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Post by Prince Hal on Mar 3, 2016 11:02:56 GMT -5
Dr. Jekyll And Mr.Hyde (1941) Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ingrid Bergman, Donald Crisp Pretty much the exact same adaptation as the 1931 version with Fredric March but severely watered down due to the Hates code now in enforcement The DVD I own is a flipper disc with both versions and having watched the earlier version 2 days ago I can say without hesitation that it is far, far superior than the Spencer Tracy one. And I like the cast here. Really do-in other films. Spencer is fine as Dr.Jekyll but as Mr.Hyde, sad to say, a total disaster. Maybe they were afraid that the heavy makeup used in the Fredric March movie and which hospitalized him was to be avoided but this Mr.Hyde pretty much still looked like Tracy, albeit with uncombed hair, bushy eyebrows and wrinkles around the eyes. He was not monstrous looking at all. Tracy did not even try to act maniacally evil but mostly spoke in a low whispery voice. Sometimes you would think the people in this movie are the same who can't see Clark Kent is Superman with glasses on. Miriam Hopkins as the hooker-turned-love slave of Mr.Hyde is replaced here by Ingrid Bergman, the classy barmaid. The Hayes code ruined all that innuendo Lana Turner as Dr.Jekyll's fiancee has a somewhat larger role than the March version and is nice to look at but it doesn't make the film better The 1941 film has a better sound quality due to the maturing technology and has somewhat classier production values but the 1931 version is much more chilling, campy, raunchy, action filled and has more interesting camera work I'm not alone in this assessment. The 1941 version was a box office bomb. It was panned by many critics of it;s time. Spencer Tracy thought it was one of his worst films. Its watchable, you might like it to an extent, but watch the 1931 version and then tell me I'm wrong Accd'g. to TCM, Bergman wrote that Tracy hated playing this part, hated wearing the make-up, even though they kept it to a minimum, b/c he wanted to "act" the part of Hyde. The complaint was that people couldn't tell which character he was playing. Question, because it's been a long time since I saw the whole movie, but what about the dream chariot scene with Tracy whipping and being pulled by Lana Turner and Bergman? Wonder where the Hays people were on this? Back in the 80s, PBS broadcast a British TV version in which Jekyll was noticeably older and Mr. Hyde (both played by David Hemmings) was young, strong, and irrresistible to women, which I more and more think is the way to go. Probably along the lines that if evil weren't attractive, no one would be seduced by it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 23:35:04 GMT -5
Today I received the massive...and I do mean MASSIVE Ford At Fox DVD collection. Originally priced at $300 when it cake out in 2007...I got it for only $60 including shipping. Weighing in at 20lbs. It includes aside from the Dvd's: a beautiful large hardcover book with photographs from the movies and write ups on the films, Becoming John Ford documentary and reproduction of theatrical souvenir brochures on 2 of the films. It includes 24 films that John Ford shot for Fox Studios. The films range from 1920-1952. They include a few silent films which I've never seen. I have only seen a handful of these films so I am really looking forward to watching them as Ford is my favorite film director of all time. Going to watch the first film tonight if i can stay awake long enough.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 3, 2016 23:48:35 GMT -5
That's a fantastic price for an extremely impressive set. I remember seeing it at Barnes and Nobles when it was released. I already owned most of those films on separate DVDs. You are going to have a great time watching them and hope you'll share the experience here, especially any comments on the extras that its packed with
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 4, 2016 0:03:24 GMT -5
Kiss The Girls (1997) Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Jay O. Sanders, Cary Elwes
Adaptation of James Patterson's thriller of police psychologist Alex Cross (Freeman) investigating a series of missing persons and serial killings. His own niece is one of the young ladies missing .
