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Saturday Evening Movie Thread 06-06-2020 [TheJamesMadison]

Alexander the Awful

Alexander1.jpg

Gladiator made a mark on Hollywood in 2000. Financially successful and well regarded by both critics (except for Roger Ebert) and the Academy, Ridley Scott's sword and sandals epic ignited Hollywood's love of epics for the first time in decades, something even the success of Mel Gibson's Braveheart could not do. The love affair didn't last very long, though, because none of the movies that followed where nearly as successful critically or commercially, and the genre rebirth died out.

Wolfgang Peterson's Troy was fine but nothing special. Scott's own Kingdom of Heaven,in the form of the director's cut, is fantastic though only released in a single theater. Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur was overserious but fine. Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was great. They all came and went to various levels of fanfare and box office receipts. The one film that really sticks out to me, though, is Oliver Stone's take on the life of Alexander the Great.

However, Stone's movie is a fever dream of incoherence, and it absolutely fascinates me. Don't get me wrong, I kind of hate this movie, but it's just so wrong in so many ways that I finally took the plunge and watched three of the film's four versions (the theatrical version, the director's cut, and the Final Cut) in a week. I am here to report.

A Brief Background

Alexander2.jpg

Oliver Stone's film was released in November of 2004 with hopes of capturing some industry awards. This was dashed once anyone saw it and realized that the film was a complete mess. Trying to save his film, he came up with a Director's Cut in 2005 that was released on DVD that ended up being eight minutes shorter than the theatrical cut.

This DVD release was apparently a very large success for Warner Bros., and they gave Stone money to recut the film one more time. Released in 2007, Stone's Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut came out on DVD and Blu-ray. Three hours and thirty-four minutes long, it included over half an hour of footage left on the cutting room floor. He broke his word, though, when he released the Ultimate Cut, a slightly refined version of The Final Cut that Stone has called this his final word on the project, hoping that it captured the complete complexity of the historical figure.

And that, right there, is the source of the problem with the movie.

Dewey the Great

Alexander3.jpg

Do you remember a little biopic satire called Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story? It was a direct satire of the Joaquin Phoenix led and James Mangold directed biopic of Johnny Cash called Walk the Line. In it, John C. Reilly plays Dewey Cox, a fictional singer who leads the most generic rock and roll rise and fall story you can imagine. (It's also hilarious and you should watch it.)

I bring it up because its satire goes beyond just biopics of singers, but it extends into biopics in general. In particular are two things in Walk Hard that Alexander does as well. The first is that John C. Reilly plays Dewey Cox from the age of fourteen to his 70s, and it's really weird to see Colin Farrell, buff and with a five o'clock shadow already peeking through, playing Alexander at seventeen. The second is that Walk Hard tries to capture the entire life in all its complexities of a fictional complicated man, providing easy answers all along the way. This is pretty much what Alexander does, giving several easy answers that all seem to conflict with each other.

You see, Oliver Stone grew up idolizing Alexander the Great. From the time he was a boy, he imagined being part of the great march through Asia to India at the Macedonian's side. It's obvious that he knows a lot about the historical figure, and he tried to fit everything he knew and everything he had created to fill the historical gaps into a single three-hour (or three and a half hour) film. There's simply too much to the life of the real historical figure, much less when you combine it with the imagination of a man who grew up thinking of what could have been. Stone never sat down to figure out what he wanted to say about Alexander, using the historical figure's life as a vehicle to tease out an individual lesson about the human condition.

Fortune Favors the Bold

Alexander4.jpg

There is a scene early in the film where Philip takes young Alexander into a cave underneath Pella and shows him representations of some of the most important Greek myths. There's Achilles, Jason and Medea, Cronos and Zeus, as well as Oedipus. Literally every single one of these myths ends up playing out in Stone's version of Alexander. The great hero undone by the death of a close male friend and lover, the far-traveling hero who marries a foreign woman and betrays her for another, the father and son at war, and the son in love with his mother all are part of this take on Alexander. Trying to tease through all of these overlapping takes, as well as a couple of others that aren't captured on the cave walls, and figure out a basic point for the story's telling and existence is an exercise in futility.

At no point in Stone's efforts to write, independently finance the one hundred and fifty-five million dollars for the budget, film, and edit did he settle on one thing to say about Alexander. This is a vital lesson for any storytellers out there, especially those that are trying to pull from real life. There's nothing more complex and contradictory as the life of a normal human being than one of a great figure of history. If you want to use such a figure, you must realize that you will not capture the entire truth of the person in a two to three hour piece of art. Don't try to show us the totality of their existence from the moment they could walk to the moment of their death, show us who they were in a specific moment in time. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is a good example of using a single event to tease out who the subject was as a person.

A Disjointed Whole

Alexander5.jpg

Oliver Stone's Alexander has another problem on top of trying to capture the entirety of Alexander's life. It's that Stone barely tries to bridge the massive gaps between events he portrays. It flabbergasted me every time I started a new edition that literally every step from Alexander leaving Macedonia to the Battle at Gaugamela is skipped over. He goes from a boy just taking the crown of his fallen father and king to a battle-hardened commander with the ability to take apart enemy strategies with unconventional tactics. It makes me question what story of Alexander Stone was trying to tell.

If it was the conquest of Asia, why spend so much time in Macedonia?

If it was his relationship with his parents, why spend so much time in Asia?

It extends back to the central problem that Stone wanted to tell the entire story of Alexander, and in order to cover that much ground he has to ironically skip a lot. That's the purpose of Ptolemy's voiceover. In every cut of the film, he provides filler for a lot of narrative holes brought up because there are huge gaps in the story like the skip from Alexander leaving Macedon to the Battle of Gaugamela. That's a huge campaign that includes the conquering of Egypt, and it's passed over with a single line of voiceover. There's also the plot against Alexander's life by Philotas.

There is not a single general in Alexander's retinue who comes across as a full character in this three and a half hour film, so when, more than two hours into the movie, Philotas gets accused of trying to assassinate Alexander, pretty much everything about it, from an explanation that Philotas was a friend to Alexander since childhood to the implications of his execution for the army as a whole, gets laid out in voiceover. We mostly know Philotas as the guy who yelled at Alexander's wedding because of a grudge from the Battle of Gaugamela, so the voiceover is required just to catch us up. It ends up feeling like having a Wikipedia entry read to us instead of being a scene of drama.

Are Any of the Cuts Good?

Alexander6.jpg

In a word: No. None of them are good, however The Final Cut is the least bad of them. The changes in structure, that mostly make the film a constant jump between Alexander before he leaves for his war with Persia and the other timeline that starts at the Battle of Gaugamela, are a mixed bag, but they do produce some interesting results. It also fixes one particular sequence as much as editing could fix the sequence, which is the marriage of Alexander to Roxana.

Through all three cuts that I watched, though, there are several individual elements that stand out as either good or even great. First is Val Kilmer as Philip. Out of the three principles, it is Kilmer who seems to know what kind of movie he's in: a historical epic. He plays Philip as a wounded, broken man and king who's doing his best. Farrell as Alexander, in comparison, never feels like he's in anything other than a soap opera while Angelina Jolie as Olympias feels like she's playing a sexy Russian vampire. The two battle sequences are also great. Gaugamela uses a bird's eye view and a pre-battle discussion on tactics to provide a larger view that keeps the overall conflict in focus while delving in deeply to the hand to hand combat keeping things exciting. The Indian battle does not have the advantage of the overhead view (a conscious decision, I believe, since we see the eagle depart at one point earlier in the film), but it's filmed just as well with a great use of unusual film stock to help visualize Alexander's near death experience. Roxana's dance is also one of the most visually thrilling single scenes in the film.

That totals maybe 45 minutes of the film, in all of the cuts, while everything else around them is simply wrong.

Oliver Stone was wrong for the movie, not just because he couldn't contain his excitement about making a movie about Alexander the Great enough to drill down to a specific story to tell, but he's visually wrong for the material as well. This is an epic of large characters in large settings, and outside of the battle sequences, the movie is about 75% done in closeup. He doesn't seem to understand some basic filmmaking techniques about framing subjects in order to capture correct emotional resonances. In general, you use a close up in order to heighten a large emotional moment, to bring the audience closer to the subject in frame experiencing some great emotional feeling. When literally every conversation, no matter how mundane, is filmed entirely in closeups, it kills the emotional clarity of the series of images that is the film. As with all rules in art, you can break them and still work, but Stone doesn't seem to understand why he's filming in closeup. It's just his default.

So...Why?

Alexander7.png

So, I set out to watch three cuts of a bad movie, and most of you are wondering why. Well, it's a good question.

There's something missing in big movies these days, and it's ambition. Even bigger movies tend to operate on smaller cinematic scales that limit their reach, and it's because of the failure of movies like Alexander that producers are less and less likely to sink nine figures into some big, bold production. They fail a lot. Not just artistically or critically but, most importantly for producers, commercially.

And I bemoan the loss of that sort of crazy gamble. People like Oliver Stone, Darren Aronofsky, and John Boorman are crazy people with crazy ideas who attack stories in crazy ways. That can sometimes work, and oftentimes doesn't. [u]Alexander[/u] is an example of when that doesn't work, and yet, there was such effort and hope placed in Stone's broken vision that I find it all kind of hypnotic.

So, despite Alexander's failings artistically, cinematically, and commercially, it is something that I want more of. I want more interesting failures.

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:

Nothin'. There's a virus, dontcha know.

Next in my Netflix Queue:

Take Shelter

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:

Live Free or Die Hard (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "Unpopular movie opinion: Live Free or Die Hard is the best Die Hard movie." [Personal Collection]
A Good Day to Die Hard (Rating 1/4) Full Review "I didn't hate this movie. I mostly found it boring and unengaging. It was simply too inept to get all worked up about." [Personal Collection]
The Man Who Knew Too Much (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "Barring a couple of small flaws, this is Hitchcock's best movie up to this point in his career. It's exciting and fun, filled with wonderful little human moments (my favorite being a police officer sneaking a sweet from a shop at the start of the shootout), and really well built. This Hitchcock character may have a future in the movies." [HBO Max]
The Mask of Zorro (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "It's modern Hollywood evoking the best of classic populist Hollywood using modern techniques (well, for the late 90s). Ultimately, it just wants to entertain, and it does that extremely well." [Personal Collection]
The Skin Game (Rating 3/4) Full Review "Hitchcock has a very good cast, uses his camera and the tools of editing to create a film that feels like more than just a filmed play. It also continues a series of films he had made about young men and women paying for the sins of their past, a theme that is surprisingly strong especially considering the nature of Hitchcock's contract work." [Daily Motion]
The Killer Inside Me (Rating 2/4) Full Review "It ends up feeling like a short film stretched to feature length rather than a story that needs one hundred minutes to tell." [Netflix DVD]
Mary (Rating N/A) Full Review "I would imagine my complaints of the story's structure and dialogue would still hold water, but I can't say for sure. I imagine that with subtitles I would have probably scored this the same as [Murder!]." [Daily Motion]
Rich and Strange (or East of Shanghai) (Rating 2.5/4) Full Review "Overall, it's a fine little film that undermines itself from time to time with forced comedy and bookends that don't feel quite right. There's something there, but Hitchcock's not quite where he needs to be just yet." [Daily Motion]

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: Open Blogger at 07:58 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Movie sign!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 07:58 PM (VNfwt)

2 Grab the popcorn

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 07:59 PM (6f16T)

3 Not First.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 07:59 PM (zr5Kq)

4 I like gladiator movies!

Posted by: zeera Moron Author at June 06, 2020 08:00 PM (zUdXR)

5 I love that to portray a man with one of the most famous profiles ever minted, they chose a snub-nosed Irishman.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:00 PM (Dc2NZ)

6 4 I like gladiator movies!
Posted by: zeera Moron Author at June 06, 2020 08:00 PM (zUdXR)

Ever been in a Turkish prison?

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at June 06, 2020 08:01 PM (NWiLs)

7 Yay movies!!!!! I love da movies!! *popcorn*

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:02 PM (w6A0l)

8 I was so looking forward to Alexander
imagine my disappointment

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:02 PM (WwTwF)

9 Back when they actually built big sets, you had some spectacular scenes, artfully framed. You really understood the grandeur of, say, Mighty Rome.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:02 PM (Dc2NZ)

10 Not yet! On my bucket list

Posted by: zeera Moron Author at June 06, 2020 08:02 PM (zUdXR)

11 Lawrence of Arabia has to be one of the best filmed movies.

Don't think ever saw Alexander the Great

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:03 PM (6f16T)

12 I could not get through Alexander. Just awful.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:03 PM (VNfwt)

13 the BIGGEST problem was Colin Farrel.as Alexander

just so.cringe

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:03 PM (WwTwF)

14 13 the BIGGEST problem was Colin Farrel.as Alexander

just so.cringe
Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:03 PM (WwTwF)

==========

I like Colin Farrell, but he was wrong for the part. And Oliver Stone directed him wrong.

