What Was The Last Movie You Watched?

[scottyrocks]

. . . insistence on casting non-singing stars hobbles it.

I once saw raw footage of Hepburn performing "Loverly" during the shooting, and her own voice, while no miracle like Andrews', sold the emotion far better than Nixon's technically-good-but-generic overdub does.

As someone who grew up memorizing the original cast albums of most of the great forties-to-sixties musicals, I think it's unfortunate that so many of their film adaptations are only halfway successful at getting the essence of the show (Carousel, The Music Man) or outright disasters (Man of La Mancha). Even the best, like The King and I, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, and Oliver!, are all overcooked in ways that don't do justice to the stage originals.

That's one of the things that so impressed me about the recent film version of Les Miserables (2012). Not only were non-singer actors in the title roles, but they, themselves, sang, and sang live-on-film without over-dubbing and/or dubbing in their voices in post-production. It lent an urgency to the performances seldom seen in a musical.

 

[AmateisGal]

I have always felt that the DC universe is 'darker' than the Marvel universe. If the writers are staying true to that, it would explain a few things, as far as movie-making goes.

Hmm. Possible. But I have seen a lot of dark themes in Marvel, too. The Punisher, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, etc.

 

[Worf]

Hmm. Possible. But I have seen a lot of dark themes in Marvel, too. The Punisher, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, etc.

Yeah... well Marvel has one over arching commander Kevin Feigge and he keeps the tone and palette in hand. Directors who stray beyond that "vision" get booted. Also Marvel does more "stand alone" films to flesh out their characters. DC, in trying to play "catch up" crams too many characters into their films with little or no backstory beforehand. As a result "Justice League" tries to introduce 3 new characters in a movie dictated to be under 2 hours. From all accounts it didn't work. Also, lets be honest, Marvel doesn't take themselves too seriously... DC does. Well at least recently. These are some of the reasons but not all of them... but they're enough to make a real difference.

Worf

 

[Otter]

Hacksaw Ridge, on Netflix. Surprisingly good film if a bit bloody at times.

 

[Edward]

That's one of the things that so impressed me about the recent film version of Les Miserables (2012). Not only were non-singer actors in the title roles, but they, themselves, sang, and sang live-on-film without over-dubbing and/or dubbing in their voices in post-production. It lent an urgency to the performances seldom seen in a musical.

I know a lot of folks felt Russell Crowe was weak as a singer (and it's not as if they needed him, given they already had Jackman's star power for the marketing), but for me he more than made up for that with thed uality of his acting. Not many could have played that scene where he pins the medal on the dead kid without it becoming saccharine and OTT, but he did it with real gravitas. It was cute how many people who'd been n the stage show over the years were involved in the film as extras here and there, including the original Jean Valjean, who played the priest who covers for Jackman's JV at the beginning.

Hmm. Possible. But I have seen a lot of dark themes in Marvel, too. The Punisher, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, etc.

Marvel has its dark bits, it just never seemed to make them as central as DC often did. That said, DC also had Superman who, though better ni the comics by far than on screen, I always found a touch two-dimensional.

Hacksaw Ridge, on Netflix. Surprisingly good film if a bit bloody at times.

Tremendous film. All the more fascinating for being true.

 

[AmateisGal]

Hacksaw Ridge, on Netflix. Surprisingly good film if a bit bloody at times.

Hacksaw Ridge is one of the best true World War 2 movies available, IMO. Desmond Doss was an incredible man - and what he did on that ridge is nothing short of miraculous.

 

[AmateisGal]

The Princess Bride was on TV last night. So of course, I watched it. That's the rule! I have it memorized anyway!

 

[Otter]

It does help that Teresa Palmer looks heartachinly beautiful in HR.

 

[AmateisGal]

Hangmen Also Die, a 1943 film directed by Fritz Lang. First time to see it. I was impressed. It was dark, showcasing the cruelty of the occupying Germans in Czechoslovakia after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich and the reprisals that followed. This is an alternative narrative of the assassination and not the true story. From the little research I've done, it is based on a story by Bertolt Brecht. The assassin is instead a doctor and the Germans decide that unless he turns himself in, Czechs will be rounded up and executed.

I'd most certainly categorize it as a propaganda film, but it goes far deeper than most propaganda films of WW2. Fritz Lang imbues the story with the Czech's unwavering resolve to not give up the assassin, knowing there will be Czech casualties along the way. and grappling with the morality of that decision. I particularly enjoyed the comeuppance the traitorous Czech gets at the end of the film.

