The "I'm watching/just watched *movie title* thread....

[MV/Liberace!]

Plus there's something special planned for this November. Do you know what this is supposed to be, MV?

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin-oral-history/

And I find The Song Remains The Same unwatchable.

it is a rather poor performance in terms of zeppelin's usual standards at that point in their careers, but it was filmed over the course of two or three live performances at the very end of a rough tour.  the band was strung out and addled at the time the movie was filmed.  it's such a shame tsrts was for so long the only official filmed record of them playing live.

[Blinko]

Walter Freeman Documentary .

Last memorable thing I watched.

Enjoy.


Walter J. Freeman ~ The Lobotomist Documentary

[ziznak]

Argo was good.  For somebody unfamiliar with the historical details of the time it was educational as well.

[Sardondi]

Walter Freeman Documentary .

Last memorable thing I watched.

Enjoy.


Walter J. Freeman ~ The Lobotomist Documentary

I wonder how many ADHD kids had part of their brains scrambled with an icepick from the 1940's to the 60's? Yep, but I bet they weren't "behavior problems" afterward...or doctors, or teachers, or athletes, or artists, or musicians, or spouses or parents either. And I wonder how many eventually were institutionalized...only to be later turned out on the streets in the mental health "reforms" of the 80's. Makes you wonder how many of today's older "street people" may have once been considered prize examples of Dr. Freeman's magic brain scrambling procedure. Chilling.

[BobGrau]

I wonder how many ADHD kids had part of their brains scrambled with an icepick from the 1940's to the 60's?

[Sardondi]

BobGrau, My "page break" just happened to hit so that the pic was "below the fold" and hidden from me, so after I read the quote and then hit "page down", there was a greater "LOL Effect". Thank you for my chuckle. Again.

[Blinko]

This was pretty good.  Ancient Aliens Debunked.

Not that it requires debunking , but still.

Here's some answers.


Ancient Aliens Debunked - (full movie) HD

[Evil Twin Of Zen]

these are not movies, but.....

Last Resort. not too bad a series so far. it is a kind of "what if" sorta story for me. good cast.

Mockingbird Lane. pilot shooting for a series attempt. i liked the Munsters as  a kid and this provided wonderful wasted time.

American Horror Story (second season). i loved the first season and the second looks like i'm gonna have stranger dreams than is normal.

Arrow. i wasn't sure if i would like this one or not, but i've not missed an episode yet. i think i'm interested in the developing back story more than the main one. at least until the back story catches up.

Big Bang Theory. always a hoot to watch.

The Walking Dead. i like the show although i'm not a big zombie themed kinda person.... except for L4D of course. 

[Mind Flayer Monk]

I remember fondly Bruce Dern's Silent Running. Haven't seen it in ages, wonder if it still holds up.

I saw Silent Running a few months ago and it wasn't good.
From this era I think the only movies that hold up are all the Heston stuff, Westworld, Clockwork Orange, and Logan's Run.

Slapshot -- still good.
Young Frankenstein -- keeps getting better.

[Sardondi]

I saw Silent Running a few months ago and it wasn't good.
From this era I think the only movies that hold up are all the Heston stuff, Westworld, Clockwork Orange, and Logan's Run.

Slapshot -- still good.
Young Frankenstein -- keeps getting better.

I haven't seen Silent Running in maybe 20 years, and then it was just snatches. It was part of the "youth movies" of the era. Those movies were a huge change from what came before, because suddenly the enemy was anything that was considered part of the establishment as it was called: business, military, law enforcement - really authority and tradition of any kind. There wasn't a bit of subtlety to these kinds of movies. The bad guys weren't just wrong, they were evil. The good guys weren't troubled by doubt or restraint, because it went without saying they were correct in their views...mostly because they were spiritually pure and morally superior. The preachy arrogance and smugness of so many of these movies make them unwatchable today for me. The Billy Jack movies are perfect examples, and then there was a howler of an animal rights movie called Bless The Beasts And The Children. To me the smug sense of messianic purity of Billy Jack (created by major egomaniac Tom Laughlin, who clearly wanted the world to agree with him that he himself was Billy Jack) is by turns hilarious and revolting. Traditional morality is dispensed with in the youth movies, and the Neo Heroes kill for reasons that would befuddle John Wayne and Rpy Rogers. 