I mean, it gets awful close to LSD playing Hitler in The Producers territory.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:04 PM (LvTSG)

15 Both were meh.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 08:04 PM (zr5Kq)

16 And I'm a fan of Colin Farrell. He's a good actor, just wrong for this role.

Who would have been a great Alexander?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:04 PM (Dc2NZ)

17 Colin Farrell was also awful in the unneeded remake of Total Recall.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:04 PM (VNfwt)

18 But Lawrence of Arabia is perfect.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 08:05 PM (zr5Kq)

19 Bride of Frankenstein on Sven.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:05 PM (VNfwt)

20 Could put on Band of Brothers, being D-Day and all.

That old man in Buffalo fell over like he was the Bills defense in a Super Bowl. So is it 40 days of mourning and penance for St George? Do we get to celebrate Independence Day this year?

I enjoyed Dewey Cox...it's kind of the last hurrah from the Todd Phillips' Frat Pack films, most of which were pretty funny. Since humor is dead as an art form, I'll look back fondly on the era of the naughts, which I never thought I'd say.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 08:05 PM (DY3v8)

21 16 And I'm a fan of Colin Farrell. He's a good actor, just wrong for this role.

Who would have been a great Alexander?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:04 PM (Dc2NZ)

==========

Young, boyish, big nose, and with a commanding presence.

I kinda feel like that Timothy Chalamet guy might have the chops, if he can do the commanding presence.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:05 PM (LvTSG)

22 Funny that the lede is about biopics as Lawrence or Arabia is about to roll on TCM

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:06 PM (9TdxA)

23
Walk Hard is really good, and the musical parodies are hilarious.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 08:06 PM (tDHKc)

24 20 I enjoyed Dewey Cox...it's kind of the last hurrah from the Todd Phillips' Frat Pack films, most of which were pretty funny. Since humor is dead as an art form, I'll look back fondly on the era of the naughts, which I never thought I'd say.
Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 08:05 PM (DY3v

===========

The best description of Bohemian Rhapsody I've read is, "Who decided to remake Dewey Cox but leave out all the jokes?"

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:06 PM (LvTSG)

25 23
Walk Hard is really good, and the musical parodies are hilarious.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 08:06 PM (tDHKc)

=========

His Bob Dylan number is my favorite.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (LvTSG)

26 Other than a maybe a few drive-ins, I'm not seeing much of a future for movie theaters. AMC is gone - not very many big chains left.
Drive-ins have got big land requirements - which mean lots of property taxes. Their advantage is lots of semi private make out opportunity.

Posted by: An Observation at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (r8gGP)

27 Who would have been a great Alexander?


Young Daniel Day-Lewis.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (zr5Kq)

28 The Man Who Knew Too Much - Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day?

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (Rf71G)

29 Holy shit, Colin Farrell does have a tiny nose. He's like a little Dutch figurine.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 08:08 PM (DY3v8)

30 Young Ralph Fiennes.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 08:08 PM (zr5Kq)

31 28 The Man Who Knew Too Much - Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day?
Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (Rf71G)

=========

No, Peter Lorre.

I'm going through Hitchcock's whole filmography. I just finished his British period and am moving on to his Hollywood movies. Actually, I watched Rebecca earlier today.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:08 PM (LvTSG)

32 I kinda feel like that Timothy Chalamet guy might have the chops, if he can do the commanding presence.
---
We'll find out if he's commanding as Paul Atreides. Looking forward to "Dune". I've liked him in everything I've seen him in.

Oh, segue -- Chalamet was the son in "Interstellar". I re-watched “Interstellar” today and enjoyed it even more the second time. I have always liked Matthew McConaughey for his quiet all-American everydude vibe (not just his penchant for nude bongo playing!). This had moments of real poetic beauty as their ship traveled searching for another planet to call home. The shot of the tiny station gliding past huge Saturn was gorgeous. It has the grandeur of Kubrick but with heart.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:09 PM (Dc2NZ)

33 Young Jim Broadbent. Kidding. Maybe Priam.

Posted by: runner at June 06, 2020 08:09 PM (zr5Kq)

34 The thing about close ups is that they cut set and costume costs way down. You can use out of focus green screen shots for the background and nobody can tell it.

Posted by: An Observation at June 06, 2020 08:09 PM (r8gGP)

35 Glad there's some love there for King Arthur, another film I enjoyed. Say what you want about Keira Knightley, she has fantastic diction.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 08:09 PM (DY3v8)

36
His Bob Dylan number is my favorite.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (LvTSG)

-------

Indeed... but this one is apropos at the moment... "I stand, yes I do, for the Christ-killin' Jew..."

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

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 08:10 PM (tDHKc)

37 Blowing up my DVR this week. TCM had a Peckinpah retrospective (Ride the High Country, Wild Bunch, the Getaway), then last night Marx Brothers. Today "M". I'm going to be busy.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:10 PM (VNfwt)

38 Bad part of LoA is its on until like 4am

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:10 PM (6f16T)

39 Is that guy with the yellow headband Alexander? If so, why?

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:11 PM (Rf71G)

40 Screw Hollywood. I'd rather watch my dogs fuck.

Posted by: jbspry at June 06, 2020 08:11 PM (8V4Sv)

41 Colin Farrell kinda looks like one of those cabana boy worshippers of Va'al in that Trek episode.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (Dc2NZ)

42 I know I've seen Alexander, but I literally don't remember anything about it. Colin Farrell looks terrible as a blond, but in general he is a smokin hottie.

Posted by: Jordan61 at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (OzQGF)

43 Walk Hard was so friggin' funny. John C. Reilley is uglier than Will Ferrell (barely), but way more talented and funny.

One reason I liked Walk Hard is it made fun of those overly serious bio-pics of musicians what died of fires, plane crashes, drugs, irrelevance.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (x8Wzq)

44 Troy is improved by switching languages and turning on English subtitles. I don't know why, but it works better.

I didn't watch Alexander. I had more fun reading about him in Plutarch.

If someone other than a dedicated leftist had made the movie, like John Milius, I'd have gambled on it.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (d1uFV)

45 So David Lean goes to the Hollywood money men and says I'm going to shoot a movie about a Brit that no one in America knows. And I'm going to shoot in 70mm in the desert. And it's going to be four hours long. And there's no love story unless you count an off screen homosexual rape. There won't even be any women in it. Not a one.

Who's your leading man?

An unknown Irish stage actor. You've never heard of him!

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (9TdxA)

46 44 Troy is improved by switching languages and turning on English subtitles. I don't know why, but it works better.

I didn't watch Alexander. I had more fun reading about him in Plutarch.

If someone other than a dedicated leftist had made the movie, like John Milius, I'd have gambled on it.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (d1uFV)

=========

Holy shit, a John Milius Alexander movie would have been amazing.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (LvTSG)

47 Colin Farrell kinda looks like one of those cabana boy worshippers of Va'al in that Trek episode.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (Dc2NZ)


lol, right?

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (9Om/r)

48 45 So David Lean goes to the Hollywood money men and says I'm going to shoot a movie about a Brit that no one in America knows. And I'm going to shoot in 70mm in the desert. And it's going to be four hours long. And there's no love story unless you count an off screen homosexual rape. There won't even be any women in it. Not a one.

Who's your leading man?

An unknown Irish stage actor. You've never heard of him!
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (9TdxA)

==========

"Remember, I made Bride over the River Kwai, so I'm good for it."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (LvTSG)

49 John C. Riley was in a recent film with Steve Coogan called Stan and Ollie (Riley was Ollie). I thought it was depressing, but their imitations were spot on. Even the classic bits they recreated were good.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (VNfwt)

50 Holy shit, a John Milius Alexander movie would have been amazing.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (LvTSG)

I know, right? Shame about his stroke and Hollywood pissing on him.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (d1uFV)

51 31 - I don't think I saw that one.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:15 PM (Rf71G)

52
Holy shit, a John Milius Alexander movie would have been amazing.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (LvTSG)

------

Yeah.

Milius probably could film himself at a party in a rich part of H'wood, and just insert the footage for the burning of Persepolis.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (tDHKc)

53 50 Holy shit, a John Milius Alexander movie would have been amazing.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (LvTSG)

I know, right? Shame about his stroke and Hollywood pissing on him.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (d1uFV)

===========

That guy needed to make far more movies.

He has like 12 directing credits, and the last two are TV movies.

Hollywood really turned their back on him.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (LvTSG)

54 I'm going through Hitchcock's whole filmography. I just finished his
British period and am moving on to his Hollywood movies. Actually, I
watched Rebecca earlier today.

I watched Jamaica Inn last night because it's the only film of his I hadn't seen.Es no bueno.



Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (a1s18)

55 Whats the hitchcock movie with peter lorre shooting from a window at brit cops with a c-96 mauser?

As a yute went with my paw who fixed bell and howell "jan" projectors to a house call at alfred hitchcock's lair on the greens of l a country club, saw his home movies shipboard, etc, met him!

Posted by: banned 16mm audio visual geek at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (gl8x6)

56 So David Lean goes to the Hollywood money men and says I'm going to shoot a movie about a Brit that no one in America knows. And I'm going to shoot in 70mm in the desert. And it's going to be four hours long. And there's no love story unless you count an off screen homosexual rape. There won't even be any women in it. Not a one.

Who's your leading man?

An unknown Irish stage actor. You've never heard of him!
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:13 PM (9TdxA)

And yet. And yet.

Perhaps the Greatest Film Ever Made.

Dear Lord, I love "Lawrence of Arabia."

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (x8Wzq)

57 Today "M".

-
I tried to record it but we had a series of weather related Emergency Alert System intrusions which prevented a substantial part from and broke up what I got into four parts. I have it up and will get it next time.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (+y/Ru)

58 54 I'm going through Hitchcock's whole filmography. I just finished his
British period and am moving on to his Hollywood movies. Actually, I
watched Rebecca earlier today.

I watched Jamaica Inn last night because it's the only film of his I hadn't seen.Es no bueno.



Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 08:16 PM (a1s1

==========

I thought Jamaica Inn was pretty good. Nothing special. More a showcase for Charles Laughton than anything else.

It probably helps that I've never read the book.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:17 PM (LvTSG)

59 I like Colin Farrell, but it needs to be the right role. I liked his jaded soldier in Tigerland,

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:18 PM (x8Wzq)

60 I would watch anything directed by John Milius.

Milius directs Jane Austen!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:18 PM (Dc2NZ)

61

Willowed

532
Very late to HQ for me.

---


The Movie Post is here, not going to mix in politics because movies are about escapism and imagination, and I am not going to mess that up for anyone.


But I indirectly answered both Krak and JJ's posts from earlier today. I believe I have a solution much better than national divorce or open warfare. At least worth trying. And yes, it's long, so you've been warned.

Back to the thread at hand. I did see this week where AMC, the giant movie chain, may go down forever. That would be sad and I hope it doesn't happen. People need movie theaters to congregate and enjoy their off-time. And theaters are a great source of first-time jobs for teens. Of course Mark Cuban, who owns the Landmark Theater chain, is probably licking his chops.

Now I have some reading to do. Thanks TJM.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (sy5kK)

62 Maureen O'Hara was purty in her first role.

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (a1s18)

63 The problem with Alexander was A: Farrell cant act for shit, he mostly just stares with his mouth open, and 2: Stone was more interested in a gay storyline than he was in the important part of the story. once kilmer dies, the movie is effectively over. and the battle scenes which should have been epic, are a snoozefest.

Posted by: johnny drama at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (XrpMJ)

64
Short version of Alexander's life:

Genocidal Maniac inherits his daddy's kingdom and army, uses it to conquer most of the known world, dies horribly from either poisoning or drinking dirty shit water.

See, now you don't have to sit through all 8 or 9 versions of Stone's shit movie.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (EGyGV)

65 Alexander with 37% less homo would have been a great film. Colin Farrell portrayal was interesting. A sort of berserker philosopher.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (yQpMk)

66 60 I would watch anything directed by John Milius.

Milius directs Jane Austen!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:18 PM (Dc2NZ)

==========

There's the man who should have directed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:19 PM (LvTSG)

67 I don't think The Killer In Me has ever been filmed successfully.

The book works so well because you get inside the Sheriff's head. Hard to pull off in a movie. You'd need a damn good screenwriter.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:20 PM (d1uFV)

68 After Gladiator and Master and Commander, I like 300 next

Posted by: Ben Had at June 06, 2020 08:20 PM (JinpT)

69 Milius is highly underrated.

Patton is another biopic where they take just one section of his life. It works really well. It's Patton the warrior.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (CCWyU)

70 I saw 'Arsenic and Old Lace' the other day. I didn't realize Peter Lorre was in it . He was fantastic.

Posted by: dantesed at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (88xKn)

71 "Jamaica Inn" was in the book "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time (and How They Got That Way).

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (Dc2NZ)

72 300 is good. I wonder what Leonidas and the boys would have thought of Antifa?

Posted by: Jmel at June 06, 2020 08:22 PM (tzXDX)

73 Anyone but Farrel. What inspired Stone to use a miscast actor?

Posted by: EdmundBurkesShade at June 06, 2020 08:22 PM (IBMDj)

74 Oh, Live Free or Die Hard I consider to be the second best Die Hard movie.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 08:22 PM (CCWyU)

75 69 Milius is highly underrated.

