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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 13, 2022 21:09:12 GMT -5
@mrp posted about the Super Apes elsewhere here - and shared an Iron Man cover, which featured “Peril of the Apes” on the cover. It got me thinking: “Peril on the Planet of the Apes” would be a great film title, assuming the franchise ever returns. For some reason, I have this mental image of a gorilla, in a top hat and cape, tying a human female to some railroad tracks and/or a log, headed towards a buzzsaw. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
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Post by berkley on Dec 14, 2022 0:59:08 GMT -5
I had never seen Metropolis in its entirety. It's amazing that a film almost a century old remains so relevant in its social commentary, and so innovative-looking in its cinematography! I swear, some of the effects in there are still better than a lot of what we see in more modern productions. Naturally, since this is a silent movie, there are aspects of the production that now look a bit quaint... like how characters keep running around as in a Roadrunner episode. But it only adds to the charm of a true classic.
I think it probably ranks in my top 3 SF movies of all time, along with 2001 and Blade Runner. Also, along with those two, one of the most iconic films of any kind in terms of visual design.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 14, 2022 6:52:49 GMT -5
I had never seen Metropolis in its entirety. It's amazing that a film almost a century old remains so relevant in its social commentary, and so innovative-looking in its cinematography! I swear, some of the effects in there are still better than a lot of what we see in more modern productions. Naturally, since this is a silent movie, there are aspects of the production that now look a bit quaint... like how characters keep running around as in a Roadrunner episode. But it only adds to the charm of a true classic.
I think it probably ranks in my top 3 SF movies of all time, along with 2001 and Blade Runner. Also, along with those two, one of the most iconic films of any kind in terms of visual design. We seem to have similar tastes! Much to my wife's chagrin, I can't see 2001 often enough. I'll often put the DVD on "just to see the Earth rise" in the opening shot, and then two hours elapse. I loved Blade Runner too, and its SFX is still some of the best ever seen. Even better than in the sequel, for all that the latter benefitted from modern computer animation.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2022 20:45:12 GMT -5
I believe there is now only one living cast member of The Wizard of Oz left, Betty Ann Bruno, who as an 8 year-old child appeared as a background Munchkin. Ms. Bruno is now 92 years old.
I don't know why I form these type of attachments (maybe it's just natural) but I feel some sort of comfort knowing there is still someone with us who was there on set. Funny what getting older can do to you.
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Post by Hoosier X on Dec 16, 2022 20:53:45 GMT -5
I believe there is now only one living cast member of The Wizard of Oz left, Betty Ann Bruno, who as an 8 year-old child appeared as a background Munchkin. Ms. Bruno is now 92 years old. I don't know why I form these type of attachments (maybe it's just natural) but I feel some sort of comfort knowing there is still someone with us who was there on set. Funny what getting older can do to you. Terry Kilburn, who played Tiny Tim in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol is still alive! He’s 96 and lives in Minneapolis. That’s the only Christmas movie that I watch every year. I frequently watch it two or three times in the month of December.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 16, 2022 21:35:11 GMT -5
I believe there is now only one living cast member of The Wizard of Oz left, Betty Ann Bruno, who as an 8 year-old child appeared as a background Munchkin. Ms. Bruno is now 92 years old. I don't know why I form these type of attachments (maybe it's just natural) but I feel some sort of comfort knowing there is still someone with us who was there on set. Funny what getting older can do to you. Terry Kilburn, who played Tiny Tim in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol is still alive! He’s 96 and lives in Minneapolis. That’s the only Christmas movie that I watch every year. I frequently watch it two or three times in the month of December. For me it is the Alistair Sim version. Of the various versions I have seen, it feels the most Dickens and Sim's transformation is the most believable..
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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 16, 2022 21:41:16 GMT -5
I believe there is now only one living cast member of The Wizard of Oz left, Betty Ann Bruno, who as an 8 year-old child appeared as a background Munchkin. Ms. Bruno is now 92 years old. I don't know why I form these type of attachments (maybe it's just natural) but I feel some sort of comfort knowing there is still someone with us who was there on set. Funny what getting older can do to you. Terry Kilburn, who played Tiny Tim in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol is still alive! He’s 96 and lives in Minneapolis. That’s the only Christmas movie that I watch every year. I frequently watch it two or three times in the month of December. I like when he asks if he can stroke the goose. How that slipped by the Hays Code, I'll never know.
