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Post by 42ndstreetfreak on Sept 9, 2005 14:48:51 GMT -5
"The Wild Bunch" - Pekinpah's truly iconic and VASTLY important Western.
The finale is still as mesmerising, powerful, exciting, cool and poetic as it ever was and just as brutal. And it is the blueprint fro almost all action scenes to come.
John Woo's gunplay movies may have come from a 'Shaw Brothers' 'Swordplay' film seed, but there is FAR more Pekinpah in his Hong Kong masterworks than Chang Cheh.
The "Wild Bunch" finale drips with what would become familiar Woo trademarks (and other directors in the HK action 'Nu Wave').
Not just in the style of the violence and how it is shot, but also in the deeply personal and emotive moments of calm in the storm where friends and allies share a moment together and look at each other in silent conversation before going out to face their destiny.
To see the end of "The Wild Bunch" is to look into a crystal ball and see the finale to "The Killer".
An exceptional film, from an exceptional Director, and both would be the wellspring from which, years later, many more exceptional movies would flow out from.
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Post by Quorthon on Sept 12, 2005 14:38:14 GMT -5
40 Year Old Virgin
Man with the Screaming Brain
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Post by frankenjohn on Sept 12, 2005 15:01:52 GMT -5
Chopping Mall- Cult classic.
Waking Ned Devine- Funny little Irish movie.
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion- Genious.
Prom Night- Great slasher flick.
Welcome to the Dollhouse- A hilarious look at the 7th grade.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 12, 2005 15:02:39 GMT -5
40 Year Old Virgin Man with the Screaming Brain Quorth: What did you think of the Man with the Screaming Brain? For me, painful. I kinda felt like Bruce was getting a little old.....I tried to like it, I really did..... And, while I'm asking questions, did you like 40 Year Old Virgin? |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 12, 2005 15:11:02 GMT -5
MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN (See my comments in the Cult films section)  BEFORE SUNSET (See Richard Linklater in Favorite Directors)  Also, for anyone who hasn't seen THE WILD BUNCH per 42ndStreetFreak's above post, check it out. He knows of what he speaks regarding that movie. |
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Post by Quorthon on Sept 12, 2005 15:52:38 GMT -5
40 Year Old Virgin Man with the Screaming Brain Quorth: What did you think of the Man with the Screaming Brain? For me, painful. I kinda felt like Bruce was getting a little old.....I tried to like it, I really did..... And, while I'm asking questions, did you like 40 Year Old Virgin? 40 Year Old Virgin was hilarious--it's been AGES since I've seen a comedy in a theater. The wife and I were arguably the loudest people there. But an $8 matinee?? What the fuck! No wonder we sneak in our own drinks! Man with the Screaming Brain-- huhhmmm... Well. It no Bubba Ho-Tep. That's fer shurr. I'll say this: It was really well acted and had it's high points (I'm planning on a more detailed review that, hopefully, I'll write tonight). But Bruce just isn't too much of a director, it would seem. I think he should have had old-buddy Coscarelli co-direct it for him. I think two things (aside from some of the film's over-all problems) were working against me--I didn't get to watch it until the midnight "encore," and I don't like watching movies on TV--the commercials and general editing ruin movies for me. It was pretty damn weird, that movie. Oh, and I forgot, I also watched Mystic River. |
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Post by Termination on Sept 13, 2005 4:09:18 GMT -5
Titanic 4 stars
Revisited the 8 year old film & it still amazes me while watching it, time stops. Don't know many 3+ hour films that can do that. Look forawrd to getting the (finally anamorphic widescreen & finally 6.1 Dts Soundtrack) 3-disc special edition this October.
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Post by Quorthon on Sept 13, 2005 8:56:47 GMT -5
Piranha
Review for that and Man with the Screaming Brain added in Review Hell.
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Post by Termination on Sept 14, 2005 9:31:21 GMT -5
Have been watching Lost for the past few days. Only 2 discs - 8 episodes left.
This was a blind purchase for me, one I usually do not make with Tv On DvD sets but I thought it was safe given I knew a little about the show & that J.J. Abrams (Alias) was backing it.
Gord Lacey from tvshowsondvd writes;
Video;
"My decision to wait and watch this on DVD paid off; the transfer of the set looks fabulous! While not as good as the HD episodes would have been, it's far better than the full frame version I would have been watching. I feel sorry for everyone who watches the show in full frame every week; this show is shot for widescreen, and makes use of the entire frame. ABC should be smacked for not airing it in widescreen for everyone, but it gives you another reason to buy the DVD set."
Audio;
"There are 5.1 mixes that sound good, and then there are 5.1 mixes that make you believe you're there, stuck in the scene with the actors. For 3 days I felt as though I was living on the island with the survivors. Birds were chirping, the wind was gusting past me, and there was the haunting howl of something in the jungle." He forgot about the sound of the Tide.
He did mention this which is so true about the audio;
"There were a few times I turned by head to see what caused a sound, only to chuckle to myself when I realized it was part of the show, and not something in my condo. I know I'm listening to a good audio mix when that happens."
Yes the surrounds as well as the front 3 mains are used flawlessly & the anamorphic (1.78:1) widescreen transfer is near HD quality. Yep that good. Gord Says "its the Tv DvD set of the year." While I disagree with so many releases due before this years end, it is definitly in the top 5 for sure & if your already a fan of the show.. that kinda helps warrant this dvd purchase.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 14, 2005 10:23:28 GMT -5
Thanks Term for your DVD commentary on Lost. I dont have it yet. Maybe I'll put it on my Xmas list.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 14, 2005 12:42:38 GMT -5
Watched last night: Richard Lester's THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973), starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Lee & Charlton Heston, but Frank Finlay as Porthos is the scene stealer.
Fun movie. Good hijinks & swordplay. And you can't beat that cast.
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Post by Termination on Sept 14, 2005 23:20:34 GMT -5
Man on the Moon 3/4 stars
The Man, The Myth, The Misunderstanding. I had never been a fan of Andy Kaufman & I also didn't watch Taxi when it aired. I was interested in the lastest Jim Carrey's flicks though so I went to see this in the theaters back in 1999. Having not known Andy's pranks in the past, the intro to the film sure had me confused. After seeing all the highlights of Andy's career portrayed by Jim (which were excellent in the minds of actors & producers who knew him) I thought this was Jim's best acting performance & the story kept me interested mainly because other than Taxi, I didn't know anything about the real Andy & well lets face it.. the shit he stirred up. A fitting title.. Man on the Moon makes me ponder the idea if Andy is still alive & did Neil & company really land on the moon? Thank ya vary Much.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 14, 2005 23:31:18 GMT -5
Watched tonight: Richard Lester's THE FOUR MUSKETEERS (1974), starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Lee & Charlton Heston, but Frank Finlay as Porthos is the scene stealer.
Fun movie. Good hijinks & swordplay. And you can't beat that cast. ;D
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Sept 15, 2005 2:02:01 GMT -5
In film appreciation class -
Singin' in the Rain (1952) - One of the all-time classics. A must-see.
At the movies -
The Man (2005) - Look in my 2005 thread.
At my friend's house -
The Fly (1986) - My friend and I had a lot of fun watching it. And the effects were astounding! Sure beats CG.
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Post by Quorthon on Sept 15, 2005 9:40:15 GMT -5
Had you seen The Fly before, Smitty?
Hollywood stories tell that none other than Mel Brooks (of Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles of course) co-produced the flick. So early screenings tell of a bunch of people heading to the theater with little "bug antennae" on their heads expecting quite a romp. No one expected that demented Cronenberg remake that they got.
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