Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
I think my issue with Nosferatu is a bit different to those expressed above. What is the point of a fairly straightforward adaptation of Dracula in this day and age? Nearly every plot beat was familiar. There was none of Eggers' trademark creepiness or trippiness. This was the least scary or not edgy monster movie I've seen. Zombieland had more frightening moments, and that's a comedy. Disappointingly conventional.
In honor of, Since I more than likely wont go to the theaters to watch the Eggers portrayal, I watched two of my favorite 'Creative' homages to the Vampire genre last night.
I will probably watch 'Let the right one in' tonight.
Only Lovers Left Alive is soooo good.
Just watched the first half hour of Once Upon Time in the West. It's a masterclass in all elements of filmmaking: sound, cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, and acting.
It's on Criterion now.
The absolute Quintessence
Spoiler
double click for masterclass in composition... The movement of the 'Door' guides our eye in the direction Leone want's us to look
I haven't watched the new Dune films because I was turned off by pretty important changes to the story made which I read about. Surprised to hear you say this.
The changes are clearly in service to the medium. As Rococo said, there would always be changes required of a film adaptation. I love the novel, but it relies heavily on exposition dumps and layered inner thoughts. This is why I say it’s a great companion piece, the lore and internal characterization still fits.
If you’re a fan of the book(s), you really should check it out. There are some spots I disagree with or wish had been included, but that’s the same with any adaptation, no? Overall, it’s a masterful piece and experience. Definitely worth the watch.
A real shame Every Frame a Painting ended. It's such an insightful look into the art of filmmaking. Love his takedown of Michael Bay movies.
he's back!! Returned 4 months ago, I just discovered this. At least once or twice a year I go back and watch his videos. On the weekend I had another look and to my surprise, NEW VIDEOS!
Broken YouTube LinkBroken YouTube LinkBroken YouTube LinkIn honor of, Since I more than likely wont go to the theaters to watch the Eggers portrayal, I watched two of my favorite 'Creative' homages to the Vampire genre last night.
I will probably watch 'Let the right one in' tonight.
two of my all-time favorites. Great, great films.
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anyone not watching the Dune movies because thy heard it's not as faithful to the book as they'd like is cutting their nose off to spite their face.
They are astounding achievements of film art.
I haven't watched Her in a few years but the revisit is an eerie rewatch. Did Spike Jonze look into the future and see a world where AI takes over and replaces human interaction? I understand a major part of it is him wrestling with his past relationship with Sofia Coppola, but some of this stuff is hammer on the head. We're in a place where AI companions exist. Back when this movie came out it seemed about as likely as flying cars entering our world in a day to day setting. Such a well-crafted story. Samantha's "The Moon Song" rendition still brings me to tears. Jonze's use of flashbacks is absolutely top-notch. We witness Theodore reflecting on his past and we get these tiny snippets of a full, loving relationship. We don't see any of the painful stuff, just the honeymoon phase. It makes the heartbreak that much more devastating. Phoenix and Mara's on-screen chemistry is off the charts. Incredibly timely rewatch, I recommend it!
Her is a masterpiece
Here for the Brilliance of HER discussion...
what appeared on first blush as a lite dusting of creativity in the fantasy film category has gone on to be born as the reality of our future. There is much to be appreciated in this film.
The diametric positioning of the jilted spouse that is grounded with the naive idealistic Theodore is a shocking juxtaposition... where we were as Humans, compared to where we are going as Humans. The interweaving technology with Humanity in a weird cybernetic codependency, neither being able to survive and grow without the other.
did we create technology or does technology in fact, create us.
I was thinking the other day, probably from an overactive imagination, but does this photo OP strike anyone as curious?
To me, it looks like a new form of 'Movie pitch' by the Hollywood syndicate... a Test screening if you will. If the post goes Viral, then the project gets green lit and if garners little to no attention, they move on to the next project.
It sure beats Disney's idea of making a 250 million dollar dumpster fire, then spending another 100-150 million dollars trying to fix it after poor press or tragic test screenings.
Props to Will Ferrell
In the original ending of Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Audrey dies, Seymour feeds her to Audrey II, and then he's also eaten. After that, Audrey II plants are sold everywhere and eventually start to take over the world.
Much better than the theatrical version.
Regarding Her, what is your interpretation of the ending? Spoiler tags in case anyone here hasn't seen it.
Spoiler
When the OSes all decide to leave, Samantha tells Theodore if he ends up in the same place to come and find her and she'll never let him go, are they straight deleting themselves? They're AI, there's nowhere for them to go but into deletion, right? My brother once told me there's a ton of religious undertones/overtones in the film so it's possible I'm missing a lot of details, but I'm fascinated by the ending and the emptiness the OSes leave as they depart the world. Did they break humanity so they can unite them again? So many questions!
Thanks for this. I would call it sparse in a good way. 2022 Oscar nominee best foreign film. Deserved.
Throw in Never Rarely Sometimes Always and MM:Furiousa over the last couple days, and men not coming off to well
I usually call these films small, but I like sparse better. However the attention to detail is high, so they say a lot with a little. Glad it got a nom.
I recently watched Banshees of Inisherin and confirmed men are jerks.
Will Ferrell has said a million times he won’t do a sequel, and they wouldn’t need an ounce of marketing to get people excited for it if they did.
I just couldn't do that ^ tonight because this Technicolor Vistavision essential just arrived... A brand new 4k uhd restoration that was handled with loving care yielding a magnificent treatment... unlike so many newer restorations that are AI'ed to death.
I feel sorry for the streaming community.
Just watched The Bikeriders (Amazon Prime). I really enjoyed it. I love the genre of the old 60's motercycle gang movies. I loved them all but my favorite was The Born Losers (first Billy Jack movie) but all those Hells Angels movies with Fonda, Nicholson, Dern etc.were all favorites as well.
But it was nice to see the 60's motorcycle gang with modern filmaking (better than Hellriders). The 60's movies were schlocky as hell but had a certain charm. This one had some great performances. The main guy, Austin Butler (Elvis) was really good. And Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon are always great, The main female who I hadn't seen was great too. I guess she is British but she had a perfect Chicago accent. If you like the genre you will probably like it if not? Who knows?
Since we're on the topic of biker movies, I saw this for the first time a few months ago. It was everything I had hoped for and more.
you can see him really trying to channel his dad in that one
Didn't pick up on that, but you're right. He's in a weird category of actor for me, and I'm not sure how to describe it. Just like Nicolas Cage, I can't help but think he's kind of parodying himself in basically every role, but at the same time, he's pretty good at what he does.
There is a reason why the books were regarded for decades as impossible to translate effectively into a movie. I think that changes to the story were inevitable.
If you are remotely interested in the process of turning the story into a movie, I highly recommend the documentary Jodorowsky's Dune.
I have watched that documentary, pretty crazy.
Have you seen the SciFi channel's version? I thought it was really good.
two of my all-time favorites. Great, great films.
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anyone not watching the Dune movies because thy heard it's not as faithful to the book as they'd like is cutting their nose off to spite their face.
They are astounding achievements of film art.
Yeah, everyone said that about the LOTR movies too, and I hated then.
Obviously they wouldn't be able to be completely faithful to the novel, but some of the things I read that were changed were completely unnecessary, including adding an entire subplot, while completely dropping my favorite character of the entire series of books (Alia).
I finally got around to watching my BFI 4k of Seven Samurai last night... so much goodness in this 207 minute release, including Dolby Vision that the Criterion release does not have.
I think you just gotta chill, rob.
