Track the Films You Watch (2008) - Page 21

Joe Karlosi · 02-26-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 42nd Street Freak

I just don't see what the hell the question 'why do you watch movies' even exists.
What's it to him? Or you? Or them? Or me quite frankly.
Why the interrogation? What baring has this on a person's view of a film?

I watch movies to pass the time between dirty sex with transsexuals called Betty.
I watch movies to make the wait for death a tad more interesting.
I watch movies because I bought a DVD player and thought I'd better do something with it.
I watch movies because it's better than sticking my head down the toilet for 90 minutes (though not always the case where some films are concerned).

I don't see why any of us have to explain ourselves quite frankly.
I am... therefore...I am.

LOL!

Right you are, Dave. I know it's absurd that I even entertain Michael's interrogations, but we go back a long way, so I take the bait now and then. He fancies himself as the purveyor of all that's right in film etiquette, and I let him have his dream.

PatW · 02-26-2008, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

I still will give GONE WITH THE WIND only **1/2 or AMADEUS a measley * , and I don't care. My feelings on newer films in general have been consistent no matter where I post -- I prefer older movies, I'm not wild about CGI, I think modernized remakes are almost always pathetic, etc. But there are exceptions. And I have maintained that I have been more impressed by horror films in the 2000s than I was in the 1990s.
I watch movies ranging from Grade A down to Grade Z Minus.
As for the films you're asking about, I didn't know anything about their reputations at the time I rented them; I was just in a mood to pick up whatever struck me as interesting at the moment. I had no idea how they went over with fans or critics... but even if I had known, I still like to form my own opinion.

I, myself like a variety of movies. I use to read certain critics before choosing but I haven't done that in a long time preferring to have my own opinion on what I want to see. I think there are many many worthwhile modern movies and for a long time that's all I would watch not having access to the classics. But you're right, you have to take your family into account and they're not exactly thrilled with the classics. I watch those mostly when alone. Since my husband works and I've been temporarily disabled, I've been able to fit in quite a few. That will change drastically when I get back to work. I so disagree with you about Amadeus. I thought it was a brilliant film due chiefly to F. Murray Abraham's performance. But I'm with you in your opinion of Gone with the Wind. In fact I've given it a lower rating than you. I know it's a treasured classic of many, but I hated it years ago when I first saw it and I'm of the same opinion still.

Joe Karlosi · 02-26-2008, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Elliott

Well Joe, my hand is killing me as I type this since I posted the reviews to everything I've watched this year. While doing all that work I realized that I have about 3000+ reviews left to go and I really wish I didn't watch all those shorts.

I'm glad you're doing this - great! I can't believe you've already managed to enter over 200 films. In the long run, more people will see what you've written when they want to look up opinions of various films at the database. Mike, I'm going to send you an email regarding something you asked me about recently ...

Joe Karlosi · 02-26-2008, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatW

But you're right, you have to take your family into account and they're not exactly thrilled with the classics. I watch those mostly when alone.

Same here! The thing is, when my wife and I were dating she'd watch a lot more older movies (isn't that often the way?) than she does now.

Quote:

I so disagree with you about Amadeus. I thought it was a brilliant film due chiefly to F. Murray Abraham's performance.

His performance is why I gave it one star!

Quote:

But I'm with you in your opinion of Gone with the Wind. In fact I've given it a lower rating than you. I know it's a treasured classic of many, but I hated it years ago when I first saw it and I'm of the same opinion still.

Beautiful looking film, but a tepid soap opera with a main woman I just didn't want to know or waste so much time with.

Mario Gauci · 02-26-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

But I also said that, in this case, it was blatantly obvious and didn't require a Sherlock Holmes!

Look - you can think what you want, but I know Mike for a long time now, and he's always made it clear that he's baffled that I badmouth most new movies, but that he feels I seem to base this mostly on watching the worst ones. Go back and look at what I'd written... first he made a comment that "I guess they only had 5 movies in the store" when I said I'd rented 5 films at random, and then a few days later he comes up with "I hear bad films are pretty big rentals these day", right after I gave a horrid

to I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE. Now, I don't mean to belabor this, but c'mon, man!

And once I explained it, he hasn't denied it anymore.

O.K., so what's new?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

Well, let's not get carried away... I've liked some newer films, too. I do think most of the ideas and themes today have already been tried, though.

I agree there: you only need to go through my review of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007) to see how it reminded of a bunch of older classic movies!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

How often do I watch four films in a single day? Not very. So how does that translate to my having a lot of time on my hands? Just because one afternoon I had the time to do so? Believe me, with work I have very little time to watch movies, and it gets worse after I finish my day because I am just too exhausted to focus and stay awake at night, most weeknights. That particular day in question was no bigger mystery than as I said - I was struck with the urge to look randomly at the store shelves and rent whichever new releases appealed to me on a whim (AMERICAN GANGSTER was one of them, but the copies were all out). I think what happened was that I had been impressed by CLOVERFIELD, RAMBO, and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, so I was in that mood.

