Michael Elliott

I know the feeling George, my pal. We both made stupid comments regarding the other that I'm sure we'd take back knowing what we do a day later. I said you only enjoyed something because of mainstream critics and you said I hadn't heard certain things even though I've own every official, import and unofficial release from 1960-2001.

Now we can just hold hands, light a candle and sing Blowin' in the Wind together and think of future peaceful chats.

IMDB Reviews

george kaplan

Yes, although I must point out that I didn't say you hadn't heard those albums. I said I was expressing my own ignorance of what you'd heard, not claiming you hadn't. Now, the reason for me expressing that ignorance was due to something Joe had written that I probably misinterpreted since I thought this meant you hadn't heard them.

Anyway, if my comments came across as claiming you hadn't heard them rather than inquiring if you'd had, then I apologize.

"Movies should be like amusement parks. People should go to them to have fun." - Billy Wilder

"Subtitles good. Hollywood bad." - Tarzan, Sight & Sound 2012 voter.

"My films are not slices of life, they are pieces of cake." - Alfred Hitchcock

"My great humility is just one of the many reasons that I am vastly superior to everyone else." - Ramrod Clerk

Joe Karlosi

But isn't that song off the FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN album?

Michael Elliott

No, it's from NO DIRECTION HOME (to keep this movie related).

This was a terrific day so perhaps the magic of Blowin' in the Wind came through. Sold my TV late last night, ordered a projector this morning and then went to work where we got our W2s, which means more money for me. Found out the apartment I'm getting will be perfect for the projector project. While at work we got a new group of college girls in learning the ropes so that they can become managers in the future. This cute little blonde from the University of Indiana happens to be staying close to the apartment I got so we're going out tomorrow night. Then after lunch I learned Aerosmith will be in Lexinton in March, which will be my 10th time seeing them since '97 but the first since '01. Then, perhaps best of all, Woody Allen's MATCH POINT finally opened in Louisville. Projector, taxes, Aerosmith, cute blonde and a new Woody Allen film.

Now the answer to that might be blowing in the wind but I've got a new pony in my mind right now.

Speaking of the projector project. The whole day I was thinking what should be the first movie I watch on it. I've cut the selections down to the remake of BEN HUR, 2001, THE LEOPARD, FANNY AND ALEXANDER or perhaps one of the Universal classics like BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN.

IMDB Reviews

Joe Karlosi

Congratulations.

I'd vote for BEN-HUR. It's the right kind of film to try on a projector and I've also been interested in hearing what you think of the movie (I believe you've said you saw the movie but that it's been awhile).

Then again, the dazzling 2001 could be appropriate too.

Bob Turnbull

Michael, you do realize that you mentioned the cute blonde as 4th in your list...Where are your priorities man?!

Films Watched in 2008 , 2007 , 2006 , 2005
S&S List , HTF Top 20 Films
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Haggai

But don't tell me you expected him to list her before the projector, Bob! That would clearly be going overboard.

Films watched in 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Joe Karlosi

And you might want to change this to "tax refund"

Michael Elliott

Girls come and go but a good concert will stay with ya for life.

01/25/06

Man with the Movie Camera, The (1929)

Soviet Union film from director Dziga Vertov has him going out on the streets to capture various moving images. Right from the start the film tells us that it contains no story, no sets, no actors and no real plot. The only thing this film contains are those various images and on a technical level there’s no question this film is a masterpiece but in the end I doubt it’s a movie I’ll want or need to see a second time. My favorite moments are the theater chairs moving, the man on the train tracks and the reels of film, which then turn to the moving images.

Melinda and Melinda (2004)

Two writers are at dinner when they hear a brief introduction about a woman named Melinda (Radha Mitchell). The writers decide to tell their impressions of the woman, one through drama and one through comedy. This is a very interesting film from Woody Allen who seems to be on track after a few less than interesting films. It’s been known for decades that Allen plays to either his Buster Keaton side or his Ingmar Bergman side so it’s interesting to see a film where he plays to both sides. Telling the story of one person through two films also makes for something quite interesting, although I thought the comedy version was a bit more interesting and would have worked perfectly as a full feature. The screenplay by Allen is his best in years and the performances are all incredible. Mitchell should be remembered at Oscar time but the big shock was the performance by Will Ferrell who really took me by surprise. Chloe Sevingy, Jonny Lee Miller and Amanda Peet round out the cast.

