shaxper
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Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2015 0:29:36 GMT -5
I believe coke & comics is our winner for November. What shall December's assignment be?
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Dec 1, 2015 0:30:48 GMT -5
This was a fun month. Watched 9 films I probably should have seen long before now. I honestly wouldn't mind a film club devoted just to that list. I still have more than 800 to go. It was indeed, although I didn't get to watch as many as I would have liked. And unless someone chimes in by the end of the day I think you get to pick next month's theme for December and if you were so inclined you could continue the theme and still allow some leeway by using the 100 top directors from that same list. Not a bad idea. I definitely did not watch as many films as I'd hoped to. I still REALLY want to see Tokyo Story and The Searchers so that I will have viewed everything in the Top 10 at least once. |
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 1, 2015 3:36:13 GMT -5
November's not even over yet. Only 10:30. Time for one more movie.
But I'm going to bed instead. And I think instead of continuing the theme, I will go for a more seasonally appropriate one...
Now, while respecting the diversity of cultures and backgrounds we have, I think it's safe to note the obvious thing this month means to many of us. Many, likely most, of us will be celebrating the same thing in a few weeks time. And I'd like this month's theme to reflect the season that's coming and means so much to so many of us.
So let's go with space opera, to help prepare us for the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
I'm not going to define space opera, but think movies in the vein of Star Wars or Star Trek. As a guiding principle, think bigger. The more spaceships or more worlds the better.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2015 16:37:36 GMT -5
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Jack Kelly, Richard Anderson, Warren Stevens, Earl Holliman, and Robby the Robot. Les Tremayne did the narrating of this drama from space. He did a great job doing it.
This is one of my first movies that I seen as a kid and I was in awe of the background art, special effects, and most importantly was amused by the acting of Leslie Nielsen who happen to play a character by the name of Commander Adams in a more serious role that he played back in 1956. He had a great quartet of actors to follow his lead, Kelly from the Maverick fame, Anderson from the Six Million Dollar Man & Bionic Woman fame, Holliman from the Police Woman fame, and Warren Stevens from the 77 Sunset Strip fame. These four great television veterans played their roles just perfectly and it's considered one of the classiest Space Movies that ever came out in the 50's. I don't really consider it a Space Opera; but it's has some themes of drama that resembles it. The dialogue of Pidgeon, Francis, and Nielsen was unparalleled in this film.
Great Background Art, Drama, Romance, and Dazzling Special Effects at the end ... of this 3 Minute Clip!
Unforgettable Monster from Id. Great Coordination from the Good Guys from this Film and more Dazzling Special Effects!
This always remains a favorite of mine for years and I highly recommend this excellent film back in 1956.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2015 12:46:06 GMT -5
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977 Film
It was on Sundance Channel in the wee-hours of the morning, I decided to watch it for the 1st time in 20 years! Man, it was a blast watching Richard Dreyfuss stellar performance as Roy Heary. The other real star was Melinda Dillon who supported Dreyfuss and these two were the real stars of the movie. François Truffaut and Teri Garr who played the wife of Dreyfuss was good also - but to give this movie a sense of reason and balance in this epic drama that beyond all reasons alone.
The music of this movie is truly set the moments, the eerie sense of things, the climatic ending, and most of all the true beauty of this film is Dreyfuss quest for Devil's Tower in Wyoming of which he goes nuts building a huge rendering of it in his home. This is one of my favorite scenes in this truly remarkable movie back in 1977. Both Dreyfuss and Dillon puts their best efforts in this scene that I was in awe of how good their expression was. It was one of those moments that fueled them to their ultimate quest.
This is a truly memorable scene!
Steven Spielburg who wrote and directed this film - did a heck of job making it and I consider it a masterpiece of great balance of acting, special effects, intensity, and most importantly know how to go to the next scene in urgency.
Loved this (below You Tube) scene too. Emotions, Quiet, Memorable ... Cary Guffey was good here! He played the son of Jillian Guiler was fabulous too.
I enjoyed watching it and it's a fabulous film that made in 1977.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 13:59:19 GMT -5
Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986)
It is my personal favorites of all the STAR TREK Movies that really was an Opera in sorts of speak of the Charms of Admiral Kirk with the leading lady - Catherine Hicks over the issues of the humpback whales that was the central theme of this movie. I was very amused by this movie that uses everything under the sun to make the story truly believable.
