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Track the Films You Watch (2007) - Page 9

post #241 of 2529
1/26/07 at 7:21pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

LOTR: FOTR (2001) EE

What more can be said about these movies than what has already been said. This is a great adaptation of a fantastic novel. I only have a couple of beefs with the script but that shall be left unsaid. Overall a satisfactory experience.
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post #242 of 2529
1/26/07 at 8:09pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

a few recent views...5 star scale as always

A Reason To Live, A Reason To Die (1972)
Pretty fun euro-western starts slow but culminates in a satisfying showdown. Still adds up to less than the sum of its parts thanks to a dubbed James Coburn, a glorified cameo from Telly Savalas and an uncharacteristically bland score from Riz Ortolani. Bud Spencer probably makes the best impression here in a big role.

The Illusionist (2006) 1/2
I'm probably overrating it a bit because I really enjoyed the setting and the performances (especially Giamatti), but the second half took some disappointing turns, leaving us with a merely good film that could have been great with a more ambitious story.

Cars (2006)
Took a while to get to this one as I was not in love with the idea of anthropomorphic cars and was relatively underwhelmed by The Incredibles. How wrong I was; this is probably in my top 3 Pixar films. Aside from being a visual marvel, it is mostly free of the shopworn dysfunctional family, mommy-and-daddy issue stuff that seems to plague nearly every animated film (and too many non-animated ones) this decade. It takes big balls to take what could be a disastrous premise and see it through with such conviction and Lasseter and company mostly pull it off, yet again. Could have done without the dull musical choices and some of the stock supporting characters, but the rest of the film has enough verve to overcome those missteps.
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post #243 of 2529
1/26/07 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

01/25/07

Sodoma & Gomorra (1997)

Joe D'Amato yet again.

We Never Sleep (1956)

Mildly entertaining short about how detectives do their work. This RKO short really doesn't tell us or show us anything we haven't already seen or heard but it remains entertaining with its short running time and a few comic situations.

Oklahoma Outlaws (1943)

Excellent Warner short mixes historical drama with the Western genre to deliver one of the most action packed and suspenseful shorts I've seen. In the film, after the Oklahoma land rush of 1893, a family helps create what would become known as Tulsa but a gang of outlaws are also in town with their own plans. Robert Shayne is excellent as the hero and Warner Anderson packs a nice punch as the rival. The film works wonderfully well as a historical drama of the land rush and the fictional Western segment has all sorts of good action.

Winning (2004)

A rather routine and bland documentary that takes a look at the lives of six people before and after winning the lottery. If you've seen one lottery winner talk about winning it big then you've seen everything this film has to offer. Some of the people interviewed are just downright boring while one Jesus freak comes off rather scary. Go buy a lotto ticket instead.

Swing! (1938)

Oscar Micheaux directed film about an abused maid (Cora Green) who catches her wannabe pimp boyfriend cheating on her so she runs off to Harlem. Once in Harlem she gets a job in an off Broadway production for a producer who hopes to get the first black production on Broadway. This story certainly isn't original and there's not much flair but the film remains slightly entertaining throughout due to some good direction and some great jazz numbers. The performances are average for the most part but Green is good enough not too drag the film down. There's one scene where a woman, drunk of course, falls down some steps and breaks her leg, which gets a huge laughs, which was certainly unintentional.

01/26/07

By Whose Hand? (1932)

Enjoyable mystery from Columbia, which was once thought lost until being discovered back in 1998 (so I've read). A playboy detective (Ben Lyon) with the lust for women cracks the story of a serial killer who has escaped from prison. While following a lead he ends up on a train where a wide range of suspicious character lure including a murderer. The actual mystery of this film is pretty good but there are way too many attempts at comedy. Some of it works like the drunk who keeps following the detective around but some falls flat on its face. Lyon is decent in the lead but he's never really able to pull off all the charming, lead male stuff. Tom Dugan steal the show as the drunk and Dwight Frye has a small role as a mother loving bad guy. When I say mother loving I really mean it as there's an extremely bizarre scene at the start of the film where he's holding his mother as you'd expect to see someone hold their lover. Then he plants a big, hard kiss on her lips! Directed by Benjamin Stoloff who would direct Bela Lugosi the following year in Night of Terror.

If I Forget You (1940)

Judy Garland sings the title song as a tribute to Will Rogers. It's a nice song but the film doesn't have much (actually it has nothing else).

Magician's Daughter, The (1938)

MGM short about a reporter who begins to investigate a magician in hopes of proving that he's a fraud but he falls in love with the magician's daughter. The magic tricks look horribly fake and the so called love story is very minor. Not too many laughs either. The directed went on to do The Devil Thumbs a Ride and Donovan's Brain.
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post #244 of 2529
1/26/07 at 10:21pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

A Man for all Seasons

I generally find medieval court dramas to be a bore. This one was surprisingly good, and well worth watching once, though I won't do so again. It didn't deserve the best picture oscar, but it wasn't a horrible choice ala Cimarron or Titanic.
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post #245 of 2529
1/27/07 at 11:49am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Some recent viewings:

1-21-07:
Lucky # Slevin (2006). I really enjoyed this. The first 20 minutes or so it wasn't working for me then it really started getting interesting. Good suspense and a GREAT cast. That might just be the biggest selling point. 9/10.

1-22-07:
Phone Booth (2003). Lots of F-bombs flying around here I really love this movie. I know it's short but it's really intense and Keifer Sutherland was perfect in this. It's also Colin Ferrell's best performace IMO. I've seen this a few times and it just hasn't lost it's impact. 9/10.

1-24-07:
Snakes On A Plane (2006). I hated this movie. I know it was supposed be cheezy but it was just stupid. There were some funny parts and that's why I give it a 2/10.

1-24-07:
Jet Li's Fearless (2006). Solid film with a good performance by Jet Li. Good action with a really good story. I liked it. It's reported to be Li's final Martial Arts film. 8/10.