Decent enough, nothing particularly innovative. A bit preposterous that an aging police psychologist continually puts himself alone or with minimum help into the middle of the action but that's a Hollywood movie for you. The character has appeared in a number of Patterson potboilers and Freeman reprised the role 4 years later in Along Came A Spider. Tyler Perry took over in the 2012 movie Alex Cross
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 1:37:23 GMT -5
That's a fantastic price for an extremely impressive set. I remember seeing it at Barnes and Nobles when it was released. I already owned most of those films on separate DVDs. You are going to have a great time watching them and hope you'll share the experience here, especially any comments on the extras that its packed with Thanks...I'm sure I will enjoy the films immensely and I will comment on them when I can. I was originally hesitant to purchase the set because I read a lot of reviews concerning how the Dvds were packaged in the set. It turned out that i was worried for nothing because I received mine with no problems concerning the discs whatsoever. Except for a very slight dent in one of the corners of the set i am very happy.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 4, 2016 3:27:24 GMT -5
Johnny Got His Gun (1971) Timothy Bottoms, Jason Robards, Donald Sutherland Written & Directed by Dalton Trumbo
During WWI American soldier Joe Bonham (Bottoms) "survives" a hit by artillery shell. He regains consciousness in an army hospital to discover both his arms are missing. Both his legs are missing. Most of his face has been blown off. He has no mouth. He is blind. He can not hear. He can only remember and fantasize. feel the sun thru the window or feel vibrations. There's something he wants to say
Powerful anti-war film released during the height of the Vietnam conflict by one of the most talented of the blackballed Hollywood Ten. This film played the midnight movie cult film circuit but somehow I never got to see it. It is a one-of-a-kind movie. Donald Sutherland plays a Jesus Christ figure trying to give Joe advice on how to handle his situation. Even Jesus admits that Joe will need a miracle.
Dalton Trumbo's only directorial effort besides a Metallica video he did that used excerpts from this film. Metallica eventually bought the full rights to the movie so they wouldn't have to keep paying royalties.
Yes, a movie to be seen before you die
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 5, 2016 0:50:36 GMT -5
Legends Of The Fall (1994) Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond
Epic tale of 3 brothers living with their father on a big ranch spread in the Rocky Mountains in the early 1900s. The youngest brother has a beautiful fiancee who arrives for the upcoming wedding. But WWI breaks out and the 3 volunteer to fight on behalf of England. The youngest is killed in battle. The 2 survivors return, the fiancee falls in love with middle brother Pitt, the oldest brother Quinn is bitter about that.
Beautiful cinematography which won an Oscar. Loud swirling soundtrack that something important is happening. Hopkins plays the poppa. The story evolves over a 10 year time span which includes prohibition and bootlegging as well as the depression. Pitt has the opportunity to grow his hair real long
Strange but true: Pitt and Julia Ormond in this film play the same age in their characters as lovers. In the film Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Ormond is Pitt's daughter
Decent film, 7 of 10 stars
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 5, 2016 3:24:18 GMT -5
Planet Of The Apes (1968) Charlton Heston. Maurice Evans, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, James Whitmore
This movie and its various spin-offs has been discussed many times, in dedicated threads as well as a monkey movie contest so I'll forego the usually and just add a few things of a personal note
I saw this film during its initial run back in 1968 in the movie theaters. It was brand new at the time and the ending truly did surprise the audience. I also remember distinctly how the audience laughed and hooted uproariously when Heston finally found his voice to say "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"
I know I watched it again when it finally made its TV premiere in primetime-pretty sure it was on ABC Probably saw it again in the theaters on a double bill with it's sequel When it was released on VHS I made a dupe copy which was part of my film library for about 2 decades Of course I bought it on DVD when it was released. Then purchased it a second time as part of the box set of all Apes films This is the first time I'm watching it on DVD so I have not seen it for many many years
I forgot that Rod Serling was the co-screenplay writer. I forgot Heston smoked cigars onboard the space ship. I forgot that the crew knew they had planned to return to earth hundreds of years in the future since their 6 month voyage was close to the speed of light
The film holds up remarkably well after all these years
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Post by berkley on Mar 5, 2016 3:38:19 GMT -5
I saw Beneath the Planet of the Apes at the theatre when I was a young kid and it's down left a deep impression on me. Years later I saw the first movie on tv but never on the big screen until it played here a 2 or 3 years ago, along with all the other 70s Ape movies. Yeah, I'd forgotten all those things too, particularly the Rod Serling screenplay. And yes, it still packs a punch after all these years.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 6, 2016 3:33:14 GMT -5
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizandro, John Saxon, Theresa Randle, Bronson Pinchot
Axel Foley is investigating a car chop-shop in Detroit which leads to a criminal organization operating out of an amusement park in Southern California
John Landis directed this action/comedy movie that has shootouts galore which overwhelms any of the comedic touches. Most of the comedy is due to the main setting in a Disneyland type amusement park. Otherwise bullets are flying and guns seem to be able to shot dozens of rounds before emptying. I enjoyed the first of this series. The second was a bit of a let down to me so I waited a number of years before finally watching this 3rd entry one more time since its debut. But its not too bad for what it does. better than the second film
