Holy Smokes, there are a lot of good ones in there. I think I'm going to catch The Third Man again, I saw it for the first time just a few years ago and it blew me away!
I had no idea there was a silent Ben Hur, I think I'm going to have to check that out along with The Apartment and The 400 Blows.
I'm not sure on Howl's Moving Castle though - Spirited Away sure freaked me right out!
Jandy
· 1 year ago
I honestly need a rewatch on The Third Man myself. I've forgotten a lot of it.
Good choices. :) I've seen The 400 Blows probably five or six times, and I never get tired of it. And Howl's Moving Castle is less freaky than Spirited Away, which is probably why I liked it more.
Goannatree
· 1 year ago
So....I rate the "guys and dolls" and "Strictly ballroom" inclusions. Seeing as i have "guys and dolls" to watch again (for at least the tenth time) and because you cannot understand the Red Curtain trilogy without Strictly ballroom. If nothing else the accents are fabulous - I should know.
However, while i think one should see Olivier's hamlet, I don't think it is the definitive version - far from it; actually it is the one i watch when i want to laugh....his "To be or not to be" is so over the top as to have me rolling around on the floor! Even Mel Gibson's schmaltzy performance is better.
I will take you up on a few of the other suggestions!
Jandy
· 1 year ago
I actually agree with you; there are parts of Olivier's Hamlet that I like (the cinematography, for one thing), but his acting style isn't my thing. That said, I wouldn't rate Branagh's as definitive, and I haven't seen Gibson's. So I guess I don't think there has been a definitive Hamlet on screen yet. Thoughts?
Goannatree
· 1 year ago
I love the Branagh....for so many reasons. His understanding of the text for one - and his willingness to play with the puns - visual, physical, and verbal - is the best. I think it is definitive. The Keanu Reeves is interesting as a modern setting and I've seen a Kurosawa as well which is boundary pushing.
Jandy
· 1 year ago
I might have to give the Branagh one another go, then. When I first saw it I found it overproduced.
And there's a Kurosawa one? I knew he did Macbeth (Throne of Blood) and King Lear (Ran). I'll have to check that out. Somehow the Shakespeare adaptations that transpose him into different eras or culture often seem to work better for me.
animatorswife
· 1 year ago
We saw 4 Months on your recommendation and well, because it's hard to pass up anything Romanian around here. I don't think I can muster the same enthusiasm for the film that you do but a few things impressed me: I still understand a lot of Romanian (wow!), for a post-communist, creativity starved nation, they actually created an impressive work of cinematic art, and lastly it was the most unbiased look at abortion possible.
But there were also just too many cringe moments!
Jandy
· 1 year ago
Definitely a lot of cringe moments. It just impressed me so much how little the camera moved (and how few edits there are - the average shot length is almost a minute and a half), and yet how riveting it is to watch. I could hardly take my eyes away from it. And when the camera did move, like the sudden pan down to the fetus, it was that much more shocking and visceral. I'd never say it's an easy film to watch, but I still hold to my belief that it's one of the most well-made films I've seen recently.
And yes, it's extremely unbiased about an extremely controversial subject - you could come away still for or against abortion, but I don't think you could come away without having your preconceptions challenged.
I'm glad you and Steve watched it! Thanks for the feedback.
beckymeyers
· 1 year ago
have you read Howls Moving Castle??? SUCH a good book! movie is really good but the book is amazing!!
Dad
· 1 year ago
Mom and I just finished "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Wow, this thing could have been filmed live in politics this week. With the Blagojevich scandal in Illinois now in full swing, I thought all through the film, the state is Illinois, and we are watching realtime news. Thanks for the heads up of what was going to be on TV this week!
All Comments
I had no idea there was a silent Ben Hur, I think I'm going to have to check that out along with The Apartment and The 400 Blows.
I'm not sure on Howl's Moving Castle though - Spirited Away sure freaked me right out!
Good choices. :) I've seen The 400 Blows probably five or six times, and I never get tired of it. And Howl's Moving Castle is less freaky than Spirited Away, which is probably why I liked it more.
However, while i think one should see Olivier's hamlet, I don't think it is the definitive version - far from it; actually it is the one i watch when i want to laugh....his "To be or not to be" is so over the top as to have me rolling around on the floor! Even Mel Gibson's schmaltzy performance is better.
I will take you up on a few of the other suggestions!
And there's a Kurosawa one? I knew he did Macbeth (Throne of Blood) and King Lear (Ran). I'll have to check that out. Somehow the Shakespeare adaptations that transpose him into different eras or culture often seem to work better for me.
But there were also just too many cringe moments!
And yes, it's extremely unbiased about an extremely controversial subject - you could come away still for or against abortion, but I don't think you could come away without having your preconceptions challenged.
I'm glad you and Steve watched it! Thanks for the feedback.