The Return of What Film Have You Watched Recently

[DubipR]

Can't believe no one has started a new thread of this since the old one is locked up.
Might as well start it up...

I stayed up all evening and watch the Crosby & Hope "Road to" films on TCM

Road to Singapore
Road to Zanzibar
Road to Morocco
Road to Utopia
Road to Bali
Road to Hong Kong

[Ronald Bryan]

I kept looking for a new one that they would have started after the old one was closed.

This week:

π(pi) and 3 Extremes, I'm starting to go through all of my movies and watch them.

[jesse_custer]

3 Extremes is insane, especially Dumplings.

I watched Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke last night before falling asleep.

[EZMOHR]

Extract: A lot of people and critics raved about it, and a lot didn't. The ones that didn't were right. Some good things in it (for once, David Koechner was the strong part of something.) Mostly, just blah things. Everyone involved (yes even Affleck) have been better in better things. Starting to look like Judge should stay on TV.

[thespianphryne]

Let's international up this board right here. I've been watching some old Indian cinema.

This week the great depressive Guru Dutt trilogy:
Pyaasa, 1957 (The Thirsty Man)
Kaagaz Ke Phool, 1959 (Paper Flowers)
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, 1962 (King, Queen and Knave)

All of these movies were great commentaries on the state of Indian society and the relation between art and commerce. And some of the songs in these movie are also examples of the best poetry written by contemporary poets. Pyaasa, alone, has two of my favourite songs in the whole world.

[jesse_custer]

Let's international up this board right here. I've been watching some old Indian cinema.

This week the great depressive Guru Dutt trilogy:
Pyaasa, 1957 (The Thirsty Man)
Kaagaz Ke Phool, 1959 (Paper Flowers)
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, 1962 (King, Queen and Knave)

What makes these films stand out in particular? I've been wanting to get into more Indian cinema, particularly if it's nothing like Slumdog Millionaire (which I like because I have to).

Edit: Thanks!

[thespianphryne]

What makes these films stand out in particular? I've been wanting to get into more Indian cinema, particularly if it's nothing like Slumdog Millionaire (which I like because I have to).

Heh, I was editing while you posted. The thing I like about these three movies in particular is the fine balance they tread between fulfilling their role as popular entertainment while also pushing an idealist message of Socialism and national social reform. Since these movies are by default musicals, these movies also have literary gems written by some of India's finest poets. The Indian movie industry is perhaps one of the last places where the patronage system can still be said to be alive: they're not kust lyricists but real poets whose imagery can still make me break out in goose bumps and affect my mood for days.

Guru Dutt also worked with some of the finest cinematographers of the day who can be held up with any of the greats in the world. Another thing is that guys were working in an economy that meant they didn't always have access to the kind of technology they wanted at hand, which means they were innovating. And that also imbues these films with a certain dynamic energy that radiates off the film. And they're also little stylised portraits of a certain time and mindset in Indian society.

[jesse_custer]

Yep, definitely sounds like some films I would be interested in seeing. Most appreciated.

(And it looks like Pyaasa is cheap on Amazon!)

[DKR]

Predator and Aliens back to back on AMC.

[G. Wayne]

Thirst.

Definitely one of the more unique vampire movies I've ever seen.

[Hoss]

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - basically a low budget version of the Hangover filtered through Tucker Max's life. If you liked either the Hangover or Max's book, lower your expectations and you can have a good time with this film.

Surrogates - Eh - felt like a Fox show that is better than Dollhouse but not as good as Fringe. Too much is glossed over and not explored.

Hurt Locker - absolutely great tension and character. Has more in common with embedded war journalism than with narrative reliant war stories. Beautifully shot.

Up in the Air - well acted with great dialogue and plot. I found the book to be much less sentimental and much more scathing of corporate culture and ultimately more interesting. Still a very good film. And with Juno and Thank You for Smoking, Jason Reitman is proving to be a darned good director of Liberterian Dramedies.

[Jared]

Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Pretty good, but nothing really special. A lot like the first one, actual. The whole thing just feels so laid back that I never really got involved with the characters or the action.

[mgs]

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - basically a low budget version of the Hangover filtered through Tucker Max's life. If you liked either the Hangover or Max's book, lower your expectations and you can have a good time with this film.

Have no desire to see that, esp, after his interview on AoTS. Seemed like a total self absorbed douchebag, typical of today, that lives on priviledge and nothing important whatsoever. The people involved with him and his 'exploits' well, I have even lower opinions for them.

Me, recently seen;

Watchmen
Beer League (again)
Star Trek: Nemesis

[Hoss]

Have no desire to see that, esp, after his interview on AoTS. Seemed like a total self absorbed douchebag, typical of today, that lives on priviledge and nothing important whatsoever. The people involved with him and his 'exploits' well, I have even lower opinions for them.

Absolutely - Max is fairly worthless as a person. Extremely good heads up for folks.

[Hoss]

Whiteout - yeah, it really was that lifeless and flat.