office top tens is that movies in 2018 are targeted at a global audience. Especially China. Maybe this wasn't so much the case in 1972. The audience not just changed but expanded.

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:30 PM (786Ro)

83 I'm not old enough to have lived through 1972, much less remember it,

==

oh, it's a PG thread...
Posted by: vmom
-----

I always forget that there are children present.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:31 PM (sHVgQ)

84
Come to think of it, can't watch Kelly's Heroes either. Those scammers were trying to pass off a Yugoslav T-34 as a Tiger also!!
What is it with theses "Heroes" and Tiger Tanks anyway?


Posted by: A un Tiger here and a un Tiger there at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (vqIkG)


woof woof

Posted by: TheQuietMan at November 09, 2019 08:31 PM (8EPFb)

85 Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (gd9RK)

The casting director is an idiot IMHO.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:31 PM (2DOZq)

86 60 Crud Buckets! Now I cant watch Hogan's Heroes anymore!! Can you believe those jokers trying to pass off a M7 Priest as a Pz VI Tiger!!

---------

Ever take a close look at Col. Klink's collar insignia?

Appalling.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:31 PM (XVuno)

87 Oddly enough my Top 5 movies were all totally unique in some major way, and influenced everything that came after them. I never realized. Even Goodfellas, which was just another mob movie, infused an enthusiastic pop energy into the crime genre that I don't think was ever there previously.

Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 08:32 PM (uEbPt)

88 Sick to death of superhero movies and remakes.

I rewatched Team America this week and still howl at every line. Read Ebert's one star review and just laugh at how badly he missed the point.

Also watched Shoot 'Em Up with Monica Bellucci, Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. Another howler that is also an anti-gun screed where the hero kills at least 500 people with . . . (wait for it!) . . . guns.

Next up I think I am going to rewatch District 9, Fury, The Passion of the Christ and Bull Durham this week. All movies I have seen before, and all excellent. But nothing is out that's new, except Midway. Perhaps I'll hit that too.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:32 PM (U50PB)

89 Hey everybody. Hey new movie thread! Sorry I'm late! Thanks TJM! (I assume Moviegique isn't the host this week.) :-)

Agreed about Scorsese. I appreciate that he wrote an explanation of his belief that Marvel's not 'cinema.'

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:32 PM (L2ZTs)

90 anyway, Midsommer has made me decide to watch Hereditary next

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:33 PM (G546f)

91 Also, TJM, hope Dolly and The New Human are doing well. You know everyone here has you and them in our prayers constantly.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:33 PM (U50PB)

92 Also Downhill Racer. Redford was good at nihilism.

And the Paul Newman movies were funny.

And he directed A River Runs Through It.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:33 PM (gd9RK)

93 Three Days of the Condor
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM



The great Max von Sydow was awesome in that movie. A cool, collected, killer.

Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 08:34 PM (o8adb)

94 Anyway, I'm one of those who think Scorsese is just being a cranky old man.

Also, blockbusters have been referred to by shill critics as "rollercoaster rides" for how many years? The Marvel films are nothing new in that sense, but they've got a good gimmick.

Oh, and the first Iron Man film would have been Ayn Rand's favorite Marvel movie. I maintain that that movie is proto-Objectivist. Jon Favreau's movie, Chef, addresses many of the same themes.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 08:34 PM (gqfZg)

95 As a gun guy, a bunch of movies can take me out of my immersion with stupid gun stuff. But a really good movie can make me ignore technical mistakes.

Story and performances trump all.

Or naked hotties, that makes even shit like Wolf of Wall Street watchable.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:34 PM (d1uFV)

96 "The only good Tiger is a dead Tiger" - Something Gen. George Patton might have said

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:35 PM (sHVgQ)

97 Woody Harrelson as Chester Nimitz.

Right.

Posted by: SMH at the way EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:36 PM (RU4sa)

98 I saw Doctor Sleep. It was a good movie whilst it was being a Stephen King movie. It was a lame fan fiction in its last act when it was trying and failing hard at being a Kubrick movie.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 08:36 PM (ykYG2)

99 "The only good Tiger is a dead Tiger" - Something Gen. George Patton might have said
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
----------

Tiger Tiger, burning bright...

Posted by: William Blake at November 09, 2019 08:36 PM (sHVgQ)

100 Casa Blanca
African Queen
Sahara
Key Largo
Caine Mutiny

Since I mentioned Bogart being in five of my top ten I thought I'd list them.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (2DOZq)

101 "de gustibus non est disputandum" has been a concept for the las couple of millenia, so I'm'a do my best not to even try, mostly.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (JwHjN)

102 Re what cinema's lost the last few decades:

I agree with this as well. The truth is, for all their self-indulgence, movies weren't afraid to be BIG in the 1950s through the 1980s. Studios were willing to gamble, sometimes for quite a bit of money. Look at UA and Heaven's Gate.

Today studios aren't willing to gamble at all, they want a sure thing, and Marvel/DC provides the closest they can get to that at this stage.

I really, REALLY hope that in the still small and independent niche world of Christian alternative filmmaking, they're noticing this chasm that exists today and looking for filmmakers to fill it. Unfortunately there don't appear to be any directors in or from that niche with the talent to fix the current situation in cinema, but I'm hoping/praying that changes. Imagine what could happen if we got another Passion Of The Christ. (The Hollyweird hedonists could ignore it once, but not if more hit movies come out like it.)

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (L2ZTs)

103 Tiger Tiger, burning bright...
Posted by: William Blake



He spellt it Tyger.

Posted by: An Pedant at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (gd9RK)

104 96 "The only good Tiger is a dead Tiger" - Something Gen. George Patton might have said
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:35 PM (sHVgQ)

---------

The full quote was, "the only good Tiger is a Tiger that killed itself, unlike Jeff Epstein."

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:38 PM (XVuno)

105 We follow the true religion.


Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:28 PM (zZbCU)

Any Virgin sacrifices?

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 08:38 PM (gqfZg)

106
His biggest challenge is coming up with a coherent storyline after the narrative carnage that Rian Johnson inflicted in The Last Jedi.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM (XVuno)



You did watch Force Awakens with the Starkiller base that they could all watch the blast shoot across the galaxy to destroy that planet right? He doesn't give a damn about coherent. If he can't rip off the original trilogy he doesn't know what to do. Just like how he didn't know how to do Star Trek without ripping off Wrath of Khan in a shit way. If he was intelligent you could have gotten at least 2 full movies out of Khan.

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (Z7lwY)

107 okay, over 100, so okay, thanks again, YD !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (JwHjN)

108 Tiger Tiger, burning bright...
Posted by: William Blake


He spellt it Tyger.
Posted by: An Pedant

----
'Spelt'.

But...then the pun would not work.

Posted by: William Blake at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (sHVgQ)

109 I really, REALLY hope that in the still small and independent niche world of Christian alternative filmmaking, they're noticing this chasm that exists today and looking for filmmakers to fill it. Unfortunately there don't appear to be any directors in or from that niche with the talent to fix the current situation in cinema, but I'm hoping/praying that changes. Imagine what could happen if we got another Passion Of The Christ. (The Hollyweird hedonists could ignore it once, but not if more hit movies come out like it.)
Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (L2ZTs)

The problem is that most Christian film sucks donkey balls.

Posted by: Insomniac at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (6H0QF)

110 Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:29 PM (gd9RK)

IIRC, Anna's comments were far more substantive and historical than "And they got the tail number of that plane wrong!"

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar knows that EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:40 PM (BiNEL)

111 Insom, agreed

I said as much in my piece but was trying to keep it polite :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:40 PM (L2ZTs)

112
Three Days of the Condor
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:24 PM


The great Max von Sydow was awesome in that movie. A cool, collected, killer.
Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 08:34 PM (o8adb)






Von Sydow and Faye Dunaway make the film, which is a great favorite of mine. I love the paranoid thrillers.

The thing that I find head-scratching is that they changed the plot from the book's lefty fantasy about the CIA importing drugs from SE Asia to a different lefty fantasy about the CIA making contingency plans to make War for Oil. I suspect that Redford had a lot to do with that.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 08:40 PM (nJBeS)

113 82 I think a big factor in comparing 1972 to 2018 box office top tens is that movies in 2018 are targeted at a global audience. Especially China. Maybe this wasn't so much the case in 1972. The audience not just changed but expanded.
Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:30 PM (786Ro)

And this is a mistake.

Tell the bloody story. Just put one together, film it, and then when it is all done, if it hits a global audience, great.

(Don't worry, I know this is idealistic. But still, the point being, if you put together something compelling, the Americans and Chinese and all else will come out in droves to see it anyway.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 08:40 PM (jCDlI)

114 I will make a cinematic argument for the native boobies in the Mel Gibson Bounty. Verisimilitude. You can't watch the Marlon Brando movie now without saying where are the native boobies.

They should be there because the artifice it takes to cut them out of the scene takes away from what's going on in the movie. Of course there are naked native boobies, that's the point and the temptation and you're just being all 1950s to pretend otherwise.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:41 PM (gd9RK)

115 One thing I really like about Joker is that the filmmakers refused to kowtow to China and make cuts they wanted. So it didn't play at all there, and was still a huge hit.

I'm hoping Hollywood will take note. Still, they're greedy and small-minded and don't have the sense God gave a donkey, so it's doubtful. (If you're gonna dream, dream big...)

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:42 PM (L2ZTs)

116 The problem is that most Christian film sucks donkey balls.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (6H0QF)

you're not wrong

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:42 PM (G546f)

117 On my thoughts of Metropolis, it's definitely German socialism as opposed to Marxism, the workers though working until exhaustion and death know they must keep the machine's running until the mechanical woman seduces them to destroy the machine's. She also seduces the people above ground into just a big party. Eventually the underground is destroyed , they burn the mechanical woman and the mediator brings the workers and the above ground people together.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:42 PM (ZCEU2)

118 'Spelt'.


