Recently viewed movie thread - Rental, Streaming, Theater etc (15 Viewers)

[Cold Dead Hands]

A Streetcar Named Desire - 10/10

Whoa, what a movie! It wasn't what I expected at all and I loved it.

Vivien Leigh is incredible (as is Brando, of course). It could have come across as too much of a stage performance or even campy/melodramatic, but it's controlled and amazing.

Blanche DuBois might be the most tragic character I've ever seen in a movie.​

It's almost a horror movie toward the end.

There's just nothing to criticize in this movie. It's perfect.

Look at how far you've come from hating any movie pre 1980. Try Arsenic and Old Lace. It's one of those movies that makes you feel like you're watching your grandparents and then you go OH DAMN!

I am not big on older movies, but I loved Arsenic and Old Lace. First saw it on AMC back when they only had older movies, 1992 or 93 maybe?

 

[KarmaPolice]

A Streetcar Named Desire - 10/10

Look at how far you've come from hating any movie pre 1980. Try Arsenic and Old Lace. It's one of those movies that makes you feel like you're watching your grandparents and then you go OH DAMN!

It was pre-'75, but the point is still made. I'm glad to be consistenly proven wrong on that.

I almost miss the old Andy, but glad you are enjoying the old ones. Seems like a lot of what you are posting are Hitchcock movies and other classics - have you gone the opposite way and are watching mostly older movies?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Get Hard:

I am 50/50 on Kevin Hart, and usually like all of what Will Ferrell touches, so despite my misgivings I decided to give it a try. It ended up being the festering turd of a movie that I thought it would be. I think I turned it off after about 1hour. I figure if I didn't laugh by then it wasn't happening. Basically just one long prison rape "joke". 2/10. Gets 1 extra point because Alison Brie looked ####### hot in it.

 

[cstu]

Seriously, on the continuum between terrifying and light-hearted, the zither is less scary than a kazoo.

Don't click if you're easily frightened.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I almost miss the old Andy, but glad you are enjoying the old ones. Seems like a lot of what you are posting are Hitchcock movies and other classics - have you gone the opposite way and are watching mostly older movies?

Mostly classics as many new films are just awful.

But recently I watched Ex Machina and Kingsman, both of which I liked.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Seriously, on the continuum between terrifying and light-hearted, the zither is less scary than a kazoo.

Don't click if you're easily frightened.

I want my mommy.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Sadly, it was the first time watching it all the way through. An unpopular opinion, but I don't think it holds up that well, and I really didn't like it all that much. There were some good gags and humor and I sometimes forget that Ford had some charisma in the old days. Those points were definitely offset by the the bad fist fights, bad looking f/x, and one note bad guys. I realize that nostalgia has to play into it a little when people revere this movie (and now I understand more how people watching 80s have the same reaction to movies that I love), but I don't think this is much better than an average Spielberg movie and doesn't hold up nearly as well as others from that era. 5/10

Psycho:

Still ####in' awesome. Every time I watch this I seem to focus on something different. I was really blown away by Perkins' performance and it has to be one of the best in a Hitchcock movie. Just brilliant with all his ticks and twiches. It usually is a battle between 3-4 movies for me when people ask what the best Hitchcock movie is. I love this one, but having watched a few of his movies recently, I think Psycho takes a slight tick with the psychologist taking so much time explaining everything to us at the end. Maybe that puts a movie like Rear Window slightly ahead? Still... 9/10

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Sadly, it was the first time watching it all the way through. An unpopular opinion, but I don't think it holds up that well, and I really didn't like it all that much. There were some good gags and humor and I sometimes forget that Ford had some charisma in the old days. Those points were definitely offset by the the bad fist fights, bad looking f/x, and one note bad guys. I realize that nostalgia has to play into it a little when people revere this movie (and now I understand more how people watching 80s have the same reaction to movies that I love), but I don't think this is much better than an average Spielberg movie and doesn't hold up nearly as well as others from that era. 5/10

Psycho:

Still ####in' awesome. Every time I watch this I seem to focus on something different. I was really blown away by Perkins' performance and it has to be one of the best in a Hitchcock movie. Just brilliant with all his ticks and twiches. It usually is a battle between 3-4 movies for me when people ask what the best Hitchcock movie is. I love this one, but having watched a few of his movies recently, I think Psycho takes a slight tick with the psychologist taking so much time explaining everything to us at the end. Maybe that puts a movie like Rear Window slightly ahead? Still... 9/10

I don't think it was much of a stretch for Perkins, tbh.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Sadly, it was the first time watching it all the way through. An unpopular opinion, but I don't think it holds up that well, and I really didn't like it all that much. There were some good gags and humor and I sometimes forget that Ford had some charisma in the old days. Those points were definitely offset by the the bad fist fights, bad looking f/x, and one note bad guys. I realize that nostalgia has to play into it a little when people revere this movie (and now I understand more how people watching 80s have the same reaction to movies that I love), but I don't think this is much better than an average Spielberg movie and doesn't hold up nearly as well as others from that era. 5/10