This attitude is displayed even in Silent Running, a movie about the most radical of environmentalists. Bruce Dern is shown, approvingly, killing his shipmates to keep them from carrying out their orders to destroy their spaceship full of plants and trees. The lesson is, IIRC, that the environment is much more important than mere humans. (Hear any echoes in today's Gaia culture, or the "Earth First" movement?) And humans who threaten that environment (these plants may have been some of the last greenery Earth had) may be killed without violating the new moral code.

These movies broke new ground. As difficult as it is for me to watch these kinds of movies, it is instructive to watch them, or at least be aware of them, because of the attitudes displayed in them: the absolute certainty the protagonists' beliefs were correct; their sense of moral and intellectual superiority; their certitude.

What's more, the attitudes depicted so approvingly in the Billy Jacks and Silent Runnings won out in a good chunk of our culture, at least in a segment of the movie industry. They are the attitudes and morality which many American films adopted and employ to this day. Today's films might not be so clumsy and ham-handed as a 70's youth movie, but you can see the relationship to left-leaning movies through the decades since then. Say, in Robert Altman or John Frankenheimer movies. You can see the resemblance to the point of view and assumptions of the rash of Iraq War movies that Hollywood put out a few years ago: Rendition, Lions For Lambs; Redacted; In The Valley Of Elah.

Don't know how I started out on a movie about trees in space and got here, but I did. I still don't think I could watch SR today. Or Billy Jack.

[HorrorRetro]

I just watched Last House on the Left, the original, not the remake.  It was a highly edited version for our local This TV channel.  I have seen the uncut version, so I know what I missed.  Even after all these years, it's still relevent to the horror genre.  It has a certain grittiness that you would never see in a remake.  Although much of it is satirical, having grown up in the 70s and 80s, not far removed from the Manson killings, it was a good representation of what we were told to fear by our parents and by the news.

[Treading Water]

Village of the Damned and House of Wax.  Instead of lashing down my trash can and lawn chairs before Sandy hits here.  They're talking "days" with no electricity so I'm enjoying a movie marathon while I can.

I'd call in to c2c with reports, but I don't think I'd get through.   
Maybe it will be angels whispering outside my windows and not the wind.   :

[Eddie Coyle]

I just watched Last House on the Left, the original, not the remake.  It was a highly edited version for our local This TV channel.  I have seen the uncut version, so I know what I missed.  Even after all these years, it's still relevent to the horror genre.  It has a certain grittiness that you would never see in a remake.  Although much of it is satirical, having grown up in the 70s and 80s, not far removed from the Manson killings, it was a good representation of what we were told to fear by our parents and by the news.

Never seen the remake(or will) but Craven's original is a seminal American horror film. Captures the zeitgeist perfectly, with Manson serving as a basis, but the film doesn't merely stick to the "cults are coming to take your kids" hysteria, because the villiains in the film aren't a cult, but reprobate, sleazy, "urban" greaseball drifters commiting crimes of opportunity.

          Having a no name cast, shot cheaply(over the five weekends of October, 1971) and without ostentation, the movie was utterly reviled critically upon release in summer of '72 and heavily censored over the years. Which only helped it's reputation, because by the mid 80's it became obvious that the movie had been an influence in the splatter genre's advent/revival of the late 70's/early 80's. 

[Pragmier]

Saw Cloud Atlas yesterday and mostly enjoyed it. After the initial confusion, it settled into a montage of loosely connected plot lines (think: there are no coincidences). This is not the "important" film it pretends to be; there's too much self-awareness. For me, it worked as a suspense drama with some good performances notably Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, and the great Hugo Weaving (who is always fun to watch). Jim Broadbent's arc was welcomed comedic relief.  Tom Hanks was a disappointment, probably the thing I liked least about the picture. His storyline that takes place in a post-apocalyptic future was boring. It was fun to watch for actors in unexpected/counter type roles. This film steals from many others, blatantly The Matrix, but also Clockwork Orange, Star Wars, Road Warrior, and Soylent Green. At almost 3 hours, it dragged in spots but wasn't horrible.