I went back and forth on spelt vs. spellt and spellcheck was no help.

Posted by: An Pedant at November 09, 2019 08:43 PM (gd9RK)

119 Today studios aren't willing to gamble at all, they want a sure thing, and Marvel/DC provides the closest they can get to that at this stage.
...
Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (L2ZTs)


As in so much of our current technology and lives, the green eye-shade guys in corner offices are in charge of everything!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar knows that EDKH at November 09, 2019 08:43 PM (BiNEL)

120
SPLASH is 35 years old.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 08:44 PM (4f9mN)

121
"The only good Tiger is a dead Tiger" - Something Gen. George Patton might have said
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
----------

Tiger Tiger, burning bright...
Posted by: William Blake at November 09, 2019 08:36 PM (sHVgQ)







Time to go watch The Chieftain's channel on youtube.

"Oh bugger, the tank is on fire!"

And watch a 6'5" Irishman try to wriggle his way out of a 70 year old tank that was designed for 5'3" crewmen.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 08:44 PM (nJBeS)

122 I remember when the green eye-shade guys had to sit in the basement.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:44 PM (XVuno)

123 50 I wonder how much of Rise of Skywalker being crap is because JJ Abrams doesn't have an original idea for Star Wars in his head, or because he's had to continue with Kathleen Kennedy's stupid Star Wars Mary Sue Skywalker fantasy that no one else likes.

I'm tempted to snark "the answer is yes" to this comment, but I'm leaning to the first option. I think that the Rat House has, by now, gone over Kennedy's air-filled head and instructed the director and screenwriters that they are not to listen to the idiot.

And I agree with the other commenter here that Rian left a fat upperdecker in the plumbing, which everyone now has to work around.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 08:44 PM (ykYG2)

124 As good as the Caine Mutiny is, and a favorite of mine, the book is better

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:45 PM (ZCEU2)

125 ok so I recommend Midsommar if you are open to atmospheric longish type movies
it's horror with no jump scares

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:45 PM (G546f)

126 Metropolis is a flick that couldn't be made today... not just for the usual PC reasons, but because it belongs to a whole different cinematic, and rhetorical/cultural, era. Too strident, too didactic, too earnest.

Don't get me wrong, I like that movies work differently (and frankly more realistically) today, but Hollywood's modern-day embraced versions of the ideas in Metropolis are also very, very fcuked up.

(Hope this comment makes sense...)

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:45 PM (L2ZTs)

127 Adam Schiff for Brains: Must protect Chocolate Jesus...
Repeat....

Adam Schiff for Brains: Must protect Chocolate Jesus...
Repeat....

Adam Schiff for Brains: Must protect Chocolate Jesus...
Repeat....

Adam Schiff for Brains: Must protect Chocolate Jesus...
Repeat....

Posted by: James at November 09, 2019 08:45 PM (qM84C)

128 The problem is that most Christian film sucks donkey balls.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (6H0QF)

Going back to my 12-year-old self, being forced into church on a Friday night to watch The Cross and The Switchblade...

I really don't remember if it was good or not. I was just pissed that I had to go to church on Friday night, Erik Estrada or no.

Posted by: April at November 09, 2019 08:46 PM (OX9vb)

129 I like the reference to levels - I liken it to the same in books - what I call bubble gum reading versus more serious stuff - you can enjoy Lee Child and Cervantes.

Posted by: rammajamma at November 09, 2019 08:46 PM (SwWMX)

130 Hrothgar, yup.
Also the overgrown teenagers in the CGI factory.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 08:46 PM (L2ZTs)

131 I think that the Rat House has, by now, gone over Kennedy's air-filled head and instructed the director and screenwriters that they are not to listen to the idiot.

--------

Kathleen Kennedy has apparently been sidelined but Disney can't fire her, because grrrrrl power or something.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:46 PM (XVuno)

132 !12. how about that farking terrifying faux delivery man scene? How did the book handle that? I always wondered what Faye did with the stiff in her apt.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:46 PM (tcamx)

133
Anyone see Screamers (1995)? It's a sci-fi flick based on a Philip Dick shot story. I don't remember it but it was on tv today.

Not to be confused with the 1975 flick titled Screamers about sea creatures starring Barbara Bach, which is an Italian movie originally titled L'isola Degli Iomini Pesce.




Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 08:47 PM (4f9mN)

134 The problem is that most Christian film sucks donkey balls.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (6H0QF)

you're not wrong
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:42 PM (G546f)

Depends I guess. I like some of today's Christian / God based films as feel good films , preaching to the choir, pun intended. Religious films of the past were more inclusive and were good.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:47 PM (2DOZq)

135 But still, the point being, if you put together something compelling, the Americans and Chinese and all else will come out in droves to see it anyway.)

But will the Chinese PAY for it... ?

That's the real problem they're facing in Hollywood. They could say YOLO and produce, say, a tragic epic about some doomed "warlord" fighting off Mao. It could be so good that Emperor Xi hates it. Then *poof*, banned in China. Everyone in China will still see it because the Firewall is leaky.

Nobody in Los Angeles County will see one rusted renminbi.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (ykYG2)

136 Some nice work there, BeckoningChasm !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (JwHjN)

137
Adam Schiff for Brains: Must protect Chocolate Jesus...
Repeat....
Posted by: James
------
"Mr. Chairman, we have a verified eyewitness we would like to call..."

Schiff: "Denied! [slams gavel], Denied! [slams gavel] Denied! [slams gavel], Denied! [slams gavel]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (sHVgQ)

138 Terry Gilliam is hit or miss with me, but I see that his long-in-the-making "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" is free to stream. Anyone seen it? Is it worth my time?

Posted by: Rusty Nail at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (I99aF)

139 I'm tempted to snark "the answer is yes" to this comment, but I'm leaning to the first option. I think that the Rat House has, by now, gone over Kennedy's air-filled head and instructed the director and screenwriters that they are not to listen to the idiot.



The GoT producers pulling out makes me think Kennedy still has control. Similar to how Solo's directors were fired because of her.

Hell look at the shit state that EA has left Star Wars in with only now there might actually be a decent game. If Disney is getting cash off of it they don't actually care how much crap there is.

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (Z7lwY)

140
remember CAVEMAN with Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, and Diane from Cheers?

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (4f9mN)

141
Casa Blanca

African Queen

Sahara

Key Largo

Caine Mutiny



Since I mentioned Bogart being in five of my top ten I thought I'd list them.





Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:37 PM (2DOZq)


No, Maltese Falcon or Roaring Twenties with Cagney?

Posted by: TheQuietMan at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (8EPFb)

142
The problem is that most Christian film sucks donkey balls.
Posted by: Insomniac at November 09, 2019 08:39 PM (6H0QF)

True fact.

Mildly unrelated aside, but ever see Soul Surfer? About the teenage Christian surfer girl whose arm gets eaten by a shark?

I watched that one night a few years ago. It was...uuuuuhhhh...

So the Christian stuff comes in by way of a couple of scenes involving some churchy missionary type that might altogether total five minutes.

The rest of the film was a lot if cute girls in bikinis.

So it was cute bikini girls for a young male audience, Christian stuff to pander to the parents of said young dudes so they wouldn't feel bad about allowing their young'uns on the path of sin, and a whole lot of missed opportunities for dramatic storytelling.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (gqfZg)

143 Hollywood makes shit, and thinks i'm shit, so they shit on my country and my values.

F them, sideways, and they don't get a dime from me.

Posted by: redc1c4 at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (Fn1K4)

144 125. is it a current release voter mom?

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (tcamx)

145 Anyway, sidelining Kathleen Kennedy now is too little, too late. She's already pretty much wrecked the franchise.

Posted by: Cicero, Now Appearing As "Some Other Commenter" at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (XVuno)

146 https://tinyurl.com/y5s5xxrk

Posted by: BeckoningChasm


Hmmmm, veddy interesting . . .

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (U50PB)

147 As to why Jumanji II worked - it was that rare sequel/Reboot (it was really a reboot, but they threw a few bones in to be able to call it a sequel) that was actually a lot more fun and more well thought out than the original was. The acting was better overall as well, since the original was mainly just another vehicle for Robin Williams to make funny voices on the screen.

Rather then Robin Williams and 2 kids, Jumanji II had an ensemble of 4 pretty good characters, each with their own development. It worked.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 08:50 PM (V2Yro)

148 Hollywood makes shit, and thinks i'm shit, so they shit on my country and my values.

F them, sideways, and they don't get a dime from me.


Posted by: redc1c4 at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (Fn1K4)


Ditto

Posted by: TheQuietMan at November 09, 2019 08:51 PM (8EPFb)

149 144 125. is it a current release voter mom?
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 08:49 PM (tcamx)

came out this summer - I watched it on dvd

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:51 PM (G546f)

150 Metropolis made today would be different as it would be Marxism based, class, race or gender. In the 1927 version there is no fighting between the classes, only against the mechanical woman who seduces them to abandon their work.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:52 PM (ZCEU2)

151 The GoT producers pulling out makes me think Kennedy still has control. Similar to how Solo's directors were fired because of her.


--------

The rumor on the internet is that was Iger's decision. So it must be true.