Psycho:

Still ####in' awesome. Every time I watch this I seem to focus on something different. I was really blown away by Perkins' performance and it has to be one of the best in a Hitchcock movie. Just brilliant with all his ticks and twiches. It usually is a battle between 3-4 movies for me when people ask what the best Hitchcock movie is. I love this one, but having watched a few of his movies recently, I think Psycho takes a slight tick with the psychologist taking so much time explaining everything to us at the end. Maybe that puts a movie like Rear Window slightly ahead? Still... 9/10

I rate your takes as a 1/10 and a 10/10.

 

[cstu]

Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Sadly, it was the first time watching it all the way through. An unpopular opinion, but I don't think it holds up that well, and I really didn't like it all that much. There were some good gags and humor and I sometimes forget that Ford had some charisma in the old days. Those points were definitely offset by the the bad fist fights, bad looking f/x, and one note bad guys. I realize that nostalgia has to play into it a little when people revere this movie (and now I understand more how people watching 80s have the same reaction to movies that I love), but I don't think this is much better than an average Spielberg movie and doesn't hold up nearly as well as others from that era. 5/10

Regarding the bolded, it was meant as an homage to serials of the 1930-40's.

 

[cstu]

Maze Runner 2 - 7/10

I liked this nearly as much as the first.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Sadly, it was the first time watching it all the way through. An unpopular opinion, but I don't think it holds up that well, and I really didn't like it all that much. There were some good gags and humor and I sometimes forget that Ford had some charisma in the old days. Those points were definitely offset by the the bad fist fights, bad looking f/x, and one note bad guys. I realize that nostalgia has to play into it a little when people revere this movie (and now I understand more how people watching 80s have the same reaction to movies that I love), but I don't think this is much better than an average Spielberg movie and doesn't hold up nearly as well as others from that era. 5/10

Regarding the bolded, it was meant as an homage to serials of the 1930-40's.

Fair enough - I guess I don't/won't enjoy those either, and I was thinking during the movie if that was intentional. I think that I forgave that more than the way outdated visuals and silly ending. I was reminded of rewatching Poltergeist a couple years ago and cringing about how badly I thought the movie held up.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

While watching the Yankees last night and a few other things I caught the first 10 minutes, hitting of the iceberg, chase through bottom of ship and ultiamte sinking of the ship in Titanic. Then capped it off with seing that ridiculous ending when the old chick dropped the diamond into the ocean for literally no good reason at all.

I still rate the movie as a 1/10. I hated this movie when it came out and still hate it. I want them to do a parody of it like Scary Movie and have someone punch several of these cast members including throwing the old chick into the ocean at the end instead of the diamond.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't get the phrase "doesn't hold up" when used as a criticism of 30+ year old effects versus modern ones.

There's no way that they can compare. It's like saying movies from the 50's don't hold up because they use too many matte paintings.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

While watching the Yankees last night and a few other things I caught the first 10 minutes, hitting of the iceberg, chase through bottom of ship and ultiamte sinking of the ship in Titanic. Then capped it off with seing that ridiculous ending when the old chick dropped the diamond into the ocean for literally no good reason at all.

I still rate the movie as a 1/10. I hated this movie when it came out and still hate it. I want them to do a parody of it like Scary Movie and have someone punch several of these cast members including throwing the old chick into the ocean at the end instead of the diamond.

You don't seem too big on symbolism and metaphor.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

While watching the Yankees last night and a few other things I caught the first 10 minutes, hitting of the iceberg, chase through bottom of ship and ultiamte sinking of the ship in Titanic. Then capped it off with seing that ridiculous ending when the old chick dropped the diamond into the ocean for literally no good reason at all.

I still rate the movie as a 1/10. I hated this movie when it came out and still hate it. I want them to do a parody of it like Scary Movie and have someone punch several of these cast members including throwing the old chick into the ocean at the end instead of the diamond.

You don't seem too big on symbolism and metaphor.

No I get what they were going for. Still sucked.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I don't get the phrase "doesn't hold up" when used as a criticism of 30+ year old effects versus modern ones.

There's no way that they can compare. It's like saying movies from the 50's don't hold up because they use too many matte paintings.

I don't compare visuals in movies of the 80s vs. today's movies, I compare them to movies of the same era. I just think that some hold up better or don't look as bad with the HD conversions. I am sure that some of it is my anti-CG stance, so movies that had to rely on more special effects probably look worse to me from the start.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't get the phrase "doesn't hold up" when used as a criticism of 30+ year old effects versus modern ones.

