What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[AmateisGal]

Thor: Ragnarok on brand new Blu-Ray! My daughter and I are pretty much obsessed with the Marvel movies (she more than me, but it's close) and I LOVED Thor: Ragnarok in the theater, so we were super excited to buy it and watch it at home. Just as good the second time around!

 

[LizzieMaine]

Had a screening last night of the Oscar nominated animated shorts, and because I'm not particularly a basketball fan, my favorite has to be "Revolting Rhymes," a bitingly-funny conflation of the stories of Snow White and Red Riding Hood based on the works of Roald Dahl. The characterization of Red as a deadly, gun-wielding vigilante who shoots the Wolf in cold blood and turns him into an overcoat is just the way I always imagined the story went down. And the Three Pigs, cast as corrupt bankers and real-estate developers, get turned into a matched set of luggage. Ah, the gentle tales of childhood.

 

[Trenchfriend]

One question:

Was the sherrif in "Rambo - First Blood" overreacting or was that realistic?

 

[2jakes]

One question:

Was the sherrif in "Rambo - First Blood" overreacting or was that realistic?

Brian Dennehy’s acting as the determined narrow minded sheriff was part of the recipe
that was needed to provide Rambo with delivering his guerrilla tactics to the small
town of Hope.
Unrealistic action? You bet and although several sequels were made, the first
has been considered his finest.
I saw him on the set of another of his films and he came across as a very
nice person with the people around him.

 

[Zombie_61]

One question:

Was the sherrif in "Rambo - First Blood" overreacting or was that realistic?

I agree with 2jakes, but would like to add this--I think Sheriff Teasle did overreact, but his reaction was realistic. One common trait among every police officer I've spoken with is that they really don't like it when someone questions their authority, at least while they're on duty. And Teasle, being the Sheriff of a small town, sees himself as the ultimate authority. So when Rambo defied him by walking back towards the town, Teasle saw that as a threat not only to his authority, but to his ability to continue to enforce it among the townspeople. That only gets worse when the National Guard, and Colonel Trautman, show up to take command of the situation--Teasle sees his authority being taken away from him, and that could (and probably would) lead to the people in that town losing faith in his abilities do to his job. He could easily have handled the situation by allowing Rambo to eat before he ran him out of town, but if he had done that it wouldn't have been much of a movie.

That being said, I think Brian Dennehy's performance was spot-on. In the hands of a lesser actor Teasle could have come across as a one-dimensional stereotype, and within the context of the movie he's certainly positioned as "the villain". But Teasle is the best kind of villain--someone whose outrageous actions aren't based on personal gain or maliciousness, but based on the belief that what he's doing is right. And there are subtle moments in Dennehy's performance that inform the audience that Teasle understands and maybe even sympathizes with Rambo, but he still has a job to do.

 

[ChiTownScion]

Had a screening last night of the Oscar nominated animated shorts, and because I'm not particularly a basketball fan, my favorite has to be "Revolting Rhymes," a bitingly-funny conflation of the stories of Snow White and Red Riding Hood based on the works of Roald Dahl. The characterization of Red as a deadly, gun-wielding vigilante who shoots the Wolf in cold blood and turns him into an overcoat is just the way I always imagined the story went down. And the Three Pigs, cast as corrupt bankers and real-estate developers, get turned into a matched set of luggage. Ah, the gentle tales of childhood.

Saw that, and it was magnificent. Now the best part: what we saw was only Part One in a two part made for television feature.

Warning! Plot spoiler to follow.

(Not sure that it was "cold blood," however. I think most juries would rule self defense.)

 

[2jakes]

I agree with 2jakes, but would like to add this--I think Sheriff Teasle did overreact, but his reaction was realistic. One common trait among every police officer I've spoken with is that they really don't like it when someone questions their authority, at least while they're on duty. And Teasle, being the Sheriff of a small town, sees himself as the ultimate authority. So when Rambo defied him by walking back towards the town, Teasle saw that as a threat not only to his authority, but to his ability to continue to enforce it among the townspeople. That only gets worse when the National Guard, and Colonel Trautman, show up to take command of the situation--Teasle sees his authority being taken away from him, and that could (and probably would) lead to the people in that town losing faith in his abilities do to his job. He could easily have handled the situation by allowing Rambo to eat before he ran him out of town, but if he had done that it wouldn't have been much of a movie.

That being said, I think Brian Dennehy's performance was spot-on. In the hands of a lesser actor Teasle could have come across as a one-dimensional stereotype, and within the context of the movie he's certainly positioned as "the villain". But Teasle is the best kind of villain--someone whose outrageous actions aren't based on personal gain or maliciousness, but based on the belief that what he's doing is right. And there are subtle moments in Dennehy's performance that inform the audience that Teasle understands and maybe even sympathizes with Rambo, but he still has a job to do.

