Becoming a Hitchcock fan - also watched "Rope" which was brilliant. All set inside an apartment with a cast of no more than eight. Two intellectuals kill a university classmate for the thrill of power. They invite the dead mans father over for supper and drinks, along with the dead mans girlfriend, serve food on the dresser his body is lying in, really perverse stuff. James Stewart is their former lecturer who sees through the innuendo and teases out the truth. This would be a perfect stage play - I imagine it's been done many times.
Rope started out as a stage play, then it was filmed for tv - using the 'long takes' idea first...when Hitchcock heard about this he decided to see if he could do the same in a film version...obviously he could...
Saw "Philomena" on Saturday, starring our very own M, Dame Judi Dench. It's a very moving true try about a mother whose son was given up for adoption and her efforts to trace him, helped by e (real-life) journalist Martin Sixsmith - played by Steve Coogan in a rare straight role. Highly recommended and Dame Judi's performance is typically brilliant in an understated way.
Saw Noah over the weekend. Absolutely hated it. Would have walked out if I'd been alone. I should preface this by saying that I hate most sci-fi/fantasy etc. Alas, thanks to clever editing with the adverts, I hadn't realise that Noah was actually Clash-of-the-Titans meets 300 meets Lord-of-the-Rings meets a soap opera. Peculiarly enough I thought it was the story of a man and his family who build a very large wooden boat, fill it with animals and set sail in a rather nasty storm. Imagine my surprise when I found 50-foot stone monsters with fiery eyes and massive armies carrying metal swords and arrows and launching RPGs at said monsters. Thought the story was rubbish, the dialogue rubbish, the acting over the top and the story....positively yawnful.
Did anybody go see Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby from last summer? I did. I saw it twice in theatres, once by myself and once with my mother. I really enjoy The Great Gatsby. I like Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway just fine. And Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker were great eye-candy, in my humble opinion.
I didn't how to feel about Tom Buchanan though. Because the guy wasn't a villian. He was just a man cheating on his wife with his mistress, but he would never leave his wife for his mistress. So Tom was not completely innocent, but there was some semblance of loyalty within the man, at least towards his own wife. And Jay Gatsby was trying to steal Tom Buchanan's wife away from him.
"Ahem, you know in the future if you're going to steal cars, don't dress like a car thief, man." - Spider-Man
1997 the Odyssey starring Amande Assante. Bond villian actor Christopher Lee pops up halfway through the film as well as Jeron Krabbe.
All in all a pretty good film even though they did butcher Homer's tale up a bit and it was a little low-budget at some points with the sea monsters and cyclopes.
Pulled the Penguin Classics book out of my shelf and had a good read and enjoyed it.
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Watched Blowup again for the umpteenth time. Superb evocation of 60's London. I still don't understand a great deal of the plot - those mime artists for one thing, but it has this uncanny ability to draw me in every time I see it on. David Hemmings is great, as is Vanessa Redgrave and the main plot was later used in De Palma's Blow Out.
Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree".
Agreed, I thought Die hard 4 was pretty good, almost a Bond film in scope, but
5 was very poor. Good car chase though and stunt I'd never screen before, a
Lorry flip as another car crashed into it. -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Frankenstein army, Blair witch type horror, low on suspence high in gore, not
Very good, infact best avoided.
Iron Man 3, great fun with big hollywood effects, well worth a watch.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
james362001Lancaster, California USAPosts: 338MI6 Agent
Was watching Skyfall on EPIX 2. The movie plays very well on television, but I could not tell if that was Michael G. Wilson making a cameo appearance in the scene just after M is standing there with the flag-covered coffins. I believe he is the man behind Tanner.
I need to buy the DVD and use zoom to see if it is him.
Tonight I watched TCM - Turner Classic Movies honoring the late Mickey Rooney. Was watching, Killer McCoy (1947), Boys Town (1938), Men of Boys Town (1941), National Velvet (1944), Babes In Arms (1939).
