stuff i bin watching

Micah Cohen

Seen recently:

JIMMY NEUTRON, BOY GENIUS Did your kids like TOY STORY for the cool fun characters and animation? Did YOU like TOY STORY for the amazing production and great 5.1? Then you'll both like this nifty short flick. TOY STORY it ain't, but it's pretty cool with lots of great surround action and some funny bits.
HIGHER LEARNING I want to be a director like John Singelton. Not because this histrionic mess is any good, but because if I were a director like John Singelton, I'd be able to get Jennifer Connelly to kiss Kristy Swanson. (It happens at 1:14.) Otherwise, not much here except an electrifying performance by Laurence Fishburn and some great music by Stanley Clarke. See instead AMERICAN HISTORY X.
MULHOLLAND DRIVE David Lynch is awful. People should stop funding his film projects. What a waste, despite a load of nudity.
JAWBREAKER Well, okay. I thought it would be a cool flick -- how can you go wrong with all these hot young actresses? But it's actually a lame low rent HEATHERS rip off. Nothing to see here, move on.
AMERICAN MOVIE A documentary about some aspiring filmmakers in the flyover states. Unintentionally hilarious and warped, it's a real eye-opener to the state of dementia in America today. Don't miss the deleted scenes on the DVD, they are just as funny as the movie. Worth a rental.
CONTACT If you haven't watched it in a while, it's a good one to revisit. Jodie Foster is glorious, the story borders on great and the direction is wonderous. And the DVD wails on your sound system.
ANGELS & INSECTS Pretenious euro-blah masquerading as costume drama about incest and whatnot. Avoid it like you would angels and insects.
M*A*S*H This is a great film when you're not watching it, but a merely good film when you are. The DVD is an astonishing and wonderful restoration of the audio and video elements that make it worth watching again, and every nuance of Elliot Gould's performance is really really funny.
ORANGE COUNTRY 1. Jack Black is a scream. 2. Tom Hanks's kid is a better actor than Tom Hanks. 3. The DVD includes a million 60-sec trailers that are often funnier than the movie itself (why didn't they include this funniness?). Worth a rental, but it ain't no ANIMAL HOUSE.
HEAVY METAL Seen it a billion times, but this time I watched it with the commentary track. You learn something new every day. Still the coolest of animated flicks.
WAKING LIFE Sometimes an idea for a film trumps the film itself. So this is an overlong, talky thing from the young director of SLACKERS. But, it's worth seeing because of the way it was made: Linklater completed the film, then gave it to 30+ animators who turned the live action into a mindbending visual treat to behold. Worth a rental.
BANDITS This sucked. It was like, Bruce Willis with that fake hair and Billy Bob Thorton wandering around in a bad imitation Mamet script with nowhere to go. Rent anything else but this.
GUNS OF NAVARONE Rent this instead of BANDITS. Because this is the greatest adventure film ever made. Had to watch it again.
CLAY PIGEONS A witty little flick wherein Vince Vaugh might be a serial killer and Jauquin Phoenix might be his patsy. In the vien of BOTTLEROCKET (but less so), an enjoyable murder-in-a-small-town type outing.
LEGEND A "classic" story of good vs evil as visualized by Ridley Scott. The new DVD is a stunning restoration of what could be some of the dreamiest most beautiful visuals ever put on film, finally matched with its original "lost" score. Of course, it's the dumbest flick ever, but it looks amazing, and Tim Curry is the ultimate evil.
LANTANA One of the best modern noir films, thoughtfully acted and interesting, I've seen in a long while. Stylish intertwining plot wherein nothing is as it seems, played by a stellar cast. Worth a rental if you're into detective drama.
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY Sometimes you gotta watch an old soap opera, especially if you wanna please the female movie-watchers. Hey, it's a classic, even if that "famous moment" (Burt kissing Debra in the surf) only lasts about a millisecond. Lots of interesting extras on the DVD.
FROM HELL It's a retelling of the Jack The Ripper story by the directorial team that made the great MENACE II SOCIETY and the crappy DEAD PRESIDENTS. This one falls somewhere in between, but leans to the crappy side. Some good images, great sound design and a lame story with lame acting by Johnny Depp and Ian Holm wasted. Nothing scary here. Hardly worth a rental.
THE OTHERS Your average run of the mill haunted house story with a predictable SIXTH SENSE/THE SHINING kind of climax. But, it will make you leap off the couch and knock your head against the ceiling. I haven't been scared by a flick in a long time, and this one made me weep like a child. Plus, Nicole Kidman is very pretty in period garb and sepia photography.
DI$NEY'S ATLANTIS Start with a kid's flick that has some interesting adult stuff, end with a kid's flick that has some interesting adult stuff. This one is short and has great animation (for the kiddies); and very cool and very aggressive sound design, Don Novello as one of the voice talents and some h-o-t Di$ney animated babes (for you and me).

