Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 25, 2006 5:50:50 GMT
American Graffiti(1973/George Lucas) [First Viewing] Two friends bound for college spend their last night in their small town cruising the streets.When Mackenzie Phillips gets out of Paul Le Mat's car and sprays shaving cream on top of another car, I realized that this is one of my favorite films. That may sound like a strange statement, but when that moment occurs, the joyous spontaneity of the film breaks through, and you realize anything is possible in Lucas's amazing piece of celluloid, a document to a certain time in American history where cars and rock 'n roll first became a way of life for teenagers. Plus, the soundtrack, like everything else in the film, was very influential for future films, and Haskell Wexler's cinematography perfectly accommodates the film.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Feb 25, 2006 6:41:27 GMT
The Killing (1st Viewing) an entertaining Kubrick noir movie. Sterling Hayden gives an enjoyable performance. One of the better "heist" films Ive seen. Kubrick has so much variety between his movies. Simply amazing The Cowboys (1st Viewing) On IMDb, there are about 10 John Wayne movies rated ahead of this, which suprises me, because I found it really enjoyable. My girlfriend bought me the John Wayne collection for Valentines Day, and I expected this to be the weakest of the films. Maybe not, pending my veiwing of Rio Bravo The Searchers (4th Viewing) A really solid Western, one of the best in the genre. Somehow sneaks in a lot of cornball humor into a movie with tragic deaths and heavy racist beliefs. Persona (1st Viewing) Interesting movie, but I probably wouldnt watch it again. There are three dialouges that will always stick in my mind though. Amazing direction during those scenes.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Feb 25, 2006 7:38:52 GMT
Stagecoach (3rd Viewing) Nine people share a carriage ride despite warnings of hostile Indians. Each character adds a fun little blend to the story. Very entertaining
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 25, 2006 14:29:14 GMT
Persona (1st Viewing) There are three dialouges that will always stick in my mind though. The story that one of the women tells about a sexual encounter on a beach is the most erotic thing I've ever seen in a film, and the fact that it's all spoken makes it even more engaging, for some reason. Reading that back, I feel like a pervert. That's not the only reason why I watch the film.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 25, 2006 14:44:37 GMT
I, too, find it far more engaging sexually than the "best" of porn films. I'd rank it as one of the most sexually intellectual scenes ever, along with some of the sequences in Cronenberg's Crash.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Feb 25, 2006 20:55:39 GMT
I agree. That scene and the speech that is shown twice (once with the camera on each woman) are going to stick in my head for a very long time.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 25, 2006 23:00:04 GMT
Dumbland David Lynch 2001, USA[/color] 1st viewing; download- It may seem inane to use the word 'stupid' as a criticism of something called 'Dumbland', but that's what it is. Farts and expletives. There are a handful, a small handful, of mildly, briefly, begrudgingly amusing moments in the full eight episodes. The only part I really liked was this exchange between the main character (MC) and a cowboy (CB): MC: "You like to kill sheep?" CB: "Heh heh heh... Sure do. Sheep are fun to have around and I like to kill 'em." MC: "You cut their heads off?" CB: "Heh heh heh... Sure do. Clean their heads up some and hang 'em on the wall. I got two of 'em hangin' out in the latrine. I say, 'You sheep keep starin' at me and I'm liable to shit.' ...Heh heh heh..." That's the end of episode four, if you want to go straight to it. The rest is junk.[/size]
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 26, 2006 0:47:50 GMT
I only saw the first episode, and laughed many times. Or at least smiled at how absurd it was. Like I've already said, it's very like Fat-pie.com in its in-your-face humour.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 26, 2006 1:29:16 GMT
