Brokeback Mountain has heaps of problems if seen from the operating sodomite level.
One example for all manner of reasons saliva (Brokeback Style) is not advised as a sexual lubricant for shepherd on shepherd action.
The scene (indeed the story) would have played out very differently if this actually happened.
The tears would be more than just emotional if you know what I mean?
It would be more Human Quadruped horror show than Romeo and Romeo tragic romance.
The more you know, I guess.
Could xenomorph saliva work as a lubricant, though?
Sir Peter Weyland says :
T.E Lawrence, eponymously of Arabia but very much an Englishman, favoured, well you might say, a bit of Turkish delight, over and over, day after day, ad infinitum. When asked by his colleague, William Potter to reveal his trick Lawrence just smiled and said "Potter, dear boy, if it bleeds acid don't sit on it."
Skyfall. Worst of all the EON Bond films, and i have seen them all.
Takes Bond and makes it into a cheap thriller, but you know whats going to happen before it happens.
The Bond girls were a let down for me, No cool gadgets, and unlike casino royale and quantum no actual character arc or development for Bond. They also made Craig Bond look old on his third mission.
I did like the Moneypenny bit at the End and also like q but he was under used.
After seeing this i think either 007 needs a reboot again or at least fire that Mendes guy and don't allow John Logan who wrote star trek nemesis near Bond again.
“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.
Skyfall. The main villain wasn't in drag. Zero moonbuggies out of ten.
(Although seriously, I really think Diamonds are Forever is the worst Bond. Skyfall was great.)
Bambi and Thumper would like to have a word with you. ;)
Where were you in '77?
Eugh. It's terrible. Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, a bored Sean Connery, terrible Bondgirls (although to be honest, they got the looks), weak action, the list goes on. The only thing I can give it is that it isn't nearly as boring as some of Moore's films.
Agreed.
Although as for which is worst--Diamonds are Forever or Moonraker--I just can't make up my mind.
Every 27th customer will get a ball-peen hammer, free!
See here's the thing...when I was younger I thought DAF was the worst in the series. Never have I thought MR is a bad film, though it really does lose itself in places.
DAF is a product of its time. It is designed to be an audience pleaser for 1971 with a great deal of wink-wink nudging at the audience with the return of Sean. What makes it work is this quality combined with Mankewicz's brilliant knack for black humor. Then it has a very real down to earth quality which stems partially from the lack of big sets, uninspiring locations and realistic budget. So it has its downsides, and though there are heaps of wasted potential, it isn't a bad film and is one of the classics warts and all.
The Peter Hunt-Lazenby version that would have opened with the climax of OHMSS is my no.1 all time lost film.
Thought: Imagine if EON/UA had really done something worthwhile instead of a Goldfinger knockoff. What if they had made a movie that meant something like the other groundbreaking films of the same year? What if they had made a Connery Bond with Sidney Lumet? Now there's a thought.
Skyfall finally succeeds in turning 007 into a mindless, unmotivated, pointless blunt instrument which is what Purvis and Wade were trying to do for 13 years. It could be any film, ultimately it has no identity.
Diamonds are Forever despite being problem-ridden, dated and many other things at least has an identity and a heart. It is a thousand times the film that Skyfail is.
LMS:
Casablanca
If there is a perfect film, this is it. If there is one film to represent Hollywood, this is it. This is an old friend that gains new significance with every single repeated viewing. There is always some new element revealed and the story gains such significance over time. This is the supreme example of the studio system, and what cinematic storytelling is.
Ultimate balls.
Action in the North Atlantic
Surprisingly effective wartime propaganda piece about the Merchant Marines. Literally nonstop sea action with some well photographed miniatures interposed with real battle footage. Some overbearing silliness is felt over the unyielding pro-Allies message, but this is a rather well done 2 hours.
3 balls out of 4 torpedoes.
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
Moonraker would be heaps better had Jaws not hooked up with the Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa spokesperson, and became a good guy.
I still dig DAF for it's vistas of a Las Vegas that doesn't really exist anymore. (Although Circus Circus' casino interior hasn't changed much over the years.) I'm still boggled Die Another Day steals from DAF so blatantly.
Where were you in '77?
But this one is a satellite mirror laser beam not a diamond powered laser satellite!! We swear it's different!! ;)
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
Akwat Kbrana said:
Agreed.
Although as for which is worst--Diamonds are Forever or Moonraker--I just can't make up my mind.
Neither of those two. For all their flaws, they do have some good bits. Moonraker has a great opening sequence followed by a cracking title song belted out by the always wonderful Shirley Bassey (Who's song 'No Good about Goodbye' should've been the theme to 'Quantum of Sport', considering it's leitmotif is sprinkled throughout.)
