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Apart from Potter, I'm also doing a bit of a
JOHN CARPENTER WRITTEN and / or DIRECTED THEATRICAL MOVIE RETROSPECTIVE
1 - DARK STAR (1974)
Co-written & directed by Carpenter
A parody of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY for people who understood everything about that film except what it's truly about, that's how I'd describe DARK STAR, a crazy yet remarkably well crafted collaboration between Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon, whose primary claim to fame is, of course, ALIEN. Hints of the latter can already be found in DARK STAR as well as minor hints of Carpenter's later box office hit HALLOWEEN. I'm quite impressed with the fine visuals of this film, given its meagre $60 000 budget. Carpenter also provided a very nice score, simple yet efficient, which would become something of a trademark of his. But the story is a bit - err - strange.
Overall, DARK STAR isn't the sort of film that I'd recommend to everyone. It helps if you're merely curious about stuff from earlier in Carpenter and O'Bannon's career, or if loopy sci-fi made by a bunch of potential stoners is your thing. In that case, it's actually quite good. But this isn't mainstream stuff. So if you're giving this nice little film a try, please understand what you're in for.
RANKINGS
Dark Star: 6,5/10
Star Trek and Into Darkness. :)
What a true master filmmaker Chaplin was, such an enjoyable experience I watched it the morning after the night before.
Visually stunning, perfect timing, amazing production for '36. The last true silent era film. If you've not seen it, and you're a fan of film, then I implore you to sit down and see this.
Next up is The Great Dictator.
Then I'll head back and rewatch, The Kid, The Gold Rush, City Lights again.
Enjoyed it very much.
Least favourite definitely PHILOSPHER'S STONE.
These Potter films are getting better with every movie for me. GOB bravely explores even darker territory than its predecessor, though I must admit that the hints of a teenage romcom were insufferable at times. Fortunately, they were kept to a strict minimum.
JOHN CARPENTER WRITTEN and / or DIRECTED THEATRICAL MOVIE RETROSPECTIVE
2 - ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)
Written & directed by Carpenter
Gang violence leads to vengeance which in turn leads to more violence and one police station under assault. Trapped inside are cops, criminals and one poor citizen who unwillingly started it all. Can the police maintain order when at war?
Austin Stoker, best known to me his role in BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF APES, and Carpenter regular Nancy Loomis (Annie in HALLOWEEN, Tom Atkin's ex-wife in HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH and Janet Leigh's sarcastic secretary in THE FOG) lead the cast along with Darwin Joston and Tony Burton of ROCKY fame. Carpenter provides a catchy score for this one too.
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 is a gripping action thriller that builds suspense early on and keeps things tense and interesting till the final second. Masterfully shot, despite the low budget of $100 000, this film showcases the strength of Carpenter as a young visual storyteller.
This is also one of a couple of Carpenter films that were eventually remade. The 2005 remake, starring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne, puts a fresh spin on the whole concept and leaves me quite satisfied too, despite a lack of both critical appreciation and financial success.
I'm going to recommend ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. Brutal, nonsensical gang violence sadly remains topical, and I honestly think that this film knows how to portray it in a frightening, realistic manner. It's still no TROPA DI ELITE because its messages are far less political - Carpenter and politics? Not in a million years! - but there's enough in here to make us question our own morality when faced with the threats this movie is built on.
RANKINGS
Assault on Precinct 13: 8/10
Dark Star: 6,5/10
When I was growing up, Goblet was probably my favorite film of the series at a very consistent level, and probably my most watched Potter film too. I was twelve at the time it came out and was taken aback by just how awesome it was to see Harry in the center of a crazy wizarding tournament that tested his wits to their ends. I'd loved the book and was through the moon to see it brought to life on screen, and to see Harry really coming into his own as a young wizard.
While Harry is a survivor, I liked that this movie and later ones explored his self doubt about his own abilities.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on Order of the Phoenix. :)
I never went this long without watching movies.
As my life more or less has underwent a new start I will first watch all my beloved all-time favourites.
The first is: FUNNY GIRL
It was one of those life-changing experiences seeing it as a young teen on TV.
