Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 324

flippyshark · 04-30-2008, 09:32 PM

It's been a looong time since I last saw Colossus: The Forbin Project, but I remember being amused that this powerful uber-computer

Spoiler:

Is this on DVD? I'd love to see it again.

CoasterMatt · 04-30-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Is this on DVD? I'd love to see it again.

Unfortunately, the current US DVD release is full frame, not widescreen

The movie makes GREAT use of all the screen real estate, as I witnessed tonight.

There's a widescreen special edition dvd coming to Region 2, May 26.

mousepod · 04-30-2008, 10:17 PM

I have to publicly thank CoasterMatt for the heads-up about Colossus, and second his comments.

Paranoid American sci-fi movies made in the late 60s-early 70s are rarely bad. This one is particularly fun.

BTW... Sunday night, 9pm at the Steve Allen Theatre on Sunset: WESTWORLD!

cirquelover · 04-30-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousepod

BTW... Sunday night, 9pm at the Steve Allen Theatre on Sunset: WESTWORLD!

Why oh why can't I live closer to the cool stuff

As long as I've had a dvr I have searched for that movie. I found Futureworld and forced the boy to watch it with me but West is the best! Darn

flippyshark · 05-11-2008, 09:00 PM

So, tonight, as part of my convalescence, I watched the classic Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive. I've read a lot about this one over the years, and I went in with lots of expectations, so I'm sad to report that the experience was often a slow, excruciating one. I don't blame the film. It's me. I've been poisoned by several decades of fast-cut, all questions answered, no subtlety storytelling. This movie is quiet, reflective, VERY deliberately paced. There were some haunting moments, including a very effective ending, but I was sad to find myself so impatient with a movie I was supposed to, and was prepared to, be knocked out by. (I found myself mentally writing dialogue for the long scenes in which nobody spoke.) It was a tedious enough experience that I'll be disinclined to revisit it anytime soon, but I feel bad about it. I know a few scenes will stick with me, and the young girl who gives its central performance is flawless.

In spite of that, I'd be curious to know what others make of it, and I can see where it would have been an influence on Sr. Del Toro and his ilk.

mousepod · 05-11-2008, 09:41 PM

Flippy, like you, the gap between knowing about Spirit of The Beehive and actually seeing it was years. After seeing (and falling in love with) Pan's Labyrinth, I finally sat down with Heather and watched it...

...and I loved it.

Admittedly, it was slow, but it was slow in the Picnic at Hanging Rock sort of way, as opposed to the Hail Mary way. Clearly, it's an "art" film... but I found that the exploration of innocence against the backdrop of post-Civil War Spain was perfect. The cinematography, the spare script, and the acting... oh the acting.

I will certainly revisit the film. Perhaps when the lure of LA is too much for you to bear, we'll watch it together.

CoasterMatt · 05-11-2008, 09:47 PM

I'd like to see Spirit of the Beehive, and I have no idea what it is.

I've always tended to like movies that other people told me were "slow" or "pointless".

flippyshark · 05-11-2008, 10:05 PM

Since I adore Picnic at Hanging Rock, I'll commit to giving Beehive another chance, and la casa de mousepod would be an ideal venue, I'm sure.

flippyshark · 05-11-2008, 10:26 PM

Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, did any of you, way back in elementary school, learn a song about Senor Don Gato? (Oh, Senor Don Gato was a cat, on a high red roof Don Gato sat, he was there to read a letter - meow meow meow, where the reading light was better - meow meow meow) Well, chances are some of you are now humming the tune. Anyhow, my point is, this very tune shows up in Spirit of the Beehive, played on a guitar, no singing. I'm going to guess it's a traditional Spanish melody, and the silly Don Gato lyrics were added by elementary music textbook publishers. but it means that at a particularly lyrical moment in the film, I was singing to myself - "Oh Don Gato jumped so happily, he fell off the roof and broke his knee, broke his bones and all his whiskers - meow meow meow, and his little solar plexus - meow meow meow, Ay Caramba cried Don Gato." I've got to guess this was not what the filmmaker had in mind.