Diamonds are forever has... um... err.... That car on two wheels bit and Plenty O'toole's... tracts of land... Oh and that part where Bond climbs the Las Vegas building... And that fight with Bambi and Thumper... But yeah, overall, it's pretty bad.
Die Another Day is by far the worst Bond film. I cannot stand the avalanche of godawful puns, teeth grindly bad editing, trying and failing to look 'hip' and 'cool'. Although, I will say this, it does have a really cool swordfight scene... and at least it doesn't have Sheriff J.W. Pepper, who is by far the most irritating character to have appeared in a Bond movie... Besides Roger Moore (although I do agree with Sir Roger's stance on foie gras.)
<span style=“font-weight: bold;”>The Most Handsomest Guy on OT.com</span>
This isn't in direct response to captainsolo's post, but personally, I never got the hoopla about Casablanca. It's an above-average Hollywood movie from the 1940s...buuuut that's kind of it. Best movie ever made? One of the all time classics? Some times it just comes off as so artifical and...Hollywood. It's a pretty good movie, but I never understood what the big deal was. I can understand the big deal about movies like Wizard of Oz and Citizen Kane, but Casablanca, while a well made and enjoyable movie, never struck me as anything too special other than being an old movie that was good. Just like How Green Was My Valley, but no one really elevates that other than being a good old movie, which is really all HGWMV is (I also think it's better made). In the pantheon of classics, Casablanca stands out to me as remarkably average next to its peers.
I saw True Lies for the first time since the 1990s I think. One of those films that has been mysteriously, unexplainably absent on DVD and Blu-ray when it was a huge deal at the time it was made and one of the most expensive movies ever. It was funnier than I remembered it, but also more Schwarzengger-y than I remembered it. I guess it's because I never thought of Cameron as making "action" films, T1 and T2 and Aliens seemed to be so much more than that but this one seemed a bit more by the numbers. Really most of True Lies is a domestic drama, so it's pretty much "more than an action film" as well, but the ending is so over the top that it really leaves you with a "Schwarzenegger movie" impression. That's not a bad thing, it was just unexpected. This is definitely one of Arnold's best performances in a movie, and it was as funny as I remembered it. Blowing up that bridge is also one of the most impressive practical stunts I've seen. A good movie, but not really a great one. Worth revisiting. You can tell Cameron was just having fun playing around, but because of that there is a slightly two-dimensional feeling to it, even though the characters and writing and acting are all done very well. I also found it a bit unintentionally racist against Arabs just because it's yet another Hollywood movie where the only middle eastern people are terrorists, but True Lies got enough flak for that when it came out.
I don't know. I've always felt Casablanca is terribly overrated, there is no way that many people genuinely love this one movie that much.
But that being said, I love that movie! I can watch it over and over and enjoy it just as much every time. I can't really say that about too many movies. There really aren't that many movies that I have seen repeatedly that I'll gladly plop down $7 - $12 dollars to see in theaters (and make the time to do so on top of that) when it occasionally comes back around for a one evening showing.
Kind of contradicting right? I guess I want to think Casablanca is genuinely one of my favorites, while so many others are posing and just saying it is one of their favorites because it is the popular thing to do. Which might be a ridiculous line of thinking. People know what they like. All I know is, personally, I think it is fantastic and get great joy out of watching it. I have seen in more times than I can remember, and I will see it again more times than I'll be able to keep track of.
I do legitimately love 'Casablanca'. I remember seeing it as a child and not being particularly interested in it (I was more interested in old episodes of Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Star wars, Star Trek, 'violent' Sega megadrive games, old ealing comedies, and Hammer Horror films that I wasn't allowed to watch round a friend's house) but watching it now while I won't say that it's the greatest film every made, that film doesn't exist, I will say that I really enjoy watching it.
I don't really mind it being considered 'overrated', although people are perfectly in their rights to say that it is. (Given my downright bizarre personal tastes, I dislike some films which are universally praised, and enjoy some films which are despised by a vast majority, as well as vice versa, one should take my opinion on something with a vast grain of salt.)
Just don't watch 'The Third Man' after Casablanca. It's downright depressing seeing the two back to back. The Third Man is very much an antithesis to Casablanca.
Anyways, stuff I've seen.
Xtro (1983)
It's very odd. Me and a group of friends sat around and watched this the other day, and I only found out the day after that Redlettermedia had also reviewed it. It is a great deal creepier, scarier and a vast deal better than what we all thought it was going to be. I loved the use of practical effects in this, something you very, very rarely see in modern horror nowadays.