Patton is another biopic where they take just one section of his life. It works really well. It's Patton the warrior.
Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (CCWyU)

==========

Yeah, it's such a better approach. Give us a deep dive into one man's life at a particular moment so we can see him in all his complexity there. You don't have to find the moment when his mommy told him that going all the way was what he was born to do to explain his need to drive to Berlin.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:22 PM (LvTSG)

76 The large AMC theater here has been close for 11 weeks. Fairly new building too, sure the mortgage isn't paid for.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (6f16T)

77 I loved King Arthur and Gladiator. I turned Alexander off and took it back to the rental place. It blew chunks.

Posted by: Vic at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (mpXpK)

78 In all of these historical epics the people are just so clean. Must have had really good plumbing back then.

Posted by: Javems at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (ofIwF)

79 Master and Commander is quite good at capturing much of the books. The slow pace of sailing oceans, punctuated by the terror of old timey broadsides. Could there be a better Aubrey than Russell Crowe?

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (9TdxA)

80 Who would have been a great Alexander?

---

Heath Ledger?

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (WwTwF)

81 77 I loved King Arthur and Gladiator. I turned Alexander off and took it back to the rental place. It blew chunks.
Posted by: Vic at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (mpXpK)

==========

You should try two more versions of it! In one week!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (LvTSG)

82 Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (Dc2NZ)

As is often the case, the book is much better than the movie.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (+eVzC)

83 The "M" on TCM today was the one from the 1950's.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (aKsyK)

84 42 I know I've seen Alexander, but I literally don't remember anything about it. Colin Farrell looks terrible as a blond, but in general he is a smokin hottie.
Posted by: Jordan61 at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (OzQGF)

Nah he's short and has this perplexed look on his face all the time. Not a fan.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (w6A0l)

85 84 42 I know I've seen Alexander, but I literally don't remember anything about it. Colin Farrell looks terrible as a blond, but in general he is a smokin hottie.
Posted by: Jordan61 at June 06, 2020 08:12 PM (OzQGF)

Nah he's short and has this perplexed look on his face all the time. Not a fan.
Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (w6A0l)

======

He's great in The New World.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (LvTSG)

86 Gather your rocks and brickbats but...Tom Cruise could play Alexander the Great.

You need an actor with intensity and charisma. And one that's both a perfectionist and crazy.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (d1uFV)

87 "T.E. Lawrence" was the Final Jeopardy answer a few days back and not one person answered correctly. And they were teachers!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (Dc2NZ)

88 Suppose they made a movie about a Philly IBEW leader who doesn't think defunding the PD is realistic. And who asked in a moment of frustration: 'One bad cop did a horrible thing and now everybody has to pay for it??'. That movie would be based on the words of the infamous Johnny Doc, democrat of course.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (Rf71G)

89 I saw 'Arsenic and Old Lace' the other day. I didn't realize Peter Lorre was in it . He was fantastic.

Posted by: dantesed at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (88xKn)

I was in the senior class play which was Arsenic and Old Lace. I asked for a small part and ended up being the villain. It's a fun play.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (CCWyU)

90 "Jamaica Inn" was in the book "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time

I agree. So much suckage that I was yelling at it.It didn't have to be that bad.

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (a1s18)

91 I liked Collin Farrell the best in Ondine.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (JinpT)

92 You don't have to find the moment when his mommy told him that going all the way was what he was born to do to explain his need to drive to Berlin.


Apropos of nothing, there is a true story about Patton and Macarthur standing exposed next to each other in WWI while shells rained down. Both had too much ego to take cover if the other one wouldn't.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (yQpMk)

93 So Colin Farrell is a dedicated/compulsive poon hound. My question is: did Oliver Stone push all the gay scenes in Alexander with him just to fuck with the actor?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:26 PM (d1uFV)

94 92 You don't have to find the moment when his mommy told him that going all the way was what he was born to do to explain his need to drive to Berlin.


Apropos of nothing, there is a true story about Patton and Macarthur standing exposed next to each other in WWI while shells rained down. Both had too much ego to take cover if the other one wouldn't.
Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:25 PM (yQpMk)

=========

I suddenly want a movie about Patton and MacArthur in World War I.

Call it: Bastards Fight the Great War.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:26 PM (LvTSG)

95 "Remember, I made Bride over the River Kwai, so I'm good for it."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (LvTSG)


That must have been one hell of a honeymoon

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 08:27 PM (smxcp)

96 Peter Lorre as the child molester/murderer in "M". That was some really creepy film but he was great in it..

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 06, 2020 08:28 PM (+eVzC)

97
"Live Free" the best Die Hard movie?

Hhhmmmm. Well...possibly. It's a lot of fun, and wait a minute. McClane's daughter. YES!!!!
Ahhahaaha, she was awesome! And nerdy guy from Galaxy Quest steals the entire movie at the end!
Parkour guy, just amazing.
Bad guy snarking at his henchman who couldn't handle the daughter was brilliant.
Hot Asian chick with an SUV up her ass....hehehehe.

But.......best?
SURE, WHY NOT?!?!!

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 08:29 PM (DCVgi)

98 87 "T.E. Lawrence" was the Final Jeopardy answer a few days back and not one person answered correctly. And they were teachers!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:24 PM (Dc2NZ)


To be fair, the teachers missed the question that is Constitutional knowledge I learned in 6th grade, and repeated in 11th grade civics class.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at June 06, 2020 08:29 PM (sy5kK)

99 Colin Farrell was terrific as the vampire in "Fright Night", although the movie was owned by David Tennant as the magician.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:29 PM (Dc2NZ)

100 The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T E Lawrence is as much gay porn as Alexander is.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:30 PM (d1uFV)

101 The "M" on TCM today was the one from the 1950's.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 08:23 PM (aKsyK)


It's a disgrace "Q" didn't have had his own movie.

Posted by: Joe Biden at June 06, 2020 08:30 PM (2N7oZ)

102 Just how gay were the gay scenes?

Asking for Bers.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (Dc2NZ)

103 102 Just how gay were the gay scenes?

Asking for Bers.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (Dc2NZ)

==========

Embracing and implication.

There's a sex scene with Rosario Dawson as Roxana that's full on female nudity and humping, though.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (LvTSG)

104 I'm sitting here thinking I can't recall if I saw that Die Hard movie. I saw the one with Samuel L. Jackson, which I thought was good.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (w6A0l)

105 did Oliver Stone push all the gay scenes in Alexander with him just to fuck with the actor?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

in the books Stone bases a lot of the movie from (Fire from Heaven, The Persian Boy), Alexander is teh ghey

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (WwTwF)

106 Even in historical biographies, it helps to have a single vanishing point on which to focus things. Mr. Stone forgot this in his eagerness to tell the story about his favorite historical character (and in full disclosure I have never seen any version of the movie).

Take Simon Sebag Montefiore's Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. The vanishing point of the book was the suicide of Stalin's wife, Nadezhda, in November 1932. Yes, Stalin was a complete asshole and power-mad before that, and already began showing his true colors (especially in Ukraine), but that moment is when he lost the few marbles he had left. (This is the sense you get reading the bio.) He tells the story of this monster effectively and it works because he has an anchor that he starts out with in the intro.

The movie might have worked has such an anchor - a vanishing point - existed, from all the accounts I am reading.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:32 PM (ejsiI)

107 There's a sex scene with Rosario Dawson as Roxana that's full on female nudity and humping, though.



I rewound that a few times.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (yQpMk)

108
There's a sex scene with Rosario Dawson as Roxana that's full on female nudity and humping, though.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (LvTSG)


Well, ok then.

For a minute there, I was getting worried.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (sy5kK)

109 I always strive not to pollute specialty threads, so I guess I'll just ask if TJM likes gladiator movies, and move back down to the chess thread to discuss the ongoing degradation of America.

Posted by: rhomboid at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (El6T/)

110 The recent remake of "Death Wish" wasn't awful. The first half was better, with the slow burn of menace invading a nice neighborhood and his change from a healer to a killer.

Not great, not necessary, but pretty good.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (Dc2NZ)

111 Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro) made the most successful reboot ever, Casino Royale. He previously directed Goldeneye, another great reboot of the same franchise.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (LxTcq)

112 Hitchcock filmed two versions of "The Man Who Knew Too Much",

which one did you see, TJM?


Are you singing "Que Sera Sera?'?

Posted by: naturalfake at June 06, 2020 08:34 PM (rTZNj)

113 I loved Gladiator though I have not seen it in years, and Troy was...OK. I don't know how you can have a telling of The Iliad without the gods, but...it was OK. I had serious problems with it, but it was entertaining.

Master and Commander put me to sleep. Eh. Maybe I should give it another chance at some point.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:34 PM (ejsiI)

114 Patton is another biopic where they take just one section of his life. It works really well. It's Patton the warrior.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 08:21 PM (CCWyU)



It needed an origin story so the audience could see him bitten by the radioactive tank.

Posted by: Joss Whedon at June 06, 2020 08:34 PM (2N7oZ)

115 106 The movie might have worked has such an anchor - a vanishing point - existed, from all the accounts I am reading.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:32 PM (ejsiI)

==========

As much as I like Val Kilmer as Philip, I think the movie should have jettisoned everything before the Asian campaign and started with Alexander getting crowned as Pharaoh of Egypt with Darius still out there.

Then you could have brought in stuff about how Alexander is trying to become something mythical in scope and contrast the relative poverty of Egypt with the relative wealth of Persia. I think that contrast would have been an interesting place to start.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:34 PM (LvTSG)

116 Eris, I liked Willis' Death Wish
butbthen he's one of my fave actors

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:35 PM (WwTwF)

117 You guys watch movies WAY different from me. I just skim along with the story and enjoy the visuals.
It's so interesting to hear these other view points.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:35 PM (w6A0l)

118 112 Hitchcock filmed two versions of "The Man Who Knew Too Much",

which one did you see, TJM?


Are you singing "Que Sera Sera?'?

Posted by: naturalfake at June 06, 2020 08:34 PM (rTZNj)

===========

I'm seeing Peter Lorre's combover in my sleep.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:35 PM (LvTSG)

119 As much as I like Val Kilmer as Philip, I think the movie should have jettisoned everything before the Asian campaign and started with Alexander getting crowned as Pharaoh of Egypt with Darius still out there.


But you would lose peak Angelina Jolie.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (yQpMk)

120 By the way, along the same lines as trying to tell the full story of Alexander in 2-3 hours...can anyone imagine doing that with, say, Churchill? Much better to do bits and pieces of that man's life. Darkest Hour takes place over the first 3-4 weeks of Churchill's time as prime minister and it lasted what, nearly 3 hours?

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (ejsiI)

121 119 As much as I like Val Kilmer as Philip, I think the movie should have jettisoned everything before the Asian campaign and started with Alexander getting crowned as Pharaoh of Egypt with Darius still out there.


But you would lose peak Angelina Jolie.
Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (yQpMk)

===========

Whoever made the decision for her to play Olympias as a sexy Russian vampire was super high at the time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (LvTSG)

122 Kevin McCarthy was the lead in the best B movie of all time, the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

I just learned that both his parents died from the 1918 Spanish Flu when he was four. He was raised by an uptight aunt.

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:37 PM (9TdxA)

123 So it looks like there's fault lines forming in the Philly dem party. On that note I shall go back to praying for PDT, his family and those protecting and guarding them.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:37 PM (Rf71G)

124 Wow there is a lot of total shit on Netflix.

There is the occasional series, and a tiny bit of critically acclaimed film, but far too much SJW crap I find totally unwatchable.

It's got the stink of Zero and Mooch, and now the BLM mark is all over it, too.

Posted by: Les Kinetic at June 06, 2020 08:37 PM (+fPHo)

125 M&C is in my top 10 war movies, seen Gladiator as often as it comes on.
And always read ancient Greeks were mostly bi-sexual, not sure if true or not.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:38 PM (6f16T)

126 124 Wow there is a lot of total shit on Netflix.

There is the occasional series, and a tiny bit of critically acclaimed film, but far too much SJW crap I find totally unwatchable.

It's got the stink of Zero and Mooch, and now the BLM mark is all over it, too.

Posted by: Les Kinetic at June 06, 2020 08:37 PM (+fPHo)

==========

Their instant offerings have always been meager.

Studios don't want to license out their good stuff to Netflix because they make more money off of selling it or renting it directly.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:38 PM (LvTSG)

127 For a 4 hour movie, Cleopatra moves along decently.

Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (fDIwz)

128 58 54 I'm going through Hitchcock's whole filmography. I just finished his
British period and am moving on to his Hollywood movies. Actually, I
watched Rebecca earlier today.

Hitchcock made that awful movie?

North by Northwest sucked. Painful.

Strike Two, Alfred.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (ejsiI)

129 Bendon Gleeson as Churchill in " The Gathering Storm" is masterfully done. I have watched it over and over.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (JinpT)

130 124 Wow there is a lot of total shit on Netflix.

==

you are not wrong

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (WwTwF)

131 111 Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro) made the most successful reboot ever, Casino Royale. He previously directed Goldeneye, another great reboot of the same franchise.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (LxTcq)

I love these movies, but I am really tired of rebooting. Do it once and then go with it. Stop re-imaging the characters. I'm griping about Bond and all the Spider-Man movies.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (w6A0l)

132 Evening.

I think I saw two minutes of Alexander once on television. Thought it looked like garbage and changed channels.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (xW4Id)

133 Studios don't want to license out their good stuff to Netflix because they make more money off of selling it or renting it directly.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower

Can you guess how I know when a 10 year old film bombed at the box office? When it's available on Netflix.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:40 PM (VNfwt)

134 Corey Booker loves gladiator movies.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (LxTcq)

135
But you would lose peak Angelina Jolie.
-----

Nah, that was Hackers.