1-25-07:
Derailed (2005). It's ok. Alot of it really doesn't work even though it could have been a really intense and clever thriller. Clive Owen is a great actor but Derailed left me a bit empty. 6/10.
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post #246 of 2529
1/27/07 at 2:50pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

G.I. Blues (1960)

After coming back from his stint in the U.S. Army, Elvis made this picture which capitalized on that event. He plays a G.I. who takes a bet with some of his army pals in Germany that he will be able to score with leggy fraulein dancer Juliet Prowse. Along the way there are laughs, songs (naturally), and some romance. Gone here is the young rockin' rebel we'd previously seen in films like LOVING YOU, JAILHOUSE ROCK, and KING CREOLE. Now we have Elvis as the more matured family man, Elvis as the comedian. And you know what? Elvis could be funny! Some of his comedic facial expressions in this are priceless, and the scene where he nervously bumbles about while trying to babysit a screaming child is truly humorous. Regardless of how Elvis himself felt about doing such a film, it doesn't show in his performance at this stage as it would many years later when it would appear he was just going through the motions in these types of formulaic situations; here he seems to be having a good time. The songs aren't superb, but they're fun and entertaining. I personally like the title tune of "G.I. Blues", as well as "Shoppin' Around," "Didja Ever," "Doing the Best That I Can," and - my personal favorite singalong, "Frankfurt Special" (whoa, whoa, whoaaa!).
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post #247 of 2529
1/27/07 at 5:52pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

The Running Man

This is a step below many similar Schwarzenegger sci-fi action films. Can't really blame it on Arnold, I think it's a combo of the screenwriter and the director (Starksky, or is it Hutch). The one-liners are a small part of any such film, but the fact that they come off as unfunny and lame in this film is a microcosm of the problems. Nevertheless, the basic story is quite good (the original book is by Stephen King), and the movie is still worthwhile, if not up to it's full potential. Richard Dawson plays an interesting near-cameo role.
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post #248 of 2529
1/27/07 at 9:13pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Man on Fire

Rewatched this, this time with my wife.
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post #249 of 2529
1/28/07 at 7:17am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Grilled (2006)

Hated this one. Didn't find anything remotely funny.

Machinist (2005)

A well acted movie but very difficult to watch due to Bale's extreme weight loss.
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post #250 of 2529
1/28/07 at 11:27am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

1-27-07:
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)....Excellent film. A real heartfelt and stirring story. The plight of these 3 young girls captivated me. Acting was top notch. 9/10

A Walk In The Clouds (1995)...One of my all time favorites. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography, romantic, sweet, charming, and even a bit cheezy at the end but whatever. By that point, I can forgive that. I smiled quite a bit while watching this and had forgotten how wonderful Anthony Quinn's performance was. Nice score too. 9.5/10
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post #251 of 2529
1/28/07 at 12:54pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Music of the Heart (1999)

A true story about a violin teacher attempting to teach in Harlem. I have a special fondness for this movie since I always had aspirations to teach music one day. Meryl Streep as always is great in this role.

Disturbing Behaviour (1998)

Really bad horror teen movie. Not very original since they seemed to be copying the Stepford Wives only with obnoxious teens. I saw the ending coming as well.
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post #252 of 2529
1/28/07 at 4:06pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

1/25: Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 1/2 out of

On a technical level, the film is brilliant, and the photography is absolutely gorgeous. I did not know that this was a biopic of a real person. At times, I thought that the writers were making some odd choices, but they were really just being true to what was known about Lawrence. I will definitely watch this movie again, and I will probably give it a higher rating since I will know what to expect.
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post #253 of 2529
1/28/07 at 5:49pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

I caught part of A Man for All Seasons on TCM the other night, I was reminded of just how superb Paul Scofield is in that role and how utterly wonderful the script is. I'll be breaking out the dvd to watch it properly from beginning to end, but it only took a few seconds to get completely sucked in again. Unlike George, I think it definitely should have won the oscar and am very glad it did.
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post #254 of 2529
1/28/07 at 8:05pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Quote:
I was reminded of just how superb Paul Scofield is in that role
I haven't seen A Man For All Seasons, but Scofield sure was excellent as von Waldheim in John Frakenheimer's The Train (also on TCM recently).

The pace was solid throughout and there were a lot of good action scenes on and around the train. Pretty amazing seeing some of the actors (Lancaster in particular) doing all their own stunts with likely little to no trickery. But Scofield held the frame in every scene he had.
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post #255 of 2529
1/28/07 at 8:38pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

A James Dean double-feature today, both first time viewings (minor spoilers ahead):
  • East of Eden
  • Rebel Without a Cause

Both decent films, though afflicted with the melodramatic, OTT acting that seems to have been a fixture of most classic films. Also, "Rebel" was a very different film than I expected based on the title (though I've read the title was dictated by the studio and had nothing to do with the writer or the script).

Great performances by J.D. in both films, though seemingly contrary to most of what I've read, I give the edge to "East of Eden." Though J.D. was very good in both, I'm not sure I fully understand why he's regarded as such an icon and included on many lists as one of the "greatest" actors of all time. I would think you need a few more than three films to be eligible for such accolades. I guess I'll have to see what he's like in "Giant" which I also have on DVD, but have never yet watched.

One thing that struck me in both films was how both the female leads did a complete 180-spin to become J.D.'s love interest. In "Eden," Abra starts the film being terrified and scared of Cal, yet mid-way through she's flirting wildly and sucking face even while still professing love for Aron. Then in "Rebel," Judy's boyfriend has barely been dead for a couple hours before she's professing her love for and sucking face with Jim. It kind of pulled me out of each film when the flip occurred.
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post #256 of 2529
1/28/07 at 10:48pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

01/27/07

Rapeandole al Miedo (2005)

Short film about a thirteen year old boy living in poverty in Columbia. The only way he finds any peace is through his dreams of becoming a world famous rap star.

Cannibal (2005)

Based on the true story of Armin "Rotenburg Cannibal" Meiwes, the German man who posted a wanted message on the internet looking for someone who was willing to be killed and eaten. Directed Marian Dora has created one of the most vile, repulsive and disgusting films I've ever seen. Having seen all the Italian cannibal films I thought I could handle anything but that wasn't the case with this film. Just how bad was it? I actually had to stop the film and throw up once. Reluctantly I went back and watched the film and just grew sicker and sicker. The film leaves nothing to the imagination and shows us everything. The director has only around ten lines of dialogue and everything else is just built up with atmosphere and mood. This atmosphere is of pure nastiness and this comes through in the final third of the film where the killing and eating actually starts. Apparently this film follows the real events very closely and lets just say it starts with a penis being cut off, fried and then eaten. This is where I lost it but the film keeps going. It's hard to rate this film because it's technically well made but I really can't recommend it to anyone due to the subject matter and brutality.

