Movie Classics that totally escape me

[PeroK]

Consider the source. I guess Raymond Chandler was 'popular'. Get past the 'nekkid ladies' and obvious plot twists, there is no substance. Chandler is a pale imitation of Jim Thompson and Dashiel Hammett.

Chandler pre-dates Thompson, so cannot be an imitation.

I prefer Chandler to Hammett. Funnily enough, for the reasons you gave, except that I found Hammett lacked substance. Marlowe seems to me at least a more complex character than Spade.

 

[pinball1970]

Peters friends 1992, pretentious, unfunny, rambling and plotless.

 

[Klystron]

Chandler pre-dates Thompson, so cannot be an imitation.

I prefer Chandler to Hammett. Funnily enough, for the reasons you gave, except that I found Hammett lacked substance. Marlowe seems to me at least a more complex character than Spade.

I confess to rarely reading old time 'detetctive' now mystery genre novels. I only meant to comment on source material as differentiating 'classic' movies with similar actors. I read Hammett when he was assigned by uni English teachers as a local San Francisco (Bay Area) author. In a related Film Studies class we visited scenes from Hammett's novels and films adapted from his work and also a street named for him.

I got interested in Thompson after seeing movies adapted from his novels such as "Farewell, My Lovely", the many versions of "The Getaway", "After Dark, My Sweet" and the brilliant film "The Grifters". After researching Thompson on wikipedia I see he is a post WWII author. I must have mixed him up with Depression-era writers, probably William Lindsay Gresham.

 

[newbiegirl]

I watched the big sleep twice and got bored/lost twice, it is 39 on rotten tomatoes.

The only thing I remember was how far apart Lauren Bacall ‘s eyes were, I could not decide whether she was unusually striking or just unusual.

pinball1970 lol she does have wide set eyes by the way do you remember which episode in season 6 of House with JS Bach cello piece thank you

 

[DennisN]

There is an ET rip off I want to see and also Water world

It was a long time ago I saw Waterworld, and I remember that...
(No story spoilers below, but I put my thoughts in a spoiler to not taint the view of someone who has not seen it)

Spoiler

...I had mixed feelings about it. It had quite good potential, a decent story and if I remember correctly there were some cool things in it. But it somehow failed to reach its full potential, but I don't remember why. Maybe there were too many silly things in it.

And to be blunt and short, it's sort of a Mad Max 2 on water. Which could have worked.

 

[DennisN]

I found another list on Rotten Tomatoes:

http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/100-best-classic-movies/

It included movies that weren't on the other list I posted.
Please note that the films are spread out on 5 different pages.
I didn't find any movie there I did not like, but most of them I have not seen.
Maybe there are movies on that list other PF:ers have opinions about, or gets a desire to see...

 

[DaveC426913]

http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/100-best-classic-movies/

I've only seen 39 of them.

It's a bit tough to be sure. Some are so iconic I might as well have seen them, but can't be sure if I have actually watched them titles to credits. Some may be so long ago that I don't remember. Some it's hard to tell if I've seen the original or one of a dozen remakes (eg. Frankenstein).

 

[pinball1970]

pinball1970 lol she does have wide set eyes by the way do you remember which episode in season 6 of House with JS Bach cello piece thank you

I think it's either season 6 or 7

Here is the scene so care if you want to watch from scratch. SPOILER!

 

[OCR]

. . .do you remember which episode in season 6 of House with JS Bach cello piece. . .

The episode was a two-part season premiere titled. . . Broken .

The cellist, "Silent Girl" was. . . Ana Lenchantin .
Lol. . . My wife and I were very dedicated viewers of House . . . .

.

 

[pinball1970]

The episode was a two-part season premiere titled. . . Broken .

The cellist, "Silent Girl" was. . . Ana Lenchantin .
Lol. . . My wife and I were very dedicated viewers of House . . . .

.

The best series ever, made completely by Hugh Laurie's character. Genius acting

 

[TeethWhitener]

I'll throw my hat in the ring and say that I just DID. NOT. GET. Rebel Without a Cause.

 

[pinball1970]

I'll throw my hat in the ring and say that I just DID. NOT. GET. Rebel Without a Cause.

I cannot remember the plot of that or the wild ones which means I drifted.

