Last Movie you Watched?

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  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Bram Stokers Dracula on Bluray, picture not at good as i would have hoped for though still a improvement from dvd. Nevertheless this is a visually impressive film and full of invention. Oldman and Hoptkins performances alone make this film worth watching.

    I didn't care much for that version. Jack Palance was much better at incorporating Vlad Tepes into his Dracula in the 1973 TVM, imo. It might lack the polish of theatrical Dracula films, but Palance's performance is one of the best Dracula's.
  • Bram Stokers Dracula on Bluray, picture not at good as i would have hoped for though still a improvement from dvd. Nevertheless this is a visually impressive film and full of invention. Oldman and Hoptkins performances alone make this film worth watching.

    I didn't care much for that version. Jack Palance was much better at incorporating Vlad Tepes into his Dracula in the 1973 TVM, imo. It might lack the polish of theatrical Dracula films, but Palance's performance is one of the best Dracula's.

    Think i may have only seen that version once when young, be interesting to revisit it.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Fright Night (1985)

    FN+2.jpg

    I find this film irresistibly charming, which is why I continue to watch it. Campy 80s vampire fun for someone born in the early 80s: the logic is bulletproof.

    Directed by Child's Play's Tom Holland, this is an at times funny and at times modestly scary but overall very enjoyable tale of young Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale) who discovers that a vampire lives next door. Said vampire, played by Chris Sarandon (yes, Susan's brother), finds out quickly that his neighbour is on to him. And indeed, Charlie and his girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse) have quite an adventure with their friend Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and TV vampire hunter Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), as they try to beat the vampire with their film and comic book savviness of ghoul hunting. Some rather interesting fighting ensues. Can Charlie overcome his fear and fight the dark evil?

    Fright Night is not to be taken seriously and the film itself makes that abundantly clear. This is part of its appeal by the way; Fright Night knows what it is and even better what it ain't. And by staying carefully within the boundaries of its potential, it manages to secure 100 very entertaining minutes.

    The acting is very enjoyable, with Ragsdale slightly out-coloured by the people around him. I'm particularly fond of McDowall, whom I've known and cherished since I was a young boy as the voice of Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet Of The Apes films. He also voiced robot V.I.N.CENT in The Black Hole and played memorable parts in Cleopatra and The Legend Of Hell House. I'm sad he's no longer among us, for I think he was a nice man in real life; either way, he's always had a calming effect on me when on screen. And who could have imagined from her Married With Children Days that Amanda Bearse was, at one point, a fairly lovely girl? As for Chris Sarandon, he was perfect as a villain in an 80s film. Charming and sophisticated, his dance scenes with Bearse certainly worked for me. Say, how about Stephen Geoffreys, whose high pitched voice polarizes fans of the film. Some like him, others get annoyed by him. I think he was perfect for the part. Too bad his career went a little darker after this film.

    Brad Fiedel, known for his Terminator scores, provides great music for this film, helping to put Fright Night in a time capsule. Want to know the sound of the 80s, the synthesizer music and cheesy pop songs? Listen to the Fright Night OST.

    Fright Night, for me, is on the same level as The Lost Boys. Watch the film for what it is: an amusing 80s horror/comedy flick for almost all ages. Don't expect Dracula, Interview With A Vampire or, ... ahum ..., Twilight. This is a different film. But its charm will last forever, which cannot be said of the redundant remake.

  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    @DarthDimi, what do you think of the remake?
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited November 2013 Posts: 24,179
    @Murdock, redundant, as I mentioned. ;-)

    Let's say it was effective enough: it delivered what it had to deliver. Farrell, Yelchin, Poots... they're competent actors. But David Tennant was too 21st century to be a good Peter Vincent and Christopher Mintz-Plasse is no, repeat NO Evil Ed. The effects were fine but obviously manufactured for the 3D market. I hate the 3D for 3D's sake market.

    The 1985 original was... uh... original. The remake was mediocre at best and tasted a trifle bitter in comparison with the sweet innocence of the first film. I would have accepted the remake better if it hadn't been a remake at all but had tried to be its own thing. Take those actors, write a fresh story, call it something else and make it your mission to give Twilight the finger. I might have been satisfied. Now though I keep asking: WHY? Why this remake? It's a question I ask of most remakes - though not all.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Creasy47 wrote:
    @Samuel001, *shakes head*, there's no way. Nope. No way.

