First Blood is one of my favorite movies. The scenes in the cave and the ones where he is making weapons are simply great. These are long scenes without a single dialogue. And they capture the attention completely. Amazing.

Saw this for the first time last night. My first Hitchcock. I have this thing with old movies where I just feel as though they dont truly capture human emotion and feelings, they all just seem so fake to me. Im talking anything before the late 60's, I just dont feel like I can relate to it at all.

Well, despite my best attempts to feel different about this film, I didnt. I really enjoyed the music, but the story somewhat bored me, and I found the acting to be fairly average. Hitchcock did use some interesting lighting techniques, which they comment on in the making of documentary. I also liked the long sequence when Jimmy Stewart is first following Kim Novak, and its completely silent, no dialogue, for like 20 minutes.

I didnt quite understand where Hitchcock got the nickname "Master of Suspense" based on this film. There were a couple shocking moments, namely when Novak takes a header into the Bay or at the end when the shadowy nun scares Stewart in the bell tower, but as far as suspense, I didnt feel it.

Ultimately, this film just fell to the curse, as I explained earlier. Im still planning to see Psycho and North by Northwest, and Im really trying to appreciate Hitchcock, so maybe Ill like them better.

c'mon, MMTH, give Psycho a chance! Please, do it.

MMTH, your conscious effort to broaden your horizons is admirable; keep it up! And I can relate to you, somewhat, in being disappointed by Vertigo (1958). It wasn't my first Hitchcock film, but it was the first one where I was left afterwards thinking, "Is this supposed to be his best work?" I had found Foreign Correspondent (1940) and Psycho (1960) much more enjoyable films. But now, since going back to Vertigo (and I intend to do the same soon), I appreciate it more and more every time. It's his most complex film, in terms of narrative and character, I think.

In short: Vertigo may perhaps not be the best film to start off with Hitch. Try, for quicker, less "deep" films, the following: Foreign Correspondent (1940), Rope (1948), Rear Window (1954), North by Northwest (1959), or Psycho (1960).

Thanks,
Mick

Speaking of Hitchcock, last night I watched a corker.

Young and Innocent
1937, Hitchcock, GB (1st time)
A man wrongly accused of murder goes on the run with the chief inspector's daughter, in search of the real killer.
The opening scene captures its audience from the off; the climax is as enthralling as any a Hitchcock ending; inbetween, its fine wit and consistent performances mark it a thoroughly satisfying yarn.

Mick

High Tension ***

This was my 2nd time viewing this movie and as it didn't have the same affect and surprises as it did the first time around obviously, I still rather enjoyed it and it's one of the best horror movies I've seen in recent memory which is saying something with all the Japanese crap we're getting into with The Ring 2, The Grudge, Dark Water which I know aren't exaclty "horror" flicks but still suspensful. I thought the lighting really stood out to me because there was one scene where the lead character is sitting on a swing smoking and just the light that is lit from above her, or when her head pops out of the darkness is that is all we see of her (not the rest of her body). The makeup was also done very very well!

Vertigo is probably the greatest film ever made...by the greatest filmmaker of all time. Every other Hitchcok film pales in comparison to this masterpiece.

Hamlet
1996, Branagh, GB (1st time)
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, seeks to avenge his father's death.
An ambitious, sweeping work of only the utmost effort: Branagh's performance carries the whole piece, with many a famous face popping up all around him in cameos left right and centre. A fine achievement.

[Note: this was only ther 122-minute version; I expect to see the full-length, 232-minute version soon.]

Mick

Just watched Taxi Driver for the millionth time. That movie never gets old to me. There is absolutely nothing negative anybody could ever say about this film. Scorsese's best, and one of the greatest of all time.

Waiting **

The previews I think made it out to be funnier than it was but it had it's moments. I think if the viewer were a waiter/waitresses it might have been funnier to them as it was to my friend

I strongly recommend you watch The Lion In Winter starring Katherine Hepburn & Peter O'Toole. The movie also features Anthony Hopkins & Timothy Dalton in early movie roles. If you think the Corleone family is bad, just wait until you meet the Plantagenets!

