Two films: L.A. Confidential and The Fugitive. Confidential had that perfect set up and moral turn-around right there in the middle. It looked like the bad guys were caught, L.A. was more prosperous and everything was right and then…bam…little thing called truth started to come out. In The Fugitive, the script’s beats were perfectly pitched and the action is so well wound up and executed.
anyone who hates Army of Darkness is no friend of mine. Dude’s got a time-travelling classic car, a shotgun for an arm, and there are swordfights with undead demon trolls. What else could anyone want?
I liked seeing Wilco and Pavement on some of these lists. Wilco because the band of origin, Uncle Tupelo, gigged a ton up in Champaign, Illinois in the late 80s and early 90s which is why, in Champaign at least, Wilco can do no wrong. I’m from about 50 miles away in a small town where it was really hard to find music outside of Prince, Michael Jackson, hair metal or really glitzy country. I got into Pavement late, only during the reissues, but I love the no-reverb sound on their first album. Loved the more pop-and-hook oriented second album (Crooked Rain Crooked Rain). Wowee Zowee was a little more eccentric but in its way no less catchy. That’s sort of like me — eccentric and catchy :)
Here’s five bands/artists I’ve listened to most recently. Devo, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, MC5, and Leonard Cohen
The thing about well-crafted junk, as David said it, is the moment of beauty you find that you believe no one else has or can. Citizen Kane is a great movie and everyone knows it, but Children Of The Corn is a great junk movie that hardly anyone else likes. I’ll take COC every time.
The Breakfast Club ruled the world in 1985. My sister swears by 16 Candles. As much as I like that film, I say “the chicks cannot hold the smoke.” And “So Ahab, cah boh mon doobage” I thought Ferris was too smug by 1/2, and loathe as I am to admit I’ve never seen Weird Science.
“Keaton always said he didn’t believe in God, but he was afraid of Him. Well I believe in God, Agent Cujan, and the only thing that scares me is Keyzer Sozay.”
Imagine you’re in a damp movie theater. Popcorn and gum everywhere. It’s 100 degrees outside, the a/c is busted inside. The snacks are stale, the soda’s flat, and Satan has queued up, just for you an eternity of _________
Green For Danger was a total mangy dog of a film. And I’m rating just the movie itself and not whatever extras there were. I’m sure they were well written and put together. But that doesn’t distract from how bad this movie was. Sluggish pacing, indifferent performances.
Yeah I can go with Merchant/Ivory films being hellish — except for the one Jane Austen movie they did. I’m a sucker for film adaptations of her work even though an eternity in hell would be spent actually reading her books.
For purity’s sake I promise that I am NOT looking at other people’s messages or looking on the Internet.
Agnes Varda — I’ll be honest and say I can’t name one off the top of my head.
Leni Riefenstahl (Olympia)
Martha Coolidge (I’m pretty sure she includes Fast Times At Ridgemont High in her resume)
Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days)
Barbra Streisand (Prince of Tides)
Penelope Spheeris (The Decline And Fall Of Western Civilization Part 2: The Heavy Metal Years — the most kick ass AND most poignant rock and roll documentary ever.)
Amy Heckerling — Clueless. But did she also direct FT@RH? I’m gonna keep Martha Coolidge as my answer on that one.
and I also know women directed the following: The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very Brady Sequel, the remake of The Parent Trap starring young LiLo. And I also know not only was it the same woman. And I also know she played a beat cop on Hill Street Blues. I know everything about her except her name. ARGHHHHHHH! God it’s like a sneeze and I can’t quite get it out. Looks like I"m off to the IMDB.
Well, crap. Amy Heckerling directed FT@RH. And, oohhh, Betty Thomas did direct The Brady Bunch Movie, but not the sequel and not Parent Trap, which was directed by Nancy Meyers.
