American Gangster Another one I missed. It's Washington and Crowe. What's not to like? And when you have the likes of Brolin and Golding Jr in support you know it's going to be good.

And it is. Ridley Scott is in form and it's a rollicking tale of true life drug man Frank Lucas. This is great stuff. Hard to think of someone better than Denzel at this time. Love him. Recommended.

Don't Look Now Never saw this all the way through before. What a deeply unsettling film. It generates a real sense of weirdness, paranoia and doom. The leads are great of course. Hard to categorise this film and it has aspects of many genres which of course adds to its quality. An extremely fine film and well worth seeing if you haven't already.

Paul the sparky wrote:

Didn't expect that score for Eternals Shabbo. It's been getting a panning and everyone is talking about it killing the whole MCU thing. Glad it's still a good watch despite all that

Helps to go see it on the biggest fuck-off screen you can find.

I haven't read any of the bad reviews but I can see why some my not get on with it but I can't see how it could be hated or thought to be the "end of Marvel". It has some story flow flaws and, yeah, it has some talking expositional moments that feel inelegant but I liked the characters and the slower pace of it. Are the Marvel fanboys upset that not every scene has people punching each other? I'm so glad they've been willing to hand some of these films to people that have unique filmmaking visions and let them actually make something that feels like it is by them. I hope there's more like this one.

Kow wrote:

And the best WHAT THE FUCK moment ever.

Heh. Aye. My take is

I'd try and see it in cinema if at all possible.

Into day 3 of isolation now so watching some things I wouldn't normally go for. Fantasia 2000 is an update of the original and is far more accessible. It's all new apart from the inclusion of the Sorcerer's Apprentice Sequence.

Watching this you really see how Disney's animators have taken this to an art form. The amount of imagination and the sheer number of things going on makes you realise the corners everyone else cuts.

The best sequence for me is one set to Rhapsody in Blue and is a comment on modern life presented with superb levels of charm, panache, style and imagination. 

The whole thing clocks in at just over an hour and if you like animation it's worth finding the time to see this - even if it is in segments.

Paul the sparky wrote:

I'll probably wind up streaming it like I do most things these days. I'd planned to go to the cinema for Dune but that didn't pan out, I've not seen that yet just in case I can get out to watch it

It’s worth it!

The Monument Men is the true story of a group of experts made soldiers at the end of WW2 to find and retrieve art treasures. 5 million pieces were found and 100 tons of gold bullion.

It starts off feeling a bit like a middle-aged Kelly's Heroes but it's far more than that. The ensemble cast - starring Clooney & Damon accompanied by Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Bonneville and Bob Balaban gave me another reason to expect a caper film. 

But it isn't. It has a general tone and some moments of light heartedness but it also shines a light on the horrors of war and the scope of the greed, gangsterism and blinkered vision of the Fuhrer and his Reich.

Well worth checking this one out.

I'd given that a miss as I thought it might be a bit Patriot Boomers Solve the Case.
Will give it a go.

12/11
Threads Remastered. Watched this with the director's commentary which makes for really interesting viewing. The film itself is still a horrific spectacle but it's superbly crafted and the director's insights really add value to the special edition DVD it comes on.  I'd advise anyone considering watching this to be wary. Once it kicks off it becomes relentless  - I don't think anyone would have the balls to make this today.

My Cousin Vinny Watched this so I could go to bed in good mood. Hadn't seen it before but was aware of it. Great fun overall and reading about it afterwards I learned that it was praised at the time for its courtroom accuracy with respect to procedure and tactics. Great leads and you can't go wrong with Fred Gwynne as the judge.

13/11
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974 Haven't seen this since I bought the DVD SE in 2003. Goodness me this has aged well - it's better than I remember it. What impresses most is the camera work. Some gorgeous sky shots and lots of nice transitions going on. Gunnar Hansen was an inspired casting decision - it's hard to imagine someone else with that physicality and controlled brutality together with his mobility and door filling presence. Great stuff.  This must have been mind boggling 45 years ago in the cinema.

Chainsaw really is still fantastic. I feel like the opening credits really influenced a lot of movies after like Seven. Were there many other films at the time that opened their films like that or was it still in the post-Hitchcock Saul Bass era

Also because time, effort and genuine thought was put into the fight choreography. Makes a big difference from the usual 'people flailing at each other whilst the camera goes shoom shoom' stuff in most big budget action.

It made me want to re-watch some classic Jackie Chan. Been a while since I watched the oldies. What's the best entry point especially for showing to my gf? Armour of God? Police Story?

ShabbyMcCrabby wrote:

Also because time, effort and genuine thought was put into the fight choreography. Makes a big difference from the usual 'people flailing at each other whilst the camera goes shoom shoom' stuff in most big budget action.

It made me want to re-watch some classic Jackie Chan. Been a while since I watched the oldies. What's the best entry point especially for showing to my gf? Armour of God? Police Story?

Police Story is excellent but for me Rumble In The Bronx is very accessible and fun with some excellent choreography

Everyone's a bit of cunt.

Moot_Geeza wrote:

I bet Jackie Chan only has one N64.

LOL

nick_md wrote:

Gah, I feel unbelievably seen.

I see you there