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Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 10:15 am
by Ron Burgundy
Heaven's Gate
Cant say i disliked it. And im not completely sure which version i watched- But i thought the story could have been told a little better. Sure there is a subtlety to showing who each character truly is Kris Kristofferson being courageous and honorable, Christopher Walken being jealous but still loyal and the late John Hurt being classy but dishonorable- However, i felt the film veered off into drab scenes for slightly too long. I know ill have to give it another go, and study more so the heart of the story, rather than the unfolding events (which i now know what is to come) and is truly a sad state of affairs. The events that you witness are that of a list of foreign citizens who are to be basically killed by a bunch of paid mercenaries, from a list that was apparently approved all the way up to the President. Still, its no Deer Hunter.
6/10

Oculus
About a mirror which has been responsible for turning their owners upon generations completely mad, just bonkers. A pair of siblings are at the heart of it all where some non linear story telling gives the viewers some trouble piecing things together until the story more or less becomes linear. Thats probably the best way to tell you without giving away any spoilers, sorry i'm terrible when it come to that- and i hate it myself when it do hear them. Some major plot holes and poor characters without much meaning or history make it a bit of a mess, though somewhat an entertaining mess.
5.5/10

Conan the Destroyer
Way, way overdue for this one. Ive attempted watching it before but didn't get through the first 20 or so mins. But in the end, the cheese won me over. With no less than a wooden Wilt (the stilt) Chamberlin as bodyguard to this princess Conan is also part bodyguard to and a few other warrior/assassin/cheese fooder types along for the fungus laden ride. It really didn't match the predecessor, which had more cheese, instead replaced with corn. But, when you think of a movie that is so bad that its good, this fits the bill perfectly.
4.5/10

And currently halfway through Captain Fantastic, which so far is much better than the films above- about a family who live (and learn quite well) off grid going to across country to their mothers funeral.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 11:03 am
by Buscemi
Mortensen gave last year's best performance in Captain Fantastic. But of course, the other Affleck brother and Ryan Gosling had to get all the attention.

The hype machine can be cruel.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 5:30 pm
by transformers2
I don't understand the acclaim for Mortensen's performance. I wanted his character to get brutally murdered by the time the 30 minute mark rolled around.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: April 1st, 2017, 10:34 am
by Ron Burgundy
currently watching: O.J: Made in America, halfway thru part 3 (of 5)

Im still on the fence about the societies involvement both before and after and the mans actions. I dont want to say much pre- ending but honestly something is very wrong with the USA. How can a black celebrity have zero views on the whole black movement? And how can the media treat it as not weird? So much wrong, so much intrigue, so much we will never know...

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: April 1st, 2017, 10:50 am
by Buscemi
I haven't seen the documentary (I have the Blu-ray on hold at the library) but a lot of it was one of those "you had to be there" cases. My mom used to tell me the story about how we were actually in the Los Angeles area when the chase happened (my mom, my sister, and I were visiting cousins then and that experience 23 years ago has forever soured my mom on ever visiting California again). And I know someone who apparently knew Ronald Goldman.

However, I can confirm that the the media circus surrounding the O.J. case single-handedly created the current shape of mainstream media that goes for sensationalism over the truth, only defends a certain few with power, influence important decisions without a shred of fact or dignity, and all wants to have the same viewpoints in an eternal quest for ratings. It also creates a societal impact where people can be completely hateful and get away with it.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: August 15th, 2017, 2:53 am
by Ron Burgundy
Been getting through a little bit this week, but for 1 reason or another i haven't finished anything:

what should i finish first? (Supposing i can get em all)

White Squall
My Fellow Americans
Two Days One Night

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: August 15th, 2017, 7:33 am
by Buscemi2
Watched Escape from New York in a theatre last night. After sitting through three trailers (yes, they showed trailers for new movies* before a one-night-only screening of a 36 year movie) and an intro where a Captain Lou Albano-like figure misquoted 80's movies, I got to see a DCP courtesy of Rialto Pictures and Studiocanal of John Carpenter's introduction to one of cinema's most famous antiheroes, Snake Plissken. Watching the film with an audience, one can see how even today, the film holds up extremely well. Despite the dated technology and 1997 setting, there is still a sense of dread and fear in the feeling that all this could happen tomorrow and either we would too apathetic to do anything about it or we would all be for a whole city being walled out and left to the most dangerous of people (though personally, I think a real life Manhattan Island would be full of people who only committed minor crimes or were innocent while the real killers would go free and either be the ones dealing the law or use loopholes to avoid jail time). Also, it might be the best example of a futuristic western. All you need to do is change the setting from 1997 to possibly 1897 and it is a western.