Posted by: Cicero, Now Appearing As at November 09, 2019 08:52 PM (XVuno)

152 138 Terry Gilliam is hit or miss with me, but I see that his long-in-the-making "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" is free to stream. Anyone seen it? Is it worth my time?
Posted by: Rusty Nail at November 09, 2019 08:48 PM (I99aF)

======

I kind of Loved it.

https://davidmvining.wordpress.com/ 2019/04/11/the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at November 09, 2019 08:52 PM (zZbCU)

153 Anna Puma gave it The Big Ixnay.

And that's good enough for me.

Posted by: JT


Anna is great but her complaints about the movie are mostly related to technical details with the aircraft that not another human on the planet will notice. I share her frustration with that sort of thing, but I am still going because I want to see brave Americans fighting against the worst odds and somehow prevailing.

I also want to watch those Jap carriers burn.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM (U50PB)

154 Of all the "great" movies by Scorsese listed up top, I've only seen Cape Fear and wasn't impressed by it.

Posted by: Ex-ex at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM (RU4sa)

155 @100
Interesting that you left off Treasure of The Sierra Madre, which for me is amongst the best films of all time.

Also quite fond of Sabrina.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM (Qs/Su)

156 I know it's literally impossible to tell a wild, incredible story, and base an entertainment film on that - or so I'm told - but if the actual history of Midway were told, without embellishment, it would be much much better than 99% of the sub-mediocre garbage churned out by fiction writers/screenwriters.


I'll go see it just because one movie/year, haven't seen one this year [don't count the Apollo documentary, and the Eighth Air Force documentary, Into the Cold Blue], so that'll be my one.


But only for free if possible, or at lowest matinee price. With low expectations. One of the funny/sad things now is that from the 47 minutes of trailers and stupid ads that precede a movie, usually we come away thinking "are you kidding me? people pay to see this crap?" - but also, the trailers are completely adequate, no need to even consider seeing the actual movie [and not just the comic book movies, whose existence continues to amaze me].


Posted by: rhomboid at November 09, 2019 08:54 PM (QDnY+)

157 SPLASH is 35 years old.
Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 08:44 PM (4f9mN

Stop telling lies!

Posted by: Robert, having a hard time aging at November 09, 2019 08:54 PM (gqfZg)

158 I also want to watch those Jap carriers burn.
Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM (U50PB)

--------

Look closely. They're actually Puget Sound ferries. Not to take a pedantic dig at authenticity or anything.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 08:55 PM (XVuno)

159 Has anybody seen the New Midway movie yet and is it any good?

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 09, 2019 08:55 PM (dKiJG)

160 I think Nolan movies are 'complete'. Once you've seen it, you've seen the story told and can chew it over and think about it; but they are a little cold. And they rarely have moments that hook me and make me want to go back and see them again and again.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (d1uFV)


I think that's right.

Nolan, like Kubrick, is a very logical filmmaker. There's simultaneously a rather dry professorial aspect to his movies as well as the excitement of a well-told story.

Though I can watch "The Dark Knight" almost every time it's on, his other movies I have to be in the proper mood to see them again.

The stories are so logical, that it's easy to feel like you're just waiting for the scenes you know are coming.

Posted by: naturalfake at November 09, 2019 08:55 PM (kauXV)

161 Ace in the Hole is really a movie about us isn't it?

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:56 PM (ZCEU2)

162 [iInteresting that you left off Treasure of The Sierra Madre, which for me is amongst the best films of all time.

Also quite fond of Sabrina.
Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM


Yep, I was thinking of Treasure of The Sierra Madre too. Also Bogart in The Desperate Hours. Throw in the Caine Mutiny, and I guess I liked him best as the bad guy.

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:56 PM (786Ro)

163 161 Ace in the Hole is really a movie about us isn't it?
Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 08:56 PM (ZCEU2)

It's the Rule 34 version of us.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 08:56 PM (V2Yro)

164 Interesting that you left off Treasure of The Sierra Madre, which for me is amongst the best films of all time.

Also quite fond of Sabrina.
Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:53 PM (Qs/Su)

I like other Bogart movies very much but they just aren't on my all time top ten list .

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:57 PM (2DOZq)

165 If I ever write a WW2-Pacific story I'm hiring Anna as my editor. Same as if I'm writing something on the Russian Revolution / Civil War, I'm hiring Yublurblemumblestra Dice.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 08:57 PM (ykYG2)

166 Posted by: The tank guy


Heh.

ISWYDT

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (U50PB)

167 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f)

168 Apparently, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and freaking masterpiece Silence are all terrible films.

They ARE all terrible. Just my taste.
Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (786Ro)

I have viewed exactly none of them.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (/sgva)

169 @162
How about pretty much anything with Bogart in it.

Dude was 5 foot nothing but damn that man had screen presence.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 08:59 PM (Qs/Su)

170 Watching Catch 22 on my other open tab.

I think I love movies from this era due to, many time, the ensemble casts:

Alan Arkin
Jon Voight
Richard Benjamin
Jack Gilford
Buck Henry
Paula Prentiss
Martin Sheen
Bob Newhart
Normal Fell
Martin Balsam
Charles Grodin
etc

Posted by: Tonypete at November 09, 2019 08:59 PM (Y4EXg)

171 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f)

Ben Hur

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 08:59 PM (2DOZq)

172 "165 If I ever write a WW2-Pacific story I'm hiring Anna as my editor. Same as if I'm writing something on the Russian Revolution / Civil War, I'm hiring Yublurblemumblestra Dice.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 08:57 PM (ykYG2) "




Trufax from the Mincery !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 08:59 PM (JwHjN)

173 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f)

Les Miserables?

Posted by: Robert, having a hard time aging at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (gqfZg)

174 Look closely. They're actually Puget Sound ferries. Not to take a pedantic dig at authenticity or anything.
Posted by: Cicero
---------

Curiously, I might find that just as satisfying.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (sHVgQ)

175 Marty glorifies degeneracy and crime to capture an audience. Nolan doesn't. Marty is trash.

Posted by: pink nipples at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (DZsvp)

176 TJM, I'm late to the thread but this is an excellent, thought provoking post. Thank you.

Posted by: DR.WTF Laptop at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (TNPbx)

177 In general, comic books and comic book movies are for kids.

Posted by: davidt at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (l3+k2)

178 The hallway scene in Inception was extremely well done.

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

I'm sure Kubrick would have approved.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (LxTcq)

179 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie

Fellowship Of The Ring + Two Towers. Arguably.

The three Narnia flicks we got weren't awful.

Unplanned was great, but didn't need to be Christian; we have a slew of pro-life Jews in the Horde, and might even have some pro-life agnostics (I was one of these, I think we have some left).

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (ykYG2)

180 For the record, Age of Innocence sucked.

Posted by: OCBill at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (Ij9pi)

181
Curiously, I might find that just as satisfying.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
-------

*imagines scenes of Mercer Island being shelled*

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:02 PM (sHVgQ)

182 Tonypete, yup. Mike Nichols did some incredible things on that movie.

There's one scene with Jon Voight and someone else (Martin Balsam I think)? that they could obviously only shoot once, because there was a massive stunt performed in the background (a plane crash).

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:02 PM (L2ZTs)

183 I won't see it, because I just don't want to pay the freight to the theaters.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 08:21 PM (sHVgQ)

Do theaters still do that "2.50 Tuesday" thing, or maybe cheap matinees on weekdays?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:02 PM (/sgva)

184 >>>now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie

Barabas

Posted by: davidt at November 09, 2019 09:03 PM (l3+k2)

185 Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence:

Cape Fear was a classic. Didn't finish Casino, which I didn't enjoy. Gangs of New York suckt ballz. Hugo suckt ballz. Shutter Island, The Departed, and Wold of Wall Street were all okay.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:04 PM (ykYG2)

186 I Watched Local Hero, and Secondhand Lions today. I wish I had liked Inception. I tried to. It just felt like it tried too hard.

Posted by: Sod buster at November 09, 2019 09:04 PM (Bf3hj)

187 Marty glorifies degeneracy and crime to capture an audience.
Posted by: pink nipples at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (DZsvp)

Dude, I was just playing an ugly guy trying to get laid!

Posted by: Ernest Borgnine at November 09, 2019 09:04 PM (gqfZg)

188 holy cow doggeh just howled in his sleep

I went over to pet him
still sleeping

Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 09:05 PM (G546f)

189
I rate Passion of the Christ very high as both a movie and a Christian movie, but I've only watched it exactly once (way back when it was new) and really have no desire to watch it again.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:05 PM (4f9mN)

190 179 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie

Fellowship Of The Ring + Two Towers. Arguably.

The three Narnia flicks we got weren't awful.

Unplanned was great, but didn't need to be Christian; we have a slew of pro-life Jews in the Horde, and might even have some pro-life agnostics (I was one of these, I think we have some left).
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (ykYG2)

Warrior is the best Christian movie of a generation or 2. Director and writer are unashamed that it is a 100% Christian movie and they marketed it as a MMA flick, which pissed off the satanist Joe Rohan.

Posted by: pink nipples at November 09, 2019 09:05 PM (DZsvp)

191 Cape Fear was a classic. Didn't finish Casino, which I didn't enjoy. Gangs of New York suckt ballz. Hugo suckt ballz. Shutter Island, The Departed, and Wold of Wall Street were all okay.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:04 PM (ykYG2)


I really, really like Hugo. To each his own.

Posted by: DR.WTF Laptop at November 09, 2019 09:06 PM (TNPbx)

192 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f

The Matrix

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:06 PM (gqfZg)

193 There's one scene with Jon Voight and someone else (Martin Balsam I think)? that they could obviously only shoot once, because there was a massive stunt performed in the background (a plane crash).
Posted by: qdpsteve

---

Yeah, just saw it. They (Voight/Balsam) completely ignored the crippled plane roaring down the runway burning, and cracking up off camera. They were discussing Voight's latest scam involving selling the silk (parachutes) to get cotton, to trade for fuel, to trade for liquor , etc, etc.

