What DVD / Video did you watch last night? (pt3)

[DotCommunist]

yeah but I thought that his inability to do it reflected not his shortcomings as an actor but more like true to the character who despite all the showman pussy-conqueror stuff is really emotionally stunted.

like I say I still can't work out if the overall 'falseness' was intentional or not. Will have to re watch.

 

[butchersapron]

Roger that. I also liked "La Guerre Est Finie", which deals with similar themes, though set a bit earlier.

]

Yes, a very good film -Jorge Semprun wrote some top class films. You mention state of siege earlier, he wrote Z for CG (who is now making utter trash)

 

[Idris2002]

yeah but I thought that his inability to do it reflected not his shortcomings as an actor but more like true to the character who despite all the showman pussy-conqueror stuff is really emotionally stunted.

like I say I still can't work out if the overall 'falseness' was intentional or not. Will have to re watch.

Yes, well, I didn't think "this is a bravura portrayal of an emotionally stunted person", I thought it was a talentless drone playing himself.

Yes, a very good film -Jorge Semprun wrote some top class films. You mention state of siege earlier, he wrote Z for CG (who is now making utter trash)

I still haven't seen Z. My Da had the soundtrack album - he'd ended up in Greece a couple of days before the coup, after thumbing his way down Italy.

 

[Fez909]

Seen a few decent films lately.

Last night was Miller's Crossing. Really enjoyed that, but think it needs another viewing as there were parts I was confused due to the pacey dialogue and forgetting who was who.

Night before I saw Dredd and again, really enjoyed it. The special effects for the drug scenes were really well done, and I liked the lack of an origin story. I learned that it didn't do so well at the cinema so there won't be any sequels, which is a shame. One of the best comic book films I've seen.

I can't remember what I saw before that but it was also good. Netflix won't let me look at my history.

 

[butchersapron]

Yes, well, I didn't think "this is a bravura portrayal of an emotionally stunted person", I thought it was a talentless drone playing himself.

I still haven't seen Z. My Da had the soundtrack album - he'd ended up in Greece a couple of days before the coup, after thumbing his way down Italy.

I command you to watch it ASAP. As important as Battle of Algiers.

 

[Idris2002]

I command you to watch it ASAP.

 

[Part 2]

After watching Night of the Demon last night the young un and I watched the remake, or Sam Raimi's Drag me to Hell if you like.

I've seen it before but thought it had the right balance of horror, jumps and daftness to ensure the lad doesn't have nightmares, which his mum said I'll have to get up to if he does. He was either pissing himself laughing or doing running commentary predictions for much of the film so I reckon I should be in for a peaceful night. Not so his mum who went to bed because it was scaring her just listening to it.

 

[Orang Utan]

The Passion Of Ayn Rand - dreadful tv biopic about a vile person and the vile people who hang around her.
Helen Mirren hams it up with a Russian accent like Sesame Street's The Count: "I haff feeneeshed the book".
Eric Stoltz plays a shit.
Peter Fonda plays a fuckwit.

 

[trabuquera]

I watched an Uwe Boll movie* .... and I liked it

* Without meaning to, obviously - it was only when the credits rolled that I realised what I'd been consuming.

In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds ... a very weird hybrid bargain-basement chimera which apparently emerges from the melding of gory medieval-based wargaming and Dolph Lundgren playing a US Special Forces veteran, sent back in time to, um, kill a dragon and fulfill a prophecy and save some medieval villagers from their weak yet villainous king, or something. It sounds dire (and it mostly is dire) but there is a surprising amount of self-awareness in the script and acting, with plenty of sarky one-liners about 'all this medieval shit' and how the past's never as nice as people imagine it. Dolph and many of the other actors smirk knowingly through much of the action - it's like post-modernism pulp most of the time. Far from getting off on the armour and swordplay Dolph's hardman character just grumps about looking grumpy, and when asked what is most amazing about the future world he comes from, answers instantly: "antibiotics"

Very definitely trash to pass the time with, rather than anything better, but honestly I was pleasantly surprised by it being not-torture-to-watch and having the odd random spark between its ears.

 

[Idris2002]

The Passion Of Ayn Rand - dreadful tv biopic about a vile person and the vile people who hang around her.
Helen Mirren hams it up with a Russian accent like Sesame Street's The Count: "I haff feeneeshed the book".
Eric Stoltz plays a shit.
Peter Fonda plays a fuckwit.

"Special Guest Appearance - Peter Fonda as Himself".

I've no idea if this Fonda fellow (any relation?) is a fuckwit in real life, it just seemed to be the way the thread was going.

What did you honestly expect when you watched a film about Ayn Rand, btw?

 

[DotCommunist]

I would rather gouge out my own eyes

 

[Orang Utan]

"Special Guest Appearance - Peter Fonda as Himself".

I've no idea if this Fonda fellow (any relation?) is a fuckwit in real life, it just seemed to be the way the thread was going.

What did you honestly expect when you watched a film about Ayn Rand, btw?

He doesn't play himself. He plays Mr Rand.
Any relation to who? Apart from the other Fondas?
I bought it in a job lot with some better DVDs from a sale at a squatted art gallery

 

[Idris2002]

I would rather gouge out my own eyes

I would rather gouge out Ayn Rand's eyes.

 

[white rabbit]

I would rather gouge out Ayn Rand's eyes.

The worms have done that for you.

 

[Idris2002]

The worms have done that for you.

Thus was I cheated of my vengeance.

 

[white rabbit]

Seen a few decent films lately.