Batman Begins ** 1/2

This was my 2nd time viewing this movie and I enjoyed it more so than I did in the theaters. Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman and Cillian Murphy were all very enjoyable. I liked Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne but not so much as Batman. He just didn't do it for me with the costume and his voice the second time around. This is a pretty good movie but it's not the "best comic book movie ever" as I've heard many people calling it. IMO it's grossly overrated

How convenient Irish, for I'll issue my complete re-analysis and rebuttal thoughts on BATMAN BEGINS by tuesday/wednesday next week for RRA'S VIDEO BIN REVIEW, which would mark the first new-release picture to have garnered useless spotlight out of my column.

Yes, and BATMAN BEGINS is actually the best comic book-adaptation motion picture ever, yet so is SIN CITY. How so? Stay tune for my column.

Well, Katie Holmes didn't have any sexy scenes last I remember Ron. :p

nor was Tarantino advertized as being a "Special Guest Director"...of course, I wonder if some folks would have called BATMAN BEGINS one of the greatest pictures ever if Tarantino himself only directed a single frame of it. I mean think about that for a moment.

Poor Katie Holmes, she carries the Demon Seed....wait, she isn't poor, forget her!

actually I heard she carries Tom Cruise's seed....

Yeah, I hated how they whored his name over a one scene direction. In any other case, their names have to be seen on IMDB by clicking the "more" tab in the director slot.

Actually, I believe it's underrated, it fell in the shadow of the overrated Sin City.

Both BATMAN BEGINS and SIN CITY rock, but for really different reasons, which you all will understand hopefully when I'll review both.

Anyway, looks like a certain film that involves a State full of Steers & Queers, a machine used to cut trees down, and a film director that got pushed around like a little girl with polio by Steven Spielberg on one film project...well, that certain picture will be my Halloween edition review of RRA'S CULT MOVIE REVIEW.

Finally, stay tune up to that ever-important day for Pagans and Loser Kids to Dress like Fools and prance around, for I'll issue a special recommendable "Fright List" of sorts full of movies for a mini-Halloween Film Marathon that doesn't involve the usual suspects of the Horror Genre, if you get my drift.

Citizen Kane is on Turner Classic Movies at 8 PM.

Anyone who hasn't seen it shouldn't miss it.

I can't believe it only took me a few hours to download Jean Luc Godard's Weekend from torrentspy.com. I'm so excited. I'm going to be watching it tomorrow night.

The Hole *

A cheesy & crappy "thriller" about a group of 4 prep school friends who decide to bail on their scheduled weekend field trip and hide in a long-abandoned bomb shelter, expecting to party and hang out. Unfortunately they get locked in but the "who" is the question now isn't it? The only highlight was that Keira Knightley was in it.

I strongly recommend you watch The Lion In Winter starring Katherine Hepburn & Peter O'Toole. The movie also features Anthony Hopkins & Timothy Dalton in early movie roles. If you think the Corleone family is bad, just wait until you meet the Plantagenets! [/b][/quote]Thanks for your recommendation, I'll try to get that movie. There are too many movies on my to-see-list though

I did the same a few weeks ago after Capo wrote about it but still couldn't get to see it.

Why? 'Cause she's teh hottest? :p

Barton Fink (1991)

aside the fact that I'd like anything from the Coen Bro's, it's safe to say that I really enjoyed this one. it's not in my personal top 20 list and it's faaar away from Fargo but it's still really good. I had never seen John Turturro like that but he did make the hell of a job. and I also liked John Goodman's acting even though he played the same role he always does - only on the outside. maybe that's why it works so well.

well, how do you movie buffs like this one?

Why? 'Cause she's teh hottest? :p [/b][/quote]Well yeah Having a pretty face on the screen can never hurt

The Best Years of Our Lives #37 on the AFI Top 100 List ** 1/2

A very good story about 3 GI's who return home after World War II and learn to readjust to civilian life. It seemed to run a little long but great performances by Dana Andrews and Harold Russell.

A lot. Engrossing satire turns, disturbing thriller, and allegory to Heaven and Hell; the narrative is delivered by the actors with that rare Coen wit, and the technical wizardry never fails. Glad you enjoyed it.

Mick

Bah. I didn't get a chance to watch Weekend last night. Tonight definitely though.

Crash (Haggis, 2005) ***

An excellent film about different people drifting in and out of each other's lives. This film touches upon the gray area of racism and really drives it home during this film. It showed alot of truth. Strong performances all around, one of the best of the year. The best?

I'll be watching Citizen Kane for the first time ever today, will post a review later on.