    Okay, but seriously, when you sit there and look at both products, it's a really huge shame that she went that route. Meanwhile, Terrence Howard didn't even get a chance to return to IM2. I bet they would've enjoyed switching their options. I hate when characters change in a trilogy like that.

    Yeah, that's just strange. If the people representing her claimed that she was back and ready to support any project "as she has done consistently in her career", then why did she bail on her role in TDK? She wasn't contracted, but it would still be expected that she return. Plus, considering that the film
    kills off Rachel anyway, she wouldn't have to worry about sticking around for too long in a role she didn't consider fresh.
    I just feel like the film was hurt by the casting of Maggie, and that Katie was an infinitely better Rachel in every conceivable way. With Katie's Rachel I could understand why Bruce liked her so much, but I don't feel the same with Maggie, and at times she doesn't feel like the same character at all.

    Regardless, that article was just the same tabloid trash, full of people who find themselves unable to separate the actor/actress and the film/character. They even check Katie for having the audacity to *GASP* bring another human being into this world and require maternity leave from acting. How low can you go? Honestly...
  • edited November 2013 Posts: 418
    I just watched 'Who Dares Wins' on dvd for the first time in years. The first time i saw it at the cinema in 1982, i remember thinking that Lewis Collins could have been a very good Bond around that time, and Ingrid Pitt would have made an excellent bad bond girl..
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,798
    DarthDimi wrote:
    Fright Night (1985)

    It rocks like few do.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited November 2013 Posts: 24,179
    The One

    the-one-dvd.jpg

    Took a fair share of self-abuse today when sitting through this abysmal film starring Jet Li. Clearly thriving on the fumes of Li's successes in those days, here's a film that suffers from a terrible script with bigger holes than the ones they use in the film to transport characters from one universe to the next. The sci-fi is an insult and so is the gun-fighting and the fighting in general. The One plays roughly for eighty-something minutes but it felt like three hours of torture. Why I watched this film? Even I can't answer that question.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    *shudders* 'The One' was terrible, even when I was younger and really, really into Jet Li, which was before I knew of the beauty that was the work of Jackie Chan. Have you seen 'Romeo Must Die'? I enjoy that one quite a bit, or at least I did when I was younger.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Romeo Must Die is okay for me too. It actually inspired me to buying the The One DVD back in the day. But I recently saw RMD again and liked it like I did in theatres back then. The One, by contrast, I found abysmal then, and now.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    @DarthDimi, I remember enjoying the little zoom-in bone-crunching kicks and punches in the movie. Was great to see the beautiful Aaliyah in it before her unfortunate passing, too.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Those were the days when Delroy Lindo was in almost every movie I saw, @Creasy47. Btw, I think I saw the Chinese head of the family from RMD in a Jason Statham film recently: Safe. Here's a film I actually enjoyed, albeit guiltily. ;-)
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    I love Lindo, and when I go back to late 90's/early 2000's films, I notice he's in a lot. Shame he slowly disappeared. I think the last thing I saw him in was 'Sahara.' Yep, I knew I noticed the guy in 'Safe' from somewhere! I think Jet Li's Dad (is that who you're talking about?) in RMD was also in 'Premium Rush.'

    I really liked Russell Wong as the villain in RMD, but I don't see him in anything anymore.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    I recall Lindo from Broken Arrow (remember that one? :P), Gone In 60 Seconds, RMD, The One, The Hard Way (GREAT film!), The Devil's Advocate, Domino, ... I found him fairly one-note back then but the memories are good. I was 18 around the time of GI60S and RMD. Those were the days. ;-)

    Don't you love contemplating the 90s, @Creasy47? ;-) What actually got me to watching TMD was that it said "From the producers of The Matrix". I'm a sucker for everything Matrix. Yes, including the sequels, which I bloody love! Then we have the comic, The Animatrix, ... Big fan. But I digress. What they really meant was that it was a Joel Silver film, which isn't saying all that much because he seems to be producing a different film every five minutes and some of his films are crap (Ghost Ship anyone?). But in those days I was just beginning to see through the commercial tricks of "starring academy award nominee so-and-so" and "from the producers who brought you so-and-so". I suppose RMD was one of the last traps I fell into, but I never regretted it. ;-)
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    I started watching 'The Core' a week or two ago and noticed he had a fairly big role in that one.