Did you know she pretty much made up with dad Jon Voight when they made Tomb Raider? Very nice stuff in DVD extras. I guess she lost her marbles again after that, though.

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (DCVgi)

136 And always read ancient Greeks were mostly bi-sexual, not sure if true or not.
Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:38 PM (6f16T)

Supposedly aristocrats kept young men on the side as a status symbol but I probably know as much about the subject as you.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (xW4Id)

137 I wouldn't say Live Free or Die Hard is the best one, but 2nd best. More of a buddy movie with the hacker nerd.

*Upon rewatching the 3rd one w/my son a while back, realized the Samuel L Jackson part - with over the top swearing. n-word and race stuff made it unbearable.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (bDqIh)

138 Love Cleopatra the Caesar years and I'm glad they made it in two discs because I really can't watch the Marc Anthony crap.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (JinpT)

139 134 Corey Booker loves gladiator movies.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (LxTcq)

Betting he has seen a grown man naked, too.

Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (fDIwz)

140 Along the same lines as trying to tell the full story of Alexander in 2-3 hours...can anyone imagine doing that with, say, Churchill? Much better to do bits and pieces of that man's life. Darkest Hour takes place over the first 3-4 weeks of Churchill's time as prime minister and it lasted what, nearly 3 hours?

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (ejsiI)

There's a great movie about the early life and adventures of Winston Churchill called "Young Winston"

Posted by: Josephistan at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (YI5pA)

141 kallisto, what have you observed about the Phikky dems - what's the split?

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (WwTwF)

142 Rewatching Duck Soup. I know I'm getting old when I find Margaret DuMont kinda hawt.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:43 PM (VNfwt)

143 The Nightingale is a big small movie. One of my favorites from 2018. 1820s Tasmania penal colony.

It's quite brutal, but true to the ways things were then

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:43 PM (9TdxA)

144 142 Rewatching Duck Soup. I know I'm getting old when I find Margaret DuMont kinda hawt.
Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 08:43 PM (VNfwt)

=========

Not old.

Perhaps blind.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:43 PM (LvTSG)

145 Whoever made the decision for her to play Olympias as a sexy Russian vampire was super high at the time.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:36 PM (LvTSG)

I remember that being a big part of a negative review I read. Angelina was still kinda sketchy back then, hotter than fire but sketchy.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:44 PM (w6A0l)

146 I sometimes like very bad movies. Movies that are trying so very very hard to be good, and yet, it's all for naught.
Same thing with music.
It makes me laugh, at least.

Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:44 PM (w7KSn)

147 BRB gotta release the kraken.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 08:45 PM (vuisn)

148 117 You guys watch movies WAY different from me. I just skim along with the story and enjoy the visuals.
It's so interesting to hear these other view points.
Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:35 PM (w6A0l)

I admit, I am not a big movie guy. I'm really not. But I do appreciate a good movie, and have been obsessed (OK, I have a lot of obsessions) with stories and storytelling since...ever.

So I love these different viewpoints, and the ability to share some of my own, which may or may not be agreed with.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:46 PM (ejsiI)

149 >>Kevin McCarthy was the lead in the best B movie of all time, the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Didn't he have a cameo in one of the remakes?

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 08:47 PM (vuisn)

150 "It's got the stink of Zero and Mooch, and now the BLM mark is all over it, too."

You noticed too?

I would have stopped it but the missus still uses it, and I have decided it isn't the hill to die on.

Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:47 PM (w7KSn)

151 141 vmom, see my 88. Johnny Doc doesn't agree with other Union leaders who have more radical plans for 'fixing the problem'.

Posted by: kallisto at June 06, 2020 08:48 PM (Rf71G)

152 John Milius is great. Aside from Conan the Barbarian and Red Dawn, he also directed The Wind and the Lion (starring Sean Connery and a very yummy Candice Bergen) as well as Dillinger, an overlooked gangster flick with Warren Oates in the titled role, the great Ben Johnson as Melvin Purvis, and my favorite character actor Harry Dean Stanton as one of the nefarious crew.

Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 08:48 PM (U2zca)

153
I have to say that it was the Oliver Stone JFK movie, one of those movies I saw in the theater complete with overpriced popcorn, pop, and Milk Duds, that first got me to thinking there is an organized, funded movement that is willing to spend tens of millions of dollars to brainwash people with false information.

Could Oliver Stone have been an inspiration for George Soros, back in the day?

I was first introduced to the concept of organized groups propagandizing as a business, was the movie "Wag the Dog".

Surely it was nonsense, right?

Sorry, didn't mean to call you Shirley.


Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (sy5kK)

154 How can you not know the story to tell about Alexander? He's the man who conquered the world and wasn't satisfied. The climax comes when his army refuses to march any farther, and he declines into alcholism and dies. There, I wrote the damned movie.

Posted by: Trimegistus at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (8QRdb)

155 131 111 Martin Campbell (Mask of Zorro) made the most successful reboot ever, Casino Royale. He previously directed Goldeneye, another great reboot of the same franchise.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:33 PM (LxTcq)

I love these movies, but I am really tired of rebooting. Do it once and then go with it. Stop re-imaging the characters. I'm griping about Bond and all the Spider-Man movies.
Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:39 PM (w6A0l)

Um, how is GoldenEye a reboot? I see how Casino Royale was, but GoldenEye?

I'm with you on the obsession with remakes and reboots and so on. If a movie is to be remade, the wait time should be 50 years at least.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (ejsiI)

156 I've been watching a lot of movies 'cause the library's been closed since March 13th.

Movies I saw since last time & really liked:

1) "54," with Mike Myers as Steve Rubell.the sewer bothers you, then rent "1001 Dalmatians" instead of THIS.


2) "8 Millimeter," with Nick Cage. If a trip through
3) "The Firm," a BBC TV movie, starring Gary Oldman in one of his first roles. Football (soccer) hooligans.

Movies I saw & didn't like &/or didn't understand:

1) "The Orchid Thief," with Nick Cage. (I didn't like "Being John Malkovich" either, & this is its boring little cousin.)

2) "Lawless," a prohibition era film about rural bootleggers. Got super reviews, but I couldn't see what made it special.

3) "The Prestige," a film directed by Christopher Nolan.

Madison

I don't share your enthusiasm for "Kingdom of Heaven." I quit half way through that one, & it's the only Ridley Scott film I've seen that I thought was just plain dull.

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (Cssks)

157 152 my favorite character actor Harry Dean Stanton as one of the nefarious crew.
Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 08:48 PM (U2zca)

==========

Roger Ebert had a rule:

If Harry Dean Stanton was in a movie, it was going to be at least interesting.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (LvTSG)

158 @179 yes he did. In the 78 remake with Donald Sutherland

Posted by: Ignoramus at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (9TdxA)

159 >> I saw 'Arsenic and Old Lace' the other day. I didn't realize Peter Lorre was in it . He was fantastic.


Love that movie, so silly!

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 08:50 PM (bDqIh)

160 155 Um, how is GoldenEye a reboot? I see how Casino Royale was, but GoldenEye?

I'm with you on the obsession with remakes and reboots and so on. If a movie is to be remade, the wait time should be 50 years at least.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (ejsiI)

===========

I'd say every time a new Bond is introduced, it's a reboot. Goldeneye was Brosnan's first Bond, so it fits.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:50 PM (LvTSG)

161 I sometimes like very bad movies. Movies that are trying so very very hard to be good, and yet, it's all for naught.
Same thing with music.
It makes me laugh, at least.
Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:44 PM (w7KSn)

and this is How Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born.

Ed Wood, Bert I. Gordon, Coleman Francis, Roger Corman and so many others were convinced that they were making the Next American Classic.

these blokes earnestly made turrible movies, completely convinced they had made the next Lawrence of Arabia.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (x8Wzq)

162 Speaking of perspective...

Ya know, I think it needs to be said, but I'm super grateful for these film threads.

Madison really is incredibly thoughtful and eloquent on what he knows of filmmaking and what he enjoys about film.

You're like the new Harry Knowles, except you're not a fat retard scam artist that doesn't know what he's talking about.

Do us all a favor and never pinch a woman's hiney. No, not even the Mrs's. There lies MeToo.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (xW4Id)

163 And, oh, yeah, let's get John Agar as the star.

What could go wrong?

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (x8Wzq)

164 If I don't decide when to stop watching this movie I'll still be up at midnight.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (6f16T)

165 I could swear there was a one-second shot of a "Man in Black" in Stone's JFK (the bleacher scene) but I don't wanna sit through the whole friggin thing again to make sure.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (vuisn)

166 "Remember, I made Bride over the River Kwai, so I'm good for it."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:14 PM (LvTSG)


That must have been one hell of a honeymoon

Posted by: TheQuietMan

He's going to do it, believe me, he's really going to do it!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (+y/Ru)

167 Oliver Stone.....meh.

Alexander as a topic is fascinating.
I wish someone would do the story right.

John C. Reilly......LOL, just LOL....

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (ufFY8)

168 Battle elephants. How kewl is that?

Posted by: cicero kaboomerang kid at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (Vy7tf)

169 162 You're like the new Harry Knowles, except you're not a fat retard scam artist that doesn't know what he's talking about.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:51 PM (xW4Id)

===========

I'm getting verklempt...

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (LvTSG)

170 There's a great movie about the early life and adventures of Winston Churchill called "Young Winston"
Posted by: Josephistan at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (YI5pA)
---
That's a good one!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (Dc2NZ)

171 thanks Kallisto

Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (WwTwF)

172 139 134 Corey Booker loves gladiator movies.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at June 06, 2020 08:41 PM (LxTcq)

Betting he has seen a grown man naked, too.
Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 08:42 PM (fDIwz)


Just exactly what are you inferring?

Posted by: Andrew Gillum, nearly a Guvnor, now with a very expensive hotel clean up bill at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (sy5kK)

173 "...Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born."

I used to love those.
I forgot all about them.
Are they archived somewhere?

Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (w7KSn)

174 Catch 33, I don't think Goldeneye is a reboot. Casino is, I think the upcoming releases are threatened to be reboots.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:54 PM (w6A0l)

175
Are they archived somewhere?
Posted by: navybrat,

Got their own channel on Pluto.

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 08:55 PM (DCVgi)

176
I'd say every time a new Bond is introduced, it's a reboot. Goldeneye was Brosnan's first Bond, so it fits.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:50 PM (LvTSG)

Interesting way to look at it.

Maybe splitting hairs - maybe - but I'd consider GoldenEye a revival. Think about it. Not just introducing Mr. Brosnan as Bond, but the franchise had been dead for six years since the awful Mr. Dalton and Licence to Kill. Bond movies could no longer fall back on the Cold War as a theme - even the Soviet Union was dead and buried then. To successfully bring Bond back, they needed a damn good actor to revive him, and they needed to figure out how to have Bond movies in the brave new world after the Cold War.
I rather enjoyed GoldenEye, and it has one of the greatest lines EVER:
"Trust. What a quaint idea."

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:56 PM (ejsiI)

177
3) "The Prestige," a film directed by Christopher Nolan.








Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (Cssks)


I liked The Prestige, especially at the end regarding Tesla's machine.
It was confusing, but I liked it.




Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 08:56 PM (ufFY8)

178 Can Bond be rebooted in the sense we're using it?

The movies are almost all stand-alone films. Seems moot.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:57 PM (xW4Id)

179 Watching 'Nightfall' now on TCM. So far, so good

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:57 PM (d1uFV)

180 *Not TCM, Criterion channel, my bad.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 08:57 PM (d1uFV)

181 174 Catch 33, I don't think Goldeneye is a reboot. Casino is, I think the upcoming releases are threatened to be reboots.
Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 08:54 PM (w6A0l)

I'll clarify: you didn't think GoldenEye a reboot and said it nowhere of course, but the poster you responded to did say GoldenEye was a reboot. Apologies.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 08:57 PM (ejsiI)

182 MST 3000 is on a separate channel all its own on the STARR network.
I found STARR on the Roku channel adding thingy on my TV.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (ufFY8)

183 I saw Young Winston. One thing that really sold it to me was that Simon Ward looks like a goddamned clone of Winston Churchill in that movie. It felt like a documentary.

Posted by: Trimegistus at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (8QRdb)

184
But, Morons and 'ettes, I bring you the best movie news EVAH:

Prometheus STILL sucks!

So, life is good.

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (DCVgi)

185 I'm getting verklempt...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (LvTSG)

We'll just talk amongst ourselves.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (xW4Id)

186 GoldenEye was good. The rest of Brosnan's Bond movies sucked.

Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (fDIwz)

187 178 Can Bond be rebooted in the sense we're using it?

The movies are almost all stand-alone films. Seems moot.
Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:57 PM (xW4Id)

===========

Craig's are pretty interconnected. Connery's early films were pretty interconnected, though that fell away as the franchise moved on.

But, the main factor for me is that each actor is effectively a completely different character. Connery and Lazenby are very different. Connery and Moore are very different. Moore and Dalton are very different. Dalton and Brosnan are very different. Brosnan and Craig are very different.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:59 PM (LvTSG)

188 "...Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born."

