What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[greatestescaper]

"The Haunting' was indeed a great film, yet another that did not require a remake. And certainly the implied is far scarier than what can be shown. Interestingly I was recently watching a documentary about the original Frankenstein film and in some theatrical releases of the film the censors cut out the scene where the monster meets and tosses the young girl into the water. They thought the scene too gruesome. Ironically many were more frightened by the drowned body of the young girl being carried through the town by her father, without having seen the monster kill her.

 

[Zombie_61]

"The Haunting' was indeed a great film, yet another that did not require a remake. And certainly the implied is far scarier than what can be shown. Interestingly I was recently watching a documentary about the original Frankenstein film and in some theatrical releases of the film the censors cut out the scene where the monster meets and tosses the young girl into the water. They thought the scene too gruesome. Ironically many were more frightened by the drowned body of the young girl being carried through the town by her father, without having seen the monster kill her.

The real problem with censoring the scene the way they did--abruptly cutting away just as the Monster reaches for little Maria, and the subsequent scene with her father carrying her lifeless body through the town with one of her stockings rolled down to her ankle--was that it left many with the impression that the Monster had molested her as well. The restored footage that shows the Monster searching for her in the lake and walking away through the woods immediately after, horrified that little Maria didn't float as the flowers had, is much tamer than what people imagined he did with her.

 

[Bushman]

What I like about that particular scene is that it gives us insight into a part of the book that we don't see much of in the film adaptions: the Monster's pitiful innocence, and lack of understanding about the world around it. In the book, our first look at the monster isn't in some "It's aliiiiive!" scene (in fact, in the book, the Victor Frankenstein is depressed, believing all his hard work was an utter failure), but in Dr. Frankenstein's bed. Frankenstein awakes to find the monster reaching out towards the Frankenstein, as a long lost child would do to their father. This, of course, scares both the Monster and the good doctor witless. The monster eventually wanders into the outskirts of a village and comes across a cottage where it accidentally strangles a woman to death, not understanding its own grotesque strength.

 

[Zombie_61]

What I like about that particular scene is that it gives us insight into a part of the book that we don't see much of in the film adaptions: the Monster's pitiful innocence, and lack of understanding about the world around it. In the book, our first look at the monster isn't in some "It's aliiiiive!" scene (in fact, in the book, the Victor Frankenstein is depressed, believing all his hard work was an utter failure), but in Dr. Frankenstein's bed. Frankenstein awakes to find the monster reaching out towards the Frankenstein, as a long lost child would do to their father. This, of course, scares both the Monster and the good doctor witless. The monster eventually wanders into the outskirts of a village and comes across a cottage where it accidentally strangles a woman to death, not understanding its own grotesque strength.

Spot on. Frankenstein's creation is really a victim himself, and acts out violently because he was rejected by his "father". And that's the reason the 1931 movie is my favorite cinematic telling of the story--through his performance, Karloff was able to make the Monster a somewhat sad and sympathetic figure (initially, anyway), something no other actor in the role has been able to do in my opinion. That being said, none of the movies have ever really re-created Mary Shelley's novel faithfully with regards to both story and spirit; some have tried but fell short, and most simply want to make the Monster a villain.

 

[Bushman]

I will admit that The Curse of Frankenstein is probably my favorite adaption of the original Mary Shelly story. It's the version I've seen that best captures the obsessiveness and madness that is Dr. Victor Frankenstein, helped in no small part by the fact that the character is played by the venerable Peter Cushing. The monster itself is played by late great Christopher Lee, who masterfully captures the monsters misunderstandings of the world around it. A lot of other movies go for the simplicity of man VS monster, but I find that Curse of Frankenstein is the one to best portray the faulted characters within the legendary story.

 

[Zombie_61]

I will admit that The Curse of Frankenstein is probably my favorite adaption of the original Mary Shelly story. It's the version I've seen that best captures the obsessiveness and madness that is Dr. Victor Frankenstein, helped in no small part by the fact that the character is played by the venerable Peter Cushing. The monster itself is played by late great Christopher Lee, who masterfully captures the monsters misunderstandings of the world around it. A lot of other movies go for the simplicity of man VS monster, but I find that Curse of Frankenstein is the one to best portray the faulted characters within the legendary story.