The Magnet (1950)
A lovely sweet little film, while maybe not quite up to snuff compared to other classic Ealing comedies, nonetheless makes up for it with a lot of heart. The story involves a small boy going on the run after thinking that he's killed another young boy.
<span style=“font-weight: bold;”>The Most Handsomest Guy on OT.com</span>
CP3S said:
I don't know. I've always felt Casablanca is terribly overrated, there is no way that many people genuinely love this one movie that much.
But that being said, I love that movie! I can watch it over and over and enjoy it just as much every time. I can't really say that about too many movies. There really aren't that many movies that I have seen repeatedly that I'll gladly plop down $7 - $12 dollars to see in theaters (and make the time to do so on top of that) when it occasionally comes back around for a one evening showing.
Kind of contradicting right? I guess I want to think Casablanca is genuinely one of my favorites, while so many others are posing and just saying it is one of their favorites because it is the popular thing to do. Which might be a ridiculous line of thinking. People know what they like. All I know is, personally, I think it is fantastic and get great joy out of watching it. I have seen in more times than I can remember, and I will see it again more times than I'll be able to keep track of.
I suppose it is the common theme running through 'Casablanca' and 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and other films of the unhappy, lost man sacrificing his chance at happiness with the lost, wayward woman in order to send her where she "should be.".
Anyway, 'Little Miss Sunshine':
I passed on this film's theatrical release thinking it was a silly little family film. I was mistaken. Now I watched it thinking that, if I was going to be lurking around OT.com, I should be a little better informed.
It was outstanding. Spot-on writing, directing and acting from the excellent ensemble cast.
Now I'm curious to see 'Toy Story 3'.
Skyfall (2012).
The most easily recognisable symbol of Taoism is the Yin-Yang.
This is a film of two halves but with a dollop of the other side in each.
The first half of the film is mostly brilliant.
Straight action, astonishingly photographed, touchingly played on the whole.
The second half is mostly Coprolite (more silly than Moore at his silliest but lacking wit and fun).
The cut off point is clearly the capture of Silva (or The Astonishing Mr Villain Compendium). Javier Bardem is as competent an actor as Daniel Craig so it's sad to see him reduced to this concoction. Is he meant to be Julian LeStrange???
The dollop in the good side is the whole Bond going off the rails bit.
Not that this is impossible but it would take more to make him drop the Thunderball than M ordering a shot that might kill him, if just seeing the Ziggurat D'lego going up in flames is enough to bring him back.
The dollop of not so bad in the bad side were the moments at Skyfall.
It was a bit hard not to notice what they were trying with James driving the Bondmobile to meet up with McAlfred of Stately Bond Manor. But the Nightmare On Elm Street style party tricks were fun to a point then Silva remembered to be annoying again.
Like Star Trek (2009) vs Star Trek Nemesis (2002) I could never see why people loved Casino Royale (2006) and loathed Quantum Of Solace (2008).
I'm even more confused by the praise thrown at this film as Quantum Of Solace is a far more consistently entertaining and satisfying film.
3 Thunderballs.
Re: Casablanca: I saw the film for the first time a couple of years ago. My first thought was "what's so special about that?" But I did love the movie. And I did want to watch it again as soon as it finished. So then it occurred to me why the film is so highly regarded: it's very lovable and has a high replay value. People have just kept watching it and kept loving it. So maybe it's not the greatest movie ever, but it's one of most loved and favored. Also I an't think of a single problem with it.
Last movie(s) seen:
Dr. Strangelove (1964) 10/10 - A true classic that gets better, and funnier, on each new viewing. And it looks great on Blu-ray. One of my favorites.
Hamlet (1996) 10/10 - I've finally gotten around to reading Hamlet so I thought it might be time to finally get around to watching this film. I loved it. Every minute. Branagh plays Hamlet to perfection in my eyes. I think it may even be better than the Olivier film. And even though it is four hours, it really flies.
Lifeboat (1944) 9/10 - An engrossing film as expected by Hitchcock. Also, I can always appreciate a film that has the balls to portray a Nazi soldier in a (somewhat) positive light. Especially in 1944!
Foreign Correspondent (1940) 9/10 - Another Hitchcock in my, much belated, quest to see all his films. Most of what I said for Lifeboat applies here. Nazis are a little meaner, though. In some ways, a high class follow up to The Lady Vanishes and Night Train to Munich. It's in a very similar vein. Spectacular climax too. Though the final scene is very obvious propaganda and very much out of place.
Bullitt (1968) 9/10 - One of the most gripping thrillers I've ever seen. And there's more too than that as well. Great movie.
Flight (2012) 9/10 - Great story, amazing performance by Denzel Washington. The flight itself is edge-of-your-seat stuff. A little cheesy in places, but still one of the best of last year.