 

[Klystron]

I'll throw my hat in the ring and say that I just DID. NOT. GET. Rebel Without a Cause.

It has been many years but I can provide guidance based on reading, though not experience.

Typical teen coming-of-age stories often rely on the destructive potential of female sexual desire. Not saying I agree with this idea, but female sexual awakening -- even in a mature but otherwise naive female character -- usually portends early death, destruction and disruption among receptive male characters.

There are many examples of this idea in literature; from the writings of Saint Paul and Augustine, numerous myths and legends, to modern writers such as Samuel Delany. This concept is examined in his novel Dhalgren where female sexuality threatens to destroy the entire City encapsulated in the phrase, "The Sun has grown deadly.". Borrowing from a similar theme in his science fiction novel "Nova", the bi-sexual protagonist in Dhalgren awakens to the awful light of a gigantic sun representing the reproductive ability of his female partner Lanya and the sexual awakening of June Richards. In other words: female sexual freedom in fiction leads to death and destruction.

Now extend the sexual attraction of young lovers played by handsome James Dean and darkly winsome Natalie Wood with all the danger that relationship entails to include the dark beauty of Sal Mineo's character. The strong attraction -- on screen and off -- between Dean and Mineo causes a ruckus barely contained by the stilted dialog and sexual innuendo among the various characters. Ostensibly, Dean's character fights the gang leader for status and access to Wood but the symbology of the knife fights leading to the destructive car races portends a darkly different viewpoint of 'young love'.

For a semi-fictional view of young James Dean, homosexual politics and the female-male-male sexual coda in films, see Larry Kramer's books.

 

[pinball1970]

It has been many years but I can provide guidance based on reading, though not experience.

Typical teen coming-of-age stories often rely on the destructive potential of female sexual desire. Not saying I agree with this idea, but female sexual awakening -- even in a mature but otherwise naive female character -- usually portends early death, destruction and disruption among receptive male characters.

There are many examples of this idea in literature; from the writings of Saint Paul and Augustine, numerous myths and legends, to modern writers such as Samuel Delany. This concept is examined in his novel Dhalgren where female sexuality threatens to destroy the entire City encapsulated in the phrase, "The Sun has grown deadly.". Borrowing from a similar theme in his science fiction novel "Nova", the bi-sexual protagonist in Dhalgren awakens to the awful light of a gigantic sun representing the reproductive ability of his female partner Lanya and the sexual awakening of June Richards. In other words: female sexual freedom in fiction leads to death and destruction.

Now extend the sexual attraction of young lovers played by handsome James Dean and darkly winsome Natalie Wood with all the danger that relationship entails to include the dark beauty of Sal Mineo's character. The strong attraction -- on screen and off -- between Dean and Mineo causes a ruckus barely contained by the stilted dialog and sexual innuendo among the various characters. Ostensibly, Dean's character fights the gang leader for status and access to Wood but the symbology of the knife fights leading to the destructive car races portends a darkly different viewpoint of 'young love'.

For a semi-fictional view of young James Dean, homosexual politics and the female-male-male sexual coda in films, see Larry Kramer's books.

Very interesting, I don't think any of his films made an impact on me but I was a teenager when I saw them all.
The latent/subverted homosexuality element of 'Cat on a hot tin Roof'completely escaped me but I think the play is a lot different to the film (which was brilliant)

 

[DennisN]

I saw a couple of funny interviews with different actors today, and I happened to stumble upon this one, where Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie briefly, and a bit embarrassingly mention some classic movies they have or have not seen. The movies they mention have been mentioned in this thread, so I thought it could be fun to share it here. Their reactions to each other are pretty entertaining .

 

[pinball1970]

I saw a couple of funny interviews with different actors today, and I happened to stumble upon this one, where Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie briefly, and a bit embarrassingly mention some classic movies they have or have not seen. The movies they mention have been mentioned in this thread, so I thought it could be fun to share it here. Their reactions to each other are pretty entertaining .

Never seen any Star Wars!

Brilliant, I hated it! This is a physics forum and I admit I hated that film. Mum fell asleep in the cinema (which was packed)
I saw some of the end scene on Blue Peter (UK) before I saw it in the cinema and it was just as silly on the big screen.