    Haha, that I do! ;-) Don't worry, I'm right there with you, I am a massive fan of 'The Matrix,' beginning to end. Yeah, they seem to throw on 'From the producers of...' on everything these days, like it matters or makes the film any better. They just want you to spot a recognizable film you might've enjoyed and line up for one that might be like it. Now it's with everything, and what really gets me is films with 'Academy Award Nominee/Winner...' all throughout the cast, and then one person who has neither been nominated nor won. The most recent example was 'Prisoners,' and Paul Dano was excluded from that list.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I have spent the last weekends home rewatching the Nolan Batman films yet again, and will conclude this coming weekend with Rises. Watching them again continues to make me appreciate them more and more, because not only are they great adaptions of a character I adore to no end, they are pieces of art in their own right with phenomenal scripts, acting, photography, action, drama, and more. The films challenge ideas about everything from what one man can do if he has the drive to fight against injustice to what you know about morality as Gotham presents us with corruption in all levels and Batman making hard choices for the good of the city which are often unpopular. He strikes the perfect divide between a lawman and vigilante who sees the cracks in the system and works to correct them, placing some men in the hospital if he must and pushing all his limits to the brink.

    Bruce is simply a warrior, and someone I look up to, even more than real world figures. Nolan and his team presented him beautifully, from his humanity, his anger, sadness and courageous spirit to do something about the crime that has haunted him since his parents were taken away from him. Watching him grow from a stubborn, angry and aimless boy into a focused, just and determined soldier against crime is an experience I relish. Nolan's stamp on the character has been impactful, because through villains like Ra's, Joker and Bane you are presented with villains who are fascinating to examine and who test everything that Bruce thinks he knows about morality and what it takes to fight against injustice. These films open your eyes to new ways of thinking, challenge your current mindset on topical issues, and have pushed beyond the confines of the comic book genre to become something else entirely: masterful stories about morality and immorality, humanity and the supernatural, revenge and justice, mortal man and legend.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    'A Gang Story'

    Haven't dove into the gritty French crime thrillers as much as I would like to, but this film has totally changed my outlook on it: absolutely fantastic. You have a great cast lineup (including our very own Defense Minister Mishkin) with a story about an old gang who gets back together to help one of their own bust out of jail and escape. Tensions rise, rival gangs get involved, and twists are abound. One of the many hidden gems on Netflix Instant that I highly recommend. Blew me away.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    The Big Sleep (1946)

    the-big-sleep-1-sized.jpg

    I can't believe how good this film is!
    Bogart is on fire in this epic detective story. His energy flows like radiation from the Sun. Bacall is sexy as hell and the story had some progressive subtext going for it - unexpected given the day and age in which Howard Hawks shot this film.

    My Bogart listing so far:

    1) Casablanca
    2) The Big Sleep
    3) The Maltese Falcon
    4) Dark Passage
    5) To Have and Have Not
    6) The African Queen
    7) They Drive By Night

    and I have yet to see more from Bogart. Key Largo is next. ;-)
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    What did you think of The Big Sleep's story, @DarthDimi? It is notoriously complex and all over the place.
  • Posts: 6,396
    Kick Ass 2

    Quite disappointed by this. Didn't think it was anywhere near as good as the first film. Jim Carrey though was excellent and Chloë Grace Moretz was the real standout again.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    What did you think of The Big Sleep's story, @DarthDimi? It is notoriously complex and all over the place.

    It was a bit hard to follow in places, @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7, but then I froze the DVD and read some plot summary on wiki, I'm ashamed to say. That said, it didn't spoil the fun for me. I sometimes like complex films; they can intrigue me.
    Kick Ass 2

    Quite disappointed by this. Didn't think it was anywhere near as good as the first film. Jim Carrey though was excellent and Chloë Grace Moretz was the real standout again.

    Don't you just love that girl, @WillyGalore? I so like it when she
    tells Dave they're through with it and everybody thinks he had an affair with her. ;-)
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    DarthDimi wrote:
    What did you think of The Big Sleep's story, @DarthDimi? It is notoriously complex and all over the place.

    It was a bit hard to follow in places, @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7, but then I froze the DVD and read some plot summary on wiki, I'm ashamed to say. That said, it didn't spoil the fun for me. I sometimes like complex films; they can intrigue me.