Some people might indeed have responded to the horse’s head incident by doing what you said. Mr. Woltz, however, existed in the screenplay as a character who would not do this, who would “fold” as it were. The existence of a second, logical course of action does not negate any other course of action no matter how irrational. Think of that situation like a game of poker. Mr Woltz said “I will not hire him”. Mr Corleone/Hagen raised him a horse’s head. Mr. Woltz then folded. The screenwriter could have written further escalation, but did not. Therefore Mr. Woltz had no choice but to fold. And scream. And scream some more. The screenwriter, possibly with the assistance of a very fine editor, further decreed that the horse’s head killing would be clean and consequence-free. We dissolve then to show Marlon Brando simply shrugging his shoulders (it’s that part that gets the laugh, btw).
Don’t make me go all Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on you with this.
With Barzini and several other of Michael and Vito’s instincts in both films, I kinda grew to accept that criminals don’t really look for logic and evidence when they’re trying to sort out who’s gonna do what. Instead, they go by instinct.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT**********
But the thread does ask “Complaints About The Godfather?” Let me add 2. In Part 2, it shouldna taken Mike 1/2 the movie to figure out Fredo was the traitor in his family. Who got stepped over and just sorta taken for granted — there’s your man. I realize that this was not a big narrative force, it wasn’t that big a mystery but to survive so many years at the top like Mike did, I have to figure he’da put 2+2 together a lot quicker than he did.
I don’t think any of the directors mentioned so far have had any serious “jump the shark” moment or film. And, if they have, it’s only because other of their efforts have been high enough to be able to even attempt it. Scorsese is still vital. Coppola’s doing the wine thing. Minority Report alone makes Spielberg a near-god (were it not for the multiple endings).
Chewbacca’s career peaked with “Return Of The Jedi”. Since then it’s been nothing but a marriage to Cher and appearances on Celebrity Alien Rehab. I guess there’s not much left when you have an all-over-body mullet is there?
I avoided most of the cinematic dogs listed here. Of the movies listed here, I’ve only seen Dark Knight (****), Iron Man (*), Inbanana Jones And The Whatever That Was With The Russians And The Aliens (), and Quarantine (*1/2). Oh, yeah. And Atonement (**)
I don’t suppose I’ll feel much love on this site for formerly incredibly serious horror jones that’s only recently gone down to a merely serious horror film jones. I’m not talking either about the (hack)Saw variety. Lets put it this way. Children Of The Corn would probably be in my top 10 horror list for any given year since its release. Let me put it more plainly. I like Children of the Corn.
I’m surprised no one here listed Uwe Boll’s offerings this year. What were they — Postal and that one with Jason Statham. Not seen ‘em and don’t care for Uwe.
When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
Two films: L.A. Confidential and The Fugitive. Confidential had that perfect set up and moral turn-around right there in the middle. It looked like the bad guys were caught, L.A. was more prosperous and everything was right and then…bam…little thing called truth started to come out. In The Fugitive, the script’s beats were perfectly pitched and the action is so well wound up and executed.
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Movie's you just don't like. over 3 years ago
every single Jim Jarmusch film.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
anyone who hates Army of Darkness is no friend of mine. Dude’s got a time-travelling classic car, a shotgun for an arm, and there are swordfights with undead demon trolls. What else could anyone want?
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Rate The Last Film You Watched over 3 years ago
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ****
Star Trek III, the Search For Spock — ***1/2
Two movies because these two are of a piece. Together they’re 3 3/4 stars.
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thread where we talk about music over 3 years ago
I liked seeing Wilco and Pavement on some of these lists. Wilco because the band of origin, Uncle Tupelo, gigged a ton up in Champaign, Illinois in the late 80s and early 90s which is why, in Champaign at least, Wilco can do no wrong. I’m from about 50 miles away in a small town where it was really hard to find music outside of Prince, Michael Jackson, hair metal or really glitzy country. I got into Pavement late, only during the reissues, but I love the no-reverb sound on their first album. Loved the more pop-and-hook oriented second album (Crooked Rain Crooked Rain). Wowee Zowee was a little more eccentric but in its way no less catchy. That’s sort of like me — eccentric and catchy :)
Here’s five bands/artists I’ve listened to most recently. Devo, Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, MC5, and Leonard Cohen
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thread where we talk about music over 3 years ago
The thing about well-crafted junk, as David said it, is the moment of beauty you find that you believe no one else has or can. Citizen Kane is a great movie and everyone knows it, but Children Of The Corn is a great junk movie that hardly anyone else likes. I’ll take COC every time.
