Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 318

innerSpaceman · 04-27-2008, 10:21 PM

Cloverfield is brilliant.

On a hunch, i decided to listen to the commentary track first, which I only do if I expect a story of quite unusual movie making ... and I was not disappointed.

Getting the verisimilitude of the hand-held disaster film was tricky business, and fascinating. The film was shot in something like 36 nights. How they achieved all they did on the rush, on the cheap, is a great story of a most uniquely made studio movie.

Watch it twice, 'cause the commentary track is almost as interesting as the film. Which, by the way, is a surprisingly terrific monster movie.

CoasterMatt · 04-30-2008, 09:22 PM

I just got home from an awesome totally non-related double feature.

First up - "Shine A Light"
The Rolling Stones in IMAX by Martin Scorsese - Absolutely brilliant, incredible visuals, concert volume sound, a couple of good guest appearances, and even Keith getting to do lead vocals for a few songs.

then, I hurried down the hill to meet up with mousepod, and to a screening of "Colossus: The Forbin Project" - excellent movie, so nice to see it on a big screen, with an appreciative audience.

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.

04-27-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Cloverfield is brilliant. On a hunch, i decided to listen to the commentary track first, which I only do if I expect a story of quite unusual movie making ... and I was not disappointed. Getting the verisimilitude of the hand-held disaster film was tricky business, and fascinating. The film was shot in something like 36 nights. How they achieved all they did on the rush, on the cheap, is a great story of a most uniquely made studio movie. Watch it twice, 'cause the commentary track is almost as interesting as the film. Which, by the way, is a surprisingly terrific monster movie.
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04-30-2008, 09:22 PM	#2
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I just got home from an awesome totally non-related double feature. First up - "Shine A Light" The Rolling Stones in IMAX by Martin Scorsese - Absolutely brilliant, incredible visuals, concert volume sound, a couple of good guest appearances, and even Keith getting to do lead vocals for a few songs. then, I hurried down the hill to meet up with mousepod, and to a screening of "Colossus: The Forbin Project" - excellent movie, so nice to see it on a big screen, with an appreciative audience. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
	Submit to Quotes

04-30-2008, 09:32 PM	#3
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.
	Submit to Quotes

04-30-2008, 10:17 PM	#5
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	#7
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	#8
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	#9
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!
	Submit to Quotes

05-11-2008, 10:05 PM	#10
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