Not Afraid · 05-12-2008, 04:57 PM

We started watching the Indy films last night in preparation for Indy 4 (or whatever the name is). I just adore that first film. I'm in love with the sets and settings. Maybe tonight will be film #2.

04-30-2008, 09:32 PM	#3231
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	It's been a looong time since I last saw Colossus: The Forbin Project, but I remember being amused that this powerful uber-computer Spoiler: set the main character up with quite a swinging bachelor pad, and happily allowed for a booty call when told that it was necessary. Pretty understanding for an evil power-hungry super computer. Is this on DVD? I'd love to see it again.
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04-30-2008, 10:17 PM	#3233
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	I have to publicly thank CoasterMatt for the heads-up about Colossus, and second his comments. Paranoid American sci-fi movies made in the late 60s-early 70s are rarely bad. This one is particularly fun. BTW... Sunday night, 9pm at the Steve Allen Theatre on Sunset: WESTWORLD! __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2008, 09:00 PM	#3235
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	So, tonight, as part of my convalescence, I watched the classic Spanish film The Spirit of the Beehive. I've read a lot about this one over the years, and I went in with lots of expectations, so I'm sad to report that the experience was often a slow, excruciating one. I don't blame the film. It's me. I've been poisoned by several decades of fast-cut, all questions answered, no subtlety storytelling. This movie is quiet, reflective, VERY deliberately paced. There were some haunting moments, including a very effective ending, but I was sad to find myself so impatient with a movie I was supposed to, and was prepared to, be knocked out by. (I found myself mentally writing dialogue for the long scenes in which nobody spoke.) It was a tedious enough experience that I'll be disinclined to revisit it anytime soon, but I feel bad about it. I know a few scenes will stick with me, and the young girl who gives its central performance is flawless. In spite of that, I'd be curious to know what others make of it, and I can see where it would have been an influence on Sr. Del Toro and his ilk.
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2008, 09:41 PM	#3236
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Flippy, like you, the gap between knowing about Spirit of The Beehive and actually seeing it was years. After seeing (and falling in love with) Pan's Labyrinth, I finally sat down with Heather and watched it... ...and I loved it. Admittedly, it was slow, but it was slow in the Picnic at Hanging Rock sort of way, as opposed to the Hail Mary way. Clearly, it's an "art" film... but I found that the exploration of innocence against the backdrop of post-Civil War Spain was perfect. The cinematography, the spare script, and the acting... oh the acting. I will certainly revisit the film. Perhaps when the lure of LA is too much for you to bear, we'll watch it together. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2008, 09:47 PM	#3237
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I'd like to see Spirit of the Beehive, and I have no idea what it is. I've always tended to like movies that other people told me were "slow" or "pointless". __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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05-11-2008, 10:05 PM	#3238
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Since I adore Picnic at Hanging Rock, I'll commit to giving Beehive another chance, and la casa de mousepod would be an ideal venue, I'm sure.
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2008, 10:26 PM	#3239
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, did any of you, way back in elementary school, learn a song about Senor Don Gato? (Oh, Senor Don Gato was a cat, on a high red roof Don Gato sat, he was there to read a letter - meow meow meow, where the reading light was better - meow meow meow) Well, chances are some of you are now humming the tune. Anyhow, my point is, this very tune shows up in Spirit of the Beehive, played on a guitar, no singing. I'm going to guess it's a traditional Spanish melody, and the silly Don Gato lyrics were added by elementary music textbook publishers. but it means that at a particularly lyrical moment in the film, I was singing to myself - "Oh Don Gato jumped so happily, he fell off the roof and broke his knee, broke his bones and all his whiskers - meow meow meow, and his little solar plexus - meow meow meow, Ay Caramba cried Don Gato." I've got to guess this was not what the filmmaker had in mind.
	Submit to Quotes

05-12-2008, 04:57 PM	#3240
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	We started watching the Indy films last night in preparation for Indy 4 (or whatever the name is). I just adore that first film. I'm in love with the sets and settings. Maybe tonight will be film #2.
	Submit to Quotes