What was the last movie you saw?

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I recall seeing May when it was first released on DVD, and overall I thought it was quite well done, and very disturbing, yet at times quite touching. However, there was something about the film -- what specifically it was, I do not recall -- which struck me as rather jarring and (though this may sound odd in context) mean-spirited; unnecessarily cruel in approach. Still, I would recommend it for those looking for something a little different in the field....

You did have to feel for the title character. She was a rather disturbed and misunderstood character that tried hard to fit in, though was incapable due to her underlying mental issues. I have to agree, it is quite disjointed at times and there are some disturbing moments. But if someone enjoys off kilter films, they can't go wrong with this.

[j. d. worthington]

Yes, and Angela Bettis' performance is excellent, as she manages to skillfully walk a very fine line between the repulsive and disturbing aspects of the character and those with which we can so easily relate.

[Rangerton]

Watched unstoppable last night. It was ok, but wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.

It's meant to be based on a real event. Anyone know the true story of this?

[JunkMonkey]

In the Cut (2003) I was driven to watch In the Cut by perversity (it's listed in my current non-fiction read, 101 Movies to Avoid: The Most Overrated Films Ever) and it was the first of many films mentioned in the book that I came across in my To Be Watched Pile. (Part of me really wants to alphabetize the 200 or so VHS tapes and DVDs in there but that way madness lies. I know it. But it's still tempting.) So, In the Cut. Crap film. Meg Ryan shows us her bits, and everyone who has ever seen ANY thriller movie in which the investigating cop has an affair with the heroine can chant-along-a-plot from there on in. Honestly, it's like the opening credits of Hanna-Barbera's Hong Kong Phooey*

"Who is this psycho-serial killer? The hunky detective? NO!... Cornelius Webb the Gacy obsessed student? No way man!... Detective Ritchie Rodriguez the mild mannered hunky detective's partner? - could be!..."

'Could be' my arse. It's ALWAYS the detective's partner. (That was a spoiler by the way.) Any flimsy credibility the plot may have started out with disappeared around the 45 minute mark when, after having hot and rumpy sex (Meg Ryan's bits, people!), our heroine and our detective have a little confessional session in which he tells her about how he lost his cherry, and she mentions the fact that he had seen her before (as he suspected), she watched him getting a blow job at the place and time where the killer's last victim was last seen. On hearing this the killer obsessed 'tec half-heartedly asks her a couple of questions, and after establishing that she has not only seen the victim - and almost certainly the killer - on the night of the murder, looks at his watch says 'I gotta go' and leaves. No reason. He just leaves. He leaves because the plot would have fallen on its stupid fat face if he had stayed in the room another second. One more question and the detective would have realised the only other person with the small (but distinctive enough to be seen across a room too dark to make out people's faces) tattoo on the inside of their wrist was... da da daaaa!!!!! His Partner!

At which point the movie would be over and we wouldn't be able to spend the next hour looking at Meg Ryan's bits, while wondering just how and why she would even consider having sex with the piece of s**t, emotionally stunted, moron detective (in order to make this plot point even vaguely plausible the script has to drag in Kevin Bacon to broad-brushstoke in a previous lover as a total twitching, stalking, cartoon fruitcake. It really is as ham-fisted as that.)

And talking of ham-fisted, the only other male (ie potential killer) with talking words in this show is one of Ryan's character's students. He's obsessed by the serial killer John Wayne Gacy and turns in his assignments liberally splattered with red, blood-like fluids. (I don't know why he didn't just walk around with a red painted kipper nailed to his forehead.) And why is every male in this show desperate to get in dowdy frump English teacher's knickers in the first place? Apart from being there to feed the films screamingly obvious misandrist 'feminist' agenda item that all men are sexual predators and would shag a fridge if it was warm and didn't move too fast .

I suspect - though I have no evidence - that the only reason this film got made (and the only reason people went to see it) was because Meg Ryan wanted to get away from her wholesome Nice Girl Next Door image and flashing her pubes in a serial killer flick seemed the way to go.

As career moves go it seems to have been a real f*** up.