Neil Young: Heart of Gold(2006/Jonathan Demme) [First Viewing] A documentary on Neil Young's two-night Nashville concert.For lover's of his music (particularly his latest album), this is heaven. For other's, it's not much, but it is interesting to note some of the choices Demme made behind the camera. By not showing the audience of the concert, he is successful in creating the illusion of Young performing only for the theater patrons. And Young's anecdotes really drive the film and the music, and put a better understanding to his latest album Prairie Wind. The highlight of the film is Young singing "Old Man" with the anecdote before it. Very well done and surprisingly personal concert film.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 26, 2006 14:46:43 GMT
I only saw the first episode, and laughed many times. Or at least smiled at how absurd it was. Like I've already said, it's very like Fat-pie.com in its in-your-face humour. The first episode is probably the all-round funniest. It got a few smiles out of me, but it still felt like the kind of thing I drew when I was 12.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 26, 2006 23:38:32 GMT
2001: A Space Odyssey(1968/Stanley Kubrick) [First complete Viewing] After an alien artifact is dug up on the moon, a group of astronauts travel to Jupiter in search of answers.It's hard to praise a film that might be the most praised of all time, but there is honestly nothing wrong with this film. Kubrick's direction is like that of a music conductor, in which everything is in the right place. The plot is second to the experiments of sound and images that Kubrick works so well with. After a long search, I've finally come across the most beautiful film ever made. The endlessness of space mixed with classical and haunting music makes the beauty of the film go beyond words. It needs to be seen to be believed. And the "Gayane Ballet Suite" has got to be the most beautiful thing to ever grace my eardrums. This is probably the only film in which every frame, every second is an unforgettable image in cinematic history. Kubrick, possibly encountering his own monolith prior to filming, has transcended any film ever made, and has created a grand symphony that can never be imitated and or copied, because it's so unique and one of a kind. This is the greatest cinematic milestone of all time, and I'm not sure anything will ever grace the screens of celluloid like it again.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 26, 2006 23:41:36 GMT
The only credible criticism of 2001 I can think of is it being boring.
I don't think it is at all.
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 26, 2006 23:50:37 GMT
Omar, did you try it at all with Echoes?
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 27, 2006 0:04:06 GMT
Yes, I tried it with 'Echoes'. It was interesting at first, and especially during the middle portion, but once Dave gets to the room where his life ends (and begins), the music didn't seem to go with it anymore. At least, not that much.
Still, a cool element to an amazing film.
That is also the longest proview I ever wrote. I think my three favorite films were made back to back to back: Blowup (1966) The Graduate (1967) and now 2001 from 1968. I can't wait to get my hands on the special edition.
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 27, 2006 0:15:36 GMT
Supposedly the middle verse refers to the end while the end refers to another part, though I felt it worked towards the end. My favorite part is when Bowman goes into the bathroom while the quiet section is escalating.
Personally I thought Pink Floyd would've made the film even better.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Mar 1, 2006 21:08:21 GMT
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Mar 1, 2006 21:11:54 GMT
And so begins March...
Big Fish Tim Burton 2003 US 1st time; DVD A father and son, both storytellers in their own right, try to rekindle their relationship when the former hasn't long to live. Almost two hours of exposition, wanting to create a whole mystery around this persona and succeeding for the most part; like many of the individual stories told throughout, though, its purpose is only to serve an ending of sentimental charm. It may even work, if you're willing to go along with its iffy CGI and the distracting contrast between McGregor and Finney as the younger and older father.