Devil with Hitler, The (1942)

The Board of Directors in Hell decide that Satan (Alan Mowbray) just isn't as mean as Hitler (Bobby Watson) so they plan to give the German leader Satan's job. Of course, Satan objects and travels to Earth to see if he can get Hitler to do one good dead. This Hal Roach comedy is certainly politically incorrect today do to several racial slurs but for what it is, war propaganda, it has several funny scenes poking fun at Hitler. There's also some rather uneasy scenes where jokes are made about real tragic events and you've also got Mussolini (Joe Devlin) and Suki Yaki along for some jokes.

Bad Boy (1935)

A pool shark (James Dunn) wants to marry the love of his life (Dorothy Wilson) but her parents refuse because they believe he's nothing but a hood. To prove them wrong, the man goes out looking for a legit job but when he can't find one he starts to believe that he has nothing to live for. I guess you could call this an early version of It's a Wonderful Life as it deals with many of the same storylines. This film certainly isn't in the same league as that Capra classic but this is a worthy little effort for a 56-minute movie. This was only my second time seeing Dunn but he manages to pull off a pretty good and charming performance and Wilson is just as good. The ending is way too abrupt and out of nowhere but this is a worthy viewing.

Deep Blood (1989)

Joe D'Amato's next to last horror film is yet another Italian rip off of Jaws. After a group of friends take a blood pack, their friendship is put to the test when one of them is eaten by a shark. This is without question the worst of the Italian rips I've seen but I do have two more coming to me. The film has one suspenseful moment, the first attack, but after that everything is pretty dull. There's not a fake shark used throughout the film. Instead we get stock footage of a real shark that naturally never matches up to watch we're seeing in the other footage. Since no fake shark is being used, all of the attacks are rather silly.

01/28/07

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)

I've been wanting to see this turkey for at least a decade and after all the bad stuff I heard about the film, it really wasn't all that bad. Yes, the storyline is stupid as hell and makes for several laughable plot lines but if you can laugh at how dumb it is then you might enjoy yourself somewhat. Scavenger hunters (Michael Caine, Sally Field, Karl Malden) come across the sinking ship just minutes after the survivors from the first film were saved. Caine, about to lose his own ship, decides to enter the Poseidon in hopes of reaching the "purse room" where he can get all sorts of money. Along the way he counters some survivors (Peter Boyle, Jack Warden, Mark Harmon, Shirley Knight, Slim Pickens) as well as a terrorist (Telly Savalas). As you can tell, the story is pretty much all over the place but it leads to some mild entertaining, which includes a machine gun fight with the terrorist and another subplot with one of the survivors being a blind man! Caine, Malden, Warden and Pickens actually come off with good performances but Boyle and Field should really be embarrassed. The special effects are rather laughable and again, the story is crazy but God knows this is no where near as bad as The Swarm or When Time Ran Out....

Poseidon (2006)

I got a big kick when my girlfriend got off work and showed up with this remake considering I had just got done watching the sequel to the original. I'm a big fan of Kurt Russell and Richard Dreyfuss so I had been meaning to catch this one but the timing was pretty good.

Wolfgang Petersen's remake of the 1972 film follows pretty much the same story line of the ship turning over but the talented director and cast makes some nice improvements. Like many of today's remakes, this here isn't as good as the original but it's certainly a lot better than the sequel. What I enjoyed most of all the changes is the pacing of the film, which is pretty much nail biting from start to finish. In the original film there were times where it seemed the cast were just taking a walk in the park but that's not the case here since the water is just feet behind them the entire way through the film. There are plenty of suspenseful scenes as well as some nice touching moments. As I said earlier, I'm a big fan of Russell and Dreyfuss and both men deliver good performances but they're always worth watching no matter the film. Josh Lucas was also very strong in his role. The rest of the cast were good but they certainly can't match the supporting cast of the original. This film runs nearly twenty-five minutes shorter than the original and what's cut is mostly dialogue scenes where we get to know the cast more. The special effects are excellent and this is coming from someone who hates CGI. There's a few minor problems including a scene where Lucas appears to turn into Spiderman but other than that this is a highly entertaining flick.

Dizzy Doctors (1937)

Three Stooges short has the boys being forced to look for work after their wives threaten to leave them. They end up selling "Brighto" but naturally things don't go right. There are plenty of laughs here including a wonderful sequence where Larry tries to police a cop's uniform.

Three Little Beers (1935)

Three Stooges short has the boys hitting the golf course when their job offers $100 if they can win a contest. I didn't laugh too much in this one, although the stuff with loading the beer onto the truck was pretty funny.

Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)
Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)
Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888)

If you've ever wondered what the first movies ever made were then here you go. Director Louise Le Prince shot these two films with a single lense camera he made in 1888. From what I've read, both were shot in October of 1888 because the director's mother died this month and she's featured in the first film (which I just had to watch twice). The first film has some sort of creepy feel along with it but if you're interested then you can see them at IMDB or Youtube. Both just last for two seconds but at least I can now say I saw the first film ever made.
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post #257 of 2529
1/29/07 at 2:52am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Elliott
01/27/07

Poseidon (2006)

I got a big kick when my girlfriend got off work and showed up with this remake considering I had just got done watching the sequel to the original. I'm a big fan of Kurt Russell and Richard Dreyfuss so I had been meaning to catch this one but the timing was pretty good.

Wolfgang Petersen's remake of the 1972 film follows pretty much the same story line of the ship turning over but the talented director and cast makes some nice improvements. Like many of today's remakes, this here isn't as good as the original but it's certainly a lot better than the sequel. What I enjoyed most of all the changes is the pacing of the film, which is pretty much nail biting from start to finish. In the original film there were times where it seemed the cast were just taking a walk in the park but that's not the case here since the water is just feet behind them the entire way through the film. There are plenty of suspenseful scenes as well as some nice touching moments. As I said earlier, I'm a big fan of Russell and Dreyfuss and both men deliver good performances but they're always worth watching no matter the film. Josh Lucas was also very strong in his role. The rest of the cast were good but they certainly can't match the supporting cast of the original. This film runs nearly twenty-five minutes shorter than the original and what's cut is mostly dialogue scenes where we get to know the cast more. The special effects are excellent and this is coming from someone who hates CGI. There's a few minor problems including a scene where Lucas appears to turn into Spiderman but other than that this is a highly entertaining flick.

