My thought was exactly the same. Good old Quentin. Can’t wait for his Django Unchained.
Oh that’s right, it hasn’t opened yet where you live - I think you’ll love it, I know I did. It amazes me Dicaprio didn’t get nominated, he’s fantastic in it - although everyone’s good…
At least Waltz got a nomination. I still have to wait those damn 6 days… >:(
Zero Dark Thirty - It’s ok is about all I can say, it sort of reminded me of Traffic and I found both flicks mercilessly tedious. Seems like they sent too many damn Seals overloaded with bulky high tech gear to take out two people in t-shirts with AKs. That’s it? I’m sure this film has 7% of the truth buried in there somewhere as what is shown looks like 5 people led the CIA hunt for Bin Laden with extremely loose and clandestine methods. The end of the film plays out more like a cathartic public execution to reaffirm everything the government has said about taking out the figurehead of Al Queso. I’d have to give it a 2 n a half skulls out of five, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t care for it either.
and I watched Django Unchained again for a second here in Memphis TN in a theater full of black folks, well that is THE way to see this movie. If I have one complaint it still stands from the last time, Tarantino should have stuck to a few music themes from other Spags instead of cramming every music cue he enjoys starting up a montage right after another one ends. Both times the majority of the audience was restless by the last 30 minutes and jumped up and bolted out a minute before the end credits. I also thought when Broomhilda sticks her fingers in her ears at the end was the stupidest fucking mood killer image ever. Well not so perfect the second time around but still the best of last year next to Dredd.
started watching second season of Hell of Wheels - great show with superb music - better than some recent western movies
La donna del lago (1965) by Luigi Bazzoni.
A young writer Bernardo (Peter Baldwin) decides to come back to a small town, set nearby a lake, where he had previously stayed and met a attractive maid and waitress – Tilde (Virna Lisi). The place is desolate then, as the action takes place in winter and the tourist are not particularly interested in this place at this part of the year. Bernardo is in search for peace and quiet and this is why he has an intention of having a rest there and working on his new book. However, after some time it dawns on him that, actually subconsciously, he wants to meet the beautiful waitress. He plans to rediscover her and starts searching, after which he is informed by the owner of the hotel about her mysterious death…
This is often considered to be one of the earliest examples of giallo genre, along with Blood And Black Lace (1964). In spite of this fact, this cannot be considered, just like later effort by Bazzoni, masterful Footprints On The Moon (1975), to be a typical mystery that made a pattern for all films of this genre, as it differs drastically. In addition to this, the flick is more likely to remind Blow Up (1966) by Antonioni than The Bird With Cristal Plumage (1969) or Deep Red (1975) by Argento. The main character appears to be lost in the world of his own illusions and enquires himself what is real and what is just his imagination, just like David Hemmings in Antonioni’s masterpiece. While Michelangelo Antonioni is more interested in general subject of perception and human identity in the world, in which being a witness is a very relative phenomenon, Bazzoni avoids such topics and focuses on delving into Bernardo’s mind. Our protagonist himself is not a witness, he’s just implicated in a twisted affair surrounding this town. To render psychological aspect even more visible and more articulate, the director utilizes a very slow pace and we can hear our character’s thoughts. Owing to this, the viewer is able to follow all the vacillations of the main character and follow all possible ways of Tinde’s demise accompanying this mystery envisioned by Bernardo. What is more, Bazzoni exploits black-and-white cinematography which makes things even more fascinating. To sum up, all these elements give it a very distinctive look and it is far from a simplistic murder mystery and the film becomes a sort of a psychological drama. At the end, nothing seems to be concluded and unraveled in detail. In spite of the fact that Bernardo’s explanation is the most probable, there are plenty of additional subplots which suggest that many things remain obscure and inexplicable. Thanks to an exceptional editing, chilling sequences of dreams and flashbacks merged together, the ensemble looks terrific.
Therefore, nothing is certain in this flick. The whole plot is shown from the Bernardo’s point of view, along with his visions and dreams. This render everything not only a murder mystery, but also a great psychoanalysis of the Bernardo’s mentality, exposing all his fears, desires and his vague relationship with Tilde whose personality we get to know through his memory. Thus, this subjective nature and unusual perspective make it so extraordinary and riveting. The script itself isn’t the biggest advantage of this picture. If it was made by somebody else, it would possibly be a flop. Fortunately, on account of tremendous direction by Bazzoni, his visual style, exquisite taste for creating adequate atmosphere of anticipation and ambiguity, La donna del lago (Woman Of The Lake) is a true gem.