[Mind Flayer Monk]

This attitude is displayed even in Silent Running, a movie about the most radical of environmentalists. Bruce Dern is shown, approvingly, killing his shipmates to keep them from carrying out their orders to destroy their spaceship full of plants and trees. The lesson is, IIRC, that the environment is much more important than mere humans. (Hear any echoes in today's Gaia culture, or the "Earth First" movement?) And humans who threaten that environment (these plants may have been some of the last greenery Earth had) may be killed without violating the new moral code.

Don't know how I started out on a movie about trees in space and got here, but I did. I still don't think I could watch SR today. Or Billy Jack.

I never knew that, thank you for the insight. I thought he was just going crazy in space.
I like most of the Robert Altman movies I have seen and I didn't pay the politics much attention.

[Sardondi]

I never knew that, thank you for the insight. I thought he was just going crazy in space.
I like most of the Robert Altman movies I have seen and I didn't pay the politics much attention.

Oh, hell, don't take me as some kind of authority. I'm just a guy with one of those things everybody has...an opinion!

[Sardondi]

Saw Cloud Atlas yesterday and mostly enjoyed it. After the initial confusion, it settled into a montage of loosely connected plot lines (think: there are no coincidences). This is not the "important" film it pretends to be; there's too much self-awareness. For me, it worked as a suspense drama with some good performances notably Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, and the great Hugo Weaving (who is always fun to watch). Jim Broadbent's arc was welcomed comedic relief.  Tom Hanks was a disappointment, probably the thing I liked least about the picture. His storyline that takes place in a post-apocalyptic future was boring. It was fun to watch for actors in unexpected/counter type roles. This film steals from many others, blatantly The Matrix, but also Clockwork Orange, Star Wars, Road Warrior, and Soylent Green. At almost 3 hours, it dragged in spots but wasn't horrible.

But what the hell is it about? I certainly can't tell from the trailers or blurbs, and I haven't cared enough so far to read reviews. What's the deal?

And speaking of Hanks being a disappointment, I find him so in just about every movie of his I can think of. I suppose he is cast as the moral center of his films; maybe even has sought to create his persona as being the moral center of things. And of course it could be this is just his personality. Maybe he really is Jimmy Stewart - the best friend; the dependable, decent guy you feel so comfortable with, who's never going to piss anybody off, even if women might not throw themselves off buildings for him.

Then just when I think he has zero range, and never plays anyone except Tom Hanks, (oops, Road To Perdition, except even there he's the devoted family man and loving, sacrificial father, although playing in a hard game he didn't really choose), I wonder if that's his savvy choice, and that he simply knows what his strengths are. Maybe it's his genius, a' la Stewart and John Wayne, never to play against type. Maybe he's actually a very wise and perceptive guy who is humble enough to "know (his) limitations" as another fairly narrow-ranged guy said once. And maybe he's still on top in Hollywood because he hasn't gone in for vanity projects which "show his range". All things considered I would rather watch Tom than famous wide-ranger Sean Penn. How did I go from disappointment to a guy I like to watch? Ah, inconstancy, thy name is Sardondi.

Damn, all this talk about Jimmy Stewart makes me want to watch Rear Window right now. RW, North By Northwest, To Catch A Thief, Dial M For Murder and The Lion In Winter I believe are my favorite films of all time, and Rear Window to rule them. Yeah, love me my Hitch. But RW is almost a theater piece it's so physically contained on such a surrounded, wonderful set. But the characters are wonderful, the premise brilliant, as is that we must join in Stewart's voyeurism as we learn the fascinating details of other people's lives. And then there's the porcelain perfection of Grace Kelly, simply the most beautiful woman in the history of the world. (Sorry, Jennifer Connelly).

I could watch RW on a loop.

[Pragmier]

But what the hell is it about?

The different stories are linked by characters that have the same birthmark; I thought they were reincarnations. Each of them has to overcome some universal challenge, such as racism, fear, intolerance, oppression etc. The individuals also are representative of humanity's overcoming these same challenges as a collective. That's what I got out of it, others may disagree.