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The Films of John Hughes over 3 years ago
The Breakfast Club ruled the world in 1985. My sister swears by 16 Candles. As much as I like that film, I say “the chicks cannot hold the smoke.” And “So Ahab, cah boh mon doobage” I thought Ferris was too smug by 1/2, and loathe as I am to admit I’ve never seen Weird Science.
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When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
Every single scene in Hard Eight
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When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
T— excellent choice on La Jetee
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VILLAINS. over 3 years ago
(Star Trek fans prepare yourselves)
KHANNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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VILLAINS. over 3 years ago
Delbert Grady in the Shining. And anyone who disagrees with me will have to be…“corrected…if I may be so bold.”
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VILLAINS. over 3 years ago
“Keaton always said he didn’t believe in God, but he was afraid of Him. Well I believe in God, Agent Cujan, and the only thing that scares me is Keyzer Sozay.”
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What Is "Movie Hell" For You? over 3 years ago
Imagine you’re in a damp movie theater. Popcorn and gum everywhere. It’s 100 degrees outside, the a/c is busted inside. The snacks are stale, the soda’s flat, and Satan has queued up, just for you an eternity of _________
I fill in the blank with “Pedro Almodovar films”
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Worst Criterion DVDs over 3 years ago
Green For Danger was a total mangy dog of a film. And I’m rating just the movie itself and not whatever extras there were. I’m sure they were well written and put together. But that doesn’t distract from how bad this movie was. Sluggish pacing, indifferent performances.
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What Is "Movie Hell" For You? over 3 years ago
Yeah I can go with Merchant/Ivory films being hellish — except for the one Jane Austen movie they did. I’m a sucker for film adaptations of her work even though an eternity in hell would be spent actually reading her books.
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Female Directors — How many can you name? over 3 years ago
For purity’s sake I promise that I am NOT looking at other people’s messages or looking on the Internet.
Agnes Varda — I’ll be honest and say I can’t name one off the top of my head.
Leni Riefenstahl (Olympia)
Martha Coolidge (I’m pretty sure she includes Fast Times At Ridgemont High in her resume)
Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days)
Barbra Streisand (Prince of Tides)
Penelope Spheeris (The Decline And Fall Of Western Civilization Part 2: The Heavy Metal Years — the most kick ass AND most poignant rock and roll documentary ever.)
Amy Heckerling — Clueless. But did she also direct FT@RH? I’m gonna keep Martha Coolidge as my answer on that one.
and I also know women directed the following: The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very Brady Sequel, the remake of The Parent Trap starring young LiLo. And I also know not only was it the same woman. And I also know she played a beat cop on Hill Street Blues. I know everything about her except her name. ARGHHHHHHH! God it’s like a sneeze and I can’t quite get it out. Looks like I"m off to the IMDB.
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Female Directors — How many can you name? over 3 years ago
Well, crap. Amy Heckerling directed FT@RH. And, oohhh, Betty Thomas did direct The Brady Bunch Movie, but not the sequel and not Parent Trap, which was directed by Nancy Meyers.
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Female Directors — How many can you name? over 3 years ago
And Very Brady Sequel was directed by Arlene Sanford.
