asterisk8

Mavimao said:

You don't want 60 fps. The reason is that your image will start looking like a soap opera instead of a movie.

 

I'd actually love to see someone provide a detailed explanation with examples of the "soap opera effect" when discussing higher frame rates instead of just throwing out the phrase "soap opera" and thinking that settles it. It's the kind of FUD that makes people think the new Hobbit film is going to look bad because it's being shot at 48fps.

A higher frame rate does not automatically mean a "video-y" soap opera look. NFL games are shot at 60fps, and do not look like a soap opera on my TV. Same with the evening news.

Moth3r said:

Thought it might be useful to post a summary, seeing as this thread was started over two years ago.

Song of the South DVD versions

• Piratebay/mininova (superhappyfun?) version - sourced from Japanese laserdisc, has burned-in subtitles during the songs.

• “Coal Black Easter Egg” Version & Cyber-EFX version - both sourced from Hong Kong/Korean/Chinese LD or UK VHS, no-one knows exactly. No burned-in subtitles, but poor video quality. Small selection of extras.

• Mentor version - barebones DVD encode, sourced from DVB cap off BBC broadcast. Best picture quality, but some interlacing/blending issues with PAL conversion.

• Doctor M, JoeyO & Rowman 2-DVD release - disc one is the movie sourced from Mentor's DVD and restored to NTSC, disc two features a comprehensive selection of extras and special features.

I think these are the main versions out there, if I've got anything wrong, please post in this thread.

Thanks for this list, it's what I was looking for.

Is the Doctor M/JoeyO/Rowman version of the BBC broadcast available anywhere? I see the original Mentor release is available on myspleen, but I'd prefer it in NTSC. Thanks!

Imagine, if you will, that you are in your room imagining that you are imagining that you are in your room, but actually, you are not in your room, but instead in a place that looks so much like your room that you cannot tell the difference, except for the fact that you are naked and it smells vaguely of... The Scary Door.

You are about to enter a place of ridiculous evil, a place of unbridled villainy, where those who seek good and harmony are tickled until they stop enjoying it and ask you to stop. But you don't stop. You just keep on tickling them forever, because you have entered... The Scary Door.

Aww, I missed the not funny stroke joke. :(

greenpenguino said:

But the story is just, bleeugh.

Don't get me started, because I couldn't disagree with you more, and could easily fill up 10 paragraphs explaining why, but I won't.

Considering your opinion of 2001, we'll just chalk it up to different strokes.

The Thing (1982) - 8/10 blood samples

Watched The Tree Of Life again today. 10/10 rocket frogs. God I love this movie, and find deeper connections and more allusions to other films and books each time I watch it.

I was reading Calvin & Hobbes not an hour later and this Sunday strip jumped out at me, begging for a mash-up with The Tree of Life.

Original:

Johnny Ringo said:

FRINGE - I'm a big fan but it's been pretty dull this season, looks like things are about to pick up a bit.

AGREED! Very excited about what's to come. I had a weird feeling at the end of Friday's episode that [spoiler] is going to end up becoming a villain... I'm not sure if I really want or really don't want that to happen.

I'm 3 episodes into Twin Peaks, as part of my chronological journey through David Lynch's career. I've already decided this series is directly or indirectly responsible for every great television drama that came after it (and some comedies too). This shit is seriously inspired.

captainsolo said:

George Harrison: Living In The Material World.

Don't start this if you decide you want to do anything else all day...not only is it long, but it sure as hell makes you think a lot. The problem is, I just never felt like Marty was getting at everything that should've been there. For something that was over 200 minutes you'd think there would be a bit more focus and detail, but I still can't help feeling like there was some skipping over done.

All in all, a really great tribute to a visionary.

"God, it's like Barbara ****ing Walters in here isn't it?"'-Ringo

At least a 3/4, it's on HBO and also found it on OnDemand services currently in two parts.

I was disappointed by this documentary. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I was deeply moved by it at times, and can't help but love anything that fauns over the Beatles' legacy, but it was this fawning that bothered me coming from Scorsese. The doc played like a promotional piece written by Harrison's publicist. Everything that could've been considered controversial about George Harrison was danced around or completely avoided. His womanizing, his temper, his copyright suit... I just feel that the best documentaries maintain a certain journalistic distance from their subject, and don't shy away from the unflattering moments, but this doc did nothing of the kind. Scorsese handled Harrison with kid gloves, and as a result the portrait felt unfinished. As I read in another review, it's part of a trend in recent documentaries that whitewash their subjects as if made by a devoted fan instead of a critical documentarian. Apparently, this is nothing new from Scorsese, but it's the first of his rock legend documentaries I've seen.

althor1138 said:

I'm about due for another read of rendezvous with rama.  Might start it tonight actually.  Anybody who hasn't read it definitely needs to.  If you like sci-fi that is.