Great scene.

Posted by: Tonypete at November 09, 2019 09:06 PM (Y4EXg)

194 168 Apparently, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and freaking masterpiece Silence are all terrible films.

They ARE all terrible. Just my taste.
Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 08:13 PM (786Ro)

I have viewed exactly none of them.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (/sgva)

I don't care for mob movies. But I LOVED Casino. (Not as much as my best friend, who for a long time had it playing on a loop at his house. Seriously. For a time I knew when I went to visit him I was going to see Casino playing on his TV.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 09:07 PM (jCDlI)

195 holy cow doggeh just howled in his sleep

I went over to pet him
still sleeping
Posted by: vmom
--------

You never know. He may have making making woo with that cute little Corgi down the street.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:07 PM (sHVgQ)

196 192 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f

The Matrix
Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:06 PM (gqfZg)

Easy. The Ten Commandments.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 09:08 PM (jCDlI)

197
I've only gone to a couple of recent Marvel movies in the theater, but I've "watched" half a dozen of the Marvel comics films for free from the library (most were so bad I had to turn 'em off half way through...)...no character build up, zero plot to speak of and lackluster dialogue....so I kind of see his point.

The Superman movie with Christopher Reeve did it all better with less CGI back in the day...it wasn't a perfect film but it had character development, good dialogue and heart which is sorely lacking in most of today's comic movies ( I thought Guardians of the Galaxy was the one fun exception- good entertaining film with a great soundtrack).

You would think a hundred million bucks to produce these things would buy a decent script. Crazy times we live in....

Oh, and the special effects become boring when repeated over and over and over.... (bad guy hits hero who flies backward into building "SMASH!!" bricks and concrete fly all over... good guy hits bad guy who flies into building "SMASH!!" bricks and concrete fly all over...

And on top of that.... half the film is so dark you can't even see what is going on. I guess they are going for a comic noir look....but other noir films have that great look and feel and you can still SEE what is happening on screen. Constant dark lit scene after dark lit scene gets old real fast in these super hero films. Sad.

Now you crazy kids get off my lawn.

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at November 09, 2019 09:08 PM (nEmT7)

198 I thought the casting of DiCaprio in Aviator was going to be ridiculous but I think he pulled it off.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:09 PM (2DOZq)

199 In 1972, one had to go out and find their entertainment.

In 2019, entertainment comes to find you whether you like it or not.



Posted by: Hairyback Guy at November 09, 2019 09:09 PM (Z+IKu)

200 Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence


Cape Fear-Meh
Casino- Brilliant
Gangs of New York-Meh
The Departed-ok but overrated
Shutter Island-I was surprised how much I liked it
Goodfellas (not listed?) is one of my all time favorite movies. Loved it.
I didn't see the rest of the films listed.

Posted by: Puddleglum at November 09, 2019 09:09 PM (o8adb)

201 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f

The Exorcist

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:09 PM (gqfZg)

202 Alabama is defeated, looks like Clemson has NC State pretty much handled, and Madison The Cat has already gone to bed. My bacon/salami/muenster/horseradish tortilla for tomorrow is made and the covfefe is ready for in the morning. Besides I am tired out and starting to wobble offcourse. Later gators.

Posted by: Eromero at November 09, 2019 09:10 PM (UUkQp)

203 I have never seen Passion of the Christ,

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 09:10 PM (ZCEU2)

204 The Bishop's wife

Posted by: Sod buster at November 09, 2019 09:10 PM (Bf3hj)

205 You had me until your glowing review of Prometheus. A flaming ziggurat made of horse puckeys.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at November 09, 2019 08:08 PM (Dc2NZ)


Yeah, every time TJM lavishes praise on "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant",

I feel like someone's trying to tell me what a great president Obama was.

And for much the same reason: characters doing incredibly stupid things that anyone with a shoe size IQ would know will cause nothing but heartache and problems.*

The one advantage that "Prometheus" and "A:C" have over the Obama administration is that there's no dog eating in the movies.









*Huge hate for movies which require characters to do stupid things that no one would ever do in real life and/or violate the characters' "character" to have any sort of plot.


Posted by: naturalfake at November 09, 2019 09:10 PM (kauXV)

206
now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie





Risen.

Not a great film, but a good one. Turned out to be a lot better than I expected

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:11 PM (nJBeS)

207 167 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f)

The best I've seen by far is Babette's Feast. The film is so good on it's own that on the first viewing, you won't realize that the entire thing, from start to finish, is a parable of the Christian theological concept of Grace (well, Luther's and Calvin's) mixed in with the concept of agape love, and sacrifice. It's brilliant on every level.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:11 PM (V2Yro)

208 They should be there because the artifice it takes to cut them out of the scene takes away from what's going on in the movie. Of course there are naked native boobies, that's the point and the temptation and you're just being all 1950s to pretend otherwise.
Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 08:41 PM (gd9RK)

One might be given to suspect that the nekkid native boobies was a factor in encouraging the crew of the Bounty to mutiny.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (/sgva)

209 My problem with Prometheus is that it all but screamed "big new franchise!! Big new franchise!!" at the expense of a ton of plausibility and character development.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (L2ZTs)

210 for another that's probably the most religious concept movie that I can think of, although not Christian, is Groundhog Day.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (V2Yro)

211 Watched On The Waterfront tonight.

The blond chick was cute.

Posted by: jsg at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (s7OHd)

212 @203
Well if you didn't see it in a theater you've missed a singular movie experience.

I will never forget people sobbing throughout the film, like real sobbing, well the film does have a happy ending.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 09:13 PM (Qs/Su)

213 A Charlie Brown Christmas is a good Christian movie.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 09:13 PM (tcamx)

214 jsg, ya coulda been a contenda!!!

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:13 PM (L2ZTs)

215 One might be given to suspect that the nekkid native boobies was a factor in encouraging the crew of the Bounty to mutiny.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (/sgva)

It actually was. Bligh would not let them partake in any fun.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:13 PM (2DOZq)

216 I love this thread 2 out of 3 weeks but really should be turning out the lights now.

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 09:14 PM (ZCEU2)

217 kallisto, one of the best. :-)

I will always love Charles Schulz, especially for his courage in getting that thing made and on the air.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:14 PM (L2ZTs)

218 Easy. The Ten Commandments.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 09:08 PM (jCDlI)

naw, as Hedley Lamar said, "Too Jewish".

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:14 PM (V2Yro)

219 It's a Wonderful Life

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:15 PM (2DOZq)

220 *imagines scenes of Mercer Island being shelled*

Posted by: Mike Hammer


In this fantasy, Mercer Island is Midway Island?

In mine, Doolittle's B-25s bomb the shit out of MI.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 09:15 PM (U50PB)

221 If it's boobies you want watch the 53 hour long ( guessing it's that long) Shaka Zulu

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 09:15 PM (ZCEU2)

222 Cape Fear
Which one?

Posted by: Skip at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (ZCEU2)

223 John Wayne's last movie is on after Rooster Cogburn.

The Shootist.

Wayne went out with a good one.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (2DOZq)

224 Do theaters still do that "2.50 Tuesday" thing, or maybe cheap matinees on weekdays?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon


There is a chain of Cinebarres (movie + dining in) in the PNW that do $6 Tuesday and Thursday.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (U50PB)

225 Curiously, I might find that just as satisfying.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:01 PM (sHVgQ)

Especially if they full of Seattle Commies.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (/sgva)

226 Oh, you know what movie I saw on Shudder last year that I really enjoyed?

Jess Franco's Vampyros Lesbos.

It's about...uh...exactly what you think it's about.

Dracula set in modern Istanbul and the characters are gender bent.

It's twenty kinds of stupid and it's a half step away from being porn but FUCK ME it is one goddamn good looking movie.

Lots of great looking sets, lots of great shots, lots of muff...it's a date night kind of movie.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (gqfZg)

227 I like Casino because Sharon Stone's hair is perfect.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 09:18 PM (tcamx)

228
One might be given to suspect that the nekkid native boobies was a factor in encouraging the crew of the Bounty to mutiny.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:12 PM (/sgva)







If memory serves, that was the main reason for the mutiny. A revolt for pussy.

And that Bligh was actually far too lenient compared to his fellow Royal Navy captains, who would have keelhauled a few miscreants who wanted to go ashore in Tahiti, totally shutting down the mutiny before it became a notion in Fletcher Christian's horny little brain.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:18 PM (nJBeS)

229 Tom Servo I was going to say Babette's Feast, you beat me to it.

Also Black Narcissus. I don't know if that counts as a "Christian" movie (if any of us could even agree on what counts as one). But it's got nuns.

Also that Night Shymalan alien invasion movie with Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix.

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 09:18 PM (786Ro)

230 kallisto, yup.
Also the scene how Joe Pesci ends up is... memorable. Good grief.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:19 PM (L2ZTs)

231 196 192 now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie
Posted by: vmom happy to have read a good book! at November 09, 2019 08:58 PM (G546f

The Matrix
Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:06 PM (gqfZg)

Easy. The Ten Commandments.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 09:08 PM (jCDlI)



Ben Hur

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 09:20 PM (Z7lwY)

232 Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM


Groovy music too.

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 09:20 PM (786Ro)

233 I like Casino because Sharon Stone's hair is perfect.
Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 09:18 PM

Amateur.

Posted by: A London werewolf at November 09, 2019 09:21 PM (rBtIz)

234 A Man for all seasons

Posted by: Sod buster at November 09, 2019 09:21 PM (Bf3hj)

235 Risen, with Joseph Fiennes is an excellent Christian movie.

Follows a Roman Centurian as he investigates the "disappearance" of Jesus' body after Easter.