From personal experience there is a thin line between authority and intimidation.
One time, I went to renew/update my driver’s license.
While I was in the process of giving the clerk at the front desk my information,
I noticed four officers.
Three approached me on my side of the counter, while the other one stood
on the clerks side.
"We need to talk to you”, they said as they escorted me by holding my
arms to another room.

They told me to sit down with both hands on the table and not say a word.
As I was sitting down I asked what’s the problem, but the officer slammed
me down on the chair and got real close to my face and said,
” I told you to shut up..this is your first and last warning!”.

I felt like he wanted me to resist so that he could cause pain on me.
I didn’t fall for it, instead, I kept quiet, although wondering what the
hell did I do to make them so angry with me.

After a few minutes which seem longer, another officer came in,
smiled and sat down with me.
"You want something to drink, coke, coffee?” He asked.
“No”, I replied, "I just want to know what’s going on!”

The officer explained that my name, my parent’s name, my social
security, my physical description was very similar to that of an
inmate who broke out of prison, was armed and dangerous.

The only difference was a scar which I didn’t have and this guy did.
I told them where I worked and many times I have covered crime scenes or
police press conferences. That explained where they had seen me before.
They kinda apologize by saying they couldn’t take a chance which is why
they reacted the way they did.

They took care of my renewal and asked if I wanted to exit the back way in
order to avoid the crowd that had seen me.
I said no, I told them I had nothing to hide. Although I did ask for their
calling card in case this happens again with other officers. They complied.

 

[Zombie_61]

From personal experience there is a thin line between authority and intimidation...

Intimidation is a tool of the trade in law enforcement. If the officers can make you believe your well being and freedom could be in jeopardy, the odds are you'll be more willing to comply if you've done nothing wrong and are smart enough to listen to them. Your cooperation also increases their odds of going home safely at the end of their shift. But here's the thing most people, including some officers, don't understand--by complying, you're actually taking control of the situation. If you don't do what they ask or become combative, it forces them to respond with more intimidation or physical force. If you comply, they go about their business until the matter is resolved one way or another. Either way they're reactionaries, and you're dictating their actions because they're responding to your behavior.

I've put this to good use on occasion myself. One night years ago I left a bar with a couple of friends, was followed almost immediately by a police cruiser, and was pulled over a few miles down the road. His hostile attitude and demeanor as he spoke to me immediately informed me that he thought he was surely going to arrest or cite me for driving under the influence. I responded by showing him the proper measure of respect, answering his questions and complying with his requests, even turning on the dome lights in the car so that he could clearly see I was retrieving my license and registration and not some form of weapon. He quickly realized I hadn't been drinking (I was the designated driver that night) and this seemed to make him more hostile towards me, so he decided to do an on-the-spot vehicle inspection. I assisted him by following his instructions--honking the horn, turning the various lights on and off so he could see they were working, opening the hood and trunk lid, and so on--and essentially defused the situation by "killing him with kindness". In the end, it cost me 20-30 minutes of my time, and the only thing he could cite me for was the excuse he used to pull me over in the first place--the rear license plate light was burned out. He even thanked me for being so cooperative, which I'm sure left a bad taste in his mouth, but if I had behaved the way he expected me to the night would probably have ended very differently.

 

[Worf]

"The Black Panther" - A better than average superhero flick when viewed through that lens only. However it's can hardly be considered typical superhero fare at all. It's a film about many things historical, socio-political and racial and as such can hardly be placed alongside the likes of "Wonder Woman" or "Thor Ragnarok" and certainly not "The Guardians of the Galaxy". I can easily see why those seeking to put their minds on hold for two hours to root for good versus evil would find the film boring or preachy. I didn't, personally I welcomed the exploration of deeper questions albeit a bit superficially. But a movie detailing the ills of slaver/colonialism and it's affect on the African continent and the African diaspora wouldn't exactly qualify as "entertainment". What I liked most about the film was its "villain". His logic, his motivations, his demons rang very true to me because sometimes I find them in myself. It's a terrible balancing act to entertain and inform at the same time and I feel Marvel did it admirably.

Worf

 

[scottyrocks]

and this seemed to make him more hostile towards me, so he decided to do an on-the-spot vehicle inspection.

I agree with you 100%, and operate the same way you do in these types of situations, although I've had a cop get angry with me only once, but the situation was so odd that I don't know that I want to relay it here.

