It has been years since I have seen a movie.
- Sertorius
**
Yep there aren't many (any?) good ones coming out. And boy does TV suck. But that is good as I'm starting to read again. The TV can sure be hypnotic.
I'm building up my DVD collection now that I have one. With a good collection of John Wayne and Eastwood films I'll be set. In fact, I think I'll go finish up watching my favorite, 'The Searchers.' That is one great movie. But one that could not be made today:
*'They ain't white, anymore. They're Comanch''*
*'Debby's your blood kin.'
Ethan, 'Not anymore she's not.'
*
---
### Walter Yannis
*2002-03-20 15:31* | [User Profile](/od/user/57)
| **Quote** (George @ Mar. 11 2002,19:50) | Excellent couple'a films:
*The Business of Strangers* came to us through the Sundance Film Festival process. The female heroine and lead; reminded me of the what the protagonist in *The Sun Also Rises* already knew after having his pecker blown off, in World War I.
*Storytelling* a look at suburbia's mindlessly absurd agony and not so innocent, innocence.
Of these two films, recommended in that order.
 **
George!
Is it really you?
Walter
---
### Texas Dissident
*2003-01-09 20:52* | [User Profile](/od/user/1)
> *Originally posted by amundsen*@Mar 14 2002, 19:05
** One I recommend is Breaker Morant. ÃÂ It is an Australian flick. ÃÂ Quite good look at what empire building is all about. Especially to the colonials.
**
I just saw 'Breaker Morant' last night for the first time. That's a pretty dang good movie set in an interesting and absorbing historical setting. I had no idea Bryan Brown was one of the main actors.
Good movie.
---
### mwdallas
*2003-01-09 21:10* | [User Profile](/od/user/81)
I enjoyed Breaker Morant as well.
---
### Hereward
*2003-01-09 21:43* | [User Profile](/od/user/275)
It's a fine film. "We caught them and we shot them under rule .303!"
---
### il ragno
*2003-01-09 22:10* | [User Profile](/od/user/85)
Jeez. BREAKER'S an actor's dream-vehicle. So many indelible lines of dialogue (most of the best ones deivered by Woodward):
-There is an epitaph I'd like: Matthew 10:36.
-Matthew 10:36?
-"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
-Well, Peter... this is what comes of 'empire building.'
and, of course:
-Shoot straight, you bastards - don't make a mess of it!
Woodward - an aggressively mannered & theatrical performer - surprisingly turns in a great piece of work here (as he does as the doomed cop in THE WICKER MAN). Pity he had to pay the bills with that awful tv show a few years later; his outsized technique is too big and broad for tv and he came off as ridiculous. It's on the big screen where his style is most properly scaled.
---
### Texas Dissident
*2003-01-09 22:27* | [User Profile](/od/user/1)
Woodward was quite impressive in the title role. Given his character's lines of verse and classic literature quotes, he's manner and voice fit the bill perfectly.
What TV role did he go on to play? (Never mind, IR, I found it - The Equalizer! I used to like that show, but my parents never missed an episode. He must have put on about 50 pounds. I never recognized him.)
The Aussie actor playing the defense lawyer did a good job, too. I had to take a second glance at the prosecutor though. He could be a double of a younger, thinner Daniel Baldwin.
The shots of the rolling Vaal were quite nice. I love broad, open landscape scenes in movies. To me that instantly adds depth to any film.
---
### Leveller
*2003-01-09 22:37* | [User Profile](/od/user/61)
I recommend Steve Sailors movie reviews on UPI.com for current releases.
---
### N.B. Forrest
*2003-01-10 06:25* | [User Profile](/od/user/53)
I've yet to see *Breaker Morant*, and I've been wanting to for a long time. I went to the local movie rental joints and was appalled by the lack of quality DVDs - it seemed like nothing but cheap direct-to-video action & horror flicks. I know I could order whatever I want online, but I've never had a credit card, so I'm screwed at the moment.
I'd also like to have * Der Ewige Jude* & *Jud Suss*, but they're hard to find. Of course I've heard that Akira Kurosawa's *Seven Samurai* & *Ran* are all-time classics, too. Anybody have an opinion?
---
### Hereward
*2003-01-10 06:50* | [User Profile](/od/user/275)
Nathan Bedford -
*Seven Samurai* and *Ran* are as great as you've heard. Run, don't walk, to find and view them.
I saw parts of both *Ewige Jude* and *Jud Suss * on a special about Nazi propaganda. *Ewige Jude* apparently sent German audiences fleeing the theaters in dismay, and I can see why. It's hamfisted boilerplate on the Jews=Rats level; it might affirm some Slavic peasant in his prejudices, but wouldn't convince anyone else. *Jud Suss*, on the other hand, seemed a well-done, involving, and plausible drama. It's what propaganda should be. Germans who knew Jews, and knew they weren't really bipedal typhus germs, could look at the villlain of *Jus Suss* and say, "Yeah, they can be that way." It ends with the titular Semite on the gallows for the murder of a pure and innocent Aryan maiden, protesting all the while, "I'm just a poor Jew!"