I don't dislike The Curse of Frankenstein, but I do feel they missed an opportunity by not having Victor Frankenstein show even the slightest hint of remorse over his actions; Cushing could have portrayed that brilliantly.

Apparently, Cushing wasn't particularly fond of the movie during filming. As the story goes, one day Christopher Lee entered Cushing's dressing room complaining, "I've got no lines!", to which Cushing replied, "You're lucky. I've read the script." lol

 

[Bushman]

lol I can imagine Cushing saying that!

Though, I kinda like that they didn't show Frankenstein having remorse. In the book, he despised the monster, and the only remorse he genuinely felt was a brief moment of "what have I done?" when creating the monster.

 

[greatestescaper]

I'll have to give that one another watch...Hammer Films are something fantastic. I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" with Robert De Niro as the creature.

 

[Stearmen]

Topper Takes a Trip (1939) Not as good as the first, however, Roland Young and Billie Burke were just as funny!

 

[Zombie_61]

lol I can imagine Cushing saying that!

Though, I kinda like that they didn't show Frankenstein having remorse. In the book, he despised the monster, and the only remorse he genuinely felt was a brief moment of "what have I done?" when creating the monster.

That's interesting. I've read Shelley's novel more than a few times, and have always thought Victor had equal feelings of hatred and remorse for his creation (after his initial revulsion, that is).

I'll have to give that one another watch...Hammer Films are something fantastic. I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" with Robert De Niro as the creature.

I like the movie, but as much as I like De Niro I think he was miscast.

 

[AmateisGal]

My Cousin Vinny

 

[greatestescaper]

"My Cousin Vinny" a great film indeed.

As for De Niro, I was surprised by his casting, and I'm not sure who else at the time I would have cast as the creature. To me the film is a hard rewatch, it's just so tragic. I reckon the book is much the same, if not more so. That is probably why it has been such a long time since I've read "Frankenstein". This year I pulled it out with "Dracula" as part of my settling into the season.

The other night we had some friends over to watch "Dracula" from 1931, and will soon be continuing with the rest of those classics, to be followed up by "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein", and "The Monster Squad".

 

[Bolero]

I just finished watching " The Lost City" with Andy Garcia... Great movie for Panama Hat watching...not to mention a great movie about 1958-1959 Havana, Cuba

 

[Stearmen]

My Cousin Vinny

[video=youtube;eNZ1O2KTOOg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZ1O2KTOOg[/video]

 

[dh66]

 

[Bushman]

Unbroken. Love this movie! Great story, really inspirational.

 

[Fading Fast]

"The Subject was Roses" This is one of those unhappy families Chekov was talking about.

A soldier comes home to his mom and dad after WWII and walks right into another war, this one between his parents. As the story unfolds - most of which takes place in their slightly shabby Bronx apartment - we see a family trying to keep up the surface appearance of normalcy, but it is clear there are unresolved issues lying just below as happy family moment is followed by violent anger and accusation again and again.

The first two thirds of the movie sets up the narrative and suspense of these long-running, but somewhat buried, problems and the last third rolls them out in one soul-crushing reveal after another. The performances by Patricia Neil and Jack Albertson as the parents and Martin Sheen as the son are all powerful and emotionally draining - the entire movie has a theater play feel to it and these three keep its moving along without almost any other characters or change of sets.

I am really glad I saw it (I'd seen 10 minute segments here and there on TCM for years and wanted to finally watch it from beginning to end), but felt drained and a bit depressed afterwards. Has anyone else seen it - what were your thoughts?

 

[AmateisGal]

[video=youtube;eNZ1O2KTOOg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZ1O2KTOOg[/video]

One of my favorite scenes!

"The two what?!?"

 

[AmateisGal]

The Avengers: Age of Ultron. I think I like it better than the first Avengers movie. How I wish they would make a movie dedicated to the Black Widow. She really deserves her own franchise.

 

[Stearmen]

Ensign Pulver (1964) I have not seen that movie in at least 40 years, it's even worse then I remember! I always liked Burl Ives and Walter Matthau, but even they could not save this film. Fun to see Larry Hagman and Jack Nicholson though!