However, this segment of what you wrote is the type of thing that causes so many to characterize cops as pr*cks, or whatever other derogatory term of choice.

There you were, doing the right thing that has been pounded into us for decades now, and the cop gets pissed. Pfah.

 

[Fading Fast]

"Stage Door" 1937

• I'd been away from this movie for too many years as it deserves regular watching - an ensemble cast of stars and stars-to-be (Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Andrea Leeds, Eve Arden, a ridiculously young Lucille Ball, and others you'll recognize) play actress wannabes at a run down, near-Broadway boarding house where a surface nonchalance barely covers the ambition and despair ripping through these women

• The machine-gun dialogue delivery has an early Tarantino echo - few people have that many bon mots and well-constructed sentences always ready to go, but life would be more entertaining if they did

• Also, like a Tarantino film, there's a plot, but it's all the sub-stories and all the half-crazy characters that draw you in - from the young innocents learning life's realities to the barely hanging on "retired" older actresses who haunt the place like theater ghosts of failure warning the young women of their potential fate

• In an interesting and eerie parallel to Harvey Weinstein, Adolphe Menjou plays a handsome (in an effete continental way), suave producer (for sure, Weinstein isn't handsome or suave, but otherwise it parallels) who casts women in return for sex (kudos to RKO as it isn't dressed up much from that) - nothing changes in life as sex-for-work feels as grossly wrong and horribly degrading then (even with a bit of "Hollywood of the '30s" polish slapped on) as now. I wonder if heterosexual male actors have the same issues or if there really might be differences between men and women?

• Hepburn is at her East Coast WASP-on-speed best exuding youthful optimism (enabled by a very rich father) while Roger's is given the role of young cynic which she handles admirably, but the against-type casting shows as she only truly shines when her decency pushes through to the surface. Both women are so young and lithe - drop Arden and Ball into this bucket, too - that their tiny waists and all-limbs body make them look like the younger sisters of the women we came to know well a bit later in their careers

• I can't say enough for the entertainment value of this one - it's on par with "His Gal Friday" for having rapid-fire dialogue, a modern feel and handling timeless social and personal issues - it sneaks a lot in for a code-era movie and refutes those who say "old" movies are "slow" or have "outdated" ideas and style

"Carefree" a 1938 Fred and Ginger movie

• Plots are not what Fred and Ginger movies are about and this one offers up one of the weakest of them - but you don't care as these movies are always about style, personality, dancing and fun in an easy escapist way

• Once again, the depression proved fertile ground for movies about wealthy people - gorgeous clothes, cars, homes, offices and country clubs - at work (not really hard work) and play (plenty of booze, sumptuous meals and "gentlemen" sports) - I maintain that movies of the '30s argues America was never really ripe for revolution as the "people" (the "masses") aspired to be and admired the rich way too much to tear them down

• In a flagrant, but great-to-see-today, self promotion, there are two scenes where Rogers' character passes by a movie marquee advertising another RKO movie ("The Saint in New York"), but what's really cool is everything else listed on the marquee ("newsreel," "comedy," "cartoon," "3 Stooges") and how not having movie times listed (like many do today) it reminds us of the "continual play," walk-in-anytime approach to movie watching in the Era, as well as, the full "menu" of entertainment provided in these pre-TV (and internet) days
• 

• Watch it for Fred, Ginger, dancing, style, time travel and fun, but definitely not for the plot

 

[LizzieMaine]

Love both of those pictures. "Stage Door" is the source of the Katharine Hepburn imitation I have been annoying people with for more than fifty years. "Carefree" is lesser Astaire-Rogers due to the inferior score, which Irving Berlin banged out over five days. "The Yam" is a long way from "The Way You Look Tonight."

As to the White Telephone brigade, it very much went both ways. Watch some two-reelers of the thirties for a look at how often that crowd was shown up by the resident comedians. It was a rare short comedy where toffee-nosed Mrs. Egbert Van Ransaleer III didn't end up being kicked into her own swimming pool by Charley Chase or Patsy Kelly or Leon Errol or any combination of Stooges. My favorite along these lines is the 1934 "Our Gang" short "Honky Donkey," where the annoying rich lady is chased into a fountain by Algebra the Mule after the Gang finishes wreaking havoc on her house, all to the approval of her son -- who wants nothing more than to go play in alleys: "and make 'em dirty ones!" The little traitor-to-his-class.

 

[scottyrocks]

I watched (again) I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955) a couple of days ago. This movie always brings a lump in my throat and tear to my eye, mainly leading up to and during the drying out scenes. I think Susan Hayward does a very convincing job portraying the agony that it can be. Anyway, it gets me right there if you know what I mean.