Skyfall (2012) 9.5/10 - My second viewing. Interesting to see all of you guys here are doing the same. I think I like it even more this time. It was easier to get over Bond's sudden jump into "too old for this" phase, now that I knew it was coming. I'm still disappointed we didn't get to see him in his prime. Whatever. Great film. I don't think I watched it as a Bond film as much this time. It is very different from most of the other Bonds. Whenever the theme popped up it was almost surprising. But I don't really mind. A lot of the Bond films didn't really feel like the others, for one reason or another. Makes you wonder how a Bond movie is supposed to feel. Anyway, it fit with the other two. And I still love it. Great movie.
Re: Quantum of Solace: it was dull, lifeless, and unenjoyable. And this is coming from someone who actually liked it.
Re: worst Bond movie: Octopussy. So forgettable.
Bingowings said:
Like Star Trek (2009) vs Star Trek Nemesis (2002) I could never see why people loved Casino Royale (2006) and loathed Quantum Of Solace (2008).
I'm even more confused by the praise thrown at this film as Quantum Of Solace is a far more consistently entertaining and satisfying film.
Casino Royale went out of its way to reinvent Bond and made it more realistic and modern, then Quantum of Solace returned to the over the top stunt after over the top stunt of the Brosnan era films we'd just gotten away from. I think a lot of people were ready for this new era of Bond we were expecting based on Casino Royale, and disappointed when all of that was undone with Solace.
It was still tough and gritty though, it's very, very unfair to compare it to the Brosnan films, it would have been a revolution if QOS was released in 2002. I think the real reason people complained was because the plot was simple and bland, there weren't memorable characters, and the action scenes were way too many in number and uninspired in direction.
How could anyone find Maud Adams forgettable? ;)
QOS is best viewed as an epilogue to CR. It would be difficult coming into it cold without seeing CR first.
Where were you in '77?
What kills Octopussy is the inane mixing of script directions. There's the great plot with the mad Orlov that we care about shoved into the inane Indian adventure B-movie script. The whole thing becomes tired and it is only by the talent of the crew and Moore that we can endure it with any sort of affection. That said it is good for what it is and Shakespeare compared to NSNA.
Passage to Marseille
A beyond stupidly put together war propaganda film that somehow still manages to work with a flashback in a flashback in a flashback in smaller flashbacks structure. And who in their right minds thought Bogie could play a disenchanted French patriot?? But Claude Rains has an eyepatch and there is some brilliant photography.
3 balls out of 4.
To Have and Have Not
When you look closely there is little to nothing in this film. The story is so slim that anything could wreck the single plot thread. But that isn't why people watch this film. This is little more than Howard Hawks making a hit picture out of nothing by retaining successful elements from Casablanca. But the reason why the film is timeless is simply that Bogie met Bacall. It is STILL sizzling nearly 70 years later.
4 balls out of 4.
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
SilverWook said:
How could anyone find Maud Adams forgettable? ;)
QOS is best viewed as an epilogue to CR. It would be difficult coming into it cold without seeing CR first.
I did, LOL. I wasn't impressed by QOS, not because I didn't understand the significance of anything but because it seemed more like a sequel in the Bourne series and was, well, a bit uninteresting. I thought maybe it was because I hadn't seen the first film, but after seeing CR a couple years later I think I would have been even less impressed had I seen the first film beforehand, not because CR makes it look worse but because CR really didn't need an epilogue or follow-up, I was a bit underwelmed. CR is a pretty good film but after all the hype and hearing people tell me I needed to see it I just found myself thinking "this is the film I'm hearing so much about?" I found it above-average, but that's it, I have no desire to ever see it again even though it was a good viewing experience. I think at the time, not quite knowing what to expect, it surprised and impressed people a lot because it was a film for adults and not a corny comic book spy movie, but if it didn't have the Bond name on it people would have seen it, enjoyed it and then more or less forgotten about it, just like they do with most adult thrillers.
Saw two great classics in the theater recently. First was Casablanca with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performing the score live. That was a fantastic experience, but was entirely dwarfed by 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm! I feel blessed by the gods to say that I saw a pristine 70mm print of 2001: ASO on the big screen, front and center about 10 rows back, with the screen nearly filling my vision, and the sound so beautifully loud that the high-pitched whine during the Stargate sequence was actually hurting people's ears (like it should). The overture, Ligeti's Atmospheres, played to a completely blackened house, and you could hear a pin drop from the moment it began to the moment the film ended.
Definitely a Top 3 Movie Experience for me. I feel like I can die a little more peacefully now that I've seen 2001 in 70mm.