I'm glad you enjoyed this needless sequel, Michael. I guess I'll never know what I missed though because I like the 1972 version enough as it is and refuse to see another.
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post #258 of 2529
1/29/07 at 6:55am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Zombie (1979)

Viewed 1/22/2007

Revisited Lucio Fulci's living dead opus, probably the best of the
Italian undead films. A journalist and other assorted zombie bait
travel to a remote island where the undead have risen. A coherent
plot and classic splatter scenes make this a genre classic. Also
known as Zombie 2 to cash in on Romero's Dawn of the Dead
.

out of


Sugar Hill (1974)

Viewed 1/22/2007 (first viewing)

Blaxploitation zombies! When a nightclub owner is murdered for
refusing to sell out to a mobster, his woman raises an army of silver-
eyed zombies to put the kibosh on the baddies. Fun little genre mixer.

"I hope they like white trash!"

out of


Enter... Zombie King (2003)

Viewed 1/22/2007 (first viewing)

Goofy, good-natured flick pits Mexican wrestlers against an evil
megalomaniac who plans on taking over the world with an army of
zombies. Spiced with gratuitous boobs and a living/dead lesbian
makeout scene.

out of


Hitler's Children (1943)

Viewed 1/22/2007 (first viewing)

The lives of a young German couple are destroyed by Nazi ideology in
this WWII propoganda piece from Edward Dmytryk.

out of


Behind the Rising Sun (1943)

Viewed 1/22/20076 (first viewing)

Another WWII propaganda piece from Edward Dmytryk. An Americanized Japanese engineering student hopes to build a better Japan but is instead drafted by the army and sent to China. There his ideals are destroyed by the horrors of the Sino-Japanese war and he becomes little more than a military puppet. Not as successful as Hitler's Children as it spends too much time focusing on a group of American expatriates (Robert Ryan impresses in an early role and gets to beat the crap out of a Japanese wrestler). And of course the primary Japanese roles are played by American actors which tends to distract. The finale is something to behold: Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
the youth's bereaved and guilty father commits suicide after begging for martial Japan to be destroyed!


out of


Jesus Camp (2006)

Viewed 1/23/2007 (first viewing)

Sad and disturbing documentary look at Evangelical Christians and in particular, the "Kids on Fire" bible camp (situated ironically in Devil's Lake, North Dakota) where malleable kids are turned into fanatics. One stomach-churning moment has an exuberant little girl proclaiming how great it'd be to become a martyr for Jesus. (You also get to see Ted Haggard speaking out against homosexuality!) Far more horrific than any horror film Hollywood could concoct. And Harry Potter is an enemy of God, yes sir.

out of


Sherrybaby (2006)

Viewed 1/23/2007 (first viewing)

A drug addict is paroled and hopes to reunite with her daughter in
this standard "going straight" drama. Boosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal's
fine performance. Nice to see Danny Trejo in a sympathetic role,
though I really didn't need to see him making out with Maggie.

out of


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

Viewed 1/24/2007 (first viewing)

Prequel to the remake has some tense moments but offers nothing new.
And can we please have a moratorium on that fucking Mockingbird song?
Pretty fucking please?

out of


The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945)

Viewed 1/24/2007 (first viewing)

Early film from Akira Kurosawa's chronicles the flight of a fugitive
general as he and his retainers disguise themselves as monks in order
to escape the general's warlord brother. Modest and stagey, but
entertaining.

out of


The Fascist (1961)

Viewed 1/24/2007 (first viewing)

Pretty funny Italian comedy about a fascist stooge who is sent on a
mission to capture an esteemed professor, a man the democratic party
would like to run for president. Once he gets his man, the stooge and
the his prisoner hit the road back to Rome but have to dodge Allied
bombs, requisition-happy Nazis and a very fetching thief!

out of


Severed: Forest of the Dead (2006)

Viewed 1/25/2007 (first viewing)

Loggers and environmentalists in a remote island forest find
themselves beseiged by flesh-eating zombies, a product of experimental
tree growth hormones. Seriously. Actually not that bad; it's another
stylistic clone of 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead '04
 though it never reaches those heights.

out of


Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1989)

Viewed 1/25/2007 (first viewing)

Deliciously titled Troma flick is unfortunately a big bore. The
chopper chicks ride into a small town, get laid, face their inner
demons and fight zombies. Meh. Billy Bob Thornton is
a stand out in an early role.

out of


Voodoo Moon (2006)

Viewed 1/25/2007 (first viewing)

Supernatural thriller pits a brother and sister against the demon (or
was he the Devil?) who slaughtered their parents years before. The
brother has spent years brushing up on magic and is ready to kick some
evil ass. Blah, blah, blah. Plays out like an episode of Angel
 and even stars Charisma Carpenter and Angel lookalike Eric
Mabius. But are there any zombies you ask? Well, Jeffrey Combs plays
a hero zombie cop aiding the goodguys and the badguy has a bunch of
zombie servants who serve as cannon fodder, but none of them eat
anybody. Would have been better if they had.

out of


Portland Expose (1957)

Viewed 1/26/2007 (first viewing)

A Portland tavern owner fights back against the mobsters who want to
take over his buisness in this tough crime flick. Frank Gorshin is
particularly nasty as a hood who has a fondness for young girls. A
real gem from the Forgotten Noir set.

out of


They Were So Young (1954)

Viewed 1/26/2007 (first viewing)

Young fashion models in Rio de Janeiro are forced to prostitute
themselves in this solid crime thriller, another winner from the
Forgotten Noir set.

out of


Daughter of Darkness (1948)

Viewed 1/27/2007 (first viewing)

Solid gothic chiller about a young Irish orphan who has a fatal
attraction for men. Top notch all the way.

out of


Dragnet Girl (1933)

Viewed 1/27/2007 (first viewing)

Silent gangster film from Yasujiro Ozu tells the story of Joji, an ex-
boxer turned low level racketeer. He falls for the sweet sister of
one of his enforcers, putting him at odds with his vampish
girlfriend. Much more stylized than Ozu's later, more subdued
work; it's also notable for being the only Ozu film wherein a gun is
fired!

out of


This Film is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Viewed 1/27/2007 (first viewing)