I used to love those.
I forgot all about them.
Are they archived somewhere?
Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (w7KSn)

Well. I have nearly every episode on DVD (some that I taped off the Comedy Central Channel two decades or so ago). There are a few that I have never seen, and are not available anywhere. Needless, to say, this tickles my MST OCD.

Also, Pluto TV has an MST channel. they play the same ones over and over again for a while, but they occasionally update, kind of on a monthly basis, it seems.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY at June 06, 2020 08:59 PM (x8Wzq)

189 maybe the problem is that Oliver Stone just makes shitty movies?

we still haven't been to a theater in years, and i can't remember the last time i turned on the vidiot.

herself hasn't turned it on since college football ended early this year.

Posted by: redc1c4 at June 06, 2020 08:59 PM (5RpHt)

190 TJM are you teaching your little people about movies? Granted they are still very young but could still be cool bonding material.

Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 09:00 PM (w6A0l)

191 I can probably Google this but any news on AMC Theaters?

In deep shit or in deepest shit?

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 09:00 PM (xW4Id)

192
I saw an old style Hollywood epic this week -

"55 Days at Peking"

on a beautiful blu-ray. Really fabulous picture.

The downside?

It's only available in Europe so you have to have a all region blu-ray player to see it.

The script is a bit of a mess. And all the major Chinese characters are english actors, who do a great job, but the visuals aren't optimal.

But, it delivers mostly do to a strong direction by Nicholas Ray and a great job by the actors Charlton Heston, David Niven and Ava Gardner.

It will probably never get a blu-ray here do to the fact that it's very pro-Western values, pro-American, and pro-England.

Anywho, if you've never seen it, check it out, and see how old Hollywood used to do it wonderfully, even in one of it's lesser epics.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 06, 2020 09:00 PM (rTZNj)

193 Thanks for the movie thread, very enjoyable.
My favorite "bad" movie, low budget, has a lot of big names:
"Buffalo '66"

Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 09:00 PM (w7KSn)

194 Well. I have nearly every episode on DVD (some that I taped off the Comedy Central Channel two decades or so ago). There are a few that I have never seen, and are not available anywhere. Needless, to say, this tickles my MST OCD.
---
Back in the day I ordered "MST3K: Shorts" and you got a pair of undies along with the VHS tape! The "shorts" and "bloopers" reels were hilarious. I bet they're on YouTube.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (Dc2NZ)

195 Bride of Frankenstein is half over on Svengoolie.
MeTV

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (ufFY8)

196 190 TJM are you teaching your little people about movies? Granted they are still very young but could still be cool bonding material.
Posted by: Cheriebebe at June 06, 2020 09:00 PM (w6A0l)

===========

I'm in the very opening stages with first Junior. He's only six, so I'm not pushing that hard, but he has been introduced to Chaplin and enjoys him a good amount.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (LvTSG)

197 185 I'm getting verklempt...
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (LvTSG)

We'll just talk amongst ourselves.
Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 08:58 PM (xW4Id)


Ahh!

A Saturday Night Live character, when SNL was still funny!

Yes, for those that remember Mike Meyer's New York character, we indeed are getting that old.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (sy5kK)

198 ...Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born."



I used to love those.

I forgot all about them.

Are they archived somewhere?

Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (w7KSn)


They're on Shout Factory....and I just checked there and it has a big BLM message to greet you. So use tubitv.com. it has them as well

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (fI5R4)

199 >>You're like the new Harry Knowles, except you're not a fat retard scam artist that doesn't know what he's talking about.



Heh, that'll leave a mark.
And all I can think is Harry Knowles (not him) in "Fanboys". Probably more entertaining than the 3 Star Wars prequels, lol.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 09:01 PM (bDqIh)

200 Battle elephants. How kewl is that?

Posted by: cicero kaboomerang kid at June 06, 2020 08:52 PM (Vy7tf)

---
see the last LOTR movie climactic battle scene

Posted by: redc1c4 at June 06, 2020 09:02 PM (5RpHt)

201 But, the main factor for me is that each actor is effectively a completely different character. Connery and Lazenby are very different. Connery and Moore are very different. Moore and Dalton are very different. Dalton and Brosnan are very different. Brosnan and Craig are very different.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:59 PM (LvTSG)

Same. To me it's not so much rebooted as recast and reinterpreted.

Posted by: Robert at June 06, 2020 09:02 PM (xW4Id)

202 "...Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born."

I used to love those.
I forgot all about them.
Are they archived somewhere?
Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (w7KSn)


They have an official YouTube channel.

Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy are now doing Rifftrax, which is basically MST3K without the puppets. rifftrax.com

Posted by: filbert at June 06, 2020 09:02 PM (NiXyF)

203 177 Deplorable

One of the interesting things about movies is how much people disagree.

I always read some of the reviews at Amazon before I watch a film.

I think some films ("Orchid Thief") get wildly favorable reviews because people are too embarrassed to admit they disliked an illuminati favorite.

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:02 PM (Cssks)

204 188 "...Mystery Science Theater 3000 was born."

I used to love those.
I forgot all about them.
Are they archived somewhere?
Posted by: navybrat, largely at large at June 06, 2020 08:53 PM (w7KSn)

Lotta episodes on Youtube as well. You can buy most episodes on Rifftrax.com. Portions of those sales go back to all the cast, not just Jim Mallon and Joel

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 09:02 PM (d1uFV)

205 Naturalfake: I'm sure I watched 55 Days at Peking on DVD, probably from Netflix, within the past . . . uh . . . decade or so.

Posted by: Trimegistus at June 06, 2020 09:03 PM (8QRdb)

206 I'm busting out some DVDs.Falcon or Saint? What say the Horde?

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:03 PM (a1s18)

207 Bet Emperor Wolf will keep the area AMC's shut down until August or September.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (6f16T)

208 I'm busting out some DVDs.Falcon or Saint? What say the Horde?


Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:03 PM (a1s1

Which version of The Saint?

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (fI5R4)

209 Boy is watching Francis the talking mule for the thousandth time in the last month...

Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 09:05 PM (fDIwz)

210 Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 08:56 PM (ufFY

It's one of my favorite movies ever

Posted by: thathalfrican - Clark Kent with the glasses off at June 06, 2020 09:05 PM (IYHxL)

211 Decisions, decisions . . .

Watch the live stream of idiots in Washington shouting "fuck Trump!" (Hey, I thought it was about "systemic racism?) or continue watching "Ancient Aliens."

History Channel it is.

Posted by: filbert at June 06, 2020 09:06 PM (NiXyF)

212 RE: AMC

There's a lot of chatter at the financial news sites that the company may declare bankruptcy. Hertz is the only large corporation to go under because of the beer virus so far.

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:06 PM (Cssks)

213 Oyage!

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:06 PM (vuisn)

214 I recently watched the "Mata Hari" miniseries on Roku.
The chick was hot, and it really gave me a sense of the class structure that existed 110 years ago. It was a bit different (i.e non-Hollywood), and couldn't figure out why, until I found out it was a Russian-Portuguese production (WTF?). I recognized Gerard Depardieu in a small role.

As far as history, they took a large dollop of dramatic license with it, regarding her spying.

Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop at June 06, 2020 09:06 PM (ufFY8)

215 Bet Emperor Wolf will keep the area AMC's shut down until August or September.
Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (6f16T)


No worries. AMC will likely be out of business (bankrupt) in another month or two.

Posted by: filbert at June 06, 2020 09:07 PM (NiXyF)

216
Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy are now doing Rifftrax,

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

They did Sharknado. And #2. And 3, maybe. Free, on Tubi.






You're still here? Not watching Sharknado?
*sad headshake*

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 09:07 PM (DCVgi)

217 AMC owned by Chinese company (China). Womp womp!

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 09:07 PM (bDqIh)

218 217 AMC owned by Chinese company (China). Womp womp!
Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 09:07 PM (bDqIh)

==========

Like China will let it go bankrupt. It's a major arm of their propaganda wing in America.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (LvTSG)

219 3) "The Prestige," a film directed by Christopher Nolan.

...

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 08:49 PM (Cssks)

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

The Prestige came out around the same time as The Illusionist. Two movies about magic.

The big difference, seemed to me, was that The Prestige required real magic, but tried to dress it up as science.

As implausible as some of the tricks in The Illusionist were, they were never presented as anything beyond what Penn & Teller might do.

I rather liked The Illusionist, but was "meh" on the Prestige.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (CAJOC)

220 A few morons have told me to watch Miller's Crossing. Maybe I'll go do that.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (tDHKc)

221 Harry Dean Stanton was one of the fbi guys sorta watching frankie five-angels in G.F. 2 when he killed himself. Oops!

He was also the dad of Patrick Swayzee and Tiger Blood in Red Dawn. "AVENGE ME!"

And need I mention his stellar turn in Repo Man?

Harry Dean Stanton was the Man.

Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (U2zca)

222
A few morons have told me to watch Miller's Crossing. Maybe I'll go do that.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (tDHKc)






DO IT.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (EGyGV)

223 Which version of The Saint?Got both- George Sanders and Hugh Sinclair.

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (a1s18)

224 2) "8 Millimeter," with Nick Cage. If a trip through


Love "8MM".

A grimy movie full of scumbags that doesn't in the least romanticize snuff movies or serial killers.

Terrific stuff if you never seen it.

Another very good movie along the same lines is "Cold in July".

Low budget independent film with wonderful actors including the best role for Don Johnson in years.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (rTZNj)

225
Best movie ever:

Lavalantula
Sharknado
Megashark vs Megacrocodile

Ok, gentlemen, let's get quibbling.
It's that close.

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (DCVgi)

226 Saw the Green Mile last night. First time for me and the wife.

A nice movie.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (u82oZ)

227 Harry Dean Stanton was the Man.

Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (U2zca)

He was also Roman Grant in Big Love.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 09:11 PM (ufFY8)

228 I like gladiator movies!

Posted by: zeera Moron Author at June 06, 2020 08:00 PM (zUdXR)

Uh huh. Especially one where the lead character is gay, as ole Oliver made sure to inform us repeatedly?

I watched the movie, once, and I got complaints, but I just listed the main one.

I made the mistake of watching Brokeback Mountain on Netflix a few years back, and I got quite a few interesting 'suggested' films for a long while after. More uh huh.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:12 PM (Z4rgH)

229 208 I'm busting out some DVDs.Falcon or Saint? What say the Horde?

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:03 PM (a1s1

Which version of The Saint?
Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (fI5R4)

I'm partial to the Roger Moore Saint.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:12 PM (V2Yro)

230 Watching a very high brow and intellectual movie...Balls of Fury.

Christopher Walken is hilarious. 'gentlemen, athletes, I bid you toodles'

Posted by: squeakywheel at June 06, 2020 09:12 PM (Q4p97)

231 219 No One

I (heart) Penn & Teller. If anyone goes to Vegas, they are well worth seeing at the Rio. They own the theater there.

I was impressed that they sign autographs & pose for selfies after every show. My son loved their act, but he was too shy to talk with Penn Jillette afterwards.

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (Cssks)

232
Got both- George Sanders and Hugh Sinclair

Posted by: Val Kilmer at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (DCVgi)

233 Harry Dean Stanton was the Man.
Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 09:08 PM (U2zca)
---
Ri-i-i-i-ight.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (Dc2NZ)

234 Close tag in the nic ftw! Suck it, barrel.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (Z4rgH)

235 Ok then

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (tDHKc)

236
*cough*

dammit.

Posted by: Val Kilmer at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (DCVgi)

237
I'm partial to the Roger Moore Saint.
Get. Off. My. Lawn

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:14 PM (a1s18)

238 Watching "Battleground" tonight (1949), in honor of the date.

btw, Battleground IS a Christmas Movie.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:14 PM (V2Yro)

239 Got both- George Sanders and Hugh Sinclair.


Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:10 PM (a1s1


Ah, I'm familiar with the Sanders movies. I prefer Roger Moore in the role. They made a couple of movies from his TV show.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (fI5R4)

240
Hah, what was that business with that Kilmer chap?

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (DCVgi)

241 105 did Oliver Stone push all the gay scenes in Alexander with him just to fuck with the actor?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

in the books Stone bases a lot of the movie from (Fire from Heaven, The Persian Boy), Alexander is teh ghey
Posted by: vmom 2020 at June 06, 2020 08:31 PM (WwTwF)

Jah. Historians go both ways on Alexander being down on the D. God knows the Greeks got into some kinky ass shit, as Xenophon could tell ya. But not all the Greeks.

I just wonder if Stone pushed it because Farrell was agressively hetro.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (d1uFV)

242 Christopher Walken is hilarious. 'gentlemen, athletes, I bid you toodles'
Posted by: squeakywheel at June 06, 2020 09:12 PM (Q4p97)

Please! These are Collectors' Items! Well, some of them are replicas. But still, they're Limited Edition Replicas

Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (fDIwz)

243
Close tag in the nic ftw! Suck it, barrel.
Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (Z4rgH)






Cheater.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (EGyGV)

244 I'm partial to the Roger Moore Saint.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:12 PM (V2Yro)


The Kilmer version sucked monkey balls, and I like ole Val a lot. The Science chick, irl, can't boil water in a lab. Good casting choice there.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:16 PM (Z4rgH)

245

The Shout TV channel on Roku also has quite a few MST3K episodes. Many are also available on Youtube.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:16 PM (aKsyK)

246 224 Naturalfake

Max California: "I gotta tell you one thing before we start working together. I'm straight."