Tons of cameo appearences like George Lucas and Ray Harryhausen. The budget came in at $55 million , $15 million was Eddie Murphy's salary. Besides lending his voice to animated projects like Shrek, Eddie Murphy has since starred in a slew of crappy films. A Beverly Hills Cop 4 has been announced but yet to go in production
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 7, 2016 2:29:12 GMT -5
Gattaca (1987) Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin. Gore Vidal, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Shalhoub
In the future, your DNA profile is a matter of public record. That profile will determine the job you'll be hired for, the very quality of your life. Ethan Hawke is a member of the underclass with some genetic deficiencies. By decieving DNA and urine sample testing, he hopes to be qualified as an astronaut
An intelligent and fascinating look into a very possible future society. In fact, scientists at NASA voted this film at that time as the most accurate SF film ever made. That could scare the hell out of you. It flags a bit in the second half but its has a satisfying finish. Nice looking set designs and fine acting performances
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 7, 2016 2:44:37 GMT -5
Mississippi Burning (1988) Gene Hackman, William DaFoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif
Two FBI agents arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of 2 young white northern civil rights workers
The movie that splits my brain in two. As a pure movie goes, its very good. The FBI characters played by Hackman and DaFoe are forceful and memorable. Brad Dourif as the racist deputy is a pure oily weasel. The tension builds well and the ending will rouse the audience
As a historical account, its a WTF are they trying to pull. Loosely based on a real incident, many facts are distorted or overlooked. But my real problem with the film is the representation of the FBI as the knights in white armor (so to speak) avenging the downtrodden blacks from the KKK. Sorry, did not happen that way. The FBI was too busy infiltrating civil rights groups, spying and wiretapping Martin Luther King Jr., and spreading rumors of communist influence. J. Edgar Hoover and his boys leading the cause of civil rights? Are you kidding me?
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Mar 7, 2016 6:40:21 GMT -5
Gattaca (1987) Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin. Gore Vidal, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Shalhoub In the future, your DNA profile is a matter of public record. That profile will determine the job you'll be hired for, the very quality of your life. Ethan Hawke is a member of the underclass with some genetic deficiencies. By decieving DNA and urine sample testing, he hopes to be qualified as an astronaut An intelligent and fascinating look into a very possible future society. In fact, scientists at NASA voted this film at that time as the most accurate SF film ever made. That could scare the hell out of you. It flags a bit in the second half but its has a satisfying finish. Nice looking set designs and fine acting performances I mention the movie in class when I present modern sequencing techniques, explaining how what was science-fiction just a few years ago is now pretty much around the corner. Granted, we still can't analyze a human genome under ten seconds... But we can do it in a few days, which is orders of magnitude faster than the 15 years it used to take. A very good SF film, and one that is true to the genre's original roots: the use credible scientific development in telling to a great story.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 10:06:38 GMT -5
Gattaca (1987) Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin. Gore Vidal, Ernest Borgnine, Tony Shalhoub In the future, your DNA profile is a matter of public record. That profile will determine the job you'll be hired for, the very quality of your life. Ethan Hawke is a member of the underclass with some genetic deficiencies. By decieving DNA and urine sample testing, he hopes to be qualified as an astronaut An intelligent and fascinating look into a very possible future society. In fact, scientists at NASA voted this film at that time as the most accurate SF film ever made. That could scare the hell out of you. It flags a bit in the second half but its has a satisfying finish. Nice looking set designs and fine acting performances I mention the movie in class when I present modern sequencing techniques, explaining how what was science-fiction just a few years ago is now pretty much around the corner. Granted, we still can't analyze a human genome under ten seconds... But we can do it in a few days, which is orders of magnitude faster than the 15 years it used to tale. A very good SF film, and one that is true to the genre's original roots: the use credible scientific development in telling to a great story. Nice write up both Ish and Raider and I can visualize the movie itself ... it's one of my favorite SF films out there and I do enjoy the performance of Ethan Hawkes, Jude Law, and Alan Arkin. It was done quite realistically and it's has it's chilling moments if I recall correctly.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Mar 8, 2016 0:18:01 GMT -5
In & Out (1997) Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilfred Brimley, Tom Sellack, Bob Newhart
Kevin Kline is a high school English teacher in the midwest. One of his former students (Matt Dillon) is now a Hollywood actor who just won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a gay soldier. During the acceptance speech, the actor outs his old English teacher as being gay. That just might ruin Kevin Kline's upcoming wedding
Comedy film inspired by Tom Hanks outing a gay teacher during his acceptance speech for Philadelphia. There's some real hysterical acting here. Kline is wonderful at this type of film, just as he was in A Fish Named Wanda. I was pretty impressed by Joan Cusack as well. And for all I know, this has the first gay marriage in a Hollywood movie
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