Seen any good movies? 2008

[techieMoe]

Tonight we watched the Hitchcock classic, "Rear Window."
...
By the end of the picture, you will be on the edge of your seat experiencing anxiety over whether your worst fears will be realised.

Or in a comatose, vegetative state due to absolute paralyzing boredom. I don't mean to knock your choices in films, but this one didn't age well, in my opinion. I put it right up there with Citizen Kane as one of the most overrated old films of all time. Hitchcock was a genius for his time, but his time has passed. His brooding style of storytelling is an interesting footnote in horror cinema, nothing more.

Do yourself a favour. At least for one weekend, forget the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man and make the effort to see a true thriller and suspense classic, "Rear Window," artistically and flawlessly sculpted by Sir Alfred Hitchcock at the peak of his abilities in 1954.

"Classics" are relative. I have a coworker who adores any movie with Humphrey Bogart in it. I've seen only two: Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. The first was indeed what I would call a "classic," because it still holds my attention despite its age. The second was a pulpy piece of crap with a terrible acting performance by Bogey. The most memorable character in that movie was Joel Cairo (played by the infinitely creepy Peter Lorre).

[Dapper Dan]

I put it right up there with Citizen Kane as one of the most overrated old films of all time. Hitchcock was a genius for his time, but his time has passed.

I also love Citizen Kane! It's a bit too long and does get boring in places, but the breathtaking storytelling and cinematography more than make up for it. Citizen Kane broke the mold and became the standard by which all future films were made and viewed.

I have a coworker who adores any movie with Humphrey Bogart in it.

As was/is the case with most well known actors, "Bogey" certainly appeared in his share of stinkers. "Casablanca" does hold up as a classic and keeps you engaged through the entire picture. Another film where you won't find a single weak character. I'd say my second favourite Bogart film is "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" which Speilberg and Lucas "borrowed" from when formulating the Indiana Jones films. Ever see it?

EDIT:

His brooding style of storytelling is an interesting footnote in horror cinema, nothing more.

techieMoe! Are you going to sit there with a straight face and tell me you didn't find "Psycho" disconcerting and entertaining? You didn't jump out of your drawers with your hair standing straight up while viewing the shower scene?? Lol...

[fingal]

I haven't got time to write a proper review, but you might enjoy watching 'He was a quiet man'. Christian Slater is a bored office worker who fantasises about blowing his co-workers away.

He becomes an unintentional hero. It's a tragi-comic film which should hold your attention.

[techieMoe]

I also love Citizen Kane! It's a bit too long and does get boring in places, but the breathtaking storytelling and cinematography more than make up for it. Citizen Kane broke the mold and became the standard by which all future films were made and viewed.

I certainly agree that from a historical film perspective, Citizen Kane did some interesting things. That doesn't mean I also find it entertaining, however. I watch movies strictly for that: to be entertained. With the exception of perhaps RevolutionOS, I rarely watch movies for educational purposes.

As was/is the case with most well known actors, "Bogey" certainly appeared in his share of stinkers.

This is a point I don't see brought up enough when talking about old movies. Just because a movie is old doesn't automatically make it "classic." There was just as much junk thrown on celluloid in the 1930s and 40s as there is now (okay, maybe there's more now, but there was a significant amount still). I do have to admit that my opinion of Bogey went up after I saw Casablanca. He didn't impress me much in The Maltese Falcon.

I'd say my second favourite Bogart film is "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" which Speilberg and Lucas "borrowed" from when formulating the Indiana Jones films. Ever see it?

You're not the first person to suggest that, so I guess I'll toss it onto my Netflix queue. I just recently purchased the individual re-releases of the first and third Indiana Jones movies.

techieMoe! Are you going to sit there with a straight face and tell me you didn't find "Psycho" disconcerting and entertaining? You didn't jump out of your drawers with your hair standing straight up while viewing the shower scene?? Lol...

Haha. Well, perhaps not with a straight face after that visual, but no. I watched Psycho during my "I'm going to watch every horror movie I've missed out on now that I'm old enough" phase in high school. It just didn't scare me. To each their own in that regard. I think scary movies a bit more personal than some genres.

[Dapper Dan]

We went to see "Tropic Thunder" tonight because of all the hype I guess. There were some entertaining moments here and there but overall, we felt it was a waste of our hard earned cash.

I realise this film is a spoof or "take off" on the film industry but still... very excessive crude humour and foul language. I think it might win the award for the most times the "F" word was used in a single film. Robert Downey Jr. does a commendable job playing an Australian actor who plays a black soldier for the film in the film, but it wears quickly.

If you like way over the top action, violence, explosions, grossness, foul language, blood and guts and bathroom humour, you'll love it.

[rokytnji]

Just got through watching

Black Cat White Cat

made in 1998, It was a refreshing treat.

This colorful, fast, and farcical comedy of Gypsy life on the Danube develops a wide cast of larger-than-life characters, built around two octagenarian friends and feuding rivals, Grga and Zarije, and their families. One is boss of the garbage dumps, the other is boss of the cement factories, but both have problems with their offspring. Zarije's good-for-nothing son Matko plans a train heist that will finally bring him respect and wealth but is forced to ask help from Grga. He loses all in a double-cross by his partner, the manic, coke-snorting 'businessman-patriot' Dadan, who demands that he pay the debt by marrying off his son Zare to Dadan's headstrong sister, Afrodita. Complicating the plot further, the innocent Zare has fallen for comely barmaid Ida, who soon initiates him into the mysteries of love. Frenetically paced and hilariously funny, Black Cat, White Cat builds to its uproarious climax, the arranged wedding of Zare and Afrodita, through a slapstick sequence of wild chases, exuberant parties, fake deaths, skullduggery, double-crosses, mishaps, and pratfalls. Its cinematography, as rich as the action, includes Fellini-esque scenes of pigs eating cars and the obligatory flocks of geese. The rousing sound track of Gypsy music adds to the folklore and fun. Actor Srdan Todorovic as the wild Dadan returns from director Emir Kusturica's earlier somber work, Underground, accompanied by an excellent cast, including many Gypsy non- professionals, who display an uncanny family resembance. A ribald, buoyant comedy, Black Cat, White Cat will lift your spirits and leave you dancing.


BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT MOVIE TRAILER PAGE - Videodetective.com

[Redman]

Some good (oldies) ones I recently watched:

- Grey Lady Down
- By Dawn's Early Light
- Ladyhawke

[techieMoe]

I recently watched an old 80s horror/sci-fi flick called Lifeforce. The best way I can describe the plot is: Naked Female Psychic Vampire from Outer Space, with Zombies. It was surprisingly entertaining in a campy way. Patrick Stewart is in it too.

[fingal]

Martial arts movies are fun! Recently saw Kung Fu Hustle (strongly recommend), Shaolin Soccer (good for a laugh).

Best of all, Drunken Master 2 with Jackie Chan. The film was released under another name, so there's room for confusion. I've really binged on chop socky films in this genre, but its been worth it.

The Dragon's Kiss with Jet Li is worth watching. Don't expect good acting or great plots... Do expect to be blown away by spectacular martial arts moves and stunts.

Also - if you have YouTube and good bandwidth - type in Human Weapon and watch loads of interesting action.

[techieMoe]

Martial arts movies are fun! Recently saw Kung Fu Hustle (strongly recommend), Shaolin Soccer (good for a laugh).

Watched both of those myself a while back. Shaolin Soccer was definitely funny, but Kung Fu Hustle was my favorite of the two. There's a tongue-in-cheek reference to Soccer in Hustle too.