Contrast that with Jaws (with mum again as it was class 'A' film) where every scene was etched on my mind.

The whole cinema screamed in parts, laughed in other and went eeerrrrruuuugh in others. Fantastic.

 

[DennisN]

Never seen any Star Wars!

Brilliant, I hated it!

You don't know...

 

[Klystron]

Very interesting, I don't think any of his films made an impact on me but I was a teenager when I saw them all.
The latent/subverted homosexuality element of 'Cat on a hot tin Roof'completely escaped me but I think the play is a lot different to the film (which was brilliant)

Likewise, except I saw "Rebel...", "Giant" and "East of Eden" as a child with my family explaining bits. "Rebel..." and "West Side Story" made me believe I would have to carry switch-blade knives, which were illegal at that time and place, when I reached teen age.

I did not see overt homosexual themes in movie version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". More like long time married couple constantly arguing and bickering; hot sexy wife complaining about lack of attention from ageing ex-jock husband. In modern parlance she claims he is a 'limp-****". Sure, the brother-in-law has a platonic crush on the ex-quarterback but Williams also gives him a constantly pregnant wife and numerous 'horrid little monsters'. What great acting in that flick.

I often do not get homosexual themes in movies; reason why I had to refer to authors like Delany and Kramer to understand the dynamic in "Rebel Without a Cause". Take the scene in "Big Sleep" when Bogie as Phillip Marlowe first enters the (porno) bookstore. He flips up his hat brim, lowers his shades and affects a feminine voice with a lisp then pretends to be a book merchant. Say what? Marlowe's act might be more convincing if he did not stare so hard at the (female) brunette book seller. I can only figure it was intended as humor for theater audiences of that time.

 

[pinball1970]

You don't know...

What I meant was...(you know what I meant...)

 

[pinball1970]

Likewise, except I saw "Rebel...", "Giant" and "East of Eden" as a child with my family explaining bits. "Rebel..." and "West Side Story" made me believe I would have to carry switch-blade knives, which were illegal at that time and place, when I reached teen age.

I did not see overt homosexual themes in movie version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". More like long time married couple constantly arguing and bickering; hot sexy wife complaining about lack of attention from ageing ex-jock husband. In modern parlance she claims he is a 'limp-****". Sure, the brother-in-law has a platonic crush on the ex-quarterback but Williams also gives him a constantly pregnant wife and numerous 'horrid little monsters'. What great acting in that flick.

I often do not get homosexual themes in movies; reason why I had to refer to authors like Delany and Kramer to understand the dynamic in "Rebel Without a Cause". Take the scene in "Big Sleep" when Bogie as Phillip Marlowe first enters the (porno) bookstore. He flips up his hat brim, lowers his shades and affects a feminine voice with a lisp then pretends to be a book merchant. Say what? Marlowe's act might be more convincing if he did not stare so hard at the (female) brunette book seller. I can only figure it was intended as humor for theater audiences of that time.

We probably did not pick up on because we were teenagers. I watched every carry on film with my mum from the 70s and thought every one was fantastic. Every double entendre went over my head.

Back to classics - Sparticus - Brilliant. The Richard Burton Tony Curtis scene also went over my head.
Anyone who does not like Sparticus does not deserve to have access to films.

 

[Klystron]

I liked Spartacus as a kid. Turns out the source material is pretty accurate for a flick. The many Spartacus spin-off series on Cinemax, if you have seen them, make me appreciate the movie more.

 

[DennisN]

I found another list (AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition) on which there were many more movies considered classics, and also a list of movies that were on the list in 1998. There were many I had seen which weren't on the other lists, and I liked most of them, except two, and here are some comments from me:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good: High Noon, West Side Story, MASH, Cabaret, Forrest Gump, Dances with Wolves, American Graffiti, Titanic, Fargo, Rocky, The Sixth Sense (the only M. Night Shyamalan movie I really like).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great: All the President's Men, The Godfather I & II, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Platoon, Pulp Fiction, Toy Story. And also The Fellowship of the Ring and Amadeus which I have mentioned before.