Read Rendezvous With Rama earlier this year. Finished it in a single Sunday, I couldn't put it down. I was hard to avoid reading the sequel, but my cousin BEGGED me not to do it, lest its "awfulness" pale the beauty of Rendezvous.

I think his points were very well-articulated and supported, and yet I'm not surprised to see responses that amount to, "You're wrong, I don't care about the things that bother you and I think ROTJ is awesome!"

Obvious brushstrokes in a matte painting on an HD screen in 2011 is a valid criticism, especially when mattes have been selectively replaced elsewhere. The lack of dramatic tension is also a very valid point that he effectively supports, even referring to earlier drafts of the script to show how such issues could've been resolved.

"Doesn't make or break the movie."

Maybe not on his own, but then again, that wasn't his point. None of these criticisms on their own make or break the movie, but when considered all together, they form a pretty reasonable critique of the quality of ROTJ.

"2. Ewoks are awesome. Get over it."

What kind of response is that? You're just flaming the guy for articulating his opinion in an intelligent and reasonable way.

sonnyboo, thanks for sharing your review.

TV's Frink said:

asterisk8 said:

Not trying to start an argument, just putting some thoughts out there.

Then get out of off-topic ;-)

Go frink yourself. ;-)

twooffour said:

 

That's a common cliché, but it isn't accurate - some people's minds ARE wired in a way that drives them to do evil all the time.

 

If a criminal's mind is just wired that way, can they really be punished for doing something they have no control over? The threat of the death penalty or chemical castration wouldn't be a deterrent to someone "wired" to commit criminal acts, and deterrence is usually the primary reason given for instituting harsh punishments.

The trouble with attributing criminal behavior to hard-wiring is that it puts them in the same class as the mentally disabled. They have a disorder, a "malfunctioning" brain, which forces them to behave in ways they are not capable of changing. They become victims of their own malfunctioning brain, no more responsible for the crime they commit than a person who has a stroke while driving and kills a pedestrian.

Additionally, I don't believe you can call a person hard-wired to misbehave "evil". The word implies a willful/conscious/deliberate choice to disregard moral code and cause harm. Someone hard-wired like you suggest can't help it. Would it be appropriate to call an autistic person an "asshole" for ignoring you? They can't help it either.

Not trying to start an argument, just putting some thoughts out there.

My best to you and your family, pittrek. Tomorrow is 7 years since my dad died (his birthday also) so reading that your mom passed hits close to home. All I can say is that the pain will lessen in time, but the great memories will never fade.

Very much looking forward to this, but take your time and focus on your family if need be.

Is your avatar Alanis Morissette's senior class picture?

What strikes me as particularly hilarious is the lemmings "suicide" from Disney's White Wilderness was faked. They flew the lemmings to the location, and then filmed them as they were deliberately pushed over the edge.

FremenDar said:

Been watching very many Kirk Douglas movies. The man is practically immortal.

Paths of Glory?

http://youtu.be/iRZ2Sh5-XuM

10 out of 10 normal walks.

I do like the lights turning green when the door unlocks. Not a necessary change, but a cool one nonetheless. Nice video!

Blue Velvet - 8/10

Got to see this in HD thanks to On Demand and boy am I glad I did. What a movie! Definitely one to own on Blu-Ray when it comes out in November.

This is the beginning of my reappraisal of David Lynch, after getting off to a bad start with Lost Highway when I was too young to understand it. 14 years later, I think I'm ready.

I want to bitch about how I can never seem to get myself to bed at a decent time, but I'm too fucking tired.

Bingowings said:

Thanks for the recommendations.

No problem! Just what I could think of off the top of my head. I did IMDb's 30 Horror Movies in October challenge a couple years ago and did a big block of haunted house movies.

You're right about The Changeling. I think it's worth watching if you're a fan of the subgenre, but it isn't great. The Innocents deserves to be on any haunted house movie list despite what can be read between the lines at the end. It is a spooky film. I love The Others and recommend it as often as I can. It's one of the most effective haunted house movies I've ever seen.

Of course I knew I was forgetting one good one, and it's the one you liked the most. Let's Scare Jessica to Death is really great!

If you don't mind silent films, I recommend The Cat and the Canary. The character of "Mammy Pleasant" creeps me out.

Marty.McFly said:

More Blu Ray news>

Changes to the 20th Century Fox Fanfare: http://youtu.be/VUm8wtDQgTU

"Nailed it."

I am dying of laughter right now!

Bingowings said:

I watched it partly because I had recently dug out an old favourite of mine, The Legend Of Hell House (1973) and I was trying to find another good creepy haunted house film which isn't The Haunting (1963).

Any recommendations out there? 

The Changeling
The Others
The Innocents
Woman In Black
The Orphanage
Suspiria

Butt-shaped potato, anyone?

well, my religion demands that I hit females just this side of legal as often as possible. :)