Watched Hearts of Darkness (Apocalypse Now documentary) and Point Blank (love that scene where she hits Lee Marvin in the face… his head doesn’t budge)
[size=18pt]Saint Jack[/size] [size=14pt]1979 Peter Bogdanovich[/size]
I was all set to watch Modesty Blaise but before I actually do it, I was going through some TV zapping when saint jack was starting on national channel 2, became curious and ended up seeing it instead. Glad I did it, it’s a great but a great film. I’ve seen some parts in the past but never with the deserved attention.
Bogdanovich directed some great films, and was a gifted storyteller, but I guess this was is last really good one (even Texasville was pretty lame IMO) but in any case this work of art it’s among it’s best efforts that’s for sure.
Ben Gazzara performace is just outstanding, what a class act, the man could really act, I’ve seen him in some bad films (and in some great ones also), but he’s one of those rare type of actors that can act without even really trying, in a normal way adapting to any character like a glove, this to say he acts without effort, not for anyone, in this film he does a magnificent job and irradiates coolness all over the film. A mention too to Denholm Elliot who also puts on a great show as usual even Bogdanovich goes very convicing in it’s part.
The story it’s very well put on images (it’s based on a book that I never read) the time changins are very well done a great photography (this was produced by Roger Corman). You go through the shift of powers, the old colonial empire, the new one coming from the US, and the ones who always were there living there, all this it’s shown to us in a brilliant way (I know that Singapura it’s a very diferent country this days).
Got some references to James Bond Films (music themes, posters on the wall) and a very small part from George Lazenby as an American Senator with homosexual leanings.
For instance a film like The Quiet American (similar subject, well a little different, but I guess it can compared), never gets to the heels of this gem. Pretty sad that i’ve only really paid some attetion to it now and onky by chance, Great story, great acting, great film, must have this one in my collection.
Wild Geese 2.
No where near as good as the first film, and best part of film was the clips of the first film. Burton was to star in the film, but died before filming.
“Law Abiding Citizen” ok, but to me uneven film and the plot to this is hard to swallow, it is simply too far fetched. this is frustrating because the film has a couple of brilliant moments. Gerard Butler is good in the film but looked and acted like Mel Gibson who surely would have played the part if it had been made 10 years ago. 6/10
check it out your selves
HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB
In 15th Century France the evil warlock Alaric De Marnac (Naschy) is beheaded and his body and head buried in seperate locations. Modern day and his decendant Hugo de Marnac (also Naschy) goes to a seance and is told where his remains are, which he believes is a hoax but he goes along anyway and of course all the mayhem starts.
Has all the ingredients for a great 70’s Euro Horror, eerie locations, gore and plenty of flesh on show (as happened quite often with 70’s Spanish films they shot a clothed and unclothed version).
I’ve not seen many Naschy films but out the handful I have seen so far this is the one I have enjoyed the most.
An excellent addition to the prison genre - Le Trou (1960), last film of French director Jacques Becker (of Touchez pas au grisbi).
It follows the desperate, painstaking efforts of five inmates of Paris’ Le Santé prison to tunnel out of their cell to freedom via the city’s sewage system. Their determination and camaraderie seem unbreakable, but the newest and youngest among them is eventually faced with a moral dilemma that threatens the entire enterprise.
The pacing, lack of music and attention to minor, even mundane details establish a naturalistic tone (the story was based on an actual escape attempt – one of the participants even takes a leading role in the re-creation), and the suspense is skilfully maintained.
The Conformist (Bernardo Bertolucci)
It’s hard for me personally to identify with this film all that much. It seems soley Italian in it’s themes of Fascism, politics, and government. But I did get the feeling that the film is very thoughtful, intelligent, and well made overall even though the subject matter was for the most part, way over my head. This was probably the first film that Vittorio Storaro started using his trademark approaches to lighting and camera. Bird With the Crystal Plumage from the same year was also shot by Storaro but his extravagent use of color was absent for the most part. Though it was a beautifully shot film anyway. The characters in this film are hardly likeable. Jean-Louis Trintignant’s character was really not likeable at all really. He came across as cold, adulteress, treacherous, mean, and weak. He treats his new wife with very little understanding and even contempt. Overall, I think I liked the film based mostly on it’s flavorful atmosphere and vibrant setting in 1930’s France and Italy where the culture was quite interesting.
I have been to the Astor Theatre in Melbourne. A really classy and classic cinema, huge auditorium (sits more than 1000 people) old leather chairs and chandeliers. Very nice cinema.
And it mostly shows double features for a reasonable price. Yesterday that was made up of kurosawas classics Yojimbo and Sanjuro.