Posted by: Sharkman at November 09, 2019 09:21 PM (U50PB)

236 218 Easy. The Ten Commandments.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at November 09, 2019 09:08 PM (jCDlI)

naw, as Hedley Lamar said, "Too Jewish".
Posted by: Tom Servo

----

Where's your Messiah now?

Posted by: Edgar G Robinson at November 09, 2019 09:22 PM (Y4EXg)

237 But the Jumanji sequel was a money maker, so that justifies every giant gamble on an old property, apparently.

I'm going from memory*, an iffy proposition at best, but the original Robin Williams flick was a kids movie, and terrible. I award it zero stars, and urge all copies be catapulted into the Sun. That way, it adds to the Sun's hydrogen balance, and might extend Earth's life by a few picoseconds before the Sun goes nova.

I have also seen the sequel/remake? with The Rock and it was entertaining. More 'mature'. The jokes weren't aimed at 5 year olds.

*I weakened and wikied the topic, and it is a sequel (and not the only one, as Zathura: A Space Adventure, was released in 2005; first I've heard of it). And a new Jumanji is due out this December.

Posted by: GnuBreed at November 09, 2019 09:22 PM (Z4rgH)

238 I like Risen better than Paul the Apostle

Posted by: Sod buster at November 09, 2019 09:22 PM (Bf3hj)

239 217. He started out as a cartoonist for a church newsletter IIRC and was a devout Christian early on.

Posted by: kallisto at November 09, 2019 09:22 PM (tcamx)

240 Watched On The Waterfront tonight.

The blond chick was cute.
Posted by: jsg
----

Wait until you see Stella Kowalski.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (sHVgQ)

241 Guess I am hardwired to like all those 30s to 70s movies I watched late at night on the old B and W tube tv. Most new stuff is only engaging if it provokes thought. All the really action stuff is only good for looking at the plot holes and guessing how coked up the writing team was during the the last rewrite. Usually very.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (JxC99)

242
Oh, you know what movie I saw on Shudder last year that I really enjoyed?

Jess Franco's Vampyros Lesbos.

It's about...uh...exactly what you think it's about.

Dracula set in modern Istanbul and the characters are gender bent.

It's twenty kinds of stupid and it's a half step away from being porn but FUCK ME it is one goddamn good looking movie.

Lots of great looking sets, lots of great shots, lots of muff...it's a date night kind of movie.
Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:17 PM (gqfZg)








You should read Coleridge's poem Christabel. 18th Century Lesbian Vampire seduces a pious, chaste maiden.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (nJBeS)

243 kallisto, yup. Schulz actually did a Christian-themed comic strip in the 1960s as well. It appeared in various religious periodicals.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (L2ZTs)

244 I'm watching a Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movie. Holmes makes reference to a poison causing agonizing, almost instant death.
Seems contradictory.

Posted by: Northernlurker at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (Uu+Jp)

245 Sam Kinison started out as a child preacher.
Ever see any of those bits?

Posted by: attila the thrilla at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (w7KSn)

246
Ben Her?
Judith Ben Her will be a girl. And she'll rescue Christ from the cross by beating up all the Romans single-handedly while reminding the audience she's a girl with witty quips and comebacks.


Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (4f9mN)

247 18th Century Lesbian Vampire seduces a pious, chaste maiden.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (nJBeS)

I never liked poetry until this very moment.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:25 PM (gqfZg)

248 Especially if they full of Seattle Commies.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
-----

A given.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:25 PM (sHVgQ)

249 And that Bligh was actually far too lenient compared to his fellow Royal Navy captains, who would have keelhauled a few miscreants who wanted to go ashore in Tahiti, totally shutting down the mutiny before it became a notion in Fletcher Christian's horny little brain.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:18 PM (nJBeS)

Bligh gets a bad rap. He was quite brilliant, and a keen natural scientist. His journal of the trip in the open boat across the south Pacific to Indonesia after the mutiny is quite fascinating.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:25 PM (/sgva)

250 Also Black Narcissus. I don't know if that counts as a "Christian" movie (if any of us could even agree on what counts as one). But it's got nuns.

----

Loved Black Narcissus. Kathleen Bryon also played Mrs. Ryan in Saving Private Ryan. Didn't figure that out until recently.

Posted by: Edgar G Robinson at November 09, 2019 09:25 PM (Y4EXg)

251 245 Sam Kinison started out as a child preacher.
Ever see any of those bits?

Posted by: attila the thrilla at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (w7KSn)


https://youtu.be/GYgAhA-3WMk

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 09:26 PM (Z7lwY)

252 Currently, in the middle of "The Doom Patrol", the superhero streaming series.

Pretty good so far. And a good representation of the Grant Morrison "Doom Patrol" run.

Fact Fact: Long ago and far away The Doom Patrol comics came out before The X-Men. The X-Men was pretty much a rip off of DP and less inte4resting but much more successful.

Anywho, except for the gay backstory they gave Negative man, which means we get two dudes kissing. *barf*,

it's a lot of fun.

I guess DC has decided it's going to be The Woke Comic Book Movie Xuys.

BONUS! Brendan Fraser and his flabby pale nekkid ass appear occasionally. And he voices Robotman.

He's a great comic actor. I wish his career would resume.

Posted by: naturalfake at November 09, 2019 09:28 PM (kauXV)

253
g'early evenin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (KCxzN)

254 Until Trump showed up, Alabama had a 31 game home winning streak.
Everything Trump Touches Dies.

Lmfao

Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

255

Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

Your real name rhymes with "dunce."

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:31 PM (4f9mN)

256
Everything Trump Touches Dies.
-------

That's you, isn't it Paul Krugman?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:32 PM (sHVgQ)

257 Ben Her?
Judith Ben Her will be a girl. And she'll rescue Christ from the cross by beating up all the Romans single-handedly while reminding the audience she's a girl with witty quips and comebacks.


Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (4f9mN)



Watch out fellas! You don't want to make me cross!!!

Posted by: Ben Her Just before opening a can of whoopass at November 09, 2019 09:32 PM (kauXV)

258 I hope President Trump hugs Ruth Bader Meinhoff tonight just for shits and grins.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at November 09, 2019 09:32 PM (Z+IKu)

259 Lmfao
Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

In that case, we'll get him to finger you, fagboy. What's your address, again?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:32 PM (/sgva)

260 Comic book movies suck. They're less than zero.

17-year-old boys like them, & they're the ones who go to the multiplex with their gfs on weekends.

For those of us who like movies, not comic books, the best bets are the Oscar finalists for Best Foreign Film-- (altho you always have to watch out for the one about the brave little Palestinian suicide bomber).

Posted by: mnw at November 09, 2019 09:32 PM (Cssks)

261 I saw Cape Fear and it sucked monkey balls. Watch the original.

Posted by: Dogbert at November 09, 2019 09:33 PM (+dTjI)

262
Ben Her: "What does it say about a Savior when He needs a woman to save Him?"


Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:33 PM (4f9mN)

263 Lmfao
Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)



iow, Cause and effect. How it work?

Posted by: Hands at November 09, 2019 09:34 PM (786Ro)

264
Christ: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Ben Her: "I know what I do, and that's saving your male ass!"

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:35 PM (4f9mN)

265 257 Ben Her?
Judith Ben Her will be a girl. And she'll rescue Christ from the cross by beating up all the Romans single-handedly while reminding the audience she's a girl with witty quips and comebacks.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:23 PM (4f9mN)


-------------

That's tight!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 09:35 PM (XVuno)

266 LaST,,,, at.... Last

Posted by: FundMe at November 09, 2019 09:35 PM (SmXJi)

267 Stooopid html

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 09:36 PM (XVuno)

268 Hello Alton!!

Posted by: Jewells45 at November 09, 2019 09:36 PM (dUJdY)

269 My nephew just texted me an Epstein meme.

The meme is gonna last longer than Epstein did in prison.

Posted by: jsg at November 09, 2019 09:36 PM (s7OHd)

270
hey, Jewells

Posted by: AltonJackson at November 09, 2019 09:37 PM (KCxzN)

271 There was a sequel to Ben-Hur about him getting old and moving into a retirement community.

Title: "Ben-Gay."

And then there was the knockoff low-budget adult flick about Ben-Hur's sex life.

Title" Ben-There, Dun-That"

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:37 PM (L2ZTs)

272 I just re-watched "All the King's Men," because my kid is doing a paper on the novel.

A great film that holds up very well.

Posted by: mnw at November 09, 2019 09:37 PM (Cssks)

273
Ben Her: "Beget this Pilate!"

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (4f9mN)

274 Until Trump showed up, Alabama had a 31 game home winning streak.
Everything Trump Touches Dies.

Lmfao
Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

Well Hillary didn't quite die. Just her political career.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (2DOZq)

275
Ben Her: "Just because I'm a woman, you don't think I can drive a chariot?"

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (4f9mN)

276 Looks like Betty White died...

@Ruth_A_Buzzi 15 minutes ago

You'll always be our Golden Girl. Thanks for decades of positive energy and love. You did it with class, kindness and character and we'll forever cherish your memory, Betty White.
Rest In Peace.

Posted by: Tami at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (cF8AT)

277 Well, I dunno 'bout annya dat, but I'm watching 5th Element tonight while Prime is giving it for free.
No cuts, either.

Also making heavy inroads on the Strategic Cheap Beer Reserve, but then that's what it's for, innit ?