What are you watching?

MC

TroyD

IMO,

MASH, taken in context of the time it was made and how it was made, is an exceptional film.

Out of that context, it pretty entertaining.

Personally, I still think that the VAST majority of movies that I've watched have all been various shades of crappy. I did however watch On Golden Pond again on VHS the other day, other than Hanoi Jane, a GREAT flick. Funny, entertaining and a good story.

BDT

HBombToo

I want to see Jimmie Neutron! The 2 year old loves the ad played on the Blues Clues tapes. It should be a good 1 to own.

RuSsMaN

I'm watching Ch52, Telemundo, pants down.

Cheers,
Russ

Dr. Spec

Within the Past Two Months:

Das Boot
A Beautiful Mind
The Haunting
Men In Black
Monster's Ball
Heat
The Mummy
The Mummy Returns
Mulholland Drive
The Patriot

On Deck:

LA Confidential
Last Of The Mohicans
Braveheart
Rob Roy

Ron-P

I've watched:

Shallow Hal Decent, fun movie. Get to see GP with her skirt up and in thong panties from behind. This alone makes it worth the rental. If for nothing more than to burn a sock up.

Ghosts of Mars One giant ****-ball of a movie. I've never known a director to work backwards. Usually, you make movies better than the previous. Seems John Carpentar likes to do the opposite. Every movie gets **** than his previous. Thank god for chapter stops.

Men in Black II Wife and I went out with a fellow HTF'er and his wife. He got us in free, so it was worth it. Not as good as the first, had a few laughs, but Lara Flynn Boyle in black lingerie makes the movie worth watching. There is also an animated short before the movie which is very funny.

Monster's Ball Did John Carpenter direct this one, cause it sucked. Don't even bother with a rental.

Serendipity Cute, romantic, semi-funny, John Cusack movie, with of course Kate Beckinsale...oh yummy.

That's it for the past week. Looking forward to picking up Better off Dead and Top Secret tomorow, two classic's. Also, The Time Machine next Tuesday.

Peace Out~:D

Micah Cohen

>> I did however watch On Golden Pond again on VHS <<

What's "VHS"?

Dr. Spec, I wish you woulda given me a little more info about what you thought of the flicks you saw. And would this upcoming be the first time you're seeing LA CONFIDENTIAL? If so, I envy you: it's an astounding and great film. The first time I saw it, I was blown away. (And have been each time since.) What Curtis Hanson (the director) is doing making a movie with M&M now, I have no effing clue. The pain, make it stop.

MC

Billm57

THE HUSTLER - required viewing for all Hollywood execs if they want to know why 99 percent of most movies released in the last 15 years suck..get a hint..good acting+good story=great movie..they dont make em like this anymore

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - The Singing In The Rain scene makes me crack up every time

BLACKHAWK DOWN - another good example of why Democrats should not be allowed to run the country (or at least be made Commander In Chief)

M*A*S*H - Micah-This movie is GREAT while Im watching it too
..maybe you watched Jimmy Nuetron too many times

The Hitcher - Park your brains at the door becuase sometimes logic goes out the window in this one but it is one excellent suspense flick..DUEL pales in comparison in my eyes..One of Rutger Hauers best acting roles next to Roy Batty in Blade Runner

OCEANS 11 - crap..give me the orignal Rat Pack instead-how can anyone make a heist flick as boring as this???

Dr. Spec

Sorry Micah - was in a hurry. I've seen LA Confidential about 5 times - your assessent is spot on. On Deck doesn't necessarily mean haven't seen it.

Das Boot - we talked that one to death - a classic

A Beautiful Mind - really liked it - good drama

The Haunting - for the BASSSS and good fX

Men In Black - a fun movie with the kids

Monster's Ball - a fascinating character study, well conceived plot

Heat - a classic cops and robbers; Deniro/Pacino - what more needs to be said?

The Mummy - a blast - loads of brainless fun
The Mummy Returns - ditto

Mulholland Drive - needed a post movie discussion and a visit to a website to figure it out - bizarre but challenging, typical Lynch

The Patriot - epic and moving

On Deck:

LA Confidential - AWESOME movie - simply the best police corruption movie since Serpico - maybe THE best ever

Last Of The Mohicans - have DTS version; have not seen it yet

Braveheart - have not seen it yet (yes I'm ashamed)

Rob Roy - supposed the "other Braveheart"; have not seen it yet

Doc

Ron-P

Just added to the collection:

The Big Blue
The Saint
Thumb Wars
The Last Castle
Alien3
Tron 2.0
Top Secret

Watched The Big Blue last night, excellent flim. Not quite as good as Leon, but close, very close.


