A