Last night was Miller's Crossing. Really enjoyed that, but think it needs another viewing as there were parts I was confused due to the pacey dialogue and forgetting who was who.

Night before I saw Dredd and again, really enjoyed it. The special effects for the drug scenes were really well done, and I liked the lack of an origin story. I learned that it didn't do so well at the cinema so there won't be any sequels, which is a shame. One of the best comic book films I've seen.

I can't remember what I saw before that but it was also good. Netflix won't let me look at my history.

I like Miller's Crossing. The Coens can do really intricate plotting rather well. There are probably half a dozen characters in the story and none of them know fully what's going on, so they act on their partial information (Blood Simple is similar in that respect). Leo thinks Tom's gone over to Caspar's crew, and doesn't know that Mink shot Rug Daniels. Caspar thinks Bernie is dead in the woods. The Dane thinks Tom is still with Leo and he's protecting Bernie for the sake of Verna. I'm not sure it amounts to much in the end, but it's enjoyable watching them riff The Thin Man done in such a quotable way.

Leo: They took his hair, Tommy. Jesus, that's strange. Why would they do that?
Tom: Maybe it was Injuns.

Tom: Altogether not a bad guy - if looks, brains and personality don't count.
Verna: You better hope they don't.

The Dane: How'd you get the fat lip?
Tom: Old war wound. Flares up around morons.

 

[Voley]

its the first time in a long time I can genuinely say 'Tom Cruise was good in this'

He's good if he's playing a raging fucking bellend. He played a similar sort of nutter in Tropic Thunder and he was good in that an all. I don't think he has to act much, he just emphasises his innate twattishness and Bobs yer Uncle.

 

[Fez909]

I like Miller's Crossing. The Coens can do really intricate plotting rather well. There are probably half a dozen characters in the story and none of them know fully what's going on, so they act on their partial information (Blood Simple is similar in that respect). Leo thinks Tom's gone over to Caspar's crew, and doesn't know that Mink shot Rug Daniels. Caspar thinks Bernie is dead in the woods. The Dane thinks Tom is still with Leo and he's protecting Bernie for the sake of Verna. I'm not sure it amounts to much in the end, but it's enjoyable watching them riff The Thin Man done in such a quotable way.

Damn, just searched for Blood Simple and Netflix doesn't have it. I haven't seen it (or even heard of it until just now). If it's anything like M's C, I'll keep an eye out for it. Cheers.

 

[white rabbit]

Damn, just searched for Blood Simple and Netflix doesn't have it. I haven't seen it (or even heard of it until just now). If it's anything like M's C, I'll keep an eye out for it. Cheers.

How odd. It's a classic. Their first movie, I think. It's actually not much like Miller's Crossing, except that it has this tight plotting. It's set in modern day ("Dead in the heart of Texas") and involves a whole bunch of wrong assumptions. Great voice over at the beginning by M Emmet Walsh. "The world is full of complainers. The fact is, nothing comes with a guarantee ..."

 

[Fez909]

There are a lot of classic films I haven't seen! Working my way through them, bit by bit

 

[white rabbit]

There are a lot of classic films I haven't seen!

i meant its odd that it isn't available, not that you hadn't seen it.

 

[Fez909]

i meant its odd that it isn't available, not that you hadn't seen it.

Aha! It looks like they've had it in the past, but they rotate them I think. Maybe there's a charge for having a film available, and not enough people were watching...

 

[Part 2]

Anyone been looking at the top ten films lists on The Guardian?

They've done horror, arthouse, crime, romantic, action, sci fi etc. Not necessarily great lists but the comments usually have some consistent suggestions for good films if you're looking for something to watch.

 

[Idris2002]

How odd. It's a classic. Their first movie, I think. It's actually not much like Miller's Crossing, except that it has this tight plotting. It's set in modern day ("Dead in the heart of Texas") and involves a whole bunch of wrong assumptions. Great voice over at the beginning by M Emmet Walsh. "The world is full of complainers. The fact is, nothing comes with a guarantee ..."

In Russia they've got it fixed so everyone pulls together. That's the theory, anyway. What I know is Texas. . . and down here, you're on your own. . .

 

[DotCommunist]

Sons of Anarchy latest ep

I'm not entirely certain that a show this lightweight has any right involving a child porn story, but at least they killed the pornographers

 

[DotCommunist]

Wipers Times- good enough drama about the satirical trench newspaper, bit officah-centric but I still enjoyed


Jarhead- its pretty much a retread of Full Metal Jacket. There are differences of course but for me it trod the same ground and said very little new. Generation Kill pisses over it from a great height. Quite pretty though. Does that desert shot of men/tanks emerging from the heat haze which I like.

 

[Idris2002]

Episode 10 (I think) of Breaking Bad, season three. I do want to know what happens, but I don't think that makes it any good. In fact, the two episodes before this were unacceptably shit.

The whole concept would have been better as a movie, I think.

 

[belboid]

Episode 10 (I think) of Breaking Bad, season three.

episode 10 is 'Fly' - a great divider of opinion that one. I loved it

 

[Idris2002]

episode 10 is 'Fly' - a great divider of opinion that one. I loved it

I thought it was good - reminded me a lot of the old TV plays you used to get. But the bottom line for me is that it's like the Sopranos in that it's asking you to sympathise with people who are evil. I'll keep watching though. Probably.

 

[Belushi]

Submarine (2011) Read the book a couple of years ago and enjoyed this more. Really captured the twatishness of being a teenage boy I thought but I was a teenager in south wales at the time this it's set so might just be it resonated strongly with me.