Both in japanese with english subs. First time i saw them, and was really curious to see Yojimbo. Interesting how much LEone actually borowed from it, some details even. Like the hand gestures of the man with no name like striking his beard. And even the poncho resembles the hero in his kimono when he keeps his arms inside.
I liked Yojimbo a bit better. Pretty good film. nice acting and good directing. Was really awesome to see those on the big screen.
" The Last Drop" a pretty poor, and extremly badly acted and weirdly cast world war 2 drama where German, British and Amercian groups of soldiers try to get their hands on Dutch art treasures in 1944. when i say to you that the best performance in the film comes from wait for it … the former French International and Tottenham Hotspur Footballer David Ginola! it should give you some idea how bad the acting is! among others in the film are Billy Zane, Sean Pertwee,Laurence Fox, Britiish Comedian Jack Dee coming over like Mike MYers did in " Inglorious Bastards" even though this movie was made in 2005. worst performance of all though comes from Michael Madsen who slums it and is just embarressing. a weird experience. ???
The Goonies … would have liked it more if I saw it as a kid, but it was good.
Watched it not too long ago with a kid, and yes, he liked it better than I did
Not too bad, actually a good pasttime, but very loud, and it’s the kind of loudness that wears you out after a while
[quote=“scherpschutter, post:2392, topic:1923”]Watched it not too long ago with a kid, and yes, he liked it better than I did
Not too bad, actually a good pasttime, but very loud, and it’s the kind of loudness that wears you out after a while[/quote]
Yeah, this guy has been telling me to see it for 5 years… because its his favourite movie. Every time I see him he says “have you seen The Goonies yet?”. So i’m happy i’ve finally seen it at least.
[quote=“chuck connors brother, post:2381, topic:1923”]Watched Hearts of Darkness (Apocalypse Now documentary) and Point Blank (love that scene where she hits Lee Marvin in the face… his head doesn’t budge)[/quote]And I just watched The film itself, redux edition. I think I like this one better than the theatrical cut though the plantation scene was copletely useless. One of the darkest films I’ve ever seen and one that affects me deeply.
I liked it years ago, I saw redux in the afternoon on VHS, its hard to judge it now… look forward to seeing both versions in widescreen soon (i’ve ordered the theatrical cut).
Just watched 3 Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon. What a piece of shit.
This is what I said about it on another thread:
[i]THREE KINGDOMS, Resurrection of the Dragon (2008, Daniel Lee)
No Kung Fu, but it’s eastern, and the director did a few Kung Fu movies, if I’m not mistaken
Unlike Red Cliff, it focuses on one character, but as focused as it is in this aspect, as unfocused it is in nearly all others
It’s as if you’re watching some isolated scenes from a much, much longer movie, randomly picked; most of the time I had hardly any idea what it was all about. It’s based on a Chinese novel from the 14th Century, which is said to be known to most Chinese, so I guess they understand things better.
Some tremendous action (the budget reportedly was some 25 million $), but little narrative backbone
Andy Lau and Maggie Q are both more than just okay, but can’t save it from boredom
It’s a tiny bit better than The Warlords (which was a total failure), but only a tiny bit
Red Cliff it aint[/i]
You should have listened to me, Colonel
[quote=“chuck connors brother, post:2395, topic:1923”]I liked it years ago, I saw redux in the afternoon on VHS, its hard to judge it now… look forward to seeing both versions in widescreen soon (i’ve ordered the theatrical cut).[/quote]http://peterrandommoviereviews.blogspot.com/
here’s my review.
[quote=“scherpschutter, post:2397, topic:1923”]This is what I said about it on another thread:
You should have listened to me, Colonel[/quote]
LOL yeah I read your post and watched it anyway, much to my chagrin. I am actually a huge fan of the 14th century novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” that this and Red Cliff are based on. For those unfamiliar, Three Kingdoms is like a Chinese version of the Iliad, except there are real characters and events. Its like one huge epic dime novel of a period of Chinese History. That Resurrection is entirely unfaithful to the novel, as well as history, is the least of its flaws. The soldiers are wearing WWII helmets for fucks sakes!
The action is crap. So much blurry fast cutting you don’t actually see what the fuck is going on. Yet the overly melodramatic acting and dialogue scenes are overly long, dragged out and boring. The directing is terrible. The story and script is crap. I don’t even think the makers of the movie even read the damn book.
Red Cliff is much better. Red Cliff has its flaws too, but at least they tried to be faithful to the literature, more or less. Scherp, I will listen to you next time 
" Living Hell" cheap but quite watchable little science fiction film about one man who can stop a “Ultimate Biological Weapon” created by his father 50 years before that got out of control and was buried underground but is released when the old army base is being demolished. a sort of cross between " The Andromeda Strain" and a quatermass episode. the first half of the film is quite good, even exciting at times, then goes off to the usual standard monster stuff but not bad. 6/10