Amadeus, Apollo 13, 5th Element ... like total perfect movie night at Chateau D'Eez.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (JwHjN)

278 Ben Her: "Just because I'm a woman, you don't think I can drive a chariot?"
Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (4f9mN)

Let's see you parallel park it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (/sgva)

279
And of course Ben Her will make out with Mary Magdalene.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (4f9mN)

280 Everything Trump Touches Dies.

Lmfao
Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

so your story is Trump grabbed your junk

IDK, sounds lame

Posted by: REDACTED at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (rpxSz)

281 Brawl in cell block 99 has a really good anti abortion message, if he doesn't kill an inmate they will kill his baby that's still in the womb, they hire an abortionist to do the job and he's the only person not refer to the Child as a baby.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (dKiJG)

282 Oh...apparently the Betty White died is a hoax.

Posted by: Tami at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (cF8AT)

283
Ruth Buzz died?
RIP

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (4f9mN)

284 A bit of actual movie stuff question :
what is the camera in the up-top picture ?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (JwHjN)

285 Ben-Her: "I'm not rowing in coach. No way, Centurion!"

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (XVuno)

286 *I weakened and wikied the topic, and it is a sequel (and not the only one, as Zathura: A Space Adventure, was released in 2005; first I've heard of it). And a new Jumanji is due out this December.
Posted by: GnuBreed at November 09, 2019 09:22 PM (Z4rgH)

I wouldn't say Zathura was a sequel, it was more like "Lets completely copy this movie and give everything different names so we can pretend we're not totally ripping it off."

Jumanji II acknowledged the existence of the first one a couple times, so it qualified as a sequel.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (V2Yro)

287 254, Trolls that post things like LMAO etc. in their own post, you are telling us that you enjoy smelling your own farts. You see it is for others to determine whether your trifling post is funny, not you.

Have a nice day NPC 38471 and I would suggest going back to Shareblue for reprogramming. Request a personality upgrade module.

Posted by: whig at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (MItID)

288 If you are looking for Christian movies, try here.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yy6ctslk

Posted by: Himmel Hilf Mich!!! at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (vqIkG)

289 A bit of actual movie stuff question :
what is the camera in the up-top picture ?
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (JwHjN)

I think it's a movie camera. Super 8, maybe.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (/sgva)

290 Betty White died is fake news.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (2DOZq)

291
Ben Her: "Just because I'm a woman, you don't think I can drive a chariot?"
Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (4f9mN)





Yeah, but can you parallel park it?

Posted by: Messala at November 09, 2019 09:41 PM (nJBeS)

292 That link goes to christian cinema dot com.

Posted by: Himmel Hilf Mich wieder!!! at November 09, 2019 09:42 PM (vqIkG)

293 Probably right, AOP.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (JwHjN)

294 Brawl in cell block 99 has a really good anti abortion message, if he doesn't kill an inmate they will kill his baby that's still in the womb, they hire an abortionist to do the job and he's the only person not refer to the Child as a baby.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 09, 2019 09:40 PM (dKiJG)

Brawl in Cell Block 99 was awesome all the way around.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (2DOZq)

295
Perry White is mort?


(wait for it...)

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (4f9mN)

296 *Crash!*

Posted by: Asian Ben Her at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (s7OHd)

297
Alberta Oil Peon, you suck. You beat me to the totally obvious parallel parking joke.

*sulks*

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (nJBeS)

298 There's so many great scenes in 5th Element - one that I grow to like more and more is the stage performance of The Diva, and they way the soundtrack is worked into both her performance and Lilu vs the grunts fight together. It's a marvelous bit of editing/directing.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (V2Yro)

299 Alberta Oil Peon, you suck. You beat me to the totally obvious parallel parking joke.

*sulks*
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 09, 2019 09:43 PM (nJBeS)

Horde Mind, ITC. It is a scary thing.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (/sgva)

300 Posted by: Tami at November 09, 2019 09:39 PM (cF8AT)

It's a hoax.

Posted by: Robert at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (gqfZg)

301 285 Ben-Her: "I'm not rowing in coach. No way, Centurion!"
Posted by: Cicero

----

During that scene, every person that has ever rowed crew hollers at the screen "USE YOUR LEGS!"

Posted by: Tonypete at November 09, 2019 09:45 PM (Y4EXg)

302 AOP, LOL.

It's obviously either a digital media camera or a film camera that's been outfitted with a digital interface.

In professional situations, they use these fairly new media called CFast cards. Of course they cost a ton each, something like $200 apiece for 128gb.

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 09:45 PM (L2ZTs)

303 159 Has anybody seen the New Midway movie yet and is it any good?

just saw it. liked it, but i'm sure you all know i have no taste.

saw the old one this morning. the one thing it does better than the new one is explain what the japanese were up to; although the new one mentions the japanese rearming a couple of times, those moments just waft by and there's no explanation of why.

the new one also doesn't have the annoying japanese girlfriend subplot.

oh yeah. and the intelligence guy's wifr goes off to make him a sammich. nice touch:

Posted by: Anachronda at November 09, 2019 09:45 PM (kf5Ci)

304 Apropos of absolutely nothing, it's freakin' cold up here, and I'm enjoying the first wood fire of the season. And a Manhattan. But mostly the Manhattan.

Posted by: A London werewolf at November 09, 2019 09:45 PM (rBtIz)

305 Ben-Her, I'll bet she's terrible at parallel parking the chariot!

Posted by: Amy Schumer at November 09, 2019 09:45 PM (XVuno)

306 There's so many great scenes in 5th Element - one that I grow to like more and more is the stage performance of The Diva, and they way the soundtrack is worked into both her performance and Lilu vs the grunts fight together. It's a marvelous bit of editing/directing.
Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (V2Yro)

They had a car commercial where the song was similar to the blue ladies song. Volvo I think.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:46 PM (2DOZq)

307 We all need to show up on opening night for Star Wars with "Epstien didn't kill himself" signs. It's the only way to break through to the cultural Monopoly.

Posted by: Max Power at November 09, 2019 09:46 PM (QCc6B)

308 Crap. Off, werewolf sock!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (rBtIz)

309 Rocky Handsome The Indian version of a man from nowhere. That movie has a very religious theme of redemption and even shows him praying it's not as violent as the Korean movie. The song Aye Khuda from Rocky Handsome is really moving.

They bought the rights to the Korean version.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (dKiJG)

310 I don't get The Fifth Element. Wanted to. Never have. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I hated the fucking thing and nothing can make me like it.

Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (uEbPt)

311 [em] Tiger Tiger, burning bright... [/em]
Two broken tigers on fire in the night, flicker their souls to the wind.

Posted by: Al Stewart at November 09, 2019 09:48 PM (edlKR)

312 I am a meat popsicle.

Posted by: Korben Dallas at November 09, 2019 09:49 PM (s7OHd)

313 274 Until Trump showed up, Alabama had a 31 game home winning streak.
Everything Trump Touches Dies.

Lmfao
Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

Well Hillary didn't quite die. Just her political career.
Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:38 PM (2DOZq)


8-1 is not dead, by any means. It was a heckuva game. LSU was just better today. And their QB is going to be making a whole lotta cash on Sundays.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at November 09, 2019 09:49 PM (sy5kK)

314 Posted by: Everything Trump touches dies at November 09, 2019 09:29 PM (5Ng1+)

It'd be nice if Trump touched you.

Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 09:50 PM (uEbPt)

315 I'm enjoying the first wood fire of the season.
--------

How dare you?!

Posted by: Greta Thundernag at November 09, 2019 09:50 PM (sHVgQ)

316 don't get The Fifth Element. Wanted to. Never have. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I hated the fucking thing and nothing can make me like it.
Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (uEbPt)

I liked it but I can understand why some may not. There are more than a few movies where I'm in the minority regards to what I think is good or not.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:50 PM (2DOZq)

317 Trump touched leftard fever dreams.

Posted by: Amy Schumer at November 09, 2019 09:51 PM (XVuno)

318 310 I don't get The Fifth Element. Wanted to. Never have. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I hated the fucking thing and nothing can make me like it.

Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (uEbPt)


That's okay. I feel the same way about, "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at November 09, 2019 09:51 PM (DTX3h)

319 Ben-Her

Either way, someone's taking it in the butt. Yay Gore Vidal.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:51 PM (ykYG2)

320 LSU was just better today.
--------

Say...wasn't PDT just in Louisiana?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 09:51 PM (sHVgQ)

321 8-1 is not dead, by any means. It was a heckuva game. LSU was just better today. And their QB is going to be making a whole lotta cash on Sundays.



Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at November 09, 2019 09:49 PM (sy5kK



I do wonder how they will justify putting in Alabama again this year.

Posted by: buzzion at November 09, 2019 09:51 PM (Z7lwY)

322 I would submit that Scorsese couldn't get The Irishman funded because of that loud-mouthed asshole De Niro. And he hasn't done a good movie since Ronin. all the while alienating half the country.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at November 09, 2019 09:52 PM (438dO)

323 I would submit that Scorsese couldn't get The Irishman funded because of that loud-mouthed asshole De Niro.

I would de-submit this, on account that Hollywood considers an insult against us deplorables as a feature and not as a bug.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 09:53 PM (ykYG2)

324 Just stopping by to opine that I prefer listening to Scorsese talk about movies than watching his actual movies. I hate nearly everything he's ever done, with particular scorn for the Cape Fear remake where DeNiro makes me guffaw at inappropriate moments. It's a hamfest.

Posted by: This Magic Moment at November 09, 2019 09:55 PM (i1G85)

325 More trouble with Tigers and possible Panthers.

M-47's at a masquerade in another movie.

Posted by: Battleground gefälschte Panzer at November 09, 2019 09:57 PM (vqIkG)

326 Rooster Cogburn was filmed in Dechute National Forest in Oregon. I thought OregonMuse would like to know that movie trivia.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 09:57 PM (2DOZq)

327 @290

Looks like she's the new Abe Vigoda.