01/26/06

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

Strange and not totally rewarding film from Ingmar Bergman about a husband (Max von Sydow) who is haunted by past memories brought on by demons and his wife (Live Ullmann) who soon starts seeing visions herself. While this is still a good film it’s certainly the least interesting I’ve seen from the director, although there are still a few touches of brilliance. The scene down by the pond is very haunting and chilling and the performances by von Sydow and especially Ullmann make this worth watching. The film never really pulled me in 100%, which led to some moments that went on a tad bit too long.

01/27/06

Hell’s Highway (1932)

Decent prison drama from RKO was rushed into production so that it could beat I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang into theaters. A man (Richard Dix) working on a chain gang plans the perfect escape but he backs out when his younger brother gets sentenced to the jail. The biggest problem with this film is that RKO feared a lawsuit from Warner so they cut out a lot of stuff that would eventually be in the Warner film. The most interesting aspect of this film is its rather outrageous look at blacks and homosexuals. The gay character in the film is such a crazy stereotype that you can’t help but break out in laughter every time you see him. The ending is quite lame but Dix is good in his role but certainly not as good as Paul Muni.

Hardgore (1974)

Here’s one everybody will be rushing out to see. I first heard of this movie over a year ago and only now tracked it down. Everyone knows graphic horror films and porn was the big thing of the 70s so the producer’s of this “trash” decided to mix the two with some rather disgusting effects. A nymph is sent to a mental hospital by her dad who hopes she’ll be cured there. However, he doesn’t know that the hospital is full of Satan worshippers who perform blood orgies in the basement. Bad porn acting, bad porn music score and just all around bad film is somewhat unique in the mixture of the two genres. Thankfully the film only runs 62-minutes, which still feels long. The graphic horror violence makes the film worth watching at least once though.

Burning, The (1981)

Notorious 80’s slasher was the first film by Miramax and was written and produced by the Weinstein boys and also features small roles by Jason Alexander (with hair), Holly Hunter and Fisher Stevens. A camping prank goes terribly wrong and a gardener is burned all over his body. Six years later he escapes and heads back to camp to slaughter some teens. I can’t believe it took me so long to see this somewhat legendary film but I kept putting it off because horror fans seem to hype up a lot of bad films. Over the years no other film had gotten so much hype but the movie certainly lived up to every bit of it. The special gore effects by Tom Savini are all wonderful and in this uncut version they go way beyond any other film of its era. The movie is incredibly mean spirited with its violence including one scene where five kids on a raft run into the killer. This segment is probably the greatest I’ve seen from any slasher. This film also contains more nudity than any other film of its type. Put all this together and I see why the film has become notorious over the years. There’s no doubt this was influenced by the previous year’s Friday the 13th but I’d say this here is just as good, if not better than all of those films.

IMDB Reviews

Joe Woz

Hannibal (2001)

The character of Hannibal Lecter in the film SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is, IMO, one of the most interesting, and chilling, characters ever created. I've purposely stayed away from this sequel for fear of seeing that portrayal by Anthony Hopkins diminished. On the urging of a friend, however, I finally sat down and watched this film. Besides, Ridley Scott directed and I have enjoyed many of his films. I should have followed my initial instincts. A poor script, uninteresting locations and stereotypical characters, interspersed with some occasional blood and guts, made for a very unappetizing experience. I can understand why Jodie Foster stayed away from this project. I can usually find something of redeeming value in just about any film I watch (with the exception of THE PERFECT STORM and a few others), but I found this a most distasteful experience. I came close a couple of times to pulling the plug on this awful film.

Out Of The Past (1947)

A pretty enjoyable film noir classic about a private eye who's past escapades come back to intrude on his attempt at a new life in a small town. Robert Mitchum as the laconic ex-detective and Kirk Douglas as the heavy head up an interesting cast of characters. Great lighting effects in this film.

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