Revealing doc on the inner workings of the inscrutable MPAA.

out of


Time to Leave (2005)

Viewed 1/28/2007 (first viewing)

A fashion photographer discovers he's dying of cancer and refuses
treatment; he also decides to tell only his beloved grandmother.
Good, if minor, drama from Francois Ozon.

out of


School Girl Killer (1968)

Viewed 1/28/2007 (first viewing)

Early giallo about a series of murders at a private school for girls. Well-made, but bland and talky, with little of the nudity and blood usually associated with the genre.

out of
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post #259 of 2529
1/29/07 at 11:44am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Glover
1-27-07:
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)....Excellent film. A real heartfelt and stirring story. The plight of these 3 young girls captivated me. Acting was top notch. 9/10
i love this movie. when i think great child performances, this one is almost always near the top of my list (whale rider is a good one too).

michael - cannibal has me intrigued. i'm thinking about putting it into my netflix queue ... but i dunno. sounds like a tough one to sit through.

--------

title: quinceanera
rating: c
comments: taken apart, this movie doesn't hold up very well; average acting, seen-it-before story, low production value. but this movie had heart and i appreciated the effort put forth.
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post #260 of 2529
1/29/07 at 11:59am
Thread Starter 

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Quote:
I'm glad you enjoyed this needless sequel, Michael. I guess I'll never know what I missed though because I like the 1972 version enough as it is and refuse to see another.

And you told me this why? I find it rather hilarious that you put down remakes so much (even if you haven't seen them) yet your #1 movie of all time is a remake AND you haven't bothered to see the original. Either way, coming from someone who has ACTUALLY SEEN THEM, I will repeat what I said above. These remakes show a lot more originality and usually turn out a lot better than the sequels to the original.
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post #261 of 2529
1/29/07 at 2:09pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

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Originally Posted by Michael Elliott
And you told me this why? I find it rather hilarious that you put down remakes so much (even if you haven't seen them)

Nowhere have I commented on the actual quality of the film itself, as I don't believe in doing that without having seen the movie in question (in this case, POSEIDON). What I did say was that I felt its existence was needless (IMO). I'm putting down its existence, not its quality. Hell, POSEIDON might even turn out to be better than the 1972 film for all I know, and I'll never know. I haven't said that it is or not, because I don't know. I was just expressing that I didn't think it was needed. You asked me why I told you this, and I guess it's because I had an opinion, and I find things more interesting when there's feedback rather than just listing our films and that's all (which we could do at home in private if that's all we wanted).

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yet your #1 movie of all time is a remake AND you haven't bothered to see the original.

Michael, I see you've given the response I expected. And it's fine, because yes - I feel BEN-HUR (1959) is the greatest film of all time (that I've seen up to now). You also know from many past discussions that, while I do like some silent films, I personally feel that silent movies seem incomplete without sound. I also feel that in 1959 they could still make great films out of remakes, much of the time. Now, usually you say something like, "well, I guess that means that it's okay to remake black and white for color, or 1970s movies for new CGI effects", but no, I don't go that far. But even this is only my own opinion and nothing more, though; anyone else is free to come here and say they think it's fine to remake a movie for the sake of color and CGI. I don't; but I do think it was good to remake some silent films with the advent of sound.
I was going to try and watch the 1925 version this year, but now you've made me wait longer, just so you don't think I'm only doing so because you've needled me.

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I will repeat what I said above. These remakes show a lot more originality and usually turn out a lot better than the sequels to the original.

It's hard to think that a remake to something which was already done shows more "originality", but okay. As for sequels, they have nothing to do with remakes, IMO.
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post #262 of 2529
1/29/07 at 2:59pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Beer League (2006) 1/2 (of 5)
I wavered between 2 and 2 1/2 stars on this one. To be sure, Artie Lange's attempt to translate his Stern show persona to the big screen just has a few too many lines/scenes that land with a thud to really recommend it. But after hearing him on the radio for roughly 20 hours a week nearly every week for the past few years, I can't help but be pretty forgiving. There's a handful of big laughs and I enjoyed the cheerfully lowbrow tone throughout, but it's a rewrite or two short of what it could have been. It's also hard for me to dislike any movie which prominently features 2 Guided By Voices songs and a former cast member of The State (Joe Lo Truglio in a funny supporting role). Jim Breuer's bit was a riot too. I have to say that Artie's unfortunate current weight would have helped the film comedically; not that he looks like Tommy Tune or anything, but his heroin-slimmed look here kinda works against the character.
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post #263 of 2529
1/29/07 at 3:12pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Flaming Star (1960)

In 1878 Texas, a war is brewing between the white men and the Kiowa Indians. Elvis Presley plays Pacer, the half-breed son of his Indian mother and white father. Steve Forrest is his older brother who was born to dad and his first wife, who was a white woman. Pacer is faced with a tough decision when things get ugly and he must choose sides between the whites and the Kiowas. For anyone who doubted that Presley could act, this respectable western shows he had the chops to be a serious dramatic actor when given the chance. It's easily his best dramatic performance. With Barabara Eden and directed by Don Siegel, this is a strong story of prejudice and loyalty, with a lot of action and a touch of violence. Elvis was only required to pick up his guitar for one singalong in the first scene of the actual film, and then it's onto business. And another song, "Flaming Star" which runs along with the credits, is an excellent one.

Don't Knock the Rock (1956)

New York singer Arnie Haines (Alan Dale) is tired of his career as a recording star so he takes a break by visiting his small home town. When he arrives he discovers that he's despised by all the adults who feel that rock music is ruining their kids. Haines decides to stage a big rock and roll show in the next town to prove to the parents that rock can be a good influence for their children. Haines himself is more of a crooner and not a joy to listen to, but we do get to hear several numbers by Bill Haley and His Comets, as well as the great Little Richard, who belts out his awesome killer renditions of "Long Tall Sally" and "Tutti Frutti". The movie is a good relic for rock n roll history, and also gets to take a shot at modern-day parents to make them realize how their music of the 20s and 30s was just as "wild". While the movie makes a valid point there in showing those generational similarities, 50s rock music was always innocent enough, but the same case for unity couldn't be made for parents weaned on '50s music as compared to today's Gangsta Rap.