It was comedy and I just can't believe it was a comedy of epic proportions - this four minute clip plus was the highlight of this movie of where DeForest Kelley (McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty) did a great job of keeping their faces straight and the mastery of the keystrokes by Scotty was unreal. I was laughing so hard at the end of this clip because it was the highlight of this film.
Everyone was good and more so but it's has so many little "flaws" that it was bound to be criticized by many die-hard Trek Fans. And, to my surprise I was shocked to see Mr. Spock swimming around with the whales in this scene below you.
You have to pay a lot of attention to this movie and you need to be aware that there are many sub-plots here and there. I just loved the time that spent in San Francisco of where they were out exploring and doing the things to restore their home in the future and the dreaded space probe that was disrupting the power and destroying their whole planet. I was on the edge of my seat when I was hoping that everyone came back safe and sound.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 4, 2015 1:52:38 GMT -5
I took the opportunity to rewatch my favorite space opera film, which just sneaks under the classic window. I've seen Serenity dozens of times now and still love it.
The truth is big epic movies set in space in a universe where space travel is common are quite rare. Perhaps expected because of the budget involved, but also surprising given the massive success of Star Wars. But big budget epics sets amidst space with lots of ships just don't seem that common. There have been plenty of Star Wars and Star Trek films, and in recent years we've had Serenity and Guardians of the Galaxy.
But these films really seem the exception rather than the rule.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 6, 2015 13:34:59 GMT -5
Thanks the to the mechanics of Netflix, I'm always still watching films from the previous month's theme into the next month. So my late entries for November are Psycho (#29) and The Apartment (#57). I was entirely underwhelmed by The Apartment. But Psycho was better than I expected. Often when I watch such hyped films, the hype hurts them, but Psycho more than lived up to it. It was hurt some by the fact that I knew a bit too much about the story and ending going in. I'd have loved to have seen it knowing nothing about what to expect.
I think I did quite well in November in terms of finally watching a lot of beloved classics I'd never seen:
The Graduate (1967) (#259)
Raising Arizona ((1987) (#574)
Before Sunset (2004) (#890)
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) (#564)
All About Eve (1950) (#116)
Spartacus (1960) (#601)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) (#8)
M (1931) (#48)
I marked Spartacus as the best of the month. Had I gotten Psycho in in time, that would have been the best. M, All About Eve, Young Mr. Lincoln and Before Sunset, also all great movies.
Biggest disappointment was The Apartment. I dunno... Jack Lemmon was quite charming. Started off well, good setup and all. Cute little story. Some black comedy and satire. A fine film. But I'm not seeing a #57 film.
I've watched other Wilder films relatively recently, too. Sunset Boulevard and Double Indemnity. Both were great, and I would argue the superior films.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2015 16:21:53 GMT -5
Psycho is one of my favorite films, definitely a desert island top ten for me.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 21:59:59 GMT -5
Biggest disappointment was The Apartment. I dunno... Jack Lemmon was quite charming. Started off well, good setup and all. Cute little story. Some black comedy and satire. A fine film. But I'm not seeing a #57 film. I was expecting better from The Apartment too and I watched it once and did not even bother watching it a second time. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Dec 6, 2015 22:07:00 GMT -5
I rewatched Things To Come (1936) tonight, but I don't think it counts. Space-age men flying futuristic airships across a post-apocalyptic America run by tribal nations has a Space Opera feel to it, but it technically isn't.
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Post by coke & comics on Dec 6, 2015 23:03:48 GMT -5
I'm fine with people using their judgment and it's true I didn't define the concept well.
But space, people! Space! Space operas involve space!
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,865
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Post by shaxper on Dec 7, 2015 9:18:35 GMT -5
I'm fine with people using their judgment and it's true I didn't define the concept well. But space, people! Space! Space operas involve space! Well the climax of the film is a space launch! But no, I don't think it should count. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 13:01:30 GMT -5
I'm fine with people using their judgment and it's true I didn't define the concept well. But space, people! Space! Space operas involve space! I will try to do better next time ... thanks for the heads up!  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 9, 2015 13:49:02 GMT -5
I went with the Last Starfighter this morning as my first entry, it's a favorite from my childhood and the effects still look decent to this day.
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