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Post by Vercetti on Mar 1, 2006 23:05:09 GMT
I watched Breathless last night, but was too tired to post a proview. Down by Law - (Jim Jarmusch;1986;USA/West Germany) In New Orleans, two men are framed and end up in the same cell together where they meet an Italian eccentric who soon plans to escape.Jim Jarmusch really knows how to make a film. It would seem like this is your average prison escape film but it's not about the escape, but the interaction between the three main characters, who are all very likable. Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni are all great in their roles. What is also striking is the cinematography from the streets of New Orleans to the woods and bayous. The dialogue is wonderfully written and Jarmusch's direction, especially his use of music is wonderful. À bout de souffle Breathless - (Jean-Luc Godard;1960;France) After killing a police officer, a thief tries to convince his American girlfriend to follow him to Italy.A film made unlike most of it's time, especially being the major milestone of French New Wave. Godard's use of the camera is very influential. While most films of the time were using it generically, Godard used it more freely. The jump cuts are another cinematic innovation created in this film. Like Down By Law, it's about the interaction most of all. The scenes with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg are gold and hold a more modern charm to them. It also indulges in wonderful cinematography, especially the French countryside in the opening. One of the great cinematic achievements that remains powerful to this day. The only problem I had was the occasional feeling a jump cut was put in an awkward moment.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Mar 2, 2006 20:45:42 GMT
FEBRUARYFlucht aus Laos Little Dieter Needs to Fly Werner Herzog 1997, France / UK / Germany[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Jurassic Park Steven Spielberg 1993, USA[/color] Nth viewing; DVD[/size] Höstsonaten Autumn Sonata Ingmar Bergman 1978, France / West Germany / Sweden[/color] 1st viewing; download[/size] Zhou Yu de huo che Zhou Yu's Train Sun Zhou 2002, China / Hong Kong[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Trzy kolory: Niebieski Three Colours: Blue / Blue Krzysztof Kieslowski 1992, France / Poland / Switzerland / UK[/color] 1st viewing; TV[/size] Los amantes del Círculo Polar Lovers of the Arctic Circle Julio Medem 1998, Spain / France[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] From the Drain David Cronenberg 1966, Canada[/color] 2nd viewing; download[/size] Stereo David Cronenberg 1969, Canada[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] Crimes of the Future David Cronenberg 1970, Canada[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] Grizzly Man Werner Herzog 2004, Country[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size] Shivers They Came from Within / The Parasite Murders David Cronenberg 1974, Canada[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] Dramolet (Stille Nacht I) Stephen Quay / Timothy Quay 1988, UK[/color] 4th viewing; DVD[/size] Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies Stephen Quay / Timothy Quay 1987, UK[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] The Comb (From the Museums of Sleep) Stephen Quay / Timothy Quay 1990, UK[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] Are We Still Married? (Stille Nacht II) Stephen Quay / Timothy Quay 1991, UK[/color] 4th viewing; DVD[/size] Street of Crocodiles Stephen Quay / Timothy Quay 1986, UK[/color] 3rd viewing; DVD[/size] Herz aus Glas Heart of Glass Werner Herzog 1976, West Germany[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Boksuneun naui geot Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Chan-wook Park 2002, South Korea[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Japón Japan Carlos Reygadas 2001, Mexico / Germany / Netherlands / Spain[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] The Italian Machine David Cronenberg 1976, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; download[/size] Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux It's My Life / My Life to Live / To Live One's Life: A Film in Twelve Parts Jean-Luc Godard 1962, France[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Le procès The Trial Orson Welles 1962, France / Italy / West Germany / Yugoslavia[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Trzy kolory: Bialy Three Colours: White / White Krzysztof Kieslowski 1993, France / Poland / Switzerland / UK[/color] 1st viewing; TV[/size] To Die For Gus Van Sant 1995, USA[/color] 1st viewing; TV[/size] Masculin féminin: 15 faits précis Masculine Feminine / Masculine Feminine: In 15 Acts Jean-Luc Godard 1965, France / Sweden[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Rabid Rage David Cronenberg 1976, Canada[/color] 2nd viewing; DVD[/size] Syriana Stephen Gaghan 2005, USA[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size] MirrorMask Dave McKean 2004, UK / USA[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size] Munich Steven Spielberg 2005, USA[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size] Fast Company David Cronenberg 1978, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Family Viewing Atom Egoyan 1987, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Howard in Particular Atom Egoyan 1979, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Peep Show Atom Egoyan 1981, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Open House Atom Egoyan 1982, Canada[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] Good Night, and Good Luck. George Clooney 2005, Japan / France / UK / USA[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size] Dumbland David Lynch 2001, USA[/color] 1st viewing; download[/size] Invisible Agent Edwin L. Marin 1942, USA[/color] 1st viewing; DVD[/size] The Squid and the Whale Noah Baumbach 2004, USA[/color] 1st viewing; big screen[/size]
38 films. 27 first viewings. 27 features.
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