I recommend it.

 

[ton312]

Tonight my little girl and I will finish bringing her up to date in the MCU w/ Guardians Vol.2. She has become such a huge fan, never would've thought we'd go from Doc Mcstuffins to this but I tell you...I literally couldn't be happier!

 

[Doctor Strange]

I was very also impressed with Hacksaw Ridge, despite my feelings for Mel Gibson. A good film of a remarkable story.

And I also liked the film of Les Mis... much more than the original Broadway production, which I pretty much hated.

Marvel vs. DC films... DC has made many mistakes besides trying to emulate the MCU with too few introductory films, especially in continually underestimating the importance of good scripts and trusting the intelligence of the audience. Where Marvel has at every turn humanized their bigger-than-life heroes with recognizable foibles and motivations (which is, after all, the original Marvel Comics innovation), DC has insisted on going more mythic, and continually mistaking pretentious darkness for seriousness. One of the reasons that Wonder Woman stands out among their films is that it didn't rush through its story or try to be more than a solid introductory adventure. And there's no question that Superman is a difficult character to present nowadays, but he's long been handled well in the DC animated shows and their follow-on features... without turning him into an emo Jesus figure (or the traditional boring boy scout). I have nothing against Henry Cavill... apart from how his Superman has been written to start with. At this point, Marvel is so far ahead not because their characters are "better", but because they built their universe slowly and carefully, with a clear view to the long game, and a talented group of diverse writers and directors under the Stan Lee-like editorship of Kevin Feige.

 

[ton312]

but because they built their universe slowly and carefully, with a clear view to the long game, and a talented group of diverse writers and directors under the Stan Lee-like editorship of Kevin Feige.

Absolutely! This is just exactly it. I actually liked Man of Steel, I thought it was pretty good. Had they taken the time to introduce BA's Batman, Cyborg and at least the Flash the way they did WW the Justice League picture would have been better. Another bothersome thing for me and DC, and I've felt this through most the DC movies, the CGI looks a bit made for TV to me.

 

[AmateisGal]

Tonight my little girl and I will finish bringing her up to date in the MCU w/ Guardians Vol.2. She has become such a huge fan, never would've thought we'd go from Doc Mcstuffins to this but I tell you...I literally couldn't be happier!

That's so cool! My daughter (17) and I have really bonded over the Marvel movies, too.

 

[2jakes]

TCM

Although my favorite is the 1938 version!

I enjoy the scenes with Tiny Tim & family at home and the
simple pleasures they share with one another at the table.
It tends to be a bit sugar-coated, but it’s ok with me & Polo
around the holidays.

 

[Just Jim]

The Maltese Falcon (the 1931 version). Recognizably the same as the 1941 version, but it definitely had a different flavor. I couldn't help but wonder what Huston's version would have looked like in the pre-Code days.

 

[AmateisGal]

Lady on a Train with Deanna Durban. A funny, rather silly film but I still enjoyed it.

 

[Fading Fast]

Lady on a Train with Deanna Durban. A funny, rather silly film but I still enjoyed it.

We just watched it as well - funny, rather silly is spot on. Also, while not, it had a B-picture feel.

Now watching "Funny Face," for a fun Sunday light movie.

 

[scottyrocks]

The Maltese Falcon (the 1931 version). Recognizably the same as the 1941 version, but it definitely had a different flavor. I couldn't help but wonder what Huston's version would have looked like in the pre-Code days.

Yes, I caught most of that yesterday (I think). So different than the iconic 1941 version.

 

[Zombie_61]

Lady on a Train with Deanna Durban. A funny, rather silly film but I still enjoyed it.

We just watched it as well - funny, rather silly is spot on. Also, while not, it had a B-picture feel...

My wife and I watched that last night as well. Good performances in a not-so-good movie in my opinion.

Earlier this evening we watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) on TCM, and are currently watching It Came From Outer Space (1953). Of the two, I think the latter has aged better than the former, cheesy special effects and all.

 

[2jakes]

My favorite scene.

I’m a cameraman , mostly work from my TV news truck.

I can relate to this scene because many is the times I
have gotten lost at night.

But so far.... no UFOs!

Based on what I’ve seen...aliens from outer space would be a breath of fresh air!