Last Film You Watched

dholliday said:
Donnie Darko last night...very good! Quality acting from all players, trippy directing and Lynchian vibe. Story was daft as all time travel stories are, but told in a nicely mysterious way.

I saw the original but hear the Director's Cut is a better bet as it adds scenes which help explain wtf is going on.
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That's a matter of some debate mate, I reckon there's a lot of problems with the director's cut, overcooking the story for one.
 

ste d' indica said:
That's a matter of some debate mate, I reckon there's a lot of problems with the director's cut, overcooking the story for one.
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Completely agree. The fact that the whole film is so strange is part of its genius. It's one of my favourite all time films and I reached the conclusion a long time ago, that it's supposed to wreck your head. Boss sound track too.
 
ste d' indica said:
That's a matter of some debate mate, I reckon there's a lot of problems with the director's cut, overcooking the story for one.
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COYBL25 said:
Completely agree. The fact that the whole film is so strange is part of its genius. It's one of my favourite all time films and I reached the conclusion a long time ago, that it's supposed to wreck your head. Boss sound track too.
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I think I can understand this. I've started coming to the conclusion that a lot of extended/directors' cuts ruin the original rhythm of the film.

Paranormal Activities, Apocalypse Now Redux and a few others spring to mind. Blade Runner Final Cut had a few jarring edits too but it got rid of the cheesy noir-monologue and added more beautiful Vangelis so gets a pass.
 

dholliday said:
I think I can understand this. I've started coming to the conclusion that a lot of extended/directors' cuts ruin the original rhythm of the film.

Paranormal Activities, Apocalypse Now Redux and a few others spring to mind. Blade Runner Final Cut had a few jarring edits too but it got rid of the cheesy noir-monologue and added more beautiful Vangelis so gets a pass.
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I see what you're getting at, but imo the two versions of Blade Runner are equally as good. The voice over version is more bleak and desperate, whereas the Directors cut is a film with " some hope ", hence more Vangelis and the different ending.

I genuinely hope that they don't ever do a sequel ( even though I would go and see it ). It would ruin the mystique that has surrounded the film since day one. The soundtrack is wonderful too, with every track blending perfectly with that moment of the film. My favourite film of all time by a country mile. The scene where Dekard seduces Rachel has to got to be one of the most romantic and also cruel of all time too. The " time to die " scene at the end still brings tears to my eyes even though I've seen it so many times !
 
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COYBL25 said:
I see what you're getting at, but imo the two versions of Blade Runner are equally as good. The voice over version is more bleak and desperate, whereas the Directors cut is a film with " some hope ", hence more Vangelis and the different ending.

I genuinely hope that they don't ever do a sequel ( even though I would go and see it ). It would ruin the mystique that has surrounded the film since day one. The soundtrack is wonderful too, with every track blending perfectly with that moment of the film. My favourite film of all time by a country mile. The scene where Dekard seduces Rachel has to got to be one of the most romantic and also cruel of all time too. The " time to die " scene at the end still brings tears to my eyes even though I've seen it so many times !
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Nice! Always enjoy hearing what others' favourites are. Blade Runner's in my top 50. I had a phase writing user reviews on imdb, here's the one for BR, starts off critical then gets to the praise:

No spoilers as always, just some coded references.

A bit of watch-history, if I may: I first saw Blade Runner as a kid, a kid who loved and repeat-watched Star Wars (the original trilogy, naturally). Back then I wasn't impressed by Blade Runner at all, probably because I was expecting Han Solo rather than the introverted action we get with the Ridley Scott film.

Then I saw it again as a young adult, and appreciated it a lot more. It still felt slightly detached, a bit cool (the cold kind), but I understood it much better.

Almost 20 years later I finally get round to watching it a third time. Kubrick's 2001 has a very similar watch-history, and upon its third-viewing just a few weeks ago I declared it my Number 1 favourite film, giving it an easy 10/10 (only 7 of my 700 rated films are a 10).

As a sci-fi fan I was fully expecting Blade Runner to similarly WOW me...alas, it somehow fell just a bit short. That cool, detached vibe was still there. The scenes, as memorable as they are, just sort of happen without much viewer connection (especially the famous final speech). The Final Cut version - first time I've seen this edition - has a couple of jarring edits which added to this odd feeling (check out how the edit cuts after the nose-pulling scene, and another example how after Batty says to JF: "I'm sorry, Sebastian. Come...come" it cuts immediately to Roy looking all theatrical, but alone, in a completely different setting.