The last five minutes of the movie practically became one of the themes of my life.
It's not only the best song ever, but Barbra's performance is breathtaking.
The movie itself is a masterpiece, the best musical ever, yes I even prefer it to The Sound Of Music which is the second best musical ever.
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It was great, a true spectral to be had. The cast really shines in this movie and unlike the last two which had too much fast pacing, This one is a little slower and allowed to breathe. Michael Giacchino delivers his best Trek score yet. Sometimes channeling the late Jerry Goldsmith and John Barry. It truly is the best of the 3 reboot movies. Lastly, This was a great film to celebrate Star Trek's 50th Anniversary with. I highly recommend it.
Finally. After many years, I was able to rewatch this, the original entry in the Bourne series. I had been meaning to get to it for some time, but with US political conventions and what not, I was unable up to now. This is a truly benchmark film. There is no other way to describe it.
The opening scenes are as brilliant as I remember them. Bourne floating near dead in the Mediterranean Sea, with John Powell's magnificent, sinister score playing in the background....... There are so many other great moments, including the confrontation with the Kantonspolizei Zürich in the park, the incredible US Embassy escape, meeting Marie, the fight at the apartment in Paris, the Mini car chase (evoking Ronin), the inside joke of Clive Owen gunning the 3-Series at night (BMW The Hire fans know what I'm talking about), Pont Neuf, the final encounter in the Treadstone HQ & of course Moby's Exteme Ways.
Damon is incredible in the role of Jason Bourne. It was made for him. You can sense his fear as he awakens, unable to recall who he is, why he acts the way he does or why he can do what he does. His innocence and fear are palpable. As the horrible truth of his identity unfolds throughout the film, we can relate to his disgust with himself because Matt makes us feel it. We also can sense his mind working quickly as he's put into tricky situations which he needs to extricate himself from. Outstanding work. Franka Potente is marvellous as Marie. I wish her character stayed with us longer, because she humanizes Bourne and their chemistry together is genuine. I love the little jokes she throws out from time to time in Paris, and how she visibly transforms into a vomiting wreck (one of many things which Bond copied by the way) after that first Paris fight (which is still phenomenal today too).
When watching this again, my mind was cast back to that first night in 2002. What a great experience it was. The score, the suspense, Damon, the real European locations (which we are immersed in). I was ecstatic. All this at a time when EON were jerking us around with cliched unforgivable rubbish (imho) like TWINE & DAD to follow. I recall hoping they would watch this film and realize how far they'd lost the plot. Thankfully 4 years later they delivered their answer.
Thank you Doug Liman, Matt Damon and everyone involved with this classic for changing the genre forever. Splendid work.
@0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 is undoubtedly going to get bored with me because once again, I have fallen in love with a HP movie! THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX begins so strong, with a real-life setting, straight from HARRY BROWN or THE CITADEL, suddenly infested by Dementors. From there on, things get even darker than before. At the same time, the school affairs, suddenly overtaken by politicians, deliver new stakes for a Potter film. The finale is Yoda versus Dooku level cool and yes, I mean that as a compliment. Meanwhile, characters like Snape and Black remain among my favourites. Such a well-made film! I literally can't wait to watch the next instalment.
JOHN CARPENTER WRITTEN and / or DIRECTED THEATRICAL MOVIE RETROSPECTIVE
3 - EYES OF LAURA MARS (1978)
Co-written by Carpenter
Laura Mars, a famous photographer, discovers she can see violent murders happen when they happen through the gift of sudden epiphanies. Several men in her life are on the suspect list and meanwhile she needs protection from the mysterious killer. Who's putting ice picks in people's eyes while Laura can witness it from a distance?
Faye Dunaway, a young Tommy Lee Jones and a scruffy Brad Dourif steal the show in this bleak 70s thriller directed by Irvin Kershner. The story was written by Carpenter, the screenplay by Carpenter and David Zelag Goodman. The result is a crossover between William Lustig's MANIAC and Lucio Fulci's THE NEW YORK RIPPER, only released a few years before those two and with slightly less blood. The bleak atmosphere, the downplaying of the supernatural element and the many twists and red herrings in this dark whodunit, put us firmly in American giallo territory.
