Here's some catching up:
Yes Lugosi's performance is an icon, but Lee nails the nobleman and stronger figure more-not to mention being a physically imposing figure. He scared the crap out of me as a kid when I first saw Prince of Darkness-he has absolutely no dialogue and just hisses like mad. I like both and see them as two different ways to protray the same character. Max Schreck is creepiest.
The new Holmes film was just a Guy Ritchie movie dressed up as a a Holmes film. Billy Wilder nailed it with Private Life, something which Hollywood will never realize and never did (which is why they butchered it). However, the best Holmes performance is from Peter Cushing who sends it way out of the park. He is the only one to ever get that steely reserve and disdain down perfectly. (also the man I picture most when reading the stories).
The best Indy scene for me, and the moment when I fell in love with the character as a kid is the scene in the Cairo bar. Indy has just killed the love of his life and is drowning his sorrows with that dumb monkey on his shoulder. Then the talk with Belloq about how they are not so unalike with Indy's darkening face in the foreground growing nastier until: "You wanna talk to God? Let's go see him together. I've got nothing better to do."
I don't like CEot3K. I just can't help feeling like it's an more of an ego trip and less of a movie. I love it when Spielberg actually holds it in and makes a really great film (Duel, Jaws, Raiders, Empire of the Sun). I hope Tintin shows that he can do so again.
finally onto the last seen:
Major Dundee-extended version. This is a weird one. It's part Civil War, part Pekinpah male bonding, and very out there. It constantly fights with itself over being typical Hollywood fare and being the forerunner to The Wild Bunch. Definitely flawed, but ambitious and features a nastier Charlton Heston than we are accustomed to. I like it. I may also like it for having cheery music with the Main Titles over a burning massacre with corpses everywhere and for featuring James Coburn.
Iron Man and Iron Man 2. I was persuaded to watch the first film, and while it's always nice to see Robert Downey Jr. on top of the world-it was just flat. (can always go back to Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) I found myself more enjoying the simple absurdities of: "why the heck would he do all this stuff in his garage?" and "Look at Jeff Bridges-he looks ridiculous!" than actually enjoying the movie. It is the same with the sequel even only more so. I like the small moments in these films-(superhero sitting in the doughnut sign, inebriation, etc.) than I do the cartoons that they become. Mickey Rourke does chew scenery like no one's business.
Gattaca. A modern sci-fi film with no explosions or action scenes. It's a drama. How in the heck did this ever get made??
One, Two, Three. Sidesplittingly funny Billy Wilder satire with a manic James Cagney. Beautiful B&W widescreen cinematography. Classic.
