What was the last movie you saw?

[AE35Unit]

Watched Independence Day because we got a copy of the sequel for Christmas. We watched that straight after. Opening for a third film?

 

[JunkMonkey]

I would say in its defence that this is likely that it was very much a film of its time and therefore ANYTHING other than vanilla hetro was bad (and even unmarried hetro was bad and dangerous)

Hmmm. Yes it is a film of its time but, as I remember it, two of the central characters are getting married because she is (very) pregnant by him. She wants to get married, he's an atheist and less than enthusiastic. This film didn't conform to the Hollywood standards of the day - why should it? It wasn't a Hollywood film, or even an American one. All our heroes die. The pregnant woman is shot dead in the street. Others, including a priest, are executed. Not a happy ending in sight. Just wish the needless use of gay stereotypes had been avoided.

 

[Abernovo]

Don't usually do bad film critiques, but just watched Vice (2015). My advice: don't, just don't. I'm going to be generous, and give it 1.5/10. Not sure why even that high. It's an awful wannabe cross between Blade Runner (with a couple of scenes blatantly recreated in homage (that may have been sarcasm)) and Westworld, which descends into a typical off-Hollywood mindless shoot-em-up.

What really makes it bad is that you can see there was the possibility for a good film in there. The concept is far from original (artificial human becomes fully conscious and breaks free, evil corporation tries to get her back, good but jaded cop has hero complex), but there was a potential to make much more than it was. The opening scene was actually quite good, before it went full-on violent misogyny (for the plot, natch) and, from there, to formula rehash of every bad sci-fi AI, and cop, cliche possible. Plus plot holes you could drive an articulated lorry through, and acting which was more wooden than Professor Yaffle from Bagpuss. Maybe there were multiple screenwriters, and the good writer was only allowed one scene. Do yourself a favour and spend ninety minutes of your life doing something much more interesting than watching this movie.

 

[Jeffbert]

"The Witchfinder General (The Conqueror Worm)" (1968)

Classic British horror starring Vincent Price and Ian Ogilvy.

Made on a minuscule budget of £100,000, and follows the fictional account of a 17th century English lawyer and self-proclaimed witch hunter, Matthew Hopkins.

A very well received film by critics and audiences alike. But also carried an air of controversy due to the explicit and excessive torture scenes - some of which were subsequently censored by the British Board of Film Classification. (Although the US version remained largely uncut)

Great film, and perhaps one of Prices' finest roles as the sadistic torturer, Hopkins. Perhaps a little on the long side, and the 2nd act does lose direction before coming back into focus for the final, ultra-violent stanza.

3/5

Witchfinder General (film) - Wikipedia

I heard somewhere that VP was rather surprised to learn that he was in a film called The Conqueror Worm, until he somebody said that it was the U.S. version of TWG! I saw these (as I recall TCW added some scenes with American actors) several times, but also a similar film with Herbert Lom (Chief Inspector Dreyfus in the P. Panther films) as the inquisitor. Without watching it again, I cannot say which one was the meanest. I know there was at least one other in the same basic plot that I saw, but no details come to mind.

I don't know if I would call TWP Price's most vile role, especially if Dr. Phibes is considered in both those films. Theater of Blood also comes to mind, but I am tempted to think of that film as somewhat comedic.

 

[HanaBi]

I heard somewhere that VP was rather surprised to learn that he was in a film called The Conqueror Worm, until he somebody said that it was the U.S. version of TWG! I saw these (as I recall TCW added some scenes with American actors) several times, but also a similar film with Herbert Lom (Chief Inspector Dreyfus in the P. Panther films) as the inquisitor. Without watching it again, I cannot say which one was the meanest. I know there was at least one other in the same basic plot that I saw, but no details come to mind.

I don't know if I would call TWP Price's most vile role, especially if Dr. Phibes is considered in both those films. Theater of Blood also comes to mind, but I am tempted to think of that film as somewhat comedic.

I did read somewhere (either on Wiki, Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb), that Price played Hopkins with serious intent (despite many clashes with the director). In most other Price/horror flicks he does tend to "camp" his role slightly, and ToB is a perfect example of this.

 

[Boneman]

Yesterday played hooky and saw A Monster Calls followed by Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Preferred a monster calls... very moving film, and it's not for children!

 

[HanaBi]

Got to see Rogue One at the cinema earlier this evening!

Absolutely terrific couple of hours; and is certainly on a par with "A New Hope", but just falls a little short on "Empire...."

More please!