Let's Rock (1958)

Julius LaRosa portrays Tommy Adane, an acclaimed singer of ballads whose popularity has passed with the recent rock and roll craze. His manager (Conrad Janis) desperately tries to get his career recharged by having the apprehensive Tommy give in and record some rock music. The first question I have is: if this is a movie that's promoting the new rock and roll music, why do we have to suffer through a few of LaRosa's shmaltzy ballads? Anyway -- there's still the famous "Short Shorts" song, one tune from Paul Anka, some cool stuff by Roy Hamilton, and the choice moment of the film where Danny and the Juniors perfrom their classic hit, "At the Hop". I also liked some nice shots of New York's Central Park in the '50s.
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post #264 of 2529
1/29/07 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

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I was just expressing that I didn't think it was needed.

And yet you jumped right over the sequel. Have you seen it? Even if not, was it needed or was it a cheap attempt to get money off the original?

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I personally feel that silent movies seem incomplete without sound.

Something the majority of film viewers would agree with. Hell, I'd guess 90% of viewers feel the same way. Probably 60% feel B&W is incomplete. Perhaps another 45% feel special effects before CGI are incomplete.

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I was going to try and watch the 1925 version this year, but now you've made me wait longer, just so you don't think I'm only doing so because you've needled me.

Now you know I don't buy this.

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It's hard to think that a remake to something which was already done shows more "originality", but okay. As for sequels, they have nothing to do with remakes, IMO.

Then what the hell is HALLOWEEN 8? Did you rush to the theater expecting something original and new or just the same old thing again? If you say remakes aren't necessary then why on earth do we need seven sequels to HALLOWEEN or (what is it?) ten sequels to FRIDAY THE 13th? Did we really need HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HOUSE OF DRACULA? Were all those MUMMY movies trying to be original and good filmmaking or were they a cheap way to earn money? Did we really need THE EXORCIST 2 or was the studio wanting money off the original? Did THE OMEN 2-4 really need to be made? Did the first one not tell the story good enough? Didn't Craven do all he could do with THE HILLS HAVE EYES without needed part 2?

You keep saying remakes and sequels aren't on the same level and I'd be interested in hearing your reasons for saying this. I'd really like to know why we needed all these sequels.
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post #265 of 2529
1/29/07 at 5:57pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Notes on a Scandal (2006) 8/10
Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett headline an excellent cast in a soapy tale of an aging schoolteacher who develops a love/hate relationship with a new, much younger teacher, who gets herself into hot water by having an affair with one of her students. The plot and the characters sometimes skip a few steps along the way, with Dench turning on a dime between resentment and devotion toward Blanchett's character, but the terrific performances (Bill Nighy is also great in a small role) are well worth seeing.

The San Francisco noir festival started off with a very nice print of Raw Deal, which I saw last year and rated as an 8, but I've bumped it up to a 9 after seeing a really good print at San Francisco's great Castro Theatre. It's a classically bleak and beautifully filmed noir. There's a double bill every day at this festival, with some connecting theme or common person between both movies. The first night's theme was a tribute to actress Marsha Hunt, who co-starred in both movies shown.

Kid Glove Killer (1942) 7/10
This comedy/suspense crime story was more like a '30s whodunit than a noir, although the identity of the killer is known to the audience before the rest of the characters find out. Marsha Hunt co-starred with Van Heflin as a team of forensic scientists trying to figure out who's killing some top local government officials. The emphasis is mostly on the mechanics of the forensics and a potentially deadly love triangle. It doesn't amount to much more than a pleasant distraction, but the charm and chemistry between the two leads is very appealing, and some gags established along the way pay off nicely in a satisfying ending. The audience had a lot of fun with it. Also notable as the first Hollywood movie of director Fred Zinnemann's career.

The second night of the festival was a tribute to screenwriter William Bowers. It started off with Cry Danger, featuring a very entertaining script full of snappy dialogue and classic put-downs. I posted about it a couple of months back after seeing it on TCM. I rated it as an 8 back then, which I'll stick with after seeing it again. There are a couple of plot issues along the way, but the dialogue is really terrific.

Abandoned (1949) 8/10
Bowers did uncredited work on this script, with a ripped-from-the-headlines plot about a cold-blooded baby racket mob that could have made for a pretty dull story, and some amusingly corny "this could happen in your town" narration. But the movie is briskly paced, with a lot of witty banter, some surprisingly intense violence, and a gripping finale, as the hoods all turn on each other. It does seem cobbled together at times, but it holds together well and has some really good suspense. My favorite line, surely one of the touches that Bowers added to the script, was Dennis O'Keefe's good-guy journalist sneering at Raymond Burr's shady private dick that "you going legitimate is like a vulture going vegetarian."

99 River Street (1953) 8/10
Last night's double bill was a tribute to actress Evelyn Keyes. First up was this story of a washed-up boxer turned cab driver who resents his unfaithful wife, and he runs into serious trouble when her association with some criminal elements drags him in as well. Keyes played an aspiring actress who ends up helping the guy in trouble. I thought the script was a bit unfocused in parts, but the cast is great, and Phil Karlson's top-notch direction always keeps things moving. The audience really enjoyed one scene near the end when Keyes goes into an over-the-top vamp routine to try to lure one of the bad guys outside of the cafe. Peggie Castle was scintillatingly hot as the unfaithful wife.

Hell's Half Acre (1954) 6/10
Described in the festival's programming notes as "tiki noir," this Hawaii-based story centers on a woman (played by Evelyn Keyes) who comes to the islands in search of a man whom she thinks could be her long-presumed-dead husband. There are a few decent scenes here and there, but it's mostly boring and static. B-movie queen Marie Windsor walked away with every scene she was in, but there weren't nearly enough of them. The great Elsa Lanchester also had too little to do in her small role as a loopy cab driver. One supporting character was a Hawaiian Peter Lorre knock-off, which was a pretty weird touch.
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post #266 of 2529
1/29/07 at 6:43pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

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Originally Posted by Michael Elliott
And yet you jumped right over the sequel. Have you seen it? Even if not, was it needed or was it a cheap attempt to get money off the original?

Never saw it, but sequels never bugged me like modern remakes do. They're further adventures or exploits, but they don't claim to be "the first movie" all over again. Sorry, it's just the way I see it. You don't have to agree, and you obviously don't.

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Then what the hell is HALLOWEEN 8? Did you rush to the theater expecting something original and new or just the same old thing again?

