I just saw a very obscure but very touching comedy from Israel called Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi about a high school student who is something of a misfit and lives with a dysfunctional family.
And even if it wasn't a good movie, it would still be worth watching just for the sight of Aya Koren (who plays the girl next door)!
rate the last movie you saw
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Monterey Jack
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SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987) - 1/10. I think the history behind the film is more interesting than the film itself. I guess everyone had good intentions but when you cut a budget by over 50% you're going to end up with a mess...which this movie is. The acting from Reeve, Hackman, and Kidder are good (I think Reeve really loved playing Clark Kent), but what a mess. Nice to hear Williams' themes, though I know there were problems with the orchestra being able to play the faster and more complex stuff. Even watching the deleted scenes on the DVD didn't make me think they could have made a good movie.
ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (1946) - 6/10. I love Bernard Herrmann's score, and Rex Harrison's performance was the gem in this movie. Had a lot of typical Hollywood melodrama in it, but worth watching for Dunne's and Harrison's performances (and Herrmann's music).
ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (1946) - 6/10. I love Bernard Herrmann's score, and Rex Harrison's performance was the gem in this movie. Had a lot of typical Hollywood melodrama in it, but worth watching for Dunne's and Harrison's performances (and Herrmann's music).
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AndyDursin
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SUPERMAN III is a masterwork by comparison. It really is. But don't get me started, because I actually like the third movie!SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987) - 1/10. I think the history behind the film is more interesting than the film itself. I guess everyone had good intentions but when you cut a budget by over 50% you're going to end up with a mess...which this movie is. The acting from Reeve, Hackman, and Kidder are good (I think Reeve really loved playing Clark Kent), but what a mess. Nice to hear Williams' themes, though I know there were problems with the orchestra being able to play the faster and more complex stuff. Even watching the deleted scenes on the DVD didn't make me think they could have made a good movie.
One thing about SUPERMAN IV though -- as bad as it is, I'd rather sit through it again than SUPERMAN RETURNS. Sometimes a disappointment can be more unwatchable than a truly bad movie.
It was fun watching Reeve act as Clark Kent. As I said, he must have really liked playing that character. Certainly his performance eclipses anything that Brandon Routh (spelling?) did in SR. I listened to Rosenthal's commentary and the ideas in the story sounded good, but they weren't executed well in the film. Shame that was Reeve's last Superman film.AndyDursin wrote:SUPERMAN III is a masterwork by comparison. It really is. But don't get me started, because I actually like the third movie!SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987) - 1/10. I think the history behind the film is more interesting than the film itself. I guess everyone had good intentions but when you cut a budget by over 50% you're going to end up with a mess...which this movie is. The acting from Reeve, Hackman, and Kidder are good (I think Reeve really loved playing Clark Kent), but what a mess. Nice to hear Williams' themes, though I know there were problems with the orchestra being able to play the faster and more complex stuff. Even watching the deleted scenes on the DVD didn't make me think they could have made a good movie.
One thing about SUPERMAN IV though -- as bad as it is, I'd rather sit through it again than SUPERMAN RETURNS. Sometimes a disappointment can be more unwatchable than a truly bad movie.
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AndyDursin
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Two words sum up IV: Cannon Group.mkaroly wrote:It was fun watching Reeve act as Clark Kent. As I said, he must have really liked playing that character. Certainly his performance eclipses anything that Brandon Routh (spelling?) did in SR. I listened to Rosenthal's commentary and the ideas in the story sounded good, but they weren't executed well in the film. Shame that was Reeve's last Superman film.AndyDursin wrote:SUPERMAN III is a masterwork by comparison. It really is. But don't get me started, because I actually like the third movie!SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987) - 1/10. I think the history behind the film is more interesting than the film itself. I guess everyone had good intentions but when you cut a budget by over 50% you're going to end up with a mess...which this movie is. The acting from Reeve, Hackman, and Kidder are good (I think Reeve really loved playing Clark Kent), but what a mess. Nice to hear Williams' themes, though I know there were problems with the orchestra being able to play the faster and more complex stuff. Even watching the deleted scenes on the DVD didn't make me think they could have made a good movie.