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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 16, 2022 21:54:22 GMT -5
Terry Kilburn, who played Tiny Tim in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol is still alive! He’s 96 and lives in Minneapolis. That’s the only Christmas movie that I watch every year. I frequently watch it two or three times in the month of December. For me it is the Alistair Sim version. Of the various versions I have seen, it feels the most Dickens and Sim's transformation is the most believable.. He is brilliant in that part. I love that version. But I do find something to enjoy in almost every version. I also like the Seymour Hicks performance from 1935 (he had done it on stage for about a million years, and he had Scrooge down); Reginald Owens (the gentlest Scrooge) in the '38 version that Hoosier wrote about; George C. Scott's from 1984, which has the most chillingly effective appearance of Ignorance and Want; Patrick Stewart's from 1999 has grown on me, despite the most awful Christmas Future I've ever seen, including in high school plays; and nothing beats the 1962 Mr. Magoo musical, which is charming and well told, thanks to sophisticated songs and arrangements and superb voice performances. Almost. Jim Carrey? No, thanks. The new "animated" one I saw previewed on Netflix? Nope. The Kelsey Grammer misfire? Sorry. And just to show you how old I am, I used to listen to the LP of Lionel Barrymore's annual radio performance, which my paternal grandmother had. It scared the chilblains out of me. Barrymore was to have played Scrooge in MGM's '38 version, but he was stricken with arthritis and had to be replaced with Owens, baldcap and all.
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Post by Calidore on Dec 17, 2022 0:27:02 GMT -5
For me it is the Alistair Sim version. Of the various versions I have seen, it feels the most Dickens and Sim's transformation is the most believable.. He is brilliant in that part. I love that version. But I do find something to enjoy in almost every version. I also like the Seymour Hicks performance from 1935 (he had done it on stage for about a million years, and he had Scrooge down); Reginald Owens (the gentlest Scrooge) in the '38 version that Hoosier wrote about; George C. Scott's from 1984, which has the most chillingly effective appearance of Ignorance and Want; Patrick Stewart's from 1999 has grown on me, despite the most awful Christmas Future I've ever seen, including in high school plays; and nothing beats the 1962 Mr. Magoo musical, which is charming and well told, thanks to sophisticated songs and arrangements and superb voice performances. Almost. Jim Carrey? No, thanks. The new "animated" one I saw previewed on Netflix? Nope. The Kelsey Grammer misfire? Sorry. And just to show you how old I am, I used to listen to the LP of Lionel Barrymore's annual radio performance, which my paternal grandmother had. It scared the chilblains out of me. Barrymore was to have played Scrooge in MGM's '38 version, but he was stricken with arthritis and had to be replaced with Owens, baldcap and all.
I used to listen to that record constantly as a kid. As far as I know, my mom still has it. I'm pretty sure I have an MP3 of the radio broadcast.
I think my other favorite Christmas album as a kid was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians. Good performances and clever arrangements that were unlike anyone else's I'd ever heard, like an epic "Jingle Bells" in multiple styles, and also a pretty funny Rudolph. Oh, also John Denver and the Muppets is way up there.
Put me down for the Alistair Sim version of Christmas Carol as well.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 17, 2022 8:13:26 GMT -5
If we are talking animated versions, then, for me, it's the 1971 short that Chuck Jones produced, with Ken Harris' animation designs...
It features Alistair Sim and Michael Horden reprising their roles and Michael Redgrave, as the narrator.
I first saw it when it was broadcast on ABC and it was my introduction to the story (my cousins then introduced me to the film version, which became an annual tradition, in our house). It was so well received that it was shown theatrically and won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, in 1972 (causing a rule change about tv broadcasts, prior to theatrical release).
Sim's voice is a bit weak, at times, but it works pretty well, even with the truncated story time.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 17, 2022 9:47:41 GMT -5
For me it is the Alistair Sim version. Of the various versions I have seen, it feels the most Dickens and Sim's transformation is the most believable.. He is brilliant in that part. I love that version. But I do find something to enjoy in almost every version. I also like the Seymour Hicks performance from 1935 (he had done it on stage for about a million years, and he had Scrooge down); Reginald Owens (the gentlest Scrooge) in the '38 version that Hoosier wrote about; George C. Scott's from 1984, which has the most chillingly effective appearance of Ignorance and Want; Patrick Stewart's from 1999 has grown on me, despite the most awful Christmas Future I've ever seen, including in high school plays; and nothing beats the 1962 Mr. Magoo musical, which is charming and well told, thanks to sophisticated songs and arrangements and superb voice performances. The first I ever saw, and still my favourite!