And here are some of the movies which I think are great and which I want to honour with comments and memorable scenes:

E.T.:
It was a long time ago I saw it, but I still remember many things, particularly the certain kind of scary but also very appealing atmosphere that Spielberg managed to build up around extraterrestrial encounters, which he also did in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Furthermore, I also think E.T. is a classic SF movie.
Memorable scene: The ball throwing scene, which is beautifully filmed.

Raiders of the Lost Ark:
It might be on my top 10 or 20. One of the best adventure movies ever, and with a great soundtrack. And it starts with ten or fifteen minutes of thrilling adventure. And then it just goes on.
Memorable scenes: Idol and whip negotiation and Belloq taunting Jones: 'Who knows? In a thousand years even you may be worth something.'

Saving Private Ryan:
A war classic. Amazingly filmed, great acting and very thrilling. The despairs of war are continuously portrayed in well-measured doses.
Memorable scene: Corporal Upham is reassigned to John Miller's group.

Schindler's List:
It might be on my top 10 or 20 list. It depicts human nature at its very best and very worst in the same movie. Many memorable scenes, e.g. the girl in red.

Star Wars: (sorry @pinball1970 )
It is on my top 10 SF movies list. As is The Empire Strikes Back, which I think is even better.
Memorable scene: The cantina negotiation with Solo (Ford), Ben (Guiness) and Luke (Hamill).

The Deer Hunter:
Very emotional. Memorable scene: The life sparing of the deer.

The Silence of the Lambs:
A darn good movie.
Memorable scene: Lecter (Hopkins) gets offended when a trainee (Foster) is sent to him.

The Shawshank Redemption:
Very, very good.
Memorable scene: The rooftop negotiation and beer drinking.

Unforgiven:
A quite unusual western. Memorable scene: "We all have it coming".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classics on the list that I did not enjoy:

A Clockwork Orange:
I didn't particularly enjoy it, but it was a long time ago I saw it.

Apocalypse Now:
This is another classic I personally didn't enjoy, though there are some very memorable scenes in it. For me, it was too messy/incongruent and too long, but it was a long time ago I saw it. With regards to the story, I would have liked to see a good movie adaptation of the original story of the novel Heart of Darkness. As far as I know, there hasn't been any good one done yet.

 

[Klystron]

<snip>
Classics on the list that I did not enjoy:

A Clockwork Orange:
I didn't particularly enjoy it, but it was a long time ago I saw it.

Apocalypse Now:
This is another classic I personally didn't enjoy, though there are some very memorable scenes in it. For me, it was too messy/incongruent and too long, but it was a long time ago I saw it. With regards to the story, I would have liked to see a good movie adaptation of the original novel Heart of Darkness. As far as I know, there hasn't been any good one done yet.

You do not mention where you saw these films. As an early adopter, hobbyist and fan of home theater, I still think both these flicks need wide screen and the best possible sound system to appreciate.

I was lucky to see a pre-release 'director's cut' of Clockwork 1971 at a new theater in San Francisco (I want to say the Lumiere but wiki has it opening in 1974). I also own the DVD: a pale comparison to the rich soundtrack I remember. I was already a Malcom McDowell fan from "if..." 1968 but Kubrick revived my interest in Beethoven. Both films were considered controversial even in SF. Clockwork marked the close of an era, the kitschy Korova Milk Bar overtaken by extreme violence and sadism as entertainment.

I understand the reaction to "Apocalypse, Now!" but if the original was too long, try the extended cut where the boat crew meets the helicopter Bunnies and later dines with Belgian ex-pats trying to preserve a lost life style. Making the film nearly killed Martin Sheen, alluded to by his character in "Wall Street"'s heart attack following his son's betrayal. Conrad's novels do not seem to translate directly to the screen but have surely spawned many interesting films.

I first watched Apocalypse at a new wide-screen luxury theater in San Jose a month after leaving the USAF. The visuals and sound stunned the audience. My favorite line is delivered by Fredrick Forrest "Chef":

'intense but distant rumble shakes the theater'​

Sheen: "What is that?"​

Forrest: "Arc Light."​

Sheen: "What?"​

Forrest (shouting over the rumble): "Arc Light! B-52 strike..."​

​

 

[Bystander]

novel Heart of Darkness. As far as I know, there hasn't been any good one done yet.