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Objections to The Godfather over 3 years ago
Some people might indeed have responded to the horse’s head incident by doing what you said. Mr. Woltz, however, existed in the screenplay as a character who would not do this, who would “fold” as it were. The existence of a second, logical course of action does not negate any other course of action no matter how irrational. Think of that situation like a game of poker. Mr Woltz said “I will not hire him”. Mr Corleone/Hagen raised him a horse’s head. Mr. Woltz then folded. The screenwriter could have written further escalation, but did not. Therefore Mr. Woltz had no choice but to fold. And scream. And scream some more. The screenwriter, possibly with the assistance of a very fine editor, further decreed that the horse’s head killing would be clean and consequence-free. We dissolve then to show Marlon Brando simply shrugging his shoulders (it’s that part that gets the laugh, btw).
Don’t make me go all Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on you with this.
With Barzini and several other of Michael and Vito’s instincts in both films, I kinda grew to accept that criminals don’t really look for logic and evidence when they’re trying to sort out who’s gonna do what. Instead, they go by instinct.
But the thread does ask “Complaints About The Godfather?” Let me add 2. In Part 2, it shouldna taken Mike 1/2 the movie to figure out Fredo was the traitor in his family. Who got stepped over and just sorta taken for granted — there’s your man. I realize that this was not a big narrative force, it wasn’t that big a mystery but to survive so many years at the top like Mike did, I have to figure he’da put 2+2 together a lot quicker than he did.
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Objections to The Godfather over 3 years ago
Oh, and by “2” complaints I meant “1”
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What Is "Movie Hell" For You? over 3 years ago
“…Godard. Or Adam Sandler”. — LOL at the nice juxtaposition, Steve.
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Philip Seymour Hoffman has had enough over 3 years ago
Hey Sacred, I don’t know where you live but “Doubt” is coming here to Decatur, Illinois. So maybe there’s hope it’ll come to wherever you are.
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? over 3 years ago
I think PT Anderson’s Hard 8 would be a fine Criterion release.
Leni Riefenstahl’s “Olympia”
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Who do you think had it and lost it? When? and Why? over 3 years ago
Rob Reiner had nothing to do with Say Anything. That was Cameron Crowe who directed.
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Who do you think had it and lost it? When? and Why? over 3 years ago
I don’t think any of the directors mentioned so far have had any serious “jump the shark” moment or film. And, if they have, it’s only because other of their efforts have been high enough to be able to even attempt it. Scorsese is still vital. Coppola’s doing the wine thing. Minority Report alone makes Spielberg a near-god (were it not for the multiple endings).
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Who do you think had it and lost it? When? and Why? over 3 years ago
Chewbacca’s career peaked with “Return Of The Jedi”. Since then it’s been nothing but a marriage to Cher and appearances on Celebrity Alien Rehab. I guess there’s not much left when you have an all-over-body mullet is there?
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Who do you think had it and lost it? When? and Why? over 3 years ago
Correction: Chewbacca never married Cher. That was Gregg Alllman. My bad — I mean, they look so much alike.
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WHAT MOVIE WILL YOU BE WATCHING THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE? over 3 years ago
Looks to be “Encounters At The End Of The World” right now. Not because of any tradition or anything. It’s due back at the library the next day.
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Any Cool Xmas Presents? over 3 years ago
The Bourne Trilogy
Collateral
Your movies may be smarter, but my movies can beat up your movies!
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The Worst Films of 2008 over 3 years ago
I avoided most of the cinematic dogs listed here. Of the movies listed here, I’ve only seen Dark Knight (****), Iron Man (*), Inbanana Jones And The Whatever That Was With The Russians And The Aliens (), and Quarantine (*1/2). Oh, yeah. And Atonement (**)
I don’t suppose I’ll feel much love on this site for formerly incredibly serious horror jones that’s only recently gone down to a merely serious horror film jones. I’m not talking either about the (hack)Saw variety. Lets put it this way. Children Of The Corn would probably be in my top 10 horror list for any given year since its release. Let me put it more plainly. I like Children of the Corn.
I’m surprised no one here listed Uwe Boll’s offerings this year. What were they — Postal and that one with Jason Statham. Not seen ‘em and don’t care for Uwe.
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