There's no way that they can compare. It's like saying movies from the 50's don't hold up because they use too many matte paintings.

I don't compare visuals in movies of the 80s vs. today's movies, I compare them to movies of the same era. I just think that some hold up better or don't look as bad with the HD conversions. I am sure that some of it is my anti-CG stance, so movies that had to rely on more special effects probably look worse to me from the start.

What about Raiders' effects didn't you like, though? Almost all of it is practical effect/matte work.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Maze Runner 2 - 7/10

I liked this nearly as much as the first.

good to hear, i liked the first one as well

 

[KarmaPolice]

Thinking about it more - I think every case has to do with effects like lightning/ghosts/spirits that they couldn't use practical effects for.

Off the top of my head, movies that hold up well that I have seen recently from that era: Alien, The Thing, E.T.

Movies that I have been surprised at how ####ty some of the stuff has looked: Poltergeist, Raiders, Ghostbusters

 

[KarmaPolice]

I don't get the phrase "doesn't hold up" when used as a criticism of 30+ year old effects versus modern ones.

There's no way that they can compare. It's like saying movies from the 50's don't hold up because they use too many matte paintings.

I don't compare visuals in movies of the 80s vs. today's movies, I compare them to movies of the same era. I just think that some hold up better or don't look as bad with the HD conversions. I am sure that some of it is my anti-CG stance, so movies that had to rely on more special effects probably look worse to me from the start.

What about Raiders' effects didn't you like, though? Almost all of it is practical effect/matte work.

The ending with the Ark opening looked horrible, as did stuff like the lightning when they were digging.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Thinking about it more - I think every case has to do with effects like lightning/ghosts/spirits that they couldn't use practical effects for.

Off the top of my head, movies that hold up well that I have seen recently from that era: Alien, The Thing, E.T.

Movies that I have been surprised at how ####ty some of the stuff has looked: Poltergeist, Raiders, Ghostbusters

The spirits in Raiders are a practical effect.

The spirit effects at the climax were achieved by shooting mannequins underwater in slow motion through a fuzzy lens to achieve an ethereal quality.

It would have been much worse/impossible if they tried to do it as a computer generated effect.

I get what you're saying though - effects like those and ones like are in Poltergeist/Raiders/Ghostbusters aren't my favorite and rely on some suspension of disbelief. But they are effects that really hadn't been tried up to that point and are at least sufficient to move the story along.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Thinking about it more - I think every case has to do with effects like lightning/ghosts/spirits that they couldn't use practical effects for.

Off the top of my head, movies that hold up well that I have seen recently from that era: Alien, The Thing, E.T.

Movies that I have been surprised at how ####ty some of the stuff has looked: Poltergeist, Raiders, Ghostbusters

The spirits in Raiders are a practical effect.

The spirit effects at the climax were achieved by shooting mannequins underwater in slow motion through a fuzzy lens to achieve an ethereal quality.

It would have been much worse/impossible if they tried to do it as a computer generated effect.

I get what you're saying though - effects like those and ones like are in Poltergeist/Raiders/Ghostbusters aren't my favorite and rely on some suspension of disbelief. But they are effects that really hadn't been tried up to that point and are at least sufficient to move the story along.

I am not going to pretend to know the ins and outs of how the effects were done or what is practical vs cg. (I assume that technically not much was cg at this point since the technology wasn't there yet). I think you are getting my drift on the types of effects that stick out in those movies as looking bad.

It was just the icing on the cake for me in Raiders, as I wasn't loving the movie up to that point, where in a movie like Ghostbusters I overlook them because I still have a blast with that movie.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't get how you don't like it, but then again...I'm the guy that's not all that wowed by The Godfather.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I don't get how you don't like it, but then again...I'm the guy that's not all that wowed by The Godfather.

Well that's because you have no soul, so we take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't get how you don't like it, but then again...I'm the guy that's not all that wowed by The Godfather.

Well that's because you have no soul, so we take it with a grain of salt.

Well that's true. I make up for it, though, by being mean-spirited and vindictive.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

 

[KarmaPolice]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

Do people just pretend the 4th doesn't exist?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Temple of Doom is worse than Crystal Skull.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

Do people just pretend the 4th doesn't exist?

I think I just did. Or mentally made it disappear. Either way, I try not to think about the 4th one.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

Temple of Doom is worse than Crystal Skull.

Even you know that is just crazy talk. You must admit, Temple is more tuned into kids. Has a kid sidekick, kid ruler, kid slaves. Basically it is a kids movie with Indy in it... so you can see why it appeals to my kids more.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Temple of Doom is worse than Crystal Skull.