Cage: "Congratulations."

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:16 PM (Cssks)

247 Plate o' shrimp.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:17 PM (vuisn)

248 Later gators. Got a hot date with Zombie George Sanders.

Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:17 PM (a1s18)

249
Suck it, barrel.
Posted by: GnuBreed

I'm watching you.

Posted by: The Barrel at June 06, 2020 09:17 PM (DCVgi)

250 I'm partial to the Roger Moore Saint.
Get. Off. My. Lawn


Posted by: Pelosi's Filthy Fingers at June 06, 2020 09:14 PM (a1s1


All the original Saint TV episodes are available on Tubi, for free. I just finished watching them and they held up really well, very entertaining.

Posted by: Mr. Morango at June 06, 2020 09:18 PM (2N7oZ)

251
The Kilmer version sucked monkey balls, and I like ole Val a lot. The Science chick, irl, can't boil water in a lab. Good casting choice there.
Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:16 PM (Z4rgH)

On redeemable thing: Elizabeth Shue was hot.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 09:18 PM (ejsiI)

252 The Shout TV channel on Roku also has quite a few MST3K episodes. Many are also available on Youtube.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:16 PM (aKsyK)



Shout TV has a big BLM message on their site. F them.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:19 PM (fI5R4)

253 I been out cutting brush off the property line and Ole Man Stihl done knocked all the starch outta me. Just got here and over 200 comments, so I'm veering off on sumpin else. I was looking back on today's threads and read JJ from this morning, what he said about not being able to just up and leave his home and family in NYC. The emotional part where he saw the Egyptian coffee cart guy almost made me cry. I confess to never having lived in New York and it has no appeal to me, but if I did live there I would fight just as hard for it as I intend to for Texas. We morons are the people who are tasked with saving America and civilization and that means all of us morons especially the ones who are behind enemy lines. They are heroes.

Posted by: Eromero at June 06, 2020 09:19 PM (XhWtx)

254 In the words of George C. Scott,
"Turn it OFFFF!"

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:19 PM (vuisn)

255
I'll go with Roger Moore on this one.

Posted by: Gooshy at June 06, 2020 09:19 PM (DCVgi)

256 Samurai movies are better than gladiator movies

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:20 PM (6f16T)

257 On the topic of bad movies, I watched a Kim Novak movie, "The Legend of Lylah Clare". Kim Novak was hot as always, a lot of very slinky outfits, and for the first hour and 45 minutes it was actually pretty good, I was wondering why it had such a bad reputation. And then the last 15 minutes were just absolutely idiotic, so bad that they ruined everything that came before. Well, it was 1968, that was typical for a lot of movies of the era.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:20 PM (V2Yro)

258 Dolley is over here talking about the heights of kings and queens in history, and I cannot help but thinking about Napoleon talking about the heights of conquerors in Time Bandits.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:20 PM (LvTSG)

259
I watched again last night, for the first time in years, Anatomy of a Murder.

It truly is an outstanding film, especially once the trial of Lt. Manion for killing Barney Quill gets underway. I thought the judge, played by Joseph Welch of Army-McCarthy Hearings fame, was the weakest of the cast, but I can rack a good part of that up to the dialogue with which he was provided and in which I detected not a little of the condescension toward Michigan's Upper Peninsula and its residents that infests folks from below the Mackinac Bridge.

Trivia: the sole surviving main cast member from this film is Kathryn Grant, who later married Bing Crosby. Andrew Breitbart's father-in-law, Orson Bean, was the most recent main cast member to pass on. She played Barney Quill's daughter and he played the Army psychiatrist for the defense.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at June 06, 2020 09:21 PM (pNxlR)

260 257 On the topic of bad movies, I watched a Kim Novak movie, "The Legend of Lylah Clare". Kim Novak was hot as always, a lot of very slinky outfits, and for the first hour and 45 minutes it was actually pretty good, I was wondering why it had such a bad reputation. And then the last 15 minutes were just absolutely idiotic, so bad that they ruined everything that came before. Well, it was 1968, that was typical for a lot of movies of the era.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:20 PM (V2Yro)

=============

I had only known Novak from Vertigo, and then I watched her in Kiss Me, Stupid.

I was shocked to discover how hot she was.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:21 PM (LvTSG)

261 On redeemable thing: Elizabeth Shue was hot.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 09:18 PM (ejsiI)


And that is why they cast her. But all my world shattering Science discoveries are written on a series of PostIt notes too.

And dammit, I'm so smaht I forget to even number them.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:22 PM (Z4rgH)

262 209 Boy is watching Francis the talking mule for the thousandth time in the last month...
Posted by: jsg at June 06, 2020 09:05 PM (fDIwz)

What, has he been called to be a priest or something?

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:22 PM (V2Yro)

263 Hate Kingdom of Heaven. Portrays all the characters as largely non-religious. Portrays devout on each side as being crazy fanatics only. Even Bloom's character threat about destroying stuff was "All the things that drive men mad."

Fuck Ridley Scott.

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:22 PM (Z7lwY)

264 All the original Saint TV episodes are available on
Tubi, for free. I just finished watching them and they held up really
well, very entertaining.


Posted by: Mr. Morango at June 06, 2020 09:18 PM (2N7oZ)


It's an entertaining series and Roger is good in the role. Fe TV runs it on the weekend

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:23 PM (fI5R4)

265 How about "Agora"? It's on Amazon Prime right now. Very nicely done, but totally a-historical and takes the old schtick that Christianity ushered in the Dark Ages and prevented the Scientific Revolution from taking place a millennium early. It's weird how many laypeople believe that and how few historians do.

Posted by: Jim S. at June 06, 2020 09:24 PM (ynUnH)

266 207 Bet Emperor Wolf will keep the area AMC's shut down until August or September.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (6f16T)



Not like there are any movies being released yet anyways.

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:24 PM (Z7lwY)

267 Samurai movies are better than gladiator movies

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:20 PM (6f16T)


You might want to skip 47 Ronin then.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (Z4rgH)

268 Put me down as someone who prefers Hitchcock's remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much to his original. Jimmy Stewart is excellent, and Doris Day really could act. When Stewart informs her that their son has been kidnapped, it's one of the best husband and wife scenes Hitchcock ever filmed.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (Q4TGw)

269 266 207 Bet Emperor Wolf will keep the area AMC's shut down until August or September.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:04 PM (6f16T)



Not like there are any movies being released yet anyways.
Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:24 PM (Z7lwY)

========

Chris Nolan is releasing Tenet in theaters no matter what.

Analysts (whoever they are) predict that 90% of theaters will be open by mid July, when Tenet comes to theaters.

The most recent trailer made a bit of a big deal about the theater thing.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (LvTSG)

270 Welp, History Channel just did the piano-music BLM promo thing.

Off to Roku and Rifftrax.

Posted by: filbert at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (NiXyF)

271 Actually, I watched Rebecca earlier today.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:08 PM (LvTSG)

I love Rebecca: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

I love everything about it. George Sanders at his unctuous best

Posted by: browndog at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (BgMrQ)

272 Anyone else have a soft spot for Romy and Michele or is just me? I think it's a funny movie and I am pretty selective about comedy.

Posted by: ... at June 06, 2020 09:26 PM (gZ6M8)

273 And that is why they cast her. But all my world shattering Science discoveries are written on a series of PostIt notes too.

And dammit, I'm so smaht I forget to even number them.
Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:22 PM (Z4rgH)

Hey now, I will have you know my greatest ideas ever have wound up on Post-It notes. In my office, I treat Post-It notes like cigarettes in jail.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 09:26 PM (ejsiI)

274 Bride of Frankenstein is mentioned upthread.

I recently picked up at WalMart, cheap, a six movie collection of the original Universal Pictures monster movies.

Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Invisible Man, and The Mummy.

These movies were a passion of mine as a kid, and I've been thoroughly enjoying revisiting them.

Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (l3+k2)

275 I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...

the best I can do is "And God Created Woman," directed by schlockmeister Roger Vadim, & starring his teenage girlfriend... some kid named Brigitte Bardot.

Guess what I liked?




Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (Cssks)

276 Romy and Michele is pretty funny. Mira Sorvino is an Italian doll.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (DY3v8)

277 276 Romy and Michele is pretty funny. Mira Sorvino is an Italian doll.
Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (DY3v

===========

"She's...difficult."
-Harvey Weinstein

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:28 PM (LvTSG)

278 I did see 47 Ronin, yeah wasn't that good.

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:28 PM (6f16T)

279 275 I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...

I actually liked Ishtar when it first came on cable.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:28 PM (vuisn)

280
I love Rebecca: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.



I love everything about it. George Sanders at his unctuous best

Posted by: browndog at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (BgMrQ)


He was very good as a cad

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:29 PM (fI5R4)

281 I think one of my favorites bad movies is The Fifth Element.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 09:29 PM (d1uFV)

282 278 I did see 47 Ronin, yeah wasn't that good.
Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:28 PM (6f16T)

===========

My digital copy of Touch of Evil that came with the disc ended up being a digital copy of 47 Ronin for some reason.

So, I own it. It is not good.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:29 PM (LvTSG)

283 I just finished a movie.. It was ..meh. BUT I did watch a good one the other night called The Vast of Night. Excellent!

Posted by: Jewells45 at June 06, 2020 09:29 PM (dUJdY)

284 Also, Pluto TV has an MST channel. they play the same ones over and over again for a while, but they occasionally update, kind of on a monthly basis, it seems.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Got Bad Knees, so GFY

Comet and IFC on cable also run a few episodes each week. Comet has a very limited library and reruns the same ones. But, hey, EEgah!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:29 PM (VNfwt)

285 In my office, I treat Post-It notes like cigarettes in jail.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at June 06, 2020 09:26 PM (ejsiI)


But the paper hit is atrocious. Bible pages work better as rolling papers.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (Z4rgH)

286 >>>I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...


Showgirls. Guess why I like it.

Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (l3+k2)

287
272 Anyone else have a soft spot for Romy and Michele or is just me? I think it's a funny movie and I am pretty selective about comedy.
Posted by: ... at June 06, 2020 09:26 PM (gZ6M


I think it is hilarious, but Michelle's dream sequence was the weakest part of the story. For as much as she became a complete and obnoxious leftist shrew shortly afterward, Janine Garafalo was perfect as the bitingly sarcastic classmate.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (pNxlR)

288 286 >>>I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...


Showgirls. Guess why I like it.
Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (l3+k2)

=========

The grounded, realistic performances?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:31 PM (LvTSG)

289 I liked Sanders better as the good guy in Foreign Correspondant. He has a likeable face.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at June 06, 2020 09:31 PM (Q4TGw)

290 How about "Agora"? It's on Amazon Prime right now. Very nicely done, but totally a-historical and takes the old schtick that Christianity ushered in the Dark Ages and prevented the Scientific Revolution from taking place a millennium early. It's weird how many laypeople believe that and how few historians do.

Posted by: Jim S. at June 06, 2020 09:24 PM (ynUnH)



Rachel Weisz naked, albeit, not very romantically.

*touches nose*

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 09:31 PM (yQpMk)

291
Showgirls. Guess why I like it.
Posted by: davidt


It shows, uh ... I'll get it, uh ... girls?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (pNxlR)

292 I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked..

Is Starship Troopers bad? Because I watch it every time I stumble across it.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (VNfwt)

293 243
Close tag in the nic ftw! Suck it, barrel.
Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2020 09:13 PM (Z4rgH)



Cheater.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 06, 2020 09:15 PM (EGyGV)

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

Some folks just don't get the thrill of commenting without a net.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (CAJOC)

294
Shout TV has a big BLM message on their site. F them.
Posted by: TheQuietMan


I'm not getting that message when I go to Shout TV.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (aKsyK)

295 286 >>>I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...


Showgirls. Guess why I like it.


Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (l3+k2)



Bound is better.

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (Z7lwY)

296 Haven't seen Alexander, and don't intend to. I take it that "the Indian battle" is the Malian siege, as Alexander wasn't wounded at Hydaspes. (Arrian's Alexander is one of the few land war books I really studied, along with other.)

I will give it this much: It's a good touch that Ptolemy is the narrator, as his lost history is the source for Arrian.

Posted by: Eeyore at June 06, 2020 09:33 PM (ZbwAu)

297 Roku has a sci-fi channel, and during they play episodes of the short-lived Canadian detective/vampire thing called Blood Ties.

I only say this because the 2007 version of Christina Cox is extremely hot, especially when she wears her pr0n-librarian glasses.



Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop at June 06, 2020 09:33 PM (ufFY8)

298 I love how all of these guys are so clean-shaven like Neo in the Matrix Trilogy.

"My shaver has 6 blades, bitches!" said Alexander the Babyface.

Posted by: Fritz at June 06, 2020 09:33 PM (95j/9)

299 I've been doing a Roy Scheider film festival lately. Just saw The Seven-Ups last night. This week I've also watched 52 Pickup, Sorcerer, and 2010. The French Connection is tonight, with Marathon Man on deck for tomorrow.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at June 06, 2020 09:34 PM (Q4TGw)

300 296 Haven't seen Alexander, and don't intend to. I take it that "the Indian battle" is the Malian siege, as Alexander wasn't wounded at Hydaspes. (Arrian's Alexander is one of the few land war books I really studied, along with other.)