HALLOWEEN 8 is just that -- HALLOWEEN #8 -- not purporting to be the first "HALLOWEEN" all over again, as with that new Rob Zombie film (which I won't be seeing either).

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If you say remakes aren't necessary

modern remakes -- and particularly, modern remakes of movies which are already plenty "modern" enough.

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then why on earth do we need seven sequels to HALLOWEEN or (what is it?) ten sequels to FRIDAY THE 13th? Did we really need HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HOUSE OF DRACULA? Were all those MUMMY movies trying to be original and good filmmaking or were they a cheap way to earn money? Did we really need THE EXORCIST 2 or was the studio wanting money off the original? Did THE OMEN 2-4 really need to be made? Did the first one not tell the story good enough?

I'm not saying we "need" any of those, and yeah, all those sequels you're mentioning were basically to milk the franchise and make money. So are the modernized remakes. So, give me another sequel or prequel to THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE then -- but don't remake THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (the first).

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You keep saying remakes and sequels aren't on the same level and I'd be interested in hearing your reasons for saying this. I'd really like to know why we needed all these sequels.

I explained it in my first response. I've explained it a lot to you during these discussions during the past 5 years.

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Now you know I don't buy this.

Okay, don't buy that I intended to watch the 1925 soundless BEN-HUR around Easter this year.. In the meantime, you don't have to believe that I've just sat down here at this computer after just having sat through Tod Browning's 1927 silent, THE SHOW (on TCM).

Incidentally, weren't you going to reply to another past post of mine from some time ago once you "got over your cold"?
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post #267 of 2529
1/29/07 at 6:55pm

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

The Show (1927)

While cruising the TV stations I saw that TCM was running this silent film, which I discovered was a Tod Browning movie. This in itself got me interested in watching it where I otherwise would not have, as I've enjoyed Browning's silent films THE UNHOLY THREE and THE UNKNOWN. Well, it turned out that THE SHOW was "average" as far as these things go, and if not for the nice directorial style by Browning here and there (like a strong scene where an actor almost gets his head chopped off on stage) I would have been completely bored. It was a pretty erratic film story-wise anyway, not very discernible, and from what I could make out was about a crooked actor/magician and the girl who desires him, and who happens to be despised by another man (Lionel Barrymore) who wants the woman. At least I can say that it makes me feel even stronger that Browning might not have directed much of DRACULA after all. There's so much more fluidity in the way his scenes play out in his silents, as well as his other sound films (DEVIL DOLL, MARK OF THE VAMPIRE, FREAKS).
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post #268 of 2529
1/29/07 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

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They're further adventures or exploits, but they don't claim to be "the first movie" all over again. Sorry, it's just the way I see it. You don't have to agree, and you obviously don't.

Which remake has ever claimed to be "the first movie" all over again? Again, if you claim to have not seen many of today's remakes then you probably shouldn't have much of an opinion on any certain film but I do know you watched THE HILLS HAVE EYES. How much in common did that have with Craven's original? Both films could stand on their own with both just sharing a similar storyline. The stories of those two films were certainly a lot different than any FRIDAY THE 13TH sequel, which was just the first film done over with different kills.

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So are the modernized remakes. So, give me another sequel or prequel to THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE then -- but don't remake THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (the first).

Umm, yeah. We need more original sequels like the countless horror films you jump all over.

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Incidentally, weren't you going to reply to another past post of mine from some time ago once you "got over your cold"?

To go over the same grounds as we are here? I promise to respond to your viewings of THE GENERAL, SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN and HAXAN (all of which I sent you) when you get done watching your Elvis marathon.


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While cruising the TV stations I saw that TCM was running this silent film, which I discovered was a Tod Browning movie. This in itself got me interested in watching it where I otherwise would not have, as I've enjoyed Browning's silent films THE UNHOLY THREE and THE UNKNOWN. Well, it turned out that THE SHOW was "average" as far as these things go, and if not for the nice directorial style by Browning here and there (like a strong scene where an actor almost gets his head chopped off on stage) I would have been completely bored. It was a pretty erratic film story-wise anyway, not very discernible, and from what I could make out was about a crooked actor/magician and the girl who desires him, and who happens to be despised by another man (Lionel Barrymore) who wants the woman. At least I can say that it makes me feel even stronger that Browning might not have directed much of DRACULA after all. There's so much more fluidity in the way his scenes play out in his silents, as well as his other sound films (DEVIL DOLL, MARK OF THE VAMPIRE, FREAKS).

No mention of Gilbert?

I was curious if you were going to watch this or not but I didn't think you'd enjoy it since Browning's regular (Chaney) wasn't in it. I think the film's already strong reputation will grow somewhat now that more people will be able to view the film. It's a very good companion piece of THE UNKNOWN and FREAKS to complete Browning's little trilogy of films. I'm not sure how the new score is but as I said in another thread, it's going to be hard to beat the score I have from a fan made version. I recorded the TCM version and will try to check it out sometime soon.


01/29/07

Billy the Kid versus Dracula (1966)

William "One Shot" Beaudine directed this film that puts the camp in campy classic. Dracula (John Carradine) gets the hots for a beautiful blonde but her fiance just happens to be the one and only Billy the Kid. Don't be confused by my three star rating because this is certainly one of the worst films ever made. On a technical level is horrible at every level but if you enjoy bad movies then this is one of the greatest entertainments out there. I might honestly be able to say that I laughed more during this movie than any comedy I've ever seen. Carradine's performance is so over the top that you can't help but laugh at his strange facial gestures or his nutty line deliveries. The fake bat is one of the worst ever in a vampire film and the Western stuff is equally batty.

Third Dimensional Murder (1941)

MGM short was originally shown in 3D and TCM showed it that way but sadly I didn't have any glasses. Pete Smith narrates the "action" going on screen, which includes a detective going to a haunted house where he does battle with a witch and Frankenstein's monster. The look of the monster gives some added laughs but the 3D segments are really well done and makes me really hope Warner releases this with some glasses.

Bill of Divorcement, A (1932)

After years in a mental hospital, a man (John Barrymore) returns to his wife (Billie Burke) and daughter (katharine Hepburn) but he doesn't realize the wife has gotten a divorce. I was really shocked to see how much I enjoyed this film from director George Cukor. Some moments are heavy handled but other than that I found this to be the perfect little drama. The highlight is certainly the performance by Barrymore, which is one of the best I've seen from him. He plays it straight for the most part and manages to be quite touching during several scenes. When he has to go over the top, ala insane, that comes off very well too. Burke is good as well and Hepburn, in her screen debut, really shines. David Manners of Dracula fame gives a good performance as well.