Even you know that is just crazy talk. You must admit, Temple is more tuned into kids. Has a kid sidekick, kid ruler, kid slaves. Basically it is a kids movie with Indy in it... so you can see why it appeals to my kids more.

Except for the ripping out of hearts with bare hands part you mean, right?ToD is dumb AND ugly. KOTCS is just dumb.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

Temple of Doom is worse than Crystal Skull.

Even you know that is just crazy talk. You must admit, Temple is more tuned into kids. Has a kid sidekick, kid ruler, kid slaves. Basically it is a kids movie with Indy in it... so you can see why it appeals to my kids more.

Except for the ripping out of hearts with bare hands part you mean, right?ToD is dumb AND ugly. KOTCS is just dumb.

That doesn't happen on the TV version. KOTCS is infuriating. ToD is kids level dumb and fun. Does it help that I think Crusade tops them both?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Trying to decide between:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (the Peter Lorre version)

Topaz

Grapes of Wrath

Once Upon A Time In America

I'm thinking OUATIA, but it's a project...

 

[El Floppo]

Trying to decide between:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (the Peter Lorre version)

Topaz

Grapes of Wrath

Once Upon A Time In America

I'm thinking OUATIA, but it's a project...

I agree with your thinking.

Speaking of Lorre- have you seen "M"?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Trying to decide between:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (the Peter Lorre version)

Topaz

Grapes of Wrath

Once Upon A Time In America

I'm thinking OUATIA, but it's a project...

I agree with your thinking.

Speaking of Lorre- have you seen "M"?

Yes. "M" is very good.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Trying to decide between:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (the Peter Lorre version)

Topaz

Grapes of Wrath

Once Upon A Time In America

I'm thinking OUATIA, but it's a project...

OUATIA does take patience. It might be good to take an intermission in the middle.

But it does have the best soundtrack in the history of cinema.

 

[Chaka]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

Do people just pretend the 4th doesn't exist?

The 4th what?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Trying to decide between:

The Man Who Knew Too Much (the Peter Lorre version)

Topaz

Grapes of Wrath

Once Upon A Time In America

I'm thinking OUATIA, but it's a project...

I agree with your thinking.

Speaking of Lorre- have you seen "M"?

I haven't seen either, but would go for one of the last 2.

I think you have hit a lot of the best Hitchcock, and probably would suggest sprinkling his other ones every once in awhile as you are catching up on other classics that might have a higher chance of being great for you.

 

[El Floppo]

for some strange reason- I'm really in the mood to see Buckaroo Bonzai.

 

[Osaurus]

for some strange reason- I'm really in the mood to see Buckaroo Bonzai.

 

[johnadams]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

Do people just pretend the 4th doesn't exist?

The 4th what?

Can't think of the 4th without thinking about South Park.

 

[Chaka]

My kids like Temple of Doom better than Raiders. I am leaning that way too.

Okay, now that's just wrong.

Seriously.

Easily the worst of the three.

Do people just pretend the 4th doesn't exist?

The 4th what?

Can't think of the 4th without thinking about South Park.

There was a 4th South Park movie? I didn't even know there was a 2nd.

 

[belljr]

Indiana Jones didn't even need to be in the movie and it would have the same ending....

 

[Drifter]

Watched The Departed for the first time in quite a while. Enjoyed it but on re-watching it really struck me how badly Scorcese deals with the passage of time in this movie. It's either confusing or clumsy and obvious. Don't know why I didn't pick up on it before. Also, the female character is awful and shallow. In fact, most of the characters are pretty damn shallow. Even DiCaprio, who is the most developed character, seems more caricature than character at times. The movie is a fun watch but I definitely get the criticism that it wasn't Best Picture/Best Director worthy.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched The Departed for the first time in quite a while. Enjoyed it but on re-watching it really struck me how badly Scorcese deals with the passage of time in this movie. It's either confusing or clumsy and obvious. Don't know why I didn't pick up on it before. Also, the female character is awful and shallow. In fact, most of the characters are pretty damn shallow. Even DiCaprio, who is the most developed character, seems more caricature than character at times. The movie is a fun watch but I definitely get the criticism that it wasn't Best Picture/Best Director worthy.

I love this movie in every way, so I'll refrain from arguing with you

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Watched The Departed for the first time in quite a while. Enjoyed it but on re-watching it really struck me how badly Scorcese deals with the passage of time in this movie. It's either confusing or clumsy and obvious. Don't know why I didn't pick up on it before. Also, the female character is awful and shallow. In fact, most of the characters are pretty damn shallow. Even DiCaprio, who is the most developed character, seems more caricature than character at times. The movie is a fun watch but I definitely get the criticism that it wasn't Best Picture/Best Director worthy.

I love this movie in every way, so I'll refrain from arguing with you

Even the elevator scene at the end? That was the weak point for me.