I will give it this much: It's a good touch that Ptolemy is the narrator, as his lost history is the source for Arrian.

Posted by: Eeyore at June 06, 2020 09:33 PM (ZbwAu)



All I know is from some other review I watched where he criticized it for taking place in a jungle. The "Indian" battles I believe took place in what is modern Pakistan, not jungles.

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (Z7lwY)

301 Anatomy of a Murder is a great flick. Lee Remick was so lovely it hurt, Jimmy Stewart was excellent, and George C. Scott was perfect as the hard-nosed "pro from dover" prosecutor from out of town.

Posted by: eastofsuez at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (U2zca)

302 The battle between Achilles and Hector in Troy is fun.

Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (l3+k2)

303 272 Anyone else have a soft spot for Romy and Michele or is just me? I think it's a funny movie and I am pretty selective about comedy.
Posted by: ... at June 06, 2020 09:26 PM (gZ6M

I love that movie - it's the story of my younger sister and her best friend, and they both did grow up in the 80's. So when I watch that movie, I keep thinking "oh yeah I remember when that happened."

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (V2Yro)

304 300
All I know is from some other review I watched where he criticized it for taking place in a jungle. The "Indian" battles I believe took place in what is modern Pakistan, not jungles.
Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (Z7lwY)

==========

Cause if there's one thing to complain about in Alexander, it's that they filmed the Indian battle (which is an amalgamation of a couple of battles) in a jungle.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:36 PM (LvTSG)

305 From now on it is decreed.....
One may not eat strawberries unless one puts a Twinkie underneath them.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 06, 2020 09:36 PM (myjNJ)

306 >>Shout TV has a big BLM message on their site. F them.


Xfinty did that with its search function. Amazon, too.

The corporate nudging isn't even subtle.
Two weeks ago its they were pushing media to cope with staying home, and the with the snap of some exec's fingers, they're pushing BLM fare.

Gosh, it's almost as if they're admitting their media is propaganda/designed to instill proper groupthink?

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 09:36 PM (bDqIh)

307 I'm not getting that message when I go to Shout TV.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (aKsyK)


Shout Factory TV has one.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM (fI5R4)

308 Buddy of mine in Florida worked on that Seaquest show that Roy Scheider was in. Said he was a total SOB to work with.
Then again, I probably couldn't blame the guy.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM (vuisn)

309 I will fight anyone who thinks Troy was fine, great looking movie, screwed up the whole story.

Posted by: Mommyelf at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM (+fQnn)

310 So I took a break from the thread to walk the dogs. I saw something that upset me and I don't know what to think.

Just down the block, a family has a son who is a local police officer. As I was walking by, he pulled his squad car in the driveway, as I've seen him do a thousand time before. He was opening the garage door when a small shit-box car pulled up to the curb and stopped. In the car were two white millenials fems and a young black male driver. The white passenger appeared to be texting information furiously about the address. The cop was staring at them wondering what was going on. As he approached the car it drove off.

I'm a little worried that the Antifas will be in the neighborhood tonight.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM (VNfwt)

311 302
The battle between Achilles and Hector in Troy is fun.


Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (l3+k2)

If I recall, Achilles was an arrogant asshoe in that film.
lol

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (ufFY8)

312 Craig's Bond is probably the closest to Connery's..
There was a rough, almost sadistic nature to Connery's Bond that Craig seems to possess as well.
And a thrill of the chase.. both seem to get off on it..

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (CjFDo)

313
I liked Sanders better as the good guy in Foreign Correspondant. He has a likeable face.
Posted by: Rusty Nail


You don't usually think of Edmund Gwenn as an assassin.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (aKsyK)

314 Oliver Stone has proven he can write very well and make a compelling movie, I just think he picked all the wrong things to focus on and tell the story about in his Alexander movie.

While probably it stands for everything he hates, he should have used the excellent novel Pressfield wrote (Virtues of War) as the outline for the story. It does such a good job covering a very long story very fast with the main important parts hit and a great theme of examining why Alexander and his troops were so effective and why it all stumbled and fell apart.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (KZzsI)

315 Chris Nolan is releasing Tenet in theaters no matter what.



Analysts (whoever they are) predict that 90% of theaters will be open by mid July, when Tenet comes to theaters.



The most recent trailer made a bit of a big deal about the theater thing.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:25 PM (LvTSG)

I'm hoping it's good.


Pluto does have channels where they play the same shows, like the older Dr Who episodes, on replay. Somehow Comet shows more scifi than it's misnamed competitor.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (o+S+U)

316 Yep http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/

Not really surprised, half the MST3K cast is liberal, especially Joel and Frank Coniff

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (d1uFV)

317 On Oliver Stone

The first time I saw Platoon I was blow away. I know lots of vets hate the film. The thing is, I don't go to the theater for a history lesson.

My two biggest complaints about the film?

Turning Barnes into a cold blooded murderer. There is no true villain in the plot until the point when Barnes murders Elias. And by doing so Stone forces viewers to side with the antiwar Elias camp.

The other is a bit more subtle.

Stone divides the platoon into two groups: the cool kids camp and the dull white boy camp.

The cool kids are all purple heart recipients, they've a cool, semi dark clubhouse with christmas lights, soul music and Grace Slick and hammocks and reefer.

The dullards live in a stuffy, sweaty, brightly lit tent-room sleeping on hard cots, drinking warm Bud and listening to country music (and one guy has tiny religious altar).

One of the best scenes in film history is when a very drunk Barnes stumbles into the "heads" clubhouse and waxes insolent.

Drop the Barnes murder and the film gets more interesting. Even half the black dudes know that following Barnes is their best chance at survival.

Posted by: 13times at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (K3B2k)

318 275 I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...


Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (Cssks)

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

I liked The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which I'm reliable told is a bad movie.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at June 06, 2020 09:39 PM (CAJOC)

319 Stone has a show on netflix, the real history of the world or some such horseshit. He puts Alex Jones to shame as far as out there conspiracies. Oh, and I watched the show Conspiracies too. What a laugh. My alien brothers are safe.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at June 06, 2020 09:39 PM (iymtC)

320 308 Buddy of mine in Florida worked on that Seaquest show that Roy Scheider was in. Said he was a total SOB to work with.
Then again, I probably couldn't blame the guy.
Posted by: Dr. Varno


I loved that show. Scheider was great in that role. I really wish they hadn't jacked it up with the really out there sci-fi.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 06, 2020 09:39 PM (myjNJ)

321 Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Invisible Man, and The Mummy.

These movies were a passion of mine as a kid, and I've been thoroughly enjoying revisiting them.
Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:27 PM (l3+k2)

1970's - box of dry cereal to crunch on with my cousin. Sleep over. Creature Feature!

Posted by: cicero kaboomerang kid at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (Vy7tf)

322 314 Oliver Stone has proven he can write very well and make a compelling movie, I just think he picked all the wrong things to focus on and tell the story about in his Alexander movie.

While probably it stands for everything he hates, he should have used the excellent novel Pressfield wrote (Virtues of War) as the outline for the story. It does such a good job covering a very long story very fast with the main important parts hit and a great theme of examining why Alexander and his troops were so effective and why it all stumbled and fell apart.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (KZzsI)

===========

I think a 3 hour movie about the Asian campaign could have been great, but trying to capture so much of Alexander's childhood and pointing arrows between events in the two timelines was both too simplistic and too much at the same time.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (LvTSG)

323
Shout Factory TV has one.
Posted by: TheQuietMan


I just went there and started watching a MST3K ep and got no such message.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (aKsyK)

324 I'm a little worried that the Antifas will be in the neighborhood tonight.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM (VNfwt)

Did you get the car plate? Do your or any of your neighbors have cameras that would catch the info. Using that info, you can track them down.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (o+S+U)

325 TJM, thank you for your literate, incisive review of Alexander. I enjoy reading good criticism and yours is always top drawer.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (kVr0X)

326
298 I love how all of these guys are so clean-shaven like Neo in the Matrix Trilogy.

"My shaver has 6 blades, bitches!" said Alexander the Babyface.


Posted by: Fritz at June 06, 2020 09:33 PM (95j/9)



The Alexander mosaic in Pompeii is him clean shaven with rockin' sideburns. Almost every single antiquity image of him you can find is clean shaven. Perhaps meant to indicate his youth and early death?

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (Z7lwY)

327 I found Troy really dull and slow, which is incredible given the tale. I think leaving out the gods made it stale.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (KZzsI)

328 Saw Platoon 1st early showing day, came out and line was around the theater

Posted by: Skip at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (6f16T)

329 Scheider and Spielberg did not get on while filming Jaws. Spielberg never worked with him again.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (Q4TGw)

330 317 One of the best scenes in film history is when a very drunk Barnes stumbles into the "heads" clubhouse and waxes insolent.

Drop the Barnes murder and the film gets more interesting. Even half the black dudes know that following Barnes is their best chance at survival.
Posted by: 13times at June 06, 2020 09:38 PM (K3B2k)

===========

I've always seen Platoon as the comic book version of the Vietnam War, not serious cinema.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (LvTSG)

331 I'm a little worried that the Antifas will be in the neighborhood tonight.

That's scary. Bet that cop doesn't sleep very well tonight.

Posted by: Jewells45 at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (dUJdY)

332 >>I'm a little worried that the Antifas will be in the neighborhood tonight.


That is bad, really bad.
Antifa has harassed Andy Ngo at his home, threatened his family, tried to break in in the middle of the night.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (bDqIh)

333 312 Craig's Bond is probably the closest to Connery's.

Craig's Bond is the closest to Fleming's.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (vuisn)