The cast is nothing special, but all of the actors manage to achieve a satisfying level of acting artistry. Peter Baldwin, a little known television actor, gives a quite decent performance. There are a couple of familiar faces: such as Phillipe Leroy, known for his roles in Yankee (1966) by Tinto Brass, and Salvo Randone from Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) by Elio Petri. Their roles are rather a minor ones, as Peter Baldwin is the most important character and the action revolves around him.
Overall, La donna del lago (1965) might not be as visually striking as gorgeous Le Orme (1975), nonetheless it’s a very impressive little movie that should be more known than actually it is. The story itself is nothing really new, but the way it is executed makes this one refreshing and worth a look. Luigi Bazzoni attaches a great importance to a psychological aspect of characters in the film and owing to this outshines many other flicks in its genre. Now, it remains only a hidden gem and sadly it seems there is no possibility to popularize it in the nearest future. Pity. This deserves to be more prevalent. 8/10
Countess Perverse by Jess Franco
-One of the most entertaining Franco films I’ve seen. Lina Romay looks stunning and plays most of her role without clothes. And so does the rest of the cast too which includes Robert Woods too. Didn’t expect to see him running around the beach naked. Film has a great atmosphere and beautiful locations.
Surely reason enough to watch the film ;)?
I really want to get on some Mondo Macarbo stuff having seen Demon Sword and a fan of Franco’s Bloody Moon and Faceless.
I watched Return of The King at a bar while drunk with some people, the movie is spectacularly uninteresting and easy to make fun of, the final scene of the film features every character crying and hugging each other which caused many laughs around the bar. Jackson used to spew oceans of guts and blood now he spews man tears in the wimpiest way imaginable. Nothing that happened earlier in the film justified any of the emotional pornography in the last half, a more subtle or even half toned down approach would have worked better. For the rest of the film, it looked like the others, lots of big battles but not a single scene of confrontation suspenseful. I am still unconvinced by big CGI battle flicks, they’re pretty forgettable other than how much money they cost/made.
I think that The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) works quite well when not drunk :). Then again, I am apparently the only one here who enjoys it… 
“Jaws” - love Robert Shaw in this…
I liked that as well, although I have a feeling the first part was the best one. Return Of The King has too much CGI to my taste, but it’s still well made and entertaining.
My favorite Spielberg.
[quote=“Mickey13, post:8712, topic:1923”]I liked that as well, although I have a feeling the first part was the best one. Return Of The King has too much CGI to my taste, but it’s still well made and entertaining.
My favorite Spielberg.[/quote]
I don’t think it would be possible to do the final battle scenes in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King without CGI. I agree though, that the first, The Fellowship of the Ring is the best; I really enjoy the atmosphere of uncertainly and dread.
Jaws is great, a perfectly constructed thriller that is also very Hitchcockian, but it is not my favourite Spielberg. I’m not sure which one is, he’s made some tremendous films: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan are all jostling in my head for title of “best”.
I’m not a diehard fan of the trilogy, but I think it’s well-worth watching. In other words: John Welles is not alone!
I think too that the first one was the best of the three, and the second the least interesting. The final part was marred by overlength and these multiple endings. I saw it in cinema and the audience started laughing when they kept coming up with new scenes.
Yes, the there were too many endings. The film should have ended when it fades to black (for the first time), while Frodo and co. are still on the errupting Mount Doom. That would not be very faithful to the novel, but then I am far from the biggest fan of Tolkein…
Good to know that the first one is the best … 
Hitchcock in Jaws? Hmm …
Personally I’m a great fan of Tolkien, my favorite book of his would be The Silmarillion and The Children of Húrin.
I’m aware of the fact that the third part couldn’t have been made without CGI, but I think it could have been made better, less spectacular. Actually I got fed up with those trilogy when my family started to watch those movies in almost every situation.
The second one was the least interesting, I think so as well.
[quote=“Stanton, post:8716, topic:1923”]Good to know that the first one is the best …
Hitchcock in Jaws? Hmm …[/quote]
The use of the so-called Vertigo-zoom as well as the “man vs. nature” theme that the film uses seems very similar in approach to The Birds.
[quote=“John Welles, post:8713, topic:1923”]I agree though, that the first, The Fellowship of the Ring is the best[/quote]Glad I didn’t carry on then.
I watched the first one and was bored, watched half the second one and thought “Fuck this” and turned it off. I found them proper boring.
As for The Hobbit, quite a thin book isn’t it? Looks like they are gonna try and milk it.
[quote=“Bill san Antonio, post:8707, topic:1923”]Countess Perverse by Jess Franco[/quote]There a great bit of music when they are on the boat. Shame you can hear an outboard motor the whole time during that scene.