I saw Captain America - The Winter Soldier over the weekend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was solid, with much more weight and intrigue than one typically finds in a "superhero movie", the action scenes were exciting and well-paced, and the acting was excellent. In his third appearance as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Evans has really grown in the role. He is both commanding and touching in this movie. Scarlett Johansson does fine work as well, as does the always formidable Sam Jackson. And you can't miss with a seasoned star like Robert Redford, who makes the most of his pivotal role. I especially liked Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/The Falcon. He plays a very personable and welcome ally to Captain America and I hope to see him in that role in several more Marvel films. I have seen some reviews that claim this film is better than The Avengers and while I must say that I enjoyed The Avengers a bit more, Captain America - The Winter Soldier is a close second. If you are a fan of this genre, I highly recommend this movie.
I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier last week and I echo Blackleiter's comments that it was a really entertaining film and a strong entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The acting was solid, the action exhilarating and the plot kept you guessing and engaged. I particularly appreciated the fact that the film largely plays it straight and when there is humor, it doesn't undercut the film the way it did in Iron Man 3. Having Robert Redford was an inspired move since the film subtly emulated the political conspiracy thrillers that he starred in back in the 1970s.
Even though the movie does a good job of summarizing Cap's history, it does have a lot of references to the first Captain America film so anyone who hasn't seen that one may get a bit lost when events and characters surface again. There are also lots of subtle nods to the Captain America comics and larger Marvel universe which may fly over the casual filmgoer's head but hardcore comics fans will smile at.
Overall, the film is a heck of a ride and easily the best entry in "Phase 2" (the Marvel films released since the Avengers) so far.
Watched The Purge,
Great story idea, for 12 hours one night a year there is no law and you can
commit any crime. Sadly the film becomes a " Home Invasion " movie, when
It could have been expanded to show more stories of others.
I hope this happens in " The Purge 2 ". Also for the story to work you have to
Accept that all Americans are really frustrated psychopaths.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
just watching monty pythons meaning of life on the tv , just got to the scene where Mr Creosote ,the big fat diner explodes
still very funny after all these years )
Comments
Rope started out as a stage play, then it was filmed for tv - using the 'long takes' idea first...when Hitchcock heard about this he decided to see if he could do the same in a film version...obviously he could...
I didn't how to feel about Tom Buchanan though. Because the guy wasn't a villian. He was just a man cheating on his wife with his mistress, but he would never leave his wife for his mistress. So Tom was not completely innocent, but there was some semblance of loyalty within the man, at least towards his own wife. And Jay Gatsby was trying to steal Tom Buchanan's wife away from him.
True, although she looks rather gaunt. Like she's married to a vegetarian, or something
All in all a pretty good film even though they did butcher Homer's tale up a bit and it was a little low-budget at some points with the sea monsters and cyclopes.
Pulled the Penguin Classics book out of my shelf and had a good read and enjoyed it.
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
5 was very poor. Good car chase though and stunt I'd never screen before, a
Lorry flip as another car crashed into it. -{
Very good, infact best avoided.
Iron Man 3, great fun with big hollywood effects, well worth a watch.
I need to buy the DVD and use zoom to see if it is him.
Tonight I watched TCM - Turner Classic Movies honoring the late Mickey Rooney. Was watching, Killer McCoy (1947), Boys Town (1938), Men of Boys Town (1941), National Velvet (1944), Babes In Arms (1939).
Remember I should have checked to see his " guest appearance "
Even though the movie does a good job of summarizing Cap's history, it does have a lot of references to the first Captain America film so anyone who hasn't seen that one may get a bit lost when events and characters surface again. There are also lots of subtle nods to the Captain America comics and larger Marvel universe which may fly over the casual filmgoer's head but hardcore comics fans will smile at.
Overall, the film is a heck of a ride and easily the best entry in "Phase 2" (the Marvel films released since the Avengers) so far.
Great story idea, for 12 hours one night a year there is no law and you can
commit any crime. Sadly the film becomes a " Home Invasion " movie, when
It could have been expanded to show more stories of others.
I hope this happens in " The Purge 2 ". Also for the story to work you have to
Accept that all Americans are really frustrated psychopaths.
Unfortunately, it seems sometimes that it might not be that far from the truth!
still very funny after all these years
I think I saw that one!