What movies have you seen recently?

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First time viewing the theatrical cut. It gave me a better idea of why so many critics trashed it. It's not terrible, but way too many important scenes were cut. One major subplot is completely gutted, only the shell remaining. As with several other Ridley Scott films, the director's cut is the only one to watch.

From what I understand, 'Robin Hood' originally began life as a script called 'Nottingham', which would have been based on, of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham and subverted the Robin Hood mythology from a whole different perspective. Those who read the original scripts said it was an excellent concept, but once Ridley Scott signed on he completely changed everything and the film ended up being another hum-drum retread of the Robin Hood fable. I've honestly heard more people talk about the 'Nottingham' that never was rather than the 'Robin Hood' which actually got made.

I joined the rest of America in not having seen 'Robin Hood', but I did see both cuts of 'Kingdom of Heaven' and agree the director's cut was the superior choice. I doubt any cut could fix the mess that was last year's 'Exodus', though.

I'm actually glad they didn't make Nottingham. Not only did Ridley Scott have no interest in it, Russell Crowe didn't like it because it was basically C.S.I. Sherwood Forest, which sounds terribly gimmicky and not too interesting. I also read an interview with one of the Nottingham screenwriters (Ethan Reiff) in which he went into more detail about the script, and it just confirmed my suspicion that they made the right decision in tossing it.

And the story they went with certainly isn't "another hum-drum retread of the Robin Hood fable." It's not really the traditional Robin Hood story at all, which is why I wish they had changed the title to something like Robin Hood: The Early Years or Robin Hood: The Beginning. It's a story about medieval England on the verge of civil war, with the dueling sides brought together to combat a French invasion by the man who becomes Robin Hood about sixty seconds before the credits roll. It has much more in common with Kingdom of Heaven than any other Robin Hood film I've seen.

Of course, you can see the film and make up your own mind, if you do decide to watch it at some point. Just make sure it's the director's cut you watch, and don't go into it expecting anything like the traditional Robin Hood story.

Nightcrawler

Mission Impossible - Rouge Nation

Very entertaining. I would see it again.

One of the previews was for 007 Spectre. During it, and Mission Impossible, I kept thinking "the next best thing to Archer."
Another preview was for the new Steve Jobs film. One scene has someone berating Steve for having so much money while his daughter Lisa and her mother live on welfare. He says "She looks just like you." and I flashed a picture in my brain of a little girl wearing a black turtleneck. That also reminded me of Archer.

Back to the point, really enjoyed Mission Impossible.

^^
I'll be on my way to see Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation as soon as I finish here on WP.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

V for Vendetta

War of the Worlds (2005)

Silver Linings Playbook

I've seen this movie several times. I wonder how many times I've typed that in this thread?

The Taking of Tiger Mountain

During the Chinese Civil War, the People's Liberation Army faces off against a bandit gang.

"Cold Mountain" - If you can hold-out 'til Renee Zellweger makes her entrance, the movie's not too bad----but, that's, like, 45 minutes! The movie's not that great----not enough character development, for one.

"The Fisher King" - YIKES----this movie was CRAZY!! There's just too much "wrong", with this movie!!

Hannibal.
The Hannibal Lecter movie is just pulp fun all the way threw for me.

Running Man

Dracula (1931)

Frankenstein (1931)

A piece of trivia about Frankenstein. I read this from Famous Monster of Filmland when I was a teenager. It was an interview with Mae Clarke. In it she spoke about the scene where the monster sneaks up behind her in her room before here character, Elisabeth, is to get married. Evidently she had problems with Boris in makeup, problems of fright. Boris told her, that when she turned around, he would wiggle his pinky finger so she would know it was him. So he wiggled his pinky, and she was able to do the take.

It is a nice story, and I never new if it is true, but for the first time I that after she turns and see him, there are three closeups, one of her, one of him, then back to her. It cuts back and Mae moves away from the door, to our left. The monster is by the door, his right hand not visible. Mae moves from center(ish) frame towards the camera. The monster follows, and you can see the fingers on his right hand flexing, and as she goes off camera (our right) his fingers are extended, except for his pinky finger. The scene starts at about 54 minutes into the film.

Unfortunately, you cannot see it in this animated gif.

Last edited by pcgoblin on 03 Aug 2015, 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.