Apocalypse Now/Heart of Darkness, Col. Kurtz---John Voigt did that so much better in Anaconda, Eric Stoltz had the g

dines with Belgian ex-pats

Face it, Marlon Brando (and Martin Sheen) is/(are) even more over-rated an/(an) actor/(s) than Richard Burton.

Suspect you've said more than a mouthful here.
The Young Lions, curiously enough;

 

[pinball1970]

You do not mention where you saw these films. As an early adopter, hobbyist and fan of home theater, I still think both these flicks need wide screen and the best possible sound system to appreciate.

I was lucky to see a pre-release 'director's cut' of Clockwork 1971 at a new theater in San Francisco (I want to say the Lumiere but wiki has it opening in 1974). I also own the DVD: a pale comparison to the rich soundtrack I remember. I was already a Malcom McDowell fan from "if..." 1968 but Kubrick revived my interest in Beethoven. Both films were considered controversial even in SF. Clockwork marked the close of an era, the kitschy Korova Milk Bar overtaken by extreme violence and sadism as entertainment.

I understand the reaction to "Apocalypse, Now!" but if the original was too long, try the extended cut where the boat crew meets the helicopter Bunnies and later dines with Belgian ex-pats trying to preserve a lost life style. Making the film nearly killed Martin Sheen, alluded to by his character in "Wall Street"'s heart attack following his son's betrayal. Conrad's novels do not seem to translate directly to the screen but have surely spawned many interesting films.

I first watched Apocalypse at a new wide-screen luxury theater in San Jose a month after leaving the USAF. The visuals and sound stunned the audience. My favorite line is delivered by Fredrick Forrest "Chef":

'intense but distant rumble shakes the theater'​

Sheen: "What is that?"​

Forrest: "Arc Light."​

Sheen: "What?"​

Forrest (shouting over the rumble): "Arc Light! B-52 strike..."​

​

I watched most on video or on TV except for Jaws, Raiders of the Lost arc and the Disney stuff as a kid. I am glad cinema has had a revival its where people can get together and be entertained together. Kids and families.
Anyway Apocalypse now would have been a great one to see. I want to watch the scene you mentioned, Arc light.
The opening napalm scene with the Endby the Doors playing in the back ground is one of those rare cinema moments, a piece of art in itself.
I regard Terminator as a classic, interesting plot great characters and an Iconic performance from Arnold. That film had everything - I saw it on video too
Same with those other great films like Deer Hunter Silence of the lambs and Shaw shank. I think I missed out.
Forrest Gump Pulp Fiction and reservoir dogs I got to see at the cinema

Yes DennisN I got to see star Wars of course...

 

[Mark44]

Some it's hard to tell if I've seen the original or one of a dozen remakes (eg. Frankenstein).

Regarding Frankenstein as a particular example, it should be easy - was the monster played by Boris Karloff? If so, it was the original.

I remember watching all those old movies of that genre back in the late 50's on TV -- Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman (with Lon Chaney, Jr), and the Mummy (again with Karloff). There was a TV channel where I lived in So. Cal. that played these old horror flicks on Saturday nights. Incidentally, I ran into Lon Chaney, Jr. in a liquor store in San Juan Capistrano around 1966. Didn't pester him for an autograph, though.

 

[Klystron]

<snip>
Anyway Apocalypse now would have been a great one to see. I want to watch the scene you mentioned, Arc light.
The opening napalm science with the Endby the Doors playing in the back ground is one of those rare cinema moments, a piece of art in itself.
I regard Terminator as a classic, interesting plot great characters and an Iconic performance from Arnold. That film had everything - I saw it on video too

Let me clarify: I meant the "Arc Light" dialog was one of the most memorable lines in movies of that era.
I thoroughly agree that the opening scenes of Apocalypse with The Door's music merging with the beats of the helicopter rotors, napalm flames silhouetting the tree line, rivals the best opening scenes in cinema.

The original Terminator elevated science-fiction action movies to a new dramatic level. I would rave about Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance as a human-form robot, comparing his performance to silent film classics such as Fritz Lang's Metropolis. Terminator and Metropolis look great on video, also.

 

[DennisN]

You do not mention where you saw these films.

I saw both Apocalypse Now and a Clockwork Orange on VHS/TV.
Regarding those two, I can't say I hate them. I really don't. They are not terrible movies. From what I remember about Apocalypse Now, I had no problems with the basic story, the acting and the filming. The problem I had with it was the meandering (drughazed? ) storytelling which I didn't like.