[Metryq]

Batman (1966)

This one took me back to my childhood. As slick as the spate of "recent" Batman movies are, nothing tops the campy stylings of the 1960s TV series and this spin-off movie. (It was filmed after the first season episodes, but premiered the series in Europe.) The cast is superb.

My favorite scene is when Batman is running all over a busy waterfront trying to dispose of a very cartoony, cannonball-style bomb with a hissing fuse. They really ham it up with nuns, baby carriages, lovers cruising by in rowboats, and a raft of ducklings. Today's audiences wouldn't understand the conservative humor.

[soulsinging]

Originally Posted by Metryq

Batman (1966)

This one took me back to my childhood. As slick as the spate of "recent" Batman movies are, nothing tops the campy stylings of the 1960s TV series and this spin-off movie. (It was filmed after the first season episodes, but premiered the series in Europe.) The cast is superb.

My favorite scene is when Batman is running all over a busy waterfront trying to dispose of a very cartoony, cannonball-style bomb with a hissing fuse. They really ham it up with nuns, baby carriages, lovers cruising by in rowboats, and a raft of ducklings. Today's audiences wouldn't understand the conservative humor.

Loved this scene!

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."

[Foxbat]

I love the 60s Batman. Not only was it hilarious but it often had the delectable Julie Newmar as the best ever Cat Woman (although in the movie, it was Lee Merriweather.....another stunner)

I've recently been watching Delicatessen - one of my all-time favourite movies.

[JunkMonkey]

Damn! I now have to go watch Batman again. It's a terrifyingly brilliant film. I just love that shot with Alfred driving the Batmobile - wearing a mask with his glasses on top.

Apart from anything else I want to see if the figures reflected in the window of the still up there ^ are crew members, onlookers, or part of the mis en scene. If they're onlookers or crew then Metryq has discovered an as yet unreported goof for this film.

Remember the date folks, this may be the first time anyone (outside of France) has ever used the overly pretentious 'mis en scene' in connection with the 1966 Batman film. Be humble; this is history we are making here!

[Metryq]

JunkMonkey, I had to look up "Mise en scène." Wikipedia features a production still from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The first time I saw that film, I remember thinking, "So this is where Bugs Bunny got his set design!"

In film and television production classes we were taught that scenes shot without natural sound were scripted and slated "MOS." The inevitable question "why MOS rather than WOS?" was asked. The prof then explained that there were many German directors in Hollywood when talkies arrived. It became a running joke with stage crew to affect a comical German accent and cry, "Ve shoot zis scene mit-out sound!"

@Foxbat, my favorite "food film" is Tampopo.

[Interference]

I LOLled

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by soulsinging

Loved this scene!

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."

Yep - the scene was hilarious enough but I completely lost it when West delivered that line.

[JunkMonkey]

For Metryq,

http://gosh-wow-productions.blogspot...4_archive.html

[Interference]

The power of the press?

I just had to watch it again and laughed, in a good way, all the way through.

One thing, though: Wouldn't Frank Gorshin have made the most perfect Joker? He could even have done quite a spectacular "straight" version, had the times been ready for such a thing.

[Metryq]

JunkMonkey, don't start muscling in on Ursa Major's territory! That was groan-worthy, and it made me chuckle. Mr. Novick, the high school literature teacher who introduced me to so many old films (including Caligari), might have smiled at that, at the risk of cracking his face.

Originally Posted by Interference

Wouldn't Frank Gorshin have made the most perfect Joker? He could even have done quite a spectacular "straight" version, had the times been ready for such a thing.

"Straight," as in the "evil clown" trope that is getting a little thread-bare in Hollywood? Gorshin could have played the character any way the director wanted it—the entire cast was excellent. But I hear his trademark Riddler laugh whenever I see him in some other production.

(When I first picked up a metal cutting tool called a "nibbler," I paused and thought how that sounded like a Batman bad guy. "Holy corn on the cob, Batman!")

[Quokka]

Batman (1966) The movie that also gave us the Shark Repellent Batspray... handily stored in the Bat Helicopter right next to the Barracuda, Whale and Manta Ray Repellent Batsprays... Ready for whenever you need to explode foam sealife .

The reunion/bio movie Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (2003) is suprisngly good as well, some good laughs and behind the scenes trivia for fans of the 60s series.