The DCP, a newer master (as noted by the 2014 Studiocanal logo replacing the Avco Embassy logo from the original theatrical release), is a bit of a mixed bag on a big screen. There are some focus issues, though that might have been either DNR or the film stock quality, but for the most part, it's watchable and after a while, you ignore it as you're glued to the film. The sound mix seemed to be a 5.1 remix of the original mono and is a similar story (I think the projectionist simply turned down the audio and only the opening credits sounded different than the rest).

In the end, my first viewing of a revival at an Alamo Drafthouse was better than I expected. It's a little expensive for me at $10 a show ($15 if you attend the Movie Party series, Labyrinth sold out in a day and Steel Magnolias pre-sold so well that a second show had to be added) to go once or twice a week but I'll try to do one once a month. And once they start getting 35mm prints (one auditorium here is supposed to have a projection so things like Thunder Cops II can play), it will be really nice.

In other news, I found out the Close Encounters of the Third Kind reissue will indeed be a wide release. Hoping for that and Terminator 2 (an AMC exclusive on the 25th, though the AMC here's booking often makes little sense) to arrive here.

* - If you must be anal about it, the trailers were for Kingsman: The Golden Circle (again, and apparently the Alamo Drafthouse employees also wonder why this trailer is run before everything), Blade Runner 2049, and Logan Lucky.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: August 15th, 2017, 1:35 pm
by Chienfantome
Ron Burgundy wrote:Been getting through a little bit this week, but for 1 reason or another i haven't finished anything:

what should i finish first? (Supposing i can get em all)

White Squall
My Fellow Americans
Two Days One Night
Haven't seen White Squall since the late 90's. Enjoyed it then, but it was a long time ago. Don't know My fellow Americans. Two Days One Night, meh, I'm no Dardennes fan.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 8:32 pm
by Geezer
Love My Fellow Americans. Funny stuff!

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: September 4th, 2017, 7:45 pm
by Buscemi2
Went to the reissue of Close Encounters of the Third Kind today. Much like other Spielberg films, there's nothing like seeing it in a theatre. The version in this return is Spielberg's director's cut (as noted by the 1980 amended copyright date and the ending from the original version) and the new 4K master looks gorgeous. Also included before the movie is a featurette done for the new Blu-ray with Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Denis Villeneuve talking about the film. The Abrams and Villeneuve material is really just fluff but Abrams' comments do give a perspective I'd never thought of before in that it's more of a film about dysfunctional and broken families than it is about aliens. Also, the featurette is filled with spoilers so those who haven't seen the film should leave the auditorium and not re-enter until the Columbia Sunburst appears on screen.

I do have to wonder if Sony may plan more nationwide reissues in the near future. It was puzzling that they didn't for Taxi Driver last year (it seems like every time this returns, it's always very limited or a one night only thing). They probably don't have anything with wide appeal for next year but Dr. Strangelove and Easy Rider have anniversaries in 2019.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: October 4th, 2017, 4:03 pm
by Buscemi2
Just RSVP'd for a free showing (well, I had to pay for a $5 food voucher to guarantee my seat but it's still cheaper than a typical evening show) of Psycho on Tuesday. In addition, I'll be seeing Dead/Alive tomorrow night (apparently, this is the longer version that's never been released in the US).

This month of horror films at the Drafthouse should be exciting (and I might go to a few more before the month's up, some that catch my eye include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist, Alien, Evil Dead II, Halloween, and Murder by Death).

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: October 5th, 2017, 11:43 pm
by Buscemi2
Came back from the Dead/Alive screening. Turns out it was the shorter version (Jackson must still be restoring the long version) and the DCP master (taken from an original US release print, as noted by the cue marks) was not in the best shape but it was still an enjoyable experience to see Peter Jackson's magnum opus on a movie theatre screen. I've also never seen so much water served at a screening (I figured it was a chaser for all the gore).