And from what I remember about Clockwork Orange, it was just a too bleak and dystopian movie for me, even though I do enjoy many other dystopian stories. And I remember I did not enjoy the violence in it. But I guess the violent, bleak dystopian mood is kind of the point of the movie. When I come to think of it, there is interestingly enough a kind of running dystopian theme in quite a few of Kubrick's movies, and also a running theme of people being or going mad, e.g.:

Dr. Strangelove (which I like) ends in a dystopian way. And perhaps the movie could be argued being a bit dystopian, even though it is more a black comedy. And there are many mad people in it .

2001 has got dystopian elements in it, particularly the malfunctioning of the AI computer HAL.

The Shining (which I like) is not dystopian, it's horror. But it is about a man going completely mad.

Full Metal Jacket (which I like) is not dystopian, it's a war movie. But there is also a guy going completely mad in it, due to the bullying he had to endure. Very powerful and very memorable. I share the scene here, with a kind warning that it is a quite intense and terrifying scene.

Well, enough about the bleak Kubrick madness from me. When I looked at his filmography on Wikipedia, I remembered another one of his movies, Barry Lyndon. I really liked that movie. Furthermore, I saw Eyes Wide Shut on cinema, but I really did not like it at all. As a Kubrick fan I expected way more. I did not get that movie. At all. If someone reading this can tell me what the movie was about, I'd be happy .

Regarding the other movies, I've seen The Sixth Sense, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, the three first Star Wars movies and Saving Private Ryan in the cinema.

I still remember that I saw Star Wars with my father when I was a child, and he liked it very, very much too. He tried to sneak me into The Empire Strikes Back in the cinema too, but that movie was not allowed to be seen by people at my age in Sweden at that time (maybe because of the violence and darkness; there are some gory scenes in it), so we got busted at the entrance. I saw it in the cinema a couple of years later.

I also remember that I was quite taken by seeing Saving Private Ryan on the movie screen. It took a while to get my breath and senses back after the movie.

Apocalypse Now/Heart of Darkness, Col. Kurtz---John Voigt did that so much better in Anaconda,

Thanks, I missed that quote and I did not know about Anaconda. I know there is a movie adaptation of the original story with two good actors, Heart of Darkness (1993), but the movie was not very well received, so I haven't seen it.

I regard Terminator as a classic

Me too.

Yes DennisN I got to see star Wars of course...

I won't force you. But if you for some reason decide to give them another chance, try to see the first two original ones, and not the Lucas "Special Edition" ones, which I find annoyingly unnecessary. The Special Edition ones include extra needless scenes and extra needless, pathetic CGI additions which make the movies worse in my opinion.
But why am I saying "try" here? Haven't I learned a thing?
Do. Or do not. There is no try.

 

[Klystron]

Face it, Marlon Brando (and Martin Sheen) is/(are) even more over-rated an/(an) actor/(s) than Richard Burton.

I used to think that about Richard Burton until I saw "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" on TCM.

Burton's 'burgon' character squashed (literally) by shrewd cunning Elizabeth Taylor -- his actual real-life wife -- constantly analyzing, parsing each thought, enunciating each word as his voice caresses; contrasted with loud screechy over-sexed middle-aged under-appreciated over-educated green-eyed Liz Taylor, shown as they eviscerate the latest sacrificial victims to campus society.

Brando has to be appreciated by different standards. Brando is/was all about 'The Method'. BE the character. Filming "Mutiny on the Bounty" in Tahiti playing young Fletcher Christian affected Brando. In some ways he became the rebel leader -- marrying into a local family, filling his enormous appetites -- overgrowing the role in a fashion matched only by a few film actors. Gerard Depardieu , Jose Ferrer; who both played the great sorrowful Cyrano de Bergerac.

Brando was cast in Apocalypse by Coppola as bookend to their brilliant Godfather collaboration. In the original theatrical version Brando's body remains in shadow, only his voice engages the audience. Sheen now a grown man from "Bad Seed", on the surface too boyish and friendly for an assassin, shaken by his odd assignment even as the war totters to an ugly close. The Captain craves the uneven war even as his days on assignment end.