---
### Leveller
*2003-01-10 20:50* | [User Profile](/od/user/61)
Add *Yojimbo* to the Kurosawa list. Its excellent.
---
### Howard Campbell, Jr.
*2003-01-11 05:33* | [User Profile](/od/user/244)
Another vote for *Ran* as one of the finest films ever made! I wonder why Shakespeare's *King Lear* (on which Ran is based) has not inspired more Western directors--hell, there have been some 60 versions of the overated *Hamlet*... ;)
---
### Buster
*2003-01-31 17:48* | [User Profile](/od/user/164)
Any of you fellas ever catch *Black Robe*? It's a Canadian production that came out in the early 90's. You can still see it on the Bravo channel or find it at Blockbuster.
It depicts the Jesuit missionaries to 17th century Quebec. (Yes, there were good Jesuits once upon a time). It's a notable film because Catholic priests are actually depicted as heroes. It also had an unusually fair presentation of the Indians, both savage and noble.
(FYI, the Indians of the region had a legend that the "Great Spirt" once spoke to their ancestors and told them that He would some day send them teachers. These teachers would be known by a sign. They would be wearing black robes. The Indians took the Jesuit cassock as the sign.)
---
### Hereward
*2003-01-31 21:42* | [User Profile](/od/user/275)
Buster -
I'm a big fan of *Black Robe,* and own my own copy. It may be **the** best movie about the white-indian conflict made in the last generation. It's certainly better by several orders of magnitude than the laughable *Dances With Wolves.*
---
### Maximillian
*2003-02-01 06:38* | [User Profile](/od/user/247)
Yes, Black Robe is an excellent and balanced depiction of the brutality and nobility of the Iriquois in that era. I also like Kurosawa, but I prefer Seven Samurai to Ran and Yojimbo. I'm also fascinated with the Zulu-themed movies. Zulu, Zulu Dawn, and Shaka Zulu. The first two deal with Rourke's Drift and Isandlwana, and Shaka Zulu is that big long tv series about the homicidal maniac ruler of the scariest people on earth. Man, that guy is scary looking. I wish they'd make one about the battle of Blood River, where a lone Boer laager fought off an entire Zulu army, with the loss of a mere four men if I recall correctly.
I would like to see Jud Suss and Leni Riefenstahl's work from that era. The only early German film I've seen is Metropolis, which despite its sort of socialist message is really stylish and holds up well for a silent movie.
---
### Buster
*2003-02-08 17:35* | [User Profile](/od/user/164)
I do think "Black Robe" was flawed right at the end.
First, the priest indicates that the heroic chief who died after refusing baptism (and then receiving the visitation of an angel) was eternally "condemned to darkness." Whereas in fact I think he could easily have been baptized by blood, if not by desire.
Second, the closing caption indicated that "having converted to Christianity," the Hurons were subsequently destroyed by the Iroqois. I think that is essentially blaming their destruction on their conversion. Unfortunate way to end a fine film.
bb
---
### Marcus Porcius Cato
*2003-02-08 21:02* | [User Profile](/od/user/295)
> **Add Yojimbo to the Kurosawa list. Its excellent.**
Yojimbo is a second rate "Fistful of Dollars". Sometimes the putative "ripoff" is (much) better than the thing allegedly being ripped off. On the other hand, I believe that "Seven Samurai" is clearly superior to "The Magnificent Seven", if only because of the preposterously hamfisted dialogue and the (light by today's standards) PC themes, especially Horst Bucholz' dalliance with that dusky latrina. Come to think of it, old Horst looks about as German as Henry Kissinger looks Scottish. I guess it all boils down to Gypsy (literally - Roma or Cigan to our slavic friends) Yul Brynner being no Clint Eastwood.
The Kurosawa films are quite good, but I never understood the fascination with Toshiro Buffoony. Every time I watch him, er, perform, I'm reminded of John Belushi in a kimona and bad need of a shave.
---
### N.B. Forrest
*2003-02-09 09:34* | [User Profile](/od/user/53)
**The first two deal with Rourke's Drift and Isandlwana, and Shaka Zulu is that big long tv series about the homicidal maniac ruler of the scariest people on earth. Man, that guy is scary looking.**
Ah yes, Henry Cele. I remember him well. He had a deep leopard-growl voice that was perfect for portraying the nigra version of Vlad Tepes.
As for Toshiro Mifune, I thought he was quite good with Lee Marvin in *Hell in the Pacific*.
---
### George
*2003-02-11 21:12* | [User Profile](/od/user/74)
"Ah yes, Henry Cele. I remember him well. He had a deep leopard-growl voice that was perfect for portraying the nigra version of Vlad Tepes." -N.B.
More re-confirmation (not that I needed any) as to why I've always, rarely with reservations, tended to notice myself in agreement with N.B. Forrest... I've removed sausages from Vlad's A-orta... however, I've advised we oughn't to get rid of his spots... unless we put a bell on him? :rolleyes:
--- |
|