4/5

 

[J Riff]

The Green Zone - man Damon runs around as Baghdad blows up. Judge Dredd, Stallone, not so bad as remembered. 10,000 BC - well I missed this one somehow, and it has some of the best Mammoth action, and big pyramids, ever flimed. Dumb, though. The Arrival.... fehhh, didn't care for it all all.
up next - rewatch of Battlefield Earth (girds loins)

 

[J Riff]

Agh - Battlefield Earth, followed by Tyranno's Claw. They were on, I tried to stay focused, and remember what happened, but no. Tyranno has some dumb dinos, and weird bursts of synthesizer music, and there is no dialogue, only grunting. Battlefield Earth, well just nevermind. *

 

[AE35Unit]

Never watched Battlefield Earth. Don't think I want to

 

[J Riff]

Ohhhhh welll... it's just guys yknow... who are like stupid apes, but by the end of the movie they are flying spaceships n' stuff...
I tried to wAtch a Bill Murray thing... Underwater with Steve Zissou?... but it just flaggelated along until the DEL key consigned it to a deep 6ing.

 

[HanaBi]

"Bicycle Thieves" (1948)

A simple story wonderfully executed with a cast consisting mostly of amateurs, and an ending that will break even the darkest of hearts!

Set in post-war Italy, it depicts a father's desperate bid to find his stolen bicycle in order to remain in employment and thus support his impoverishe wife and young son.

With such a basic storyline one could be forgiven in thinking this wouldn't make for a particularly entertaining/interesting 93 minutes. But thanks to terrific performances from all and sundry both in front and behind the camera, those 93 minutes pull on the heartstrings and you're taken on a emotional roller-coaster ride.

This is my second taste of Italian neorealism in film: the first being "Rome:Open City", a film I reviewed here just a few days ago. "Bicycle Thieves" follows the same basic principles, and may not suit everyone's tastes. Very much a case of "Abandon hope all ye who watch here...."

But stick with it because the final 5 minutes will have you gripped to your seat, heart in mouth, and possibly a tissue close to one's eye.

Wonderful.

5/5





Bicycle Thieves - Wikipedia

 

[Jeffbert]

I am certain that I saw Bicycle Thieves (1948) on TCM within the last 2 years, though I remember little. I usually watch the foreign language films the TCM shows, as I have never been abroad, & have no experiences of such.

I am in the midst of watching the silent version of Last of the Mohicans. I always liked Wallace Beery, whose usual portrayal of bad guys has a good streak in it; though not so, in the silent movies.

 

[J Riff]

Battle of Los Angeles. Aliens. They invade. Soldiers shoot them and make speeches to the kids they save, and their girlfriends. There, now you write a synopsis for a full-length action movie.

 

[Vince W]

Battle of Los Angeles. Aliens. They invade. Soldiers shoot them and make speeches to the kids they save, and their girlfriends. There, now you write a synopsis for a full-length action movie.

Isn't that the full length synopsis of that film?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

In This House of Brede (1975)

My better half read the novel by Rumer Godden (who also wrote the novel Black Narcissus which became the classic film of the same name) adapted into this made-for-TV film, so we watched it. I am told that it really boiled down the events in the novel to the bone. That must be why years go by between several scenes. In essence, it's the story of a successful businesswoman who becomes a nun in a contemplative order. (If I got the hardly spoken back story right, her husband and child are dead.) No major plot; we see the married man who loves her beg her to reconsider; we see a very young nun with a bad relationship with her mother develop a daughterly affection for her; we see the order deal with Japanese women who want to become nuns in the order so they can found their own order in their native land. It's all very quiet and sedate. Diana Rigg stars in the lead role.

 

[J Riff]

Yes tis Vince. It was dumb and disappointing, with a few okay moments of ETs, well, robots at least, running and shooting. The marines save the kids, from the school bus, that's what keeps it scary those darn kids whimpering as bullets richochet around them pweeeeee* - , because the ET bots are lousy shots of course. FAr too much talk, as guys with WW2 weapons fight off interstellar invaders in the streets of Santa Monica.
Next - 3:10 to Yuma. For some reason I lost interest as it became apparent that the twist was going to be the bad guy actually giving up to the good guy so he could care for his family and ranch. And, too much gunplay, not believable, like StarWars, these bad guys need to spend more time on the range.

 

[AE35Unit]

The Martian
Loved it. Tho I'm not sure Mars is that red, more yellow ochre I think. But otherwise a good film. And I think Clarke would have smiled at the use of a slingshot manoeuvre,a device he used in 2010:Odyssey 2

 

[Rodders]

Terminator 2 was on last night. Twenty years old and it's still a brilliant movie.

 

[J Riff]

Journey To The Centre of the Earth, 2008, hey, not bad. Starship Troopers Invasion, animated, not good.