Posted by: Huxley's Eyeglass Emporium at November 09, 2019 09:58 PM (Qs/Su)

328 It's a hamfest.
------

I protest this characterization.

Posted by: An Amateur Radio Operator at November 09, 2019 09:58 PM (sHVgQ)

329 If it's boobies you want watch the 53 hour long ( guessing it's that long) Shaka Zulu


Every. Time. It's. On.

I love Shaka Zulu. Love the boobies. Love Shaka. The actor was a professional soccer player and that explains the hardbody thing he had going on.

I've read that he had a troubled life, but I forget the details. In any case he was perfect as Shaka.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, camp fire pics welcome at e-mail in nic at November 09, 2019 09:58 PM (gd9RK)

330 I don't get the Marty-bashing. Not everything he does is great, but he's never made a movie that's not worth watching.
His flaw in my opinion is sometimes the movies go on a little TOO long.
Even Goodfellas could lose 20 minutes or so.
Ditto Gangs of New York.

And yeah, the original Cape Fear is better than Scorcese's remake.

Still haven't seen Silence.

Posted by: JoeF. at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (o1fzk)

331 A really good Christian movie BLOOD RAIN it's a Korean movie where people are being killed one by one I can't really give it away but it's a mystery but it has a very heavy Christian theme


Also
Detective K another Korean Movie he's trying to root out corruption and solve a murder of high ranking nobles son
This is also Christian themed.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (dKiJG)

332
I would de-submit this, on account that Hollywood considers an insult against us deplorables as a feature and not as a bug.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo

............
Not when it comes to money.
Those fat cats know a loser when they see one, and they are not putting millions into a loser.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (438dO)

333 Thanks everyone.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (l9m7l)

334 Battleground wasn't one of the better Bulge movies. Probably safe to skip that one.

Posted by: Kein mehr Kriegenkino! at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (vqIkG)

335 And yeah, the original Cape Fear is better than Scorcese's remake.

Still haven't seen Silence.
Posted by: JoeF. at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (o1fzk)

Robert Mitchum > Robert DeNiro

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 10:00 PM (2DOZq)

336
Gangs of New York is garbage. It's a silly musical without the singing and dancing and comedy.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 10:00 PM (4f9mN)

337 Robert Mitchum is truly menacing in Cape Fear

Also , Night of the Hunter.

Posted by: JoeF. at November 09, 2019 10:01 PM (o1fzk)

338 China is why all this is happening. When you have to please a government that hates independent thought and western values, this is what you get.

Posted by: Mike Yerian at November 09, 2019 10:01 PM (MOTel)

339 Battleground wasn't one of the better Bulge movies. Probably safe to skip that one.
Posted by: Kein mehr Kriegenkino! at November 09, 2019 09:59 PM (vqIkG)

The last marching scene is worth the watch.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 10:01 PM (2DOZq)

340 I'm enjoying the first wood fire of the season.
--------

How dare you?!
Posted by: Greta Thundernag at November 09, 2019 09:50 PM

My lawn, commie child....get off it.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at November 09, 2019 10:02 PM (rBtIz)

341
Robert Mitchum played a killer in some old movie. He was a fake religious guy who was ruthless. Good movie. Kind of a Christmas movie, of sorts, since it involved Christmas at the end.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at November 09, 2019 10:02 PM (4f9mN)

342 338, yes.

Also Hollywood has to satisfy billions of incel moviegoers in Asia with their superhero crap....

Posted by: JoeF. at November 09, 2019 10:03 PM (o1fzk)

343 I used to belong to The Mystery Bookstore Association (mainly because I owned a bookstore specializing in mysteries). About twenty years back, we were kicking around answers for why books were no longer selling as well as they had in the past, just like TJM gave the number of tickets sold in '72 vs. tickets sold in 2018. Our conclusion was that people have so many other ways to spend their spare time and money. In the case of movies, I think TJM is right -- there are alternatives to going to a movie theater.

But to address Scorsese's complaint, I will draw another analogy between the book biz and the movie biz. Like Scorsese and movies, when I closed my doors, the book biz was nothing like what it was when I got my first job as a bookseller. When I started selling books, there were at least a couple dozen major publishing houses, meaning there were a couple dozen different opinions on what to publish. Now, thanks to massive mergers, we are down to three major publishers, none of which is American owned.

How many formerly independent movie companies does Disney now own? At least a half a dozen? That means that where there were a half dozen opinions on what movies to make, there's only one now. Movie companies, just like book publishers, have merged to the point that there are many fewer decision makers than there were forty years ago.

Secondly, the movie companies fell into the same trap as publishers: paying off the debt of buying each other out. They needed guaranteed blockbusters just the way publishers needed guaranteed best sellers.

Thirdly, just as in the publishing industry, the movie biz has come to depend on name recognition. Read the blurbs on the back covers of most books: they say if you like such-and-such author, you will like this book. Movie companies are trying to fill seats by appealing to nostalgia and tried-and-true. Iron Man had name recognition because it was originally a popular comic book series and it made mucho dinero. So Marvel followed up with more of the same. Other studios saw remakes and sequels as their bread and butter.

Finally, the audience's tastes have changed. These days, both sf and mystery book sales are driven by series. Readers like to read a series of individual books with a long, connecting story arc. The reader needs to start with the first book in a series to know what's going on. Forty years ago, it wasn't that way. The authors may have reused the same main characters, but each book was able to stand alone. The same with movies: people like a long story arc involving many movies.

I agree with TJM's analysis: Scorsese is unhappy because the movie industry today isn't what it was when he first started and he doesn't like what it has become. I feel the same way about the publishing industry.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- current occupation: cat furniture at November 09, 2019 10:05 PM (2NFQT)

344 The last marching scene is worth the watch.

Posted by: Easy Andy at November 09, 2019 10:01 PM (2DOZq)

I agree. Wish the whole movie was that way
On a side, I do believe a few of the M-47's used in that movie ended up as targets at Graf...Not a nice ending IMO.

Posted by: Wo ist mein Panzer? at November 09, 2019 10:05 PM (vqIkG)

345 "298 There's so many great scenes in 5th Element - one that I grow to like more and more is the stage performance of The Diva, and they way the soundtrack is worked into both her performance and Lilu vs the grunts fight together. It's a marvelous bit of editing/directing.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (V2Yro) "



This !

Yes !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 10:06 PM (JwHjN)

346 Can we call Constantine a Christian movie? I liked that one.

Posted by: April at November 09, 2019 10:06 PM (OX9vb)

347 Can we call Constantine a Christian movie? I liked that one.
Posted by: April at November 09, 2019 10:06 PM (OX

I'll allowed it .

Posted by: God at November 09, 2019 10:07 PM (2DOZq)

348 If I want to have a wood fire, I'd have to go outside, and flash up the outdoor firepit. And be warm on one side, and cold on the other. I have an old coal-burning space heater in the barn, the kind that had a brown metal casing on it so it looked like a household appliance. I should spiff it up, and bring down here in the basement. There is an unused thimble in the chimney.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 10:07 PM (/sgva)

349 First comment on the movie thread. I appreciate the time and care that TheJamesMadison brings to this post and the writing is generally better than what one finds in Variety, the Atlantic, etc. in analysis.

My personal take is that people who grew up playing semi-realistic graphical video games view CGI differently than those who grew up before such became common. Before Lucas and others botched up Star Wars by heavy handed CGI insertion, things like matte painting, model building, and special effects reflected an analog world. In analog, no data is thrown away but bad analog presentations are rather obvious. In digital world, they get those CGI effects sometimes close enough that the uncanny valley is accentuated by those of us who grew up in simpler times of analog. To me, it is distracting and unrealistic, and therefore ruins most of the story. Bad special effects in movies like Robinson Cruesoe on Mars do similar things. Watching the original King Kong has a similar effect for me. Something like the original Blade Runner does not which has stellar effects for when it was made.

The other problem is that apparently since Waterworld, Hollywood tries to appeal to the World using a lowest common denominator. Witty dialogue for something like the Thin Man simply would be met with incomprehension overseas.

You see something like this in modern music, it is simplified lowest common denominator, that is popular. Due to costs, machines and digital effects abound with that godawful use of Autotune. It is also apparently popular world wide for some "artists".

However, if one goes back to listen to some of the best old Motown hits in their prime, despite the crude technology, the record producer transcends the limits of the technology and produces something that sounds much better than the digital simulacra music this is put out today. Even 1950's through 90's have individual musicians demonstrating excellence and vocalists having to rely on talent more or less or distinctiveness if they had no talent.

Even more jarring is when you compare classical music or even large jazz ensembles such as Preservation Hall to modern music. They are as chalk and cheese.

If you asked the people back in the period of the "Dark Ages" whether or not civilization existed, they would certainly answer affirmatively by and large. To wit, those who have not sampled by watching at least once, the top movies of 1939, really have no basis for comparison to something like today's superhero movies.

It is not so much the sequels, because after all, Hollywood produced several sequels of the Thin Man, Superman was a serial along with Buck Rogers, and so on. They even remade movies like "The Women" several times. It is the writing and acting that makes these old movies more like the live theatre than talking to a green screen.

You see this same dynamic play out in bands, especially live, where each member is playing off the other members to produce something special. For an example, look up Stevie Wonder's Fingertips Pt. 2. He takes a routine silly lyric and uses call and response to play off the crack musicians that toured with him in a package tour (see That Thing You Do if you have no knowledge of these).

In a CGI world, you are playing off a green screen and it often shows in the acting. I think to some degree that is what might be offputting to someone like Scorsese.