Peace Out~:D

mantis

I watched I am Sam....damn Michelle looks her best in this movie.So Effin Hot.But anyway the movie was much better then I expected.Really done well,so I picked it up to own.

shack

Lately I have spent most of my free time (what little there is) listening to music.

New Music:

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood - SACD
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand The Weather - SACD
Santana - Abraxas - SACD
Blood Sweat and Tears - SACD
Joan Osborne - Righteous Love
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd.
Buddy Miles - Live (with Santana)
War - Best of War and More
Jimmy Buffett - Far Side Of The World

Lot of stuff that I have had on vinyl and tape before but they have now been remastered sound much better (better equipment too).

Movies:

Pump Up the Volume - Picked this one up for $5.00. Very predictable teen angst movie from the 80s. The best part was Christian Slater's radio comentary over his pirate radio. Very good acting job. I wouldn't buy this except it was only 5 bucks.

Dragon Heart - I had heard this was a pretty good movie and at first it was a little dis-jointed but as it went on it was very enjoyable. A nice change of pace form your everyday kinght, dragon movie. It was very supprising how good of a soundtrack this move had. It gave the subs a good workout and the flying dragon scenes were good surround effects. Worth a buy.

Big Wednesday - I posted a review of this one earlier. Only DD 2.0. Great cinematography! Pretty good story too.

Star Wars - A New Hope - This was the first time I had seen this one with DD PLII. Very Nice. This just made a great movie better. GEORGE - WHERE IS THE WIDESCREEN DVD WITH REMASTERED 5.1 DD OR DTS SOUNDTRACK?

Blackhawk Down - Great Movie - All the accolades posted on this board are valid

October Sky - I really like this movie and have watched it several times. This movie was made here in my town. I have several friends who had bit parts in the movie and many of the locations were place I where I have spent a lot of time including the high school where I went. Even with out the local ties this is a great movie and is worth a watch. Based on a true story.


On Deck:

James Bond - The World Is Not Enough
The Ten Comandments
Ben Hur

johnnyamerika

Hey everyone, what's shaking?

Micah, loved your list...I have to add mine, you know.

MINORITY REPORT - Ok, maybe Spielburgs not losing it....but he's not getting any better. This one is, at best, a second string Spielburg flick...will he ever make another Jaws, Close Encounters, Indiana (yes, obviously ) or Schindler's?
BOURNE IDENTITY - Very solid action film.. but not over the top action, realistic action. The car chase was stunning, one of the best ever since....
THE FRENCH CONNECTION - I love this movie. Gene Hackman being a bad **** is always fun, and this is his epitome of bad-assedness. This movie thoroughly kicks all the asses up in here.
ROYAL TENENBAUMS - Yes, it's a Gene thing. He's good what can I say? But this is honestly one of my favorite films ever, Wes Anderson continues to amaze me with his style and wit.
MEN IN BLACK II - Well, if you like totally mindless films...and believe me when I say totally, this could be enjoyable. The night I saw it I wasn't really in the mood for anything Challenging, so it didn't bother me too much.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH - Heh heh, I bet Micah would hate this film. But I'm not a betting man. I didn't like it too much either, it was too wierd, not to funny and very hard to relate to.
MULLHOLAND DRIVE - Okay, I liked this one alot. Here's a film that gives you no easy answers, makes you think the whole way through, and is way more challenging than anything I've seen in recent memory. I love it when a Director says so much without physically telling you anything at all.
MANHUNTER - Great film, very suspensfull, I'm wary of the remake, but it does have Ed Norton, and he ain't bad.
THE OTHERS - Two hours to find out that? Who cares! This movie goes no where, slow.
STORYTELLING - The 'acclaimed' director of happyness back again with another disfunctional, at times sensationalistic film. Take it or leave it.

There it is!
John

Micah Cohen

Notes:

I liked HAPPINESS. I'm sick. I like that kind of "acting tour de force." So I can't wait to see STORYTELLING. Drama!

And THE OTHERS scared the crap outa me! Tell me you didn't JUMP OFF THE COUCH once or twice! Damn!

Pay no attention to the "remake" of MANHUNTER. Why would you? MANHUNTER is a great flick: great direction, great acting, good story, and just enough "umph" to get to the next -- and perfect -- film. A remake is just Hopkins, way over the hill and not even a good actor anymore, trying to make $$$ from the franchise. I'm ashamed of him, and he's interfering with my enjoyment of SOTLs.

I actually enjoyed HEDWIG. I thought it was funny and well made. The sound on the DVD is really wonderful. It's wacky and strange, but I grew up seeing Broadway shows in NYC, and this was a fairly well done translation of an off-broadway show to film.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE sucked just like every other Lynch flick. Take away his funding and the world will be a better place. Tell me a story, don't trick me just to show off. Nudity, tho, is good.