334 Just saw The Seven-Ups last night.
Posted by: Rusty Nail at June 06, 2020 09:34 PM (Q4TGw)
~~~~~

The big chase scene for that was filmed in my old neighborhood. It's so funny to watch if you know the area because they used one stretch of 96th Street, between Amsterdam Ave. and Broadway and filmed it from about six different angles. So, it looks like the chase goes on for a mile, but they never get off the one block.

Posted by: IrishEi at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (sGotD)

335 325 TJM, thank you for your literate, incisive review of Alexander. I enjoy reading good criticism and yours is always top drawer.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (kVr0X)

===========

Thank you very much.

I got my hair cut today, so I think the Youtube stuff is coming soon.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (LvTSG)

336 Ok name your favorite Lee Marvin roll that would.have been better with James Coburn. Definently paint your wagon

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at June 06, 2020 09:41 PM (9dzlp)

337 Did you get the car plate? Do your or any of your neighbors have cameras that would catch the info. Using that info, you can track them down.
Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre

I did not get the tag, but we have a very healthy Ring doorbell community here. Why, we've even got a bobcat in the neighborhood!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:42 PM (VNfwt)

338 295 286 >>>I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked...
Showgirls. Guess why I like it.
Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:30 PM (l3+k2)
Bound is better.
Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:32 PM (Z7lwY)

One of my favorite "Bad Movies" is The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) Probably one of the most racist movies I can think of, full of talk about how the white Europeans are all naturally superior to the devolved orientals. Bad acting too, EXCEPT for the two Big Stars who got roped into this, Boris Karloff and Myrna Loy, playing Fu Manchu and his sex starved evil daughter. This is Myrna Loy's sexiest, steamiest movie by FAR and it's worth watching just for that.

So what makes it fun is those two seem to have recognized it was an awful script, and they look like they're having a competition with each other to see who can overact the most outrageously in each scene they're in. It's like they're winking at each other and saying "hey, get a load of this!" And when you key into that aspect of this movie, it gets absolutely hilarious.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 06, 2020 09:42 PM (V2Yro)

339 I loved that show. Scheider was great in that role. I really wish they hadn't jacked it up with the really out there sci-fi.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 06, 2020 09:39 PM (myjNJ)

I never cared for it. It was too.....squishy. I don't know how to describe it.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 09:42 PM (o+S+U)

340 ONT

Posted by: hogmartin at June 06, 2020 09:43 PM (t+qrx)

341 304 300
All I know is from some other review I watched where he criticized it for taking place in a jungle. The "Indian" battles I believe took place in what is modern Pakistan, not jungles.
Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:35 PM (Z7lwY)

==========

Cause if there's one thing to complain about in Alexander, it's that they filmed the Indian battle (which is an amalgamation of a couple of battles) in a jungle.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 09:36 PM (LvTSG)



Oh he criticized more than that. About the only thing he seemed happy about was that they took the "brave" position of portraying Alexander as bisexual and how dare that potentially damage its box office receipts.

https://youtu.be/DzHQuAz0N60

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 09:44 PM (Z7lwY)

342
I did not get the tag, but we have a very
healthy Ring doorbell community here. Why, we've even got a bobcat in
the neighborhood!

Posted by: Blutarski

.........
Ring is worthless for that kind of stuff..
Most people have scrunched the viewing area to just right in fron of their door so as not to be bothered every time a car goes down the street.
It doesn't pick up license plates anyway.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 06, 2020 09:44 PM (CjFDo)

343 >>>I liked The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which I'm reliable told is a bad movie.

The movie that forced Connery into retirement.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:44 PM (vuisn)

344 I did not get the tag, but we have a very healthy
Ring doorbell community here. Why, we've even got a bobcat in the
neighborhood!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:42 PM (VNfwt)

Might as well use Big Brother to your advantage. The cops probably have a deal with Amazon to request images from the cameras. Might want to talk with the cop and let him know they can find out who it is.


Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 09:45 PM (o+S+U)

345 Blutarski. From WZ. Cop followed home. IPad not letting me Bitly or tinyurl. Go to Weasel Zippers and scroll down a bit.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM (JVgnl)

346 259
I watched again last night, for the first time in years, Anatomy of a Murder.
It truly is an outstanding film.....

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at June 06, 2020 09:21 PM (pNxlR)
----------------------------------
Several years ago on a family vacation, we were staying in a mountain cabin that had a VCR and a bunch of tapes. Two of the movies we watched were Anatomy of a Murder and The Days of Wine and Roses. We saw DWR first.

After seeing AofM a day later, a couple of my kids didn't believe it was the same actress as in DWR. And it's not as if the make-up/costuming/hair was so different.

Lee Remick was very good.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM (M/9m0)

347 I just went there and started watching a MST3K ep and got no such message.



Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 06, 2020 09:40 PM (aKsyK)


It's there when I go there. They are fighting the scourge of racism and will donate a portion of this month's sales to organizations fighting social injustice and inequality. It's on the top half of the page. If you scroll through the 10 slides that's one of them

Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM (fI5R4)

348 If that cop is at all competent, he got that license plate number.

Posted by: davidt at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM (l3+k2)

349 The movie that forced Connery into retirement.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 06, 2020 09:44 PM (vuisn)

Connery had turned down a chance to be in some movie that turned into a blockbuster because he didn't understand it. He took TLoEG even though he didn't understand it.

The idea wasn't bad. It simply did work as a film. Plus, they had to shoot Connery doing action so you couldn't tell it wasn't Connery. Plus the CGI was horrible.

Posted by: WOPR - Looking for Filthy Lucre at June 06, 2020 09:48 PM (o+S+U)

350 I'm a little worried that the Antifas will be in the neighborhood tonight.

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:37 PM


I've got two cops here, equidistant three houses down in each direction from my house. And I've got a Gadsen flag on the pole out front below the U.S. flag. Why yes, there are multiple firearms in access, lol.

Posted by: Bert G, new CW2 podisode at June 06, 2020 09:48 PM (OMsf+)

351 The Pushover with Fred MacMurry was her first big one. Pretty good. It was her first major pic.

I fell in love with her and women when I saw Picnic.

Posted by: Braenyard at June 06, 2020 09:48 PM (Fk2WS)

352 Blutarski. From WZ. Cop followed home. IPad not letting me Bitly or tinyurl. Go to Weasel Zippers and scroll down a bit.



Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM


Here's the link: https://tinyurl.com/y8axvgo7

Posted by: Bert G, new CW2 podisode at June 06, 2020 09:49 PM (OMsf+)

353 Blutarski. From WZ. Cop followed home. IPad not letting me Bitly or tinyurl. Go to Weasel Zippers and scroll down a bit.
Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine

Thank you!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:49 PM (VNfwt)

354 Blutarski. From WZ. Cop followed home. IPad not letting me Bitly or tinyurl. Go to Weasel Zippers and scroll down a bit.
Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 06, 2020 09:47 PM (JVgnl)


https://tinyurl.com/y8axvgo7

Posted by: hogmartin at June 06, 2020 09:50 PM (t+qrx)

355 I like how they threw Molotov cocktails and they're described as Protesters. Okay, then!

Posted by: Blutarski at June 06, 2020 09:50 PM (VNfwt)

356 44 -- Two actors saved Troy from being a total wash -- Sean Bean and Brian Cox. Sadly, not even Peter O'Toole was able to help save that piece of dreck.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- current occupation: cat furniture at June 06, 2020 09:51 PM (Fqz1z)

357 >>>I'm trying to think of a genuinely BAD movie that I actually liked..<<<

The English Patient

Dear G_d, forgive me.

Posted by: Fritz at June 06, 2020 09:52 PM (95j/9)

358 Braveheart was an awesome movie, and if any of you morons haven't seen it, you must seek it out.

I credit that one movie with sparking a consuming interest in me for English history, then European history, then Roman history, then Greece and Persia, Egypt, ad infinitum. Hundreds of books later the development of Western civilization is still one of my main reading time passions. It was that silly movie that started it.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2020 09:52 PM (kVr0X)

359 I did enjoy Walk Hard quite a bit, though. John C Reilly is consistently entertaining and he was great in that role.

I liked The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which I'm reliable told is a bad movie

I liked it okay but compared to the graphic novel its based on its weak.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:52 PM (KZzsI)

360 I love that to portray a man with one of the most famous profiles ever minted, they chose a snub-nosed Irishman.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Michigangsta at June 06, 2020 08:00 PM (Dc2NZ)


To be honest, they forgot his horns, too.

Posted by: Kindltot at June 06, 2020 09:52 PM (WyVLE)

361 We are watching Dr/ Zhivago tonight. All about a civilized society taken over by commies.
Sound familiar?

Posted by: PJ at June 06, 2020 09:52 PM (qlTN9)

362 "Mask of Fu Manchu" is tremendous fun and one of Karloff's best role.

I saw it for the first time about three weeks ago.

Loved the bell torture.

It captures the earliest Fu Manchu books really well.

Not to be taken seriously.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 06, 2020 09:54 PM (rTZNj)

363 Not worried about Antifa/BLM where I live, because they'd got lost, & I don't imagine they have much tolerance for delayed gratification. Just a guess.

I dunno if I mentioned this the last time there was a movie thread, or not, but anyway...

"Reversal of Fortune" blew my socks off. Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bulow, & Ron Silver as Alan Dershowitz. A fascinating film about a famous case ON APPEAL is counterintuitive, but... it worked.

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:54 PM (Cssks)

364 Who would have been a great Alexander?


---
Mark Wahlberg

Posted by: Lemmiwinks at June 06, 2020 09:55 PM (h1jJh)

365 I've always seen Platoon as the comic book version of the Vietnam War, not serious cinema.

Its entertaining but like almost all of Stone's work, too heavy handed to make the point. There's a book out there called Brennan's War I would love to see done as a series Band of Brothers style. Vietnam from the POV of a Forward Observer for artillery, for multiple years of service. Early in the war to late, how the soldiers and culture, attitudes etc changed.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:56 PM (KZzsI)

366 The first time I saw Platoon I was blow away. I know lots of vets hate the film. The thing is, I don't go to the theater for a history lesson.



Everyone is too old for the roles.

Oliver Stone getting blown up was the highlight of the movie.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at June 06, 2020 09:56 PM (yQpMk)

367 I have no idea but I always took the use of the phrase "pros from Dover" as a dark reference to the fact that Dover AFB is the largest military mortuary and the Doctors there don't exactly work with live subjects.

I assume it's used in a broad context today and maybe then, IDK


Posted by: REDACTED at June 06, 2020 09:57 PM (JgrP5)

368 Who would have been a great Alexander?

Anthony Quinn

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 06, 2020 09:59 PM (KZzsI)

369 357 Fritz

That was another film I think people were afraid to admit they disliked.

Btw, I certainly did. WTF was that? I read the book too. YAWN!

Posted by: mnw at June 06, 2020 09:59 PM (Cssks)

370

Brian Cox only makes films better.

@TJM A comic book adaptation of Vietnam is what makes the film enjoyable. Great cinema gets me into the theater. Serious cinema? Not so much.

Posted by: 13times at June 06, 2020 10:00 PM (K3B2k)

371 I can feel the air going out of the riots

sorry , protests :O

Posted by: REDACTED at June 06, 2020 10:04 PM (JgrP5)

372 The first time I saw Platoon I was blow away. I know lots of vets hate the film. The thing is, I don't go to the theater for a history lesson.
------

Number me among those who intensely disliked it.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 10:05 PM (l0Lgi)

373 We are watching Dr/ Zhivago tonight. All about a civilized society taken over by commies.
Sound familiar?
Posted by: PJ
-------

A fine film.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 10:07 PM (l0Lgi)

374 373 We are watching Dr/ Zhivago tonight. All about a civilized society taken over by commies.
Sound familiar?
Posted by: PJ
-------

A fine film.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at June 06, 2020 10:07 PM (l0Lgi)

--------

Obi Wan Kenobi is in it!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2020 10:10 PM (kVr0X)

375 Eric Bana was good in Troy as the tormented Hector.

Posted by: Jmel at June 06, 2020 10:11 PM (OeWgo)

376 Thanks for the Quarantine Kids. That is the cutest family. Loved theGranny joke.

Posted by: Tuna at June 06, 2020 10:13 PM (gLRfa)

377 ONT has been up for weeks.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2020 10:13 PM (kVr0X)

378 @376

Oops. Wrong thread.

Posted by: Tuna at June 06, 2020 10:14 PM (gLRfa)

379 @377

I know. You'd think I've been around here long enough to know which thread I'm posting on.

Posted by: Tuna at June 06, 2020 10:15 PM (gLRfa)

380 I've never seen the man who knew too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the man who knew too little.

Posted by: Downcast at June 06, 2020 10:26 PM (xgpfE)

381 @318 --

I watched LoEG a couple of weeks ago. Even accepting that it would be completely different from the comics, I thought it was like a scratched CD. Choppy flow.

I feel for movie critics. They have to waste hours on so much drek.

Posted by: Weak Geek at June 06, 2020 11:05 PM (u/nim)

382 I feel for movie critics. They have to waste hours on so much drek.

Posted by: Weak Geek at June 06, 2020 11:05 PM (u/nim)



They get paid for it.

Posted by: buzzion at June 06, 2020 11:10 PM (Z7lwY)

383 @367 --

I only saw the phrase "pros from Dover" in the novel "M*A*S*H." Hawkeye and Trapper were summoned to Japan on an emergency case. They brought their golf clubs along to use the base's course.

Posted by: Weak Geek at June 06, 2020 11:16 PM (u/nim)

384 Fuqua's Arthur is one of my favorite movies of all time. The weaponry was fearsome and it showed how each battle-hardened warrior had his individual style and gear. The scene on the ice was incredible. It was a fascinating time in history and each character was nicely developed.

Posted by: tforeman88 at June 06, 2020 11:42 PM (D8IHO)

385 How do we feel about coincidences?

I watched Oliver Stone's JFK YESTERDAY on a whim for the first time ever, then realized I had seen other Stone flicks like a decade ago.

Afterwards I read a bit about Alexander and a few other Stone projects and moved on.

I've only been back on AOS for about a week after years and years of absence.

This being the 3rd or 4th day that I'm reading every post more or less.

So within only the span of about 2 days, I read about Alexander and Oliver Stone and then a long post about Oliver Stone pops up on the ONLY blog I read about a movie I was specifically curious about.

Some folks say they don't believe in coincidence but I don't know what meaning to take away from things like this. Happens in my life all the time. Weekly if not daily.

I genuinely don't see how it could be a misperception ego thing. I don't read about more than a topic or two in a day.

Things like this are strange to me. I know no one will really care but I am curious on people's feelings on coincidences in general.

Posted by: Rorschach at June 06, 2020 11:57 PM (gqvXZ)

386 Things like this are strange to me. I know no one will really care but I am curious on people's feelings on coincidences in general.
Posted by: Rorschach at June 06, 2020 11:57 PM (gqvXZ)

I was just thinking of the Police song "Synchronicity".

but the fact that the Impeachment scam started as soon as the Mueller scam fell apart, and then the Wuhan Scare started just as impeachment fell apart, and then the Passion of St. George started just as the WuFlu scare fell apart - yeah, that really is all just one big coincidence.

okay, a long continuing series of incredibly well timed coincidences. Nothing to see here, move along, folks.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 07, 2020 12:26 AM (V2Yro)

387 So James, you and I are about the same age and both apparently AOS addicts. Your taste in cinema is maybe about the worst it can be. I want to agree with your fever dreams of what film should be but I just can't do it. Stop overthinking everything and wanting to be like the "real" critics with your head stuck up your ass and just go with your gut. Like it or not it doesn't take much to figure out.

Posted by: Fletch at June 07, 2020 12:30 AM (xhwIo)

388 Tommy doesn't know what day it is.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 07, 2020 12:52 AM (vuisn)

389 36
His Bob Dylan number is my favorite.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting terrorist in Nakatomi Tower at June 06, 2020 08:07 PM (LvTSG)

-------

Indeed... but this one is apropos at the moment... "I stand, yes I do, for the Christ-killin' Jew..."

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

--

Let's Duet....I was playing the soundtrack one day while my mother-in-law was visiting. She's from Texas, so she was grooving. But when she heard the opening lyric ("In my dreams you're blowin' me......some kisses), she just about had a heart attack.

Posted by: Democrat Governor at June 07, 2020 02:03 AM (HEiLh)

390 'Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was great' - As a devoted of fan of O'brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels I have to say the movie was horrible. Yes the sea scenes were done well but the movie, title included was a mashup of several of his novels. The Captain was played fairly well but Maturin as completely mis-cast.

Posted by: JimH at June 07, 2020 07:37 AM (NzURT)

391 Movies ?
Really who needs them anymore

Posted by: Kurt at June 07, 2020 10:38 AM (+55Gx)

392 For another movie thread:
"The Ace of Spades"
https://tinyurl.com/yd47ldy5

Posted by: Born Free at June 07, 2020 09:34 PM (MbVc0)

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