Add those odd vibes to the overlong romantic scene in the middle of the movie, which just felt tortuously slow, and truly cheesy too, thanks to the only piece of soundtrack music which has dated horribly...Kenny G has a lot to answer for.

This 'disconnect' is the reason it can't touch 2001 (which has a very different quality of 'disconnect'). Saying that, Blade Runner is still worth a very good and entirely recommended 8/10:

- this is one of cinema's best-realised future worlds. It's believable & immersive to the point you can almost taste the air.

- great cast, with characters that reveal their colour over time...like a fine wine.

- aside from that awful misplaced sax, the soundtrack is gorgeous, and fits the world perfectly.

- the "is he or isn't he" ambiguity is nicely done, tho' I wouldn't even call it ambiguous (he "is", and so is Adama).

- there's a large handful of memorable scenes, even if you do feel weirdly disconnected to what's happening, you'll still enjoy the surreal vibes.

Best to watch it when you're feeling that world, if the first 30 minutes don't pull you in then leave it for another day.
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dholliday said:
Nice! Always enjoy hearing what others' favourites are. Blade Runner's in my top 50. I had a phase writing user reviews on imdb, here's the one for BR, starts off critical then gets to the praise:
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It's good that people interpret things in different ways and to me that's the sign of a very good film. It's almost like looking a piece of art. You may see things that I may not necessarily see or appreciate .

The one thing that makes Blade Runner a truly monumental film imo is that apart from the hair styles ( big hair on the women ) the film hasn't dated one little bit. If you CGI'd the women's hair and replaced it with today's styles you would think that you were watching a film made this year.

Ps - good review !
 

COYBL25 said:
It's good that people interpret things in different ways and to me that's the sign of a very good film. It's almost like looking a piece of art. You may see things that I may not necessarily see or appreciate .

The one thing that makes Blade Runner a truly monumental film imo is that apart from the hair styles ( big hair on the women ) the film hasn't dated one little bit. If you CGI'd the women's hair and replaced it with today's styles you would think that you were watching a film made this year.

Ps - good review !
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ta mate...i went a bit monumental in my 2001 review, haha

agreed, Blade Runner is a genuine and timeless work of art, with enough substance to have film buffs talking for more decades to come.

what's your top 10, coyb?
 
1. Blade Runner.
2. Aliens.
3. Donnie Darko.
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.
5. Apocalypse Now.
6. The Shining.
7. Dead Mens Shoes.
8. Unforgiven.
9. Jean De Floret.
10. Papillon.

These are the films I return to, time and time again, depending on my mood !
 
The Impossible.

6/10. Thought the actor who played the kid Lucas (Tom Holland) was excellent. Obviously an incredibly tragic event but the i thought they nailed the scene when the wave hit the coast line. Tom Holland aside, i thought the acting was quite poor and thats why i gave it a 6.
 
COYBL25 said:
1. Blade Runner.
2. Aliens.
3. Donnie Darko.
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.
5. Apocalypse Now.
6. The Shining.
7. Dead Mens Shoes.
8. Unforgiven.
9. Jean De Floret.
10. Papillon.
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Haven't seen Dead Man's Shoes yet, but heard Paddy Considine gives a performance for the ages. Also haven't even heard of Jean De Floret, got a really strong 8.1 on imdb.

Apocalypse Now is in my top 5...saw it again recently...stunning. Tonight we're gonna watch another top 5: There Will Be Blood...haven't seen it since it first came out so curious to see if it still has the same power...somehow think it will.

Alien & Cuckoos are up there, very strong 9/10's, Shining & Darko strong 8/10's. Unforgiven & Papillon i liked but found them quite forgettable.

I'd go:

2001
Oldboy
Excalibur
Apocalypse Now
There Will Be Blood
1984
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Star Wars trilogy
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
Watership Down
 
Jean de Floret....Watched that with an ex bird who blubbed non-stop for the last 45 minutes - couldn't get why?! I thought it was fiendish ;)

Still, it's got the old stella artois advert music on it, which made me hanker after a few tins while watching it even more than her whinging.
 

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