And the DVD of FRENCH CONNECTION is really tremendous. "Popeye's here!"

Great list! More more more!

I watched MONSTER'S BALL and was really impressed. It wasn't preachy and it wasn't a left wing diatribe (as I was afraid). It was well directed, well acted. It had a really cool look, sepia toned and edited to jump around. I liked it a lot. And Halle Berry is a hot little monkey.

Last night I watched DESPERADO -- needed to see lots of killing and Salma Hayek -- and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, a great restoration job of one of the great second-tier cowboy films, worth it just for Horst Buchold's witty performance. And Steve McQueen of course. And the great music! A nice DVD.

I gotta see TENNEBAUMS, NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE... A bunch of other new releases.

MC

Billm57

the viewing list continues..this past week:

BLUE VELVET - My favorite Lynch movie besides Eraserhead..A stunning comeback for Dennis Hopper and who can resist Dean Stockwell singing into a shop lamp???

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO"S NEST - This movie just gets better on each viewing..Nicholsons best role

ANGEL HEART - found the DVD for 6 bucks..what a whacked out movie this is..Even Mickey Rourke is good in this one..its got everything..DeNiro as Satan, voodoo, New Orleans, and a very naked Lisa Bonet

GOODFELLAS - THE best mob movie made..I liked Godfather trilogy but this one beats that one out as well IMO...."Go get your **** shinebox!!!!"

OFFICE SPACE - The perfect antidote for a **** day at work (had many of those this week)

as you caan see Ive been hitting the libraray as nothing worth viewing or buying has been released in the last couple weeks

burdette

Someone mentioned On Golden Pond, so I had to share a story...

In high school and college, I worked as a projectionist. The theater I worked at in HS was a twin (the only theaters in the town, although he owned a drive-in, too, which was cool). Back then, we built up the average two-hour movie (6 reels) into two larger reels, and had a change-over from one projecter to the other. (if you don't know, you can still see the cue marks on many older films at the end of each short reel).

In On Golden Pond, our change-over occurred right when Henry Fonda blew out his birthday candles... lights go out (you can see the cue marks easily), and you switch to a new reel... some scene outside or at breakfast or something.

Well, we had a dimwit also working as a projectionist, and one evening, he accidently switched the second large reels between the two screens... so... you have the On Golden Pond crowd.. watching Henry blow out his candles.. theater goes dark when the candles go out.. and then you're magically transported to.. to.. the shower scene in Porky's. Perhaps some folks thought the movie was showing Henry's birthday wish??

At the drive in, we still had to run one small reel at a time, so we had 6-8 change-overs each movie (including the ad reel)... this same dimwit ran Taps something like 1 2 5 3 6 4 7 ...

HBombToo

How about Toy Story 1&2??? I just bought them for my 2 year old, she has watched them both from start to finish! They are great and in DD 5.1 and they even have pink noise test and a really cool THX beginning. The new computer animation is great, IMO.

I have the Bugs Life also but have not watched it yet. I'm sure I'll get a kick out of it as well.

Systems

Re Micah's take on Magnificent Seven. I finally got around to watching this, after all these years. I wouldn't call it second tier. I think that John Carpenter's take on it in the extras was right--not the best western or the most transcendent, but maybe the most entertaining. I was watching it with a very skeptical eye at first, but then I found myself liking it so much I didn't care about whether or not it was perfectly realistic. Visually, it made me think of what we've lost now that we are stuck with cineplexes. And sounds great in 2 channels!

p.s.-actually the non-5.1 soundtrack is apparently in Dolby 2.0 mono, which I could swear was stereo, because I thought there were some directional bullet effects, even though I was only using 2 spkrs. anyway, it sounds great even w/out surround.

MxStYlEpOlKmAn

past couple of months

At the theatres

****
li lo and stitch
mr deeds
like mike
austin powers 3

At home

the new guy
lord of the rings
rollerball
toy story 2
tomb raider
hardball
harry potter
the pest
titan ae
remember the titans
and some other movies...

I'd rather watch movies at home...lol...

aaharvel

resurrection of an interesting thread.

Following Micah's comment on the movie Contact, I re-visited it again this weekend, and imo it's a really great movie. According to many, it does justice to the Carl Sagan's Pulitzer Prize winning book of the same name, which I'm going to put on my 'next to read' list.

It was nice to see that in the end, the reasons behind belief in science AND religion were both justified AND challenged, and as glorious as the special effects were- they never took precedent over the characterizations in the movie. A rare thing these days.

Not to mention one of the better Dolby 5.1 presentations that i've heard.

mrbigbluelight

RuSsMaN wrote:

I'm watching Ch52, Telemundo, pants down.

Cheers,
Russ

Oh, wait a second........maybe THAT'S the love there is no cure for ?