EYES OF LAURA MARS delivers the goods. The ultimate twist may be a dead givaway from the start, but it's a very entertaining, well-made film nonetheless. Oozing the grimness of a good 70s thriller, EYES OF LAURA MARS is a film I can recommend to people who also enjoy such films as DON'T LOOK NOW and THE MEPHISTO WALTZ.
RANKINGS
Eyes of Laura Mars: 8,5/10
Assault on Precinct 13: 8/10
Dark Star: 6,5/10
For the first time, a western was made outside America, and they cast an unknown in the lead, Mr Clint Eastwood. How could it work?
Truth is that this Italian gem of a film brought a freshness to the western genre that had been missing for a while. Everything comes together beautifully. The main title sequence is awesome and sets the mood right away. Sergio Leone is an original director, who gets nuanced and enyoyable interpretations from the actors. Morricone is a god when it comes to scoring films, westerns in particular.
A joy to watch.
This piece alone just gives me the chills.
Call me a style over substance fan, hell I'm a fan of Dario Argento who am I kidding anyway, I just loved this film.
The sixties atmosphere with the cars, the clothes and the interior. The polished cinematography. The exciting action. The charismatic acting. The nods to the spy genre. The Cold War atmosphere. The brilliant music choices. And for once everybody speaking their own languages.
Loved it, hope it gets a sequel. Now I'm off discovering the original tv series. See you soon.
Another great moment is Dumbledore's duel with Voldemort, commencing when a prostrate Harry says to him, "I feel sorry for you," after he tells the man he knows nothing of love or friendship. A great, powerhouse moment to kick off the last arc of the series, and showing just how different Harry and Riddle are as men in every fiber of their being.
And of course, the pinnacle is that we get to see Harry become the leader he was destined to be in this movie, giving his fellow students the skills they need to face Voldemort. Dan acts perfectly in this role as Harry, still showing all of the kid's anxiety and nervousness at the leadership position, but also his big heart and commitment to doing something that will help the entire wizarding world.
Next up is Half-Blood Prince, @DarthDimi, and boy are you in for some crazy stuff. Nothing will prepare you for what's coming next!
The 2nd in the seminal Bourne series, and in my opinion the most impressive.
I'm doing a Damon Bourne-athon (avoiding Legacy) in anticipation of the release of Jason Bourne later this week, and this film, as with the first, just blew me away tonight.
As with my watch last night of the first one, it all came back to me. In fact, you could say I remembered everything (pun intended). It was the first time I remember seeing shaky cam, the one with the most visceral car chase ever put to film (in Moscow no less) and the film without which there would be no QoS . I walked out of that theatre 12 yrs ago feeling as if I had been in a 2 hr fight and had been gut punched and that's how I felt tonight as well.
Damon is again superb as Bourne. He is a broken man emotionally here, but intensely & dangerously focused on learning what led to the death of Marie. Any one who gets in his way is in for a world of hurt. Once again he showcases Bourne's vulnerability very well as he did in the first film - he is no superman. That's what makes his character so compelling imho. In fact, his performance here is so pitch perfect that EON decided to make an entire film focused on the same thing for Daniel Craig. Joan Allen owns Pam Landy (she has so many great scenes), Brian Cox is as always brilliant as Ward Abbott and Karl Urban is scary effective as FSB hitman Kirill.
John Powell's score here builds beautifully on what he started in Identity, similar to how Howard Shore built on his work in Fellowship for the LOTR trilogy & Zimmer built on his BB work for the later two films.
Paul Greengrass keeps this film tense from start to finish. I realized tonight it's not so much shaky cam as it is quick cuts of scenes from multiple angles. He executes it magnificently.
This film, to me, is pure cinematic 'supremacy'. Period.
I agree, a cut above the other Bourne films. Between this, The Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Knight there is proof that the sequel can be better than the original.
(By the way, I think this film came out in 2004, not 2005. ;) )
I'm ashamed I got the release date wrong. It's even more impressive now. Fixed.