 

[Fading Fast]

Love both of those pictures. "Stage Door" is the source of the Katharine Hepburn imitation I have been annoying people with for more than fifty years. "Carefree" is lesser Astaire-Rogers due to the inferior score, which Irving Berlin banged out over five days. "The Yam" is a long way from "The Way You Look Tonight."

As to the White Telephone brigade, it very much went both ways. Watch some two-reelers of the thirties for a look at how often that crowd was shown up by the resident comedians. It was a rare short comedy where toffee-nosed Mrs. Egbert Van Ransaleer III didn't end up being kicked into her own swimming pool by Charley Chase or Patsy Kelly or Leon Errol or any combination of Stooges. My favorite along these lines is the 1934 "Our Gang" short "Honky Donkey," where the annoying rich lady is chased into a fountain by Algebra the Mule after the Gang finishes wreaking havoc on her house, all to the approval of her son -- who wants nothing more than to go play in alleys: "and make 'em dirty ones!" The little traitor-to-his-class.

Definitely a weak score and not that many Astaire-Rogers numbers overall, but even with weak material, those two blast off when they dance.

"White Telephone brigade -" get it from context, but a new one to me.

And you are correct it went both ways - lambasting or admiring the WTB - but what surprises me is that, even at the depth of the depression, there was a large market for these, basically, sympathetic / admiring movies of the rich being made. I'm not averring it was good or bad, just noting that those movies clearly put depression-era butts in the seats and that is surprising.

It was really fun to see the self-promoting marquee - and they were not shy in showing it (kinda like "Apache Beer" in "The Petrified Forest -" a commercial with a movie attached).

No comment at all on the Lizzie-neon-sign-fixer spoof from the other thread (just making sure you know it was meant in good fun)?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Hadn't seen that till now -- hehehehehe! I'd welcome Dino to my marquee anytime, but I'd make one of the kids go up the ladder to service him.

Those letters in "Carefree" are interesting -- they're actually molded milk glass set into a die-cut metal frame, lit from behind by incandescent bulbs. A precursor to the modern back-lit plastic signs, but extremely labor intensive, and god forbid you should drop one on a pedestrian while changing them.

 

[Fading Fast]

Hadn't seen that till now -- hehehehehe! I'd welcome Dino to my marquee anytime, but I'd make one of the kids go up the ladder to service him.

Those letters in "Carefree" are interesting -- they're actually molded milk glass set into a die-cut metal frame, lit from behind by incandescent bulbs. A precursor to the modern back-lit plastic signs, but extremely labor intensive, and god forbid you should drop one on a pedestrian while changing them.

That had to be one heck of an invoice for Dino originally unless he was already licensed and an off-the-shelf design.

Very cool info on the sign from "Carefree."

 

[Zombie_61]

I agree with you 100%, and operate the same way you do in these types of situations, although I've had a cop get angry with me only once, but the situation was so odd that I don't know that I want to relay it here.

However, this segment of what you wrote is the type of thing that causes so many to characterize cops as pr*cks, or whatever other derogatory term of choice.

There you were, doing the right thing that has been pounded into us for decades now, and the cop gets pissed. Pfah.

This was an odd situation for me as well. I'd been pulled over more than a few times in my younger days, but this was the first and only time an officer displayed such unprofessional behavior. It was obvious to me that he was trying to bait me into saying or doing something stupid, and it only made him more annoyed when I refused to fall for it. Whatever his reasons were, I drove home that night with nothing worse than a fix-it ticket and a story to tell.

 

[2jakes]

This was an odd situation for me as well. I'd been pulled over more than a few times in my younger days, but this was the first and only time an officer displayed such unprofessional behavior. It was obvious to me that he was trying to bait me into saying or doing something stupid, and it only made him more annoyed when I refused to fall for it. Whatever his reasons were, I drove home that night with nothing worse than a fix-it ticket and a story to tell.

I was pulled over for speeding while driving the news truck to go cover a hotel fire.
"Where are you going in such a hurry...a fire?” The officer asked.

"Yes sir”, as a matter of fact I am.” I replied.

He looked at my driver’s license for moment and said,
"It’s also my birthday today as well. I’m going to let you off with just
a warning. You get there when you can. You don’t want to be part of the
news. So don’t speed anymore...ok?”
I promised him I wouldn’t.
And I’ve kept that promise ever since.

 

[1mach1]

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[OldStrummer]

I just got done with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. It's available on Amazon Prime. Astounding visual affects; reminds me of those in Avatar. Not a high-brow movie, but it was a fun way to while away 2 hours and 17 minutes.