Before the movie, a lot of things were shown. Seven trailers (the original Japanese trailer for Kiki's Delivery Service, Madman, and Zombie Lake during the pre-show, The Shape of Water, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the recently delayed Death Wish, and Jigsaw after the lights dimmed), two animated shorts (one was Skeleton Frolic), a vintage PSA for the YMCA, and a segment from a shot-on-video horror film (that somehow is more interesting than much of today's indie films).

It will be interesting to see how Psycho will be like on Tuesday.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: October 10th, 2017, 10:30 pm
by Buscemi2
Got back from the Psycho screening about an hour ago. The auditorium was nearly full (people like free stuff) and I used my voucher on a Citrus Dreamsicle (basically a French vanilla shake with an orange slice and whipped cream on top, straw typically used for bubble tea provided so it comes up smooth). DCP seemed to be sourced from a newer, pre-2012 master (noted by the 1997 Universal logo and redone sound work for the 5.1 mix). And unlike most horror movies I see, the crowd was respectful for the whole movie (of course, the introduction before the movie asked us to take note of Hitchcock's use of foreshadowing).

Pre-show consisted of two trailers (Die! Die! My Darling and the original six-minute Psycho trailer), Anthony Perkins on Password and Perkins singing on a variety show, John Candy playing Hitchcock on an SCTV sketch, a vintage commercial for shower caps, and a Psycho-themed music video. Three trailers for upcoming movies (The Shape of Water, Murder on the Orient Express, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) were also included.

There's plenty more screenings happening but I might do two more (looking at the 35mm showing of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Murder by Death). Sunday I might be catching Brawl in Cell Block 99 (I'm surprised that it's showing here).

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: October 22nd, 2017, 10:32 pm
by Buscemi2
Just attended a screening of the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It was not the 35mm version as originally announced (though that may have just been for the first screening a few days earlier, maybe Quentin needed the print for his theatre for Friday's New Bev double feature of it and Eaten Alive) but the 4K restoration from 2014 that was shown. As I've said before, this is the best I've ever seen the film look (it was shot on 16mm so it's always going to look grainy). I also loved that the audience stayed quiet the whole time throughout (well, except for the really slow eater next to me who would laugh at things that weren't funny). It's still the best film in the series and no film will ever top it.

Included were eight trailers (Body Melt, Street Trash, Mr. Sardonicus, and the 1958 version of The Fly in the pre-show, The Shape of Water, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Death Wish, and Jigsaw before the movie), the opening to Scanners, some vintage commercials for Shasta, Creepy Crawlers, and bubble bath, an old theatre snipe advertising a horror-themed live show, and some bizarre footage of a Hong Kong film with monks chewing food for a comatose youth.

Re: What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in

Posted: October 29th, 2017, 11:09 pm
by Buscemi2
Attended a screening of Murder by Death tonight. For a 41-year-old movie that's not well remembered today (it's still not on commercial Blu-ray anywhere), it can still pack the house. The showing was a near-sellout and there was even applause at the end. The film itself is more or less Clue before Clue, with the similar guests invited to a party and have to team up to solve a murder plot with hijinks ensuing. The main differences are that 1. Neil Simon wrote this one and 2. it's the ultimate parody of the mystery genre. The whole film is a deconstruction of the detective characters (the main characters are parodies of famous literary characters) and the cliches (and the climax plays even better today with all of the thrillers over the past few decades featuring ridiculous endings). Some of it doesn't hold up as well (mainly in Peter Sellers' character, though much like Peter Falk's character with the hard-boiled private eye, he's making fun of the stereotyping seen in the Charlie Chan adaptations) but it's still a fun comedy that was not surprisingly a big hit in its day (I'm convinced a lot of people in attendance did see it during its original release or during the 1977 reissue).

The film was shown from a Blu-ray provided by Sony and though the master needs work, it's still better than a DVD. In addition, a lot of trailers were shown (including one for the new Murder on the Orient Express, fitting since Hercule Poirot is also parodied), an old newsreel promoting the Hammer version of The Mummy, vintage commercials, and theatre snipes were shown before the screening.