    Well, you are a Kubrick fan, after all. ;) No need to feel the slightest shame about being confused though, as I did the same as you after seeing the film. As I said, it is notorious and partly famous for its absolutely bonkers plot, and even Raymond Chandler himself had no idea what the hell happened in parts of the book or screenplay (which he helped write), or who committed one of the major crimes in the storyline. Suffice to say that Bogie and Lauren manage to hold that film together through their chemistry, and I am of the opinion that the film wouldn't be famous without their great dynamic. Either way, you have made me want to pop it in again, and as I have it with me right here at college, I might just if time permits.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    msZbAWoDg08oQJ8.jpg

    WW2 drama with Mitchum leading his platoon through a series of battles. War correspondent, Meredith, is on hand to document the trials and tribulations of the soldiers.

    Robert Mitchum
    1. The Big Sleep (1978)
    2. The Red Pony (1949)
    3. The Friends Of Eddie Coyle (1973)
    4. The Big Steal (1949)
    5. The Yakuza (1974)
    6. Rampage (1963)
    7. Ryan's Daughter (1970)
    8. Cape Fear (1962)
    9. His Kind Of Woman (1951)
    10. Farewell My Lovely (1975)
    11. Two For The See Saw (1962)
    12. The Grass Is Greener (1960)
    13. Where Danger Lives (1950)
    14. One Shoe Makes It Murder (1982)
    15. The Enemy Below (1957)
    ***16. The Story Of GI Joe (1945)***
    17. Nightkill (1980)
    18. El Dorado (1966)
    19. Fire Down Below (1957)
    20. Thompson's Last Run (1986)
    21. River Of No Return (1954)
    22. The Amsterdam Kill (1977)
    23. Angel Face (1952)
    24. Five Card Stud (1968)
    25. Track Of The Cat (1954)
    26. Anzio (1968)
    27. Promises To Keep (1985)
    28. Agency (1980)


    Useless fact to anyone other than myself: With this film, along with all the other Mitchum films I have, I can now plot Mitchum's career over 41 years (1945 - 1986).
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Useless fact to anyone other than myself: With this film, along with all the other Mitchum films I have, I can now plot Mitchum's career over 41 years (1945 - 1986).

    That's not useless in the slightest @Major, especially where Mitchum is concerned. Congratulations on your collection! =D>
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Bram Stokers Dracula on Bluray, picture not at good as i would have hoped for though still a improvement from dvd. Nevertheless this is a visually impressive film and full of invention. Oldman and Hoptkins performances alone make this film worth watching.

    I didn't care much for that version. Jack Palance was much better at incorporating Vlad Tepes into his Dracula in the 1973 TVM, imo. It might lack the polish of theatrical Dracula films, but Palance's performance is one of the best Dracula's.

    Coppola made a far better film, but there is no denying it, Jack Palance OWNED the part of Dracula. He was probably the most frightening count ever.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Bram Stokers Dracula on Bluray, picture not at good as i would have hoped for though still a improvement from dvd. Nevertheless this is a visually impressive film and full of invention. Oldman and Hoptkins performances alone make this film worth watching.

    I didn't care much for that version. Jack Palance was much better at incorporating Vlad Tepes into his Dracula in the 1973 TVM, imo. It might lack the polish of theatrical Dracula films, but Palance's performance is one of the best Dracula's.

    Coppola made a far better film, but there is no denying it, Jack Palance OWNED the part of Dracula. He was probably the most frightening count ever.

    To be fair, the 1973 film was a tv film, so Coppola's film has an advantage with it's budget. But Palance, not only cut an intimidation figure, but is also the most intense Dracula I have seen. On the DVD I have, there's an interview with Palance filmed in the early 1990's where he reveals that he turned down repeated offers to make more Dracula films. He goes on to say that it is the only role that he's played that scared him and that once was more than enough.
    I tried to watch that new Dracula tv series with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Dracula. It looked like Dracula for teenage girls, after about 5 minutes I changed channel.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited November 2013 Posts: 40,968
    '13 Assassins'

    Wow, what a film. I was worried from the start that I wouldn't get into it because I would lose track of who's who and I wouldn't enjoy it, but as it went along and we met more people, it gets much better. It might be slow for the first half as the mission is set up and the defense begins, but the last 45-ish minutes gave me the same feeling as 'The Raid: Redemption': non-stop gory action. Fantastic all around, bloody, creative, intense, leading up to one really, really tense finale that left me worried as to what the fate would be of the main characters. Overall, really fantastic movie, if you're into samurai movies, do yourself a favor and check it out.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,798
    DarthDimi wrote:
    Key Largo is next. ;-)
    If memory serves, you will really like it.
    I REALLY need to revisit Bogey- thanks DD!
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    'InAPPropriate Comedy'

    It was on Netflix. I was bored. That's all I want to say.
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