I understand that after-work fatigue bit more than you know because, even though I may not exert myself physically all that much at work, my mind is often doing four or five things at a time; small wonder that I suffer a headache practically day-in, day out. Also, that bit about having been impressed by recent movies makes a lot of sense...it's only that, personally, I don't go to a Robin Williams comedy or any Chris Rock movie looking to be "impressed" or to have (my words) "my waning faith in the state of modern film" revived

!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

As for me picking on what you two guys watch, I most certainly do not. I only retaliate when I'm egged on by Michael or yourself first for watching what I choose... that's why we're still here right now stuck in a congested traffic jam in this thread. But as I told Mike earlier, I still have a rental of one of the "superior" new films on the side, and I've also gone and rented Laughton's THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER because I'd seen some of it on one of those tired work nights on TCM and liked what I was seeing until I drifted off. .

That's lovely - top choice! Looking forward to your comments on that one...which, incidentally, I also name-dropped in my NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN review. Now that I mention it, I hope it doesn't make you agonize over which one to watch first...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

Well, I for one think it's occasionally more interesting than everyone just jotting down their film notes without any type of communication.

In my opinion, Dave's reviews are among the most literate here...but, yes, I agree that overall there isn't enough "discussion" and more "jotting down of notes" going on in this thread. Admittedly, it's hard to keep up with what everyone's watching which is why (I guess) we each pick up our "favorite" members and stick to them. However, even if I'm on his "Ignore" list, George Kaplan is always good for a laugh and I wouldn't miss his posts for the world!

Joe Karlosi · 02-26-2008, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario Gauci

personally, I don't go to a Robin Williams comedy or any Chris Rock movie looking to be "impressed" or to have (my words) "my waning faith in the state of modern film" revived

!

I don't see movies like those two comedies to restore my faith in modern cinema either; but to have fun and enjoy a funny movie with my wife, absolutely. I know you've expressed your frustrations with the female situtation in your neck of the woods, but I'd hoped after my repeating this several times already that this was clear by now.

Even if I do choose such a film just for myself, so what? This takes us right back to the "it's always gotta be a classic high-brow award winner" thing again. There is room for all. It's just that you and Mike get so perturbed that others don't do it as you think they should, or as you would. Frankly, this is precisely the type of snobbery that turns a lot of people off to films and film discussion, and that's a shame.

Mario Gauci · 02-26-2008, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

I don't see movies like those two comedies to restore my faith in modern cinema either; but to have fun and enjoy a funny movie with my wife, absolutely. I know you've expressed your frustrations with the female situtation in your neck of the woods, but I'd hoped after my repeating this several times already that this was clear by now.

Even if I do choose such a film just for myself, so what? This takes us right back to the "it's always gotta be a classic high-brow award winner"
thing again. There is room for all.

The

was there for a reason, pal: I was also pulling your leg on those two particular choices which personally don't appeal to me AT ALL - as I've already stated above in connection to contemporary romantic comedies.

Joe Karlosi · 02-26-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mario Gauci

The

was there for a reason, pal: I was also pulling your leg on those two particular choices which personally don't appeal to me AT ALL - as I've already said above in connection to contemporary romantic comedies.

Mario, I tend to use the

thing too, but I'm trying to use it less. Because many others on message boards have pointed out - and accurately so in many cases - that people are not always being genuine when they use them. It's like sticking a knife in someone and then kissing them on the cheek. You, my friend, tend to use the smiley faces more than anyone I have ever encountered on various message boards over the years!

Mario Gauci · 02-26-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Karlosi

Mario, I tend to use the

thing too, but I'm trying to use it less. Because many others on message boards have pointed out - and accurately so in many cases - that people are not always being genuine when they use them. It's like sticking a knife in someone and then kissing them on the cheek. You, my friend, tend to use the smiley faces more than anyone I have ever encountered on various message boards over the years!

So "sarcasm" is a crime now - outlawed by the P.M.C.O.F.F. (Prevention of Mental Cruelty from Online Film Forums)?

To get back to something you said earlier about putting people off of film discussions: personally, what puts me off more than anything else is when people consistently watch movies which are of no interest to me. It's that simple. How am I supposed to carry on a lively, stimulating and enlightening conversation with somebody who thinks Robin Williams' muscular mugging or Chris Rock's motormouth monologues are funny? Before you get all steamed up, I don't mean you; I just happened to use your examples.

See, managed it: an entire post (albeit a short one) without smileys.