One thing about SUPERMAN IV though -- as bad as it is, I'd rather sit through it again than SUPERMAN RETURNS. Sometimes a disappointment can be more unwatchable than a truly bad movie.
As much as the Salkinds were vilified by certain people, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus basically say it all.
What's worse, Cannon did spend a lot of money on films like LIFEFORCE, but they ran out of money by the time they did IV.
I also recall reading that Warner Bros. was going to release IV at Christmas time to coincide with Supes' 50th anniversary, and that they were going to spend more money to finish the F/X and the film properly. Apparently they decided after seeing what was there not to bother, and they just dumped the movie out in August and cut their losses.
You also, sadly, have to blame Reeve for the film's failure to some degree as well. The story was his idea, and I agree with you as well Michael, that even the restoration of all that footage and proper F/X wouldn't have saved the movie either. The concept was poor right from the outset.
HOT FUZZ (2007) - 8/10. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie- very funny, witty, goofy, and didn't take itself too seriously. Simon Pegg was great.
STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006) - 9/10. I dislike Will Ferrell movies (except TALLADEGA NIGHTS) and never found him to be really funny, but I was also pleasantly surprised by this movie. I got sucked into the drama and just really enjoyed the story, the sentiment, and the acting.
MYSTERY MEN (1999) - 4.5/10. I don't know...I just wasn't into this one. Very dumb and the humor felt really forced at times. There were a few moments that Ben Stiller and WH Macy made me laugh, but they were few and far between. It took me a minute or two but I was finally able to figure out that Blue Raja's mother was Louise Lasser, which made me think of Woody Allen's BANANAS.
STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006) - 9/10. I dislike Will Ferrell movies (except TALLADEGA NIGHTS) and never found him to be really funny, but I was also pleasantly surprised by this movie. I got sucked into the drama and just really enjoyed the story, the sentiment, and the acting.
MYSTERY MEN (1999) - 4.5/10. I don't know...I just wasn't into this one. Very dumb and the humor felt really forced at times. There were a few moments that Ben Stiller and WH Macy made me laugh, but they were few and far between. It took me a minute or two but I was finally able to figure out that Blue Raja's mother was Louise Lasser, which made me think of Woody Allen's BANANAS.
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AndyDursin
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Monterey Jack
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Paul MacLean
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I just watched The Reivers for the first time in eons (the last time I saw it was when you brought over the laserdisc Andy!).
What a great movie. I don't really understand why this film doesn't get more attention and acclaim -- certainly it is much better than some of the other films of that era which are hailed as "classics" -- Bonnie & Clyde, M*A*S*H, Butch Cassidy. And unlike them The Reivers has a good moral, and depicts the triumph honesty and maturity over childish irresponsibility and opportunism.
Great story, great performances, effective (but un-preachy) statements about racial inequality in the south -- and a GREAT score on top of all that!
But someone tell me why the cue from the horse race isn't on the CD?
What a great movie. I don't really understand why this film doesn't get more attention and acclaim -- certainly it is much better than some of the other films of that era which are hailed as "classics" -- Bonnie & Clyde, M*A*S*H, Butch Cassidy. And unlike them The Reivers has a good moral, and depicts the triumph honesty and maturity over childish irresponsibility and opportunism.
Great story, great performances, effective (but un-preachy) statements about racial inequality in the south -- and a GREAT score on top of all that!
But someone tell me why the cue from the horse race isn't on the CD?
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AndyDursin
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Monterey Jack
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L.A. Confidential (1997): 10+/10+
Still awesome. One of those rare movies I would consider "perfect". Brilliant cast, engrossing screenplay, terrific mixture of appropriate 50's tunes and tense Jerry Goldsmith underscore. As much as I love Titanic, this was truly the best film of '97 (and one of the best of the decade).
Still awesome. One of those rare movies I would consider "perfect". Brilliant cast, engrossing screenplay, terrific mixture of appropriate 50's tunes and tense Jerry Goldsmith underscore. As much as I love Titanic, this was truly the best film of '97 (and one of the best of the decade).