Posted by: whig at November 09, 2019 10:08 PM (MItID)

350 Can we call Constantine a Christian movie?

Catholic movie, more specifically. In the way Book Of Eli was Protestant.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 10:08 PM (ykYG2)

351 whig, not bad for a first comment :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at November 09, 2019 10:09 PM (L2ZTs)

352 322 -- I want to see The Irishman because Brian Cox is the star. I don't care who the director is. The lead actor is Brian Cox, so I will find it somewhere and watch it.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- current occupation: cat furniture at November 09, 2019 10:10 PM (2NFQT)

353 I distinctly heard "Jew-manji."

Posted by: Woody Allen at November 09, 2019 10:10 PM (oVJmc)

354
Oregon Muse writes some really good articles, but this one is possibly the best I have seen.


The perspective of films from 1972 to 2018 is described perfectly and taught me some things that I never really thought about before. Originality in movies. I always just assumed there would always be original content that people ohh and ahh about every year. But not any more. The many different perspectives of film makers back then, compared to the comic-book sellouts of today without an original thought between them is so very true.

The old movies pushed the viewer to think and engage intellectually as well as emotionally.

Now many films don't make it any farther than the first step, being a flick. Look at all of the 2018 top ten, and pretty much, that is what they are, flicks. Overloads of emotion is about all they try for any more.

Heck, pron movies classify as "flicks". And they cost less to make, too.

As someone who was born when Ike was prez, I was amazed in the 60's, 70's, and 80's with the creativity in music of all genres back then. In the last few decades I often wonder what the hell? Is everything mediocre or flat-out lousy? Are there are so few really great songs any more, or am I just getting cranky and close-minded?

OM's comparison of films from then to now tells me that mediocrity is indeed the way of the creative world for the most part. The new stuff is essentially crap. Of course, it doesn't deal with the cranky and close-minded stuff about me, but that is a different topic altogether.


Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at November 09, 2019 10:10 PM (sy5kK)

355 310 I don't get The Fifth Element. Wanted to. Never have. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I hated the fucking thing and nothing can make me like it.
Posted by: ... at November 09, 2019 09:47 PM (uEbPt)

If you'd been a fan of Heavy Metal Magazine in the late 70's, early 80's, you'd get it, because that kind of thing (plus Heavy Metal the movie, of course) are what that mag was all about.

It's French Sci-Fi, which always has a distinctly different flavor than American sci-fi. Some like it, Some don't. (and that also explains why Barbarella is so weird. French production, all the way.)

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 10:11 PM (V2Yro)

356 "298 There's so many great scenes in 5th Element - one that I grow to like more and more is the stage performance of The Diva, and they way the soundtrack is worked into both her performance and Lilu vs the grunts fight together. It's a marvelous bit of editing/directing.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 09:44 PM (V2Yro) "



And this, too !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 10:11 PM (JwHjN)

357 If you asked the people back in the period of the "Dark Ages" whether or not civilization existed, they would certainly answer affirmatively by and large.

The post-Roman Europeans up to 1000 AD or so were all well aware that Imperial Rome had done great works which the King Of The Franks was no longer able to accomplish.

It got better.

Posted by: boulder t'hobo at November 09, 2019 10:12 PM (ykYG2)

358 There is an unused thimble in the chimney.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------

I inherited a wood-fired auxiliary boiler, which I planned to plumb into the existing gas-fired system. There was no way that I could meet local code without plumbing a separate flue up from the basement. Just not practically possible. I gave it to a friend, who has it nicely installed.

Posted by: An Amateur Radio Operator at November 09, 2019 10:12 PM (sHVgQ)

359 Oh, I was just about to mention Book of Eli, bth. Another that I love.

Posted by: April at November 09, 2019 10:13 PM (OX9vb)

360 Oops. /Ham sock

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at November 09, 2019 10:13 PM (sHVgQ)

361 um, ont is nood !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/365 at November 09, 2019 10:14 PM (JwHjN)

362 I inherited a wood-fired auxiliary boiler, which I planned to plumb into the existing gas-fired system. There was no way that I could meet local code without plumbing a separate flue up from the basement. Just not practically possible. I gave it to a friend, who has it nicely installed.
Posted by: An Amateur Radio Operator at November 09, 2019 10:12 PM (sHVgQ)

That might be an issue. The chimney has only one flue, and the gas boiler and gas water heater are both on it. But I don't know if coal has the creosote problem that wood does.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at November 09, 2019 10:16 PM (/sgva)

363 OM's comparison of films from then to now tells me that mediocrity is indeed the way of the creative world for the most part. The new stuff is essentially crap. Of course, it doesn't deal with the cranky and close-minded stuff about me, but that is a different topic altogether.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at November 09, 2019 10:10 PM (sy5kK)

If we wanted to get all meta on the topic, we could make a good case that true creativity has vanished from movies because our mainstream culture is no longer capable of creativity, and instead only has the ability to rehash stale ideas over and over and over. Just like the mainstream culture has lost the ability to do comedy.

Does this relate to politics? Of course it does, just look at everything the left wants to do - all of it is stale, rehashed reworkings of ideas and plans put forth much more coherently 100, 150, even 200 years ago. The left, being in control of the mainstream culture now, is incapable of original (or independent) thought.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 09, 2019 10:18 PM (V2Yro)

364 ''now I'm trying hard to think of a really good Christian movie''

''The Robe" Richard Burton, Jean Simmons
Beautiful score too.

Posted by: Tuna at November 09, 2019 10:18 PM (jm1YL)

365 whig, I agree with your comment. There is very little "distinctiveness" in music today in this Autotune world. Today, songs are written by a committee and produced by a consortium and they all sound the same--like crap.

We can argue all day over whether Bob Dylan could "sing" or whether or not Zeppelin ripped off old blues guys or if The Beatles were really THAT great. but they all sang songs that they wrote and tried different things and constantly evolved.

Posted by: JoeF. at November 09, 2019 10:19 PM (o1fzk)

366 "If you want to send a message, call Western Union."

Posted by: Dan at November 09, 2019 10:52 PM (+NG5U)

367 Silence is Scorsese's best film.

Posted by: HuskerDu at November 09, 2019 11:17 PM (d3MA1)

368 I like most of Scorsese's flicks, but I wish I could get back the time I spent watching Silence. One of the worst movies I ever watched all the way through.

Posted by: Outside Adjitator at November 10, 2019 12:22 AM (NvFiZ)

369 I'm on Scorsese's side in this, BUT.

This falling-away in his profession happens in every profession. You're pushed aside if you don't learn to code -- or your professional equivalent. And some of the great filmmakers in history were forced to go begging for funding in their twilight time: Chaplin, Nicholas Ray, etc.

Posted by: Shopgirl #PatrickIsMahomesie at November 10, 2019 12:39 AM (lmx07)

370 Terrific Christian movies:
One Foot in Heaven
Fredric March and Martha Scott are a Methodist minister and his wife, keeping the faith through the (mostly) hard times and (frequently) difficult parishes.
Keys to the Kingdom
Gregory Peck is a priest sent to China to do missionary work. He stays 40 years. Not only a terrific film on Faith, but it gets the culture shock/adapting part exactly right, as does
Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Ingrid Bergman as housemaid-turned-missionary to China.
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes/i]
Even though you can see [writer] Dalton Trumbo's politics, if you look hard enough, on the surface it's an utterly charming tale of Papa Edward G Robinson raising daughter Margaret O'Brien in a tiny Norwegian-settled town in one of those Great Lake States.

Posted by: Shopgirl #PatrickIsMahomesie at November 10, 2019 12:56 AM (lmx07)

Posted by: Shopgirl #PatrickIsMahomesie at November 10, 2019 12:57 AM (lmx07)

372 I hate it when I don't proof

Posted by: Shopgirl #PatrickIsMahomesie at November 10, 2019 12:58 AM (lmx07)

373 Great essay, TJM! Very thought-provoking. I am a fan of Scorsese and I understand his reaction. Your Harry Knowles categories of movies is spot-on!

I do think think there are some filmmakers right now who are out there trying to bring a fresh take ...interestingly enough, many of them in the horror(ish) genre. Maybe because it's the cheapest to make? David Robert Mitchell, Craig Zyler, Robert Eggers, Nicholas Windig Refn, Ari Aster.

And Damien Chazelle, yeah, I thought La La Land was over-rated, but at least it was visually interesting and about actual humans, and Whiplash was truly great.

Maybe there is life after the "CU"s have burnt themselves out.

Vmom mentioned earlier that she was going to check out Hereditary. I've only seen commentary (James from Cinemassacre said it was the first horror movie he saw as an adult to actually give him nightmares!) and I am curious as to a regular person take on this film, so I hope she lets us know what she thought.

Posted by: Gem at November 10, 2019 07:04 AM (65i3Q)

374 1 of the 2 movies I hate the most is Scorsese's The Departed. I find it a very poor adaptation of Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. The other is Nolan's Inception which copied scenes from anime movie Paprika. No, I don't think it's "very original".

American movie makers copy ideas from foreign movies without attribution. To name a few: The Lion King from Japanese anime Kimba The White Lion, Black Swan from Japanese anime Perfect Blue, Lucy Liu's character in Kill Bill is a rip off of 1973 Japanese movie Lady Snowblood.

Posted by: Oggi at November 10, 2019 08:37 AM (Bk5Q+)

375 William Golding was the author of "Lord of the Flies".

The late William Goldman was the Oscar winning screenwriter and author of "Adventures in the Screen Trade", where he coined the phrase "nobody knows anything" with respect to Hollywood's complete inability to predict which films would succeed, and why.

Posted by: ShoelesJoe at November 11, 2019 03:22 AM (mDEFe)

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