Samson in the Amazons Land (199)

Hercules goes to look for Samson who has been kidnapped by a girl gang. Sex follows. Another by Joe D'Amato.

Fred Hott's Sneeze (1894)

Edison's first film is also the first film to get a copyright within the United States. As the title suggests, we see Fred Hott sneeze.

May Irwin Kiss (1896)

This Edison short is believed to be the first movie to ever feature a kiss. May Irwin was a famous actress of the time. Needless to say but the Catholic Church attacked the film for being "bad for people to see".

Corbett and Courtney before the Kinetograph (1894)

Edison film shows the title fight between James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney.

Leonard-Cushing Fight (1896)

Another boxing match, which was sold to theater owners for $22.50 (according to the copyright notice).

Newark Athlete (1891)

Edison film showing an athlete working out.

Men Boxing (1891)

Just what the title says.

We Do It Because (1942)

Passing Parade short about why certain things have become customs. Tipping hats, shaking hands, kissing and other things are explored in this somewhat entertaining film, which also contains an early appearance by Ava Gardner.

Ice (2000)

Really bad, made for TV disaster flick about the sun burning out and another ice age setting in. There's really nothing good in this film outside the interesting story idea but the screenplay does nothing with it. The direction is bad throughout and the performances are all pretty bland. Udo Kier co-stars as the brilliant yet mad scientist.
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post #269 of 2529
1/30/07 at 2:47am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

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Originally Posted by Michael Elliott
Again, if you claim to have not seen many of today's remakes then you probably shouldn't have much of an opinion on any certain film but I do know you watched THE HILLS HAVE EYES. How much in common did that have with Craven's original? Both films could stand on their own with both just sharing a similar storyline.

I thought both were quite similar, actually.
Unfortunately, I have seen my share of modernized remakes to films that were already modern enough in the 1970s, which is how I've arrived at my general feeling on modernized remakes.

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The stories of those two films were certainly a lot different than any FRIDAY THE 13TH sequel, which was just the first film done over with different kills.

You keep mentioning the F13 series, but when it comes to those sequels, that type of formula is all the fans wanted and expected from them. If modernized remakes are going to be so "different", they ought to find their own separate identity with a brand new title.

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To go over the same grounds as we are here?

I'm referring to the post where I proved that you do have certain expectations out of films, and that even you may sometimes judge a movie based on what you want it to be other than what was intended (which is something you have said you don't believe in doing). Since I've known you for the past five years we've always had discussions on every subject and I've never known you to ignore one. You're saying we're "just covering the same grounds" but that hasn't stopped you from talking about me and remakes/sequels/BEN-HUR/Friday the 13th again...

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I promise to respond to your viewings of THE GENERAL, SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN and HAXAN (all of which I sent you) when you get done watching your Elvis marathon.

But I did watch two versions of THE UNHOLY THREE, both of which you also sent me (thank you). I even gave the silent version a respectable rating of ***1/2 (imagine that). By the way -- I sent you a copy of BLOOD AND LACE a couple of years ago. Whatever happened to that one?

As for my Elvis marathon, I won't be done with that for a very long time. I'm watching other things besides Elvis films (did I miss Elvis in SHE DONE HIM WRONG, THE SHOW, NIGHT INTO DAY, or THE CRIMINAL CODE?), and I intend to stretch them out through most of this year, for the 30th anniversary of his passing. I forget - did you see FLAMING STAR yet? If you would also list your viewed films at an indexed site like IMDB I would have checked it out. If you haven't seen it, it's a good dramatic western.

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I was curious if you were going to watch this or not but I didn't think you'd enjoy it since Browning's regular (Chaney) wasn't in it.

Chaney wasn't in Browning's DRACULA either (thank God), or Browning's FREAKS, or DEVIL DOLL, and I still enjoyed them. I also loved the silent films CITY LIGHTS, NOSFERATU and THE MAN WHO LAUGHS and I don't recall spotting Chaney in those either. So your theory there is kaput, although I have no trouble admitting that I have to have something to make me want to see certain films. When it comes to silents, I won't be watching many of them unless they feature Chaney or another actor or director I admire, or they're horror/scifi related, or have some sort of reputation (I watched BIRTH OF A NATION for it's rep and THE DEERSLAYER for Bela Lugosi, but both films stunk up my house). Life's too short to watch every film ever made for the sake of it, and I have no problem saying that I have my own requirements for what I'll check out or not. As I said right there in my notes for THE SHOW, it was Tod Browning which made me interested in seeing it. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. Turns out I pretty much wasted an evening, but that's sometimes the roll of the dice when you check out first-time films.

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I think the film's already strong reputation will grow somewhat now that more people will be able to view the film. It's a very good companion piece of THE UNKNOWN and FREAKS to complete Browning's little trilogy of films. I'm not sure how the new score is but as I said in another thread, it's going to be hard to beat the score I have from a fan made version. I recorded the TCM version and will try to check it out sometime soon.

I never even heard of THE SHOW, what with my not being a film historian and all . I liked the score okay but would have preferred voices. I didn't think you'd already seen the movie, as I checked over in the "director polls" section and you haven't listed it as a film you've seen yet.
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post #270 of 2529
1/30/07 at 10:39am

Re: Track the Films You Watch (2007)

Notes on a Scandal sounds interesting. I'll have to add it to my list. I've just started catching up on new releases and the fall Criterions and I already feel like I'm never going to be done. Especially since now I'm grudingly sharing the Netflix list with my wife.

I unpacked and shelved my DVD's and I have a shelf and a half of unopened Criterions. Maybe by summer I'll finally get to open some of them. Of course most of these I've already seen, so they serve as a good reminder to hold to my pledge to buy no DVD's until the next Deepdiscount sale.

Had no idea Elvis was in a movie like Flaming Star...interesting

Joe, Michael you'd dig the HD Monster Channel, last night they showed Friday the 13th Part IV, followed by House of Dracula.

I'm up to October in my reviews in the old thread. 16 more reviews to go...Maybe by the end of February I can start posting in this one.
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