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Post by Calidore on Dec 17, 2022 11:21:11 GMT -5
If we are talking animated versions, then, for me, it's the 1971 short that Chuck Jones produced, with Ken Harris' animation designs... It features Alistair Sim and Michael Horden reprising their roles and Michael Redgrave, as the narrator. I first saw it when it was broadcast on ABC and it was my introduction to the story (my cousins then introduced me to the film version, which became an annual tradition, in our house). It was so well received that it was shown theatrically and won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, in 1972 (causing a rule change about tv broadcasts, prior to theatrical release). Sim's voice is a bit weak, at times, but it works pretty well, even with the truncated story time. I have no memory of this at all, and neither does my dad. Thanks for posting this!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2022 15:19:36 GMT -5
I tried to listen to the audio commentary for The Living Daylights earlier, but gave up after about half an hour.
I prefer audio commentaries where a person, or preferably more than one person, is watching the action as we are, so to speak - and can react to what is on the screen. Even better when there’s some banter.
This format was different: firstly, we had a totally redundant “moderator” who’d say things like, “And now John Glen will tell us about the casting of Thomas Wheatley.” Erm, why not just let John Glenn speak, we know his voice? Be like me starting a post off with, “I’m now going to post my thoughts about Action Comics.”
Really, though, I don’t like the fact that the commentary is done the way it is, with lots of people’s comments spliced together to match (roughly) what is on the screen. That offers no opportunity for spontaneity or fun.
Maybe it could work. And my preferred commentary styles don’t always work. I was bored with Ang Lee’s commentary on Hulk, especially when there were gaps. Also, a lot of people doing a commentary together can, frustratingly, lead to stories not being finished as someone starts off a good anecdote, only to be interrupted. The best commentary I ever heard was Kenneth Johnson on various Hulk episodes (the pilot and “Prometheus”).
I just think having a “moderator” redundantly tell us what a person is going to speak about is tedious - and not having people watching it “live” is boring.
Far better to have a moderator there in person with just 3 or 4 people, as some Doctor Who commentaries did.
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Post by Prince Hal on Dec 17, 2022 16:37:19 GMT -5
If we are talking animated versions, then, for me, it's the 1971 short that Chuck Jones produced, with Ken Harris' animation designs... It features Alistair Sim and Michael Horden reprising their roles and Michael Redgrave, as the narrator. I first saw it when it was broadcast on ABC and it was my introduction to the story (my cousins then introduced me to the film version, which became an annual tradition, in our house). It was so well received that it was shown theatrically and won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, in 1972 (causing a rule change about tv broadcasts, prior to theatrical release). Sim's voice is a bit weak, at times, but it works pretty well, even with the truncated story time. I have no memory of this at all, and neither does my dad. Thanks for posting this! It's very well done, not a "kiddie" version at all.
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 17, 2022 18:32:29 GMT -5
I tried to listen to the audio commentary for The Living Daylights earlier, but gave up after about half an hour. I prefer audio commentaries where a person, or preferably more than one person, is watching the action as we are, so to speak - and can react to what is on the screen. Even better when there’s some banter. This format was different: firstly, we had a totally redundant “moderator” who’d say things like, “And now John Glen will tell us about the casting of Thomas Wheatley.” Erm, why not just let John Glenn speak, we know his voice? Be like me starting a post off with, “I’m now going to post my thoughts about Action Comics.” Really, though, I don’t like the fact that the commentary is done the way it is, with lots of people’s comments spliced together to match (roughly) what is on the screen. That offers no opportunity for spontaneity or fun. Maybe it could work. And my preferred commentary styles don’t always work. I was bored with Ang Lee’s commentary on Hulk, especially when there were gaps. Also, a lot of people doing a commentary together can, frustratingly, lead to stories not being finished as someone starts off a good anecdote, only to be interrupted. The best commentary I ever heard was Kenneth Johnson on various Hulk episodes (the pilot and “Prometheus”). I just think having a “moderator” redundantly tell us what a person is going to speak about is tedious - and not having people watching it “live” is boring. Far better to have a moderator there in person with just 3 or 4 people, as some Doctor Who commentaries did. Most of the Bond film commentaries were just interviews edited together. depending on the edition you had, that was already on the DVD extras. Ridley Scott recorded some commentary tracks; but, the ones I have heard just repeat the same stuff he says in interviews (both The Duellists and Blade Runner). I prefer a commentary where they are obviously watching the film and commenting as things occur, but, that can be a bit of an art form. Some directors just really aren't that good at discussing their work, without a lot of prompting. I like stuff like Kevin Smith's group commentaries, on the View Askewniverse films, where the banter back and forth, while still talking about what's going on in the film. It sounds more like a group of friends hanging out to watch the film. Peter Bogdanovitch's are usually pretty good (he did start as a film journalist), Smith's are good, the Python ones are usually good. Terry Gilliam is usually pretty entertaining solo, Michael Mann has good stuff to add, John Carpenter & Kurt Russell make a good pairing, Paul Verhoeven is interesting to hear.
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