Arc Light strikes, a mixture of 'carpet bombing dumb munitions' coupled to precise electronic warfare (EW), revived in the 1970's as a favored negotiating tactic even as ground troops returned to the World. Gigantic B-52 bombers flew in cells in loose formation across the Pacific Ocean, high in the atmosphere following RF signals. Coded RF pulses at exact frequencies told Buff crews where to release. Arc Light.

 

[mathwonk]

did anyone else like Brando in One Eyed Jacks? Also staring of course the wonderful Katy Jurado, Karl Malden, Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson, Pina Pellicer, and the less well known but excellent Larry Duran, Sam Gilman, Miriam Colon, Margarita Cordova, and Rodolpho Acosta, as well as the unpleasant but very effective Tim Carey.

Many lines are memorable to me like:
"little lady's tryna to cheat me here",
"Harvey Johnson's going to be a real famous name around these parts",
"Dad, someone's coming...",
"If I didn't feel right about it, we'd be out there splattering each other all over the front yard",
"we don't hardly run into studs like you no more Dad",
"reasons? I got reasons",
"you probably could put six into me Bob ... before I put that One into you", ...

well apparently I have the whole movie memorized, so I will stop here. my apologies.

a little research reveals that for those of you youngsters who did not see the 1961 theater release, it was not available in good quality until 2016, so maybe it is not that well known today.

 

[DennisN]

By the way, we have talked about Bladerunner before in this thread, and I recently talked about dystopias, so I thought I would share a very, VERY funny short interview I saw recently with Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford about the Bladerunner sequel Bladerunner 2049. The lady who interviews them is so funny, and the two of them play along with it :

 

[pinball1970]

did anyone else like Brando in One Eyed Jacks? Also staring of course the wonderful Katy Jurado, Karl Malden, Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson, Pina Pellicer, and the less well known but excellent Larry Duran, Sam Gilman, Miriam Colon, Margarita Cordova, and Rodolpho Acosta, as well as the unpleasant but very effective Tim Carey.

Many lines are memorable to me like:
"little lady's tryna to cheat me here",
"Harvey Johnson's going to be a real famous name around these parts",
"Dad, someone's coming...",
"If I didn't feel right about it, we'd be out there splattering each other all over the front yard",
"we don't hardly run into studs like you no more Dad",
"reasons? I got reasons",
"you probably could put six into me Bob ... before I put that One into you", ...

well apparently I have the whole movie memorized, so I will stop here. my apologies.

a little research reveals that for those of you youngsters who did not see the 1961 theater release, it was not available in good quality until 2016, so maybe it is not that well known today.

They showed a load of Brando films on Channel 4 in the 80s. On the Water Front, Street car, Guys and Dolls, one eyed Jack's, they were great. I thought he was a fantastic actor.
I thought the film the longest day was pretty weak. A bit unbelievable.
There was one scene on Utah beach (I think) where two officers are on the beach talking, trying to be heard above the bombs and guns occasionally ducking, ridiculous.
First time I saw saving private Ryan I realized how absurd it's predecessor was.

 

[jdavis417]

Try "The Fountain" and "eXistenZ" (I dare you to try to like that last one)! ;)

 

[Klystron]

Try "The Fountain" and "eXistenZ" (I dare you to try to like that last one)! ;)

I rather like "eXistenZ" ("I have been trained by Masters!") where mind-numbing routine labor made possible by the implicit assumption of sex actually frees the mind to question the very nature of existence. Or possibly that fully immersive games would be cool but confusing.

I did not catch "The Fountain". Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[davenn]

My Fav's : Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Terminator,
Pulp Fiction, Alien ( had you jumping out of your seat so often) Dances with wolves,
Apocalypse Now ( fav line " I love the smell of napalm in the morning")

Very Good: American Graffiti, The Sixth Sense, Unforgiven ( I think is one of Clint Eastwood's best),
Field of Dreams ( another Kevin Costner - a tear jerker for me every time) ( yeah, I'm a big softie ),
One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - Jack Nicholson ( another tear jerker), All the President's Men
Star Wars - first 2 originals, Platoon, Saving Private Ryan

Didn't think much of Clockwork Orange - didn't really get it, maybe I was too young Dave