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Paul MacLean
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I can't count the number of good scores have been marred on CD by noise reduction to "improve" the sound.AndyDursin wrote:I know! That "expanded" Sony CD didn't have it either, not to mention the added noise reduction that muffled the clear stereo sound of the original album (and Masters Film Music CD, which is superior for that reason).But someone tell me why the cue from the horse race isn't on the CD?
The MFM CD sounds superb, despite the presence of a little tape hiss (which is inaudible most of the time anyway).Compared to the film it sounds like Williams re-arranged/rerecorded some of the cues for the album. "Lucius' First Drive" is different in the film, as is the end title (and the end titles on the MFM and Sony CDs are slightly different from each other as well).
Seems like this score is due for a proper expanded release!
THE AVIATOR - 5/10. A friend lent me this movie and I reluctantly watched it. I think overall the story is engaging and the acting superb: DiCaprio and Blanchett especially too the ball and ran for all it was worth. Although the film is 170 minutes it was interesting enough to hold my attention without getting boring. HOWEVER, one of the film's biggest detriments was the "academic" approach that came across to me as pretentious and indulgent:
-The bathroom scene where the two "outsiders" speak of how different they are and how no one understands them, ending in a confession and Kate's response that she "would take the wheel." That scene just felt out of place with the pace of the movie and completely unnecessary unless one wanted to artificially heighten the dramatic impact of their relationship. Worthless scene.
-Hughes OCD nightmare in the screening room in which he yells and screams at ends up on the floor in the fetal position while scenes from Hell's Angels and The Outlaw play on his body. Ridiculous and very pretentious to me.
-At the end of the film, JC Reilly's character looks at Huges and with his face int eh middle of the frame and a smirk on his face says, "Howard, the whole WORLD works for you." Add to that the melodramatic ending in which Hughes sees a reflection of himself as a child in the mirror of the bathroom while OCD repeating "It's the way of the world." To me, things like that were goofy, unnecessary moments that showed how academically the film was constructed. It's a well crafted film, but pretentious at times.
Anyway, that's my opinion and how I saw it. I am also a Howard Shore fan, and I think this was one of his weakest scores in years. It's lifeless and bland and I hardly ever listen to it. I honestly think Scorsese has been vastly overrated the past decade or so: GANGS OF NEW YORK was terrible, and THE DEPARTED was okay. I can understand how the Hughes character fits into that "loner", "outsider" type that Scorsese likes to make films about, but ultimately THE AVIATOR is a mixed bag for me. Great performances, pretentious film.
-The bathroom scene where the two "outsiders" speak of how different they are and how no one understands them, ending in a confession and Kate's response that she "would take the wheel." That scene just felt out of place with the pace of the movie and completely unnecessary unless one wanted to artificially heighten the dramatic impact of their relationship. Worthless scene.
-Hughes OCD nightmare in the screening room in which he yells and screams at ends up on the floor in the fetal position while scenes from Hell's Angels and The Outlaw play on his body. Ridiculous and very pretentious to me.
-At the end of the film, JC Reilly's character looks at Huges and with his face int eh middle of the frame and a smirk on his face says, "Howard, the whole WORLD works for you." Add to that the melodramatic ending in which Hughes sees a reflection of himself as a child in the mirror of the bathroom while OCD repeating "It's the way of the world." To me, things like that were goofy, unnecessary moments that showed how academically the film was constructed. It's a well crafted film, but pretentious at times.
Anyway, that's my opinion and how I saw it. I am also a Howard Shore fan, and I think this was one of his weakest scores in years. It's lifeless and bland and I hardly ever listen to it. I honestly think Scorsese has been vastly overrated the past decade or so: GANGS OF NEW YORK was terrible, and THE DEPARTED was okay. I can understand how the Hughes character fits into that "loner", "outsider" type that Scorsese likes to make films about, but ultimately THE AVIATOR is a mixed bag for me. Great performances, pretentious film.
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AndyDursin
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