[Sardondi]

The different stories are linked by characters that have the same birthmark; I thought they were reincarnations. Each of them has to overcome some universal challenge, such as racism, fear, intolerance, oppression etc. The individuals also are representative of humanity's overcoming these same challenges as a collective. That's what I got out of it, others may disagree.

Looks like I'll be watching Rear Window.

[HAL 9000]

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/

Didn't know anything about it - I enjoyed the other 3 Spidey movies, so when I saw this available on the interwebz last week I downloaded it...

Absolutely terrible. It's somewhere around 2 hours 17 minutes - I stopped watching with more than 45 minutes left - should've stopped sooner. Don't waste your time or your bandwidth on this POS.

[ziznak]

I think that the way spider-man was portrayed in this one was better than the existing movies... he's much more of the smart-ass in this one which was always something I loved about him in the comics... other than that the movie left much to be desired.

[Evil Twin Of Zen]

i just had my brain licked...


Beyond the Black Rainbow - Official Trailer (HD)

[Pragmier]

Looks like I'll be watching Rear Window.

Haha! well you're not alone in that sentiment: CA opened to disappointing box office and will probably disappear from local screens soon enough. But it did pique enough interest where I might read the book, which had a more positive reception.

[Sardondi]

Haha! well you're not alone in that sentiment: CA opened to disappointing box office and will probably disappear from local screens soon enough. But it did pique enough interest where I might read the book, which had a more positive reception.

In the last year or so I've noticed the start of my divorce from the cutting edge of popular culture, as I start receding into fogeydom. I'm sure I don't watch any of the top 20 tv programs; I haven't been to a movie theater in 5 years; I haven't intentionally listen to current popular music on the radio in several years. My last rock concert? Can't even remember - maybe 15 years. Last night at a club? 12 years. Heck, the last time I drank anything alcoholic - nothing intentional, I just don't care to - close to 6 months.

Oh, jeez, I'm becoming my parents!

[Eddie Coyle]

In the last year or so I've noticed the start of my divorce from the cutting edge of popular culture, as I start receding into fogeydom. I'm sure I don't watch any of the top 20 tv programs; I haven't been to a movie theater in 5 years; I haven't intentionally listen to current popular music on the radio in several years. My last rock concert? Can't even remember - maybe 15 years. Last night at a club? 12 years. Heck, the last time I drank anything alcoholic - nothing intentional, I just don't care to - close to 6 months.

Oh, jeez, I'm becoming my parents!

(1) "60 Minutes" is the only show in the top 20 I watch.
     (2) Haven't been in a theater since 11/22/95...Casino
     (3) "New Music" to me would be The Black Crowes
     (4) Last concert I went to(3/20/99) was that up and comer Beck...Jeff Beck, that is
     (5) I drink about 1/4 that I used to...which would still make me an overimbibing lush
     (6)  I'm 37. My "American Idol" watching parents(late 50's) are younger than me.

[b_dubb]

i've grown weary of movies that think they're being clever because you never really now what is real / not real. i'm over this nonsense. let's get back to actually telling a story well, ok?

[Sardondi]

i've grown weary of movies that think they're being clever because you never really now what is real / not real. i'm over this nonsense. let's get back to actually telling a story well, ok?

Bingo.

[ItsOver]

i've grown weary of movies that think they're being clever because you never really now what is real / not real. i'm over this nonsense. let's get back to actually telling a story well, ok?

Absolutely.  Having a plot, actors with actual talent, and writers with some intelligence who didn't rely upon CGI to fill most of the movie time would be a great start.  Hollywood has become the WalMart of movies.

[Juan]

Looks like I'll be watching Rear Window.

Try Vertigo.  Kim Novak, while short of porcelain perfection, is very interesting.  Plus, it has a score by Bernard Hermann.

[ItsOver]

Try Vertigo.  Kim Novak, while short of porcelain perfection, is very interesting.  Plus, it has a score by Bernard Hermann.

Now we're talking.  I won't argue with it's current ranking.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/54611196-68/hitchcock-vertigo-citizen-kane.html.csp

Spent some time in San Francisco this summer.  It was cool to check out some of the sites where "Vertigo" was filmed.  The house that was supposedly Scottie's (Jimmy Stewart) place is still there and much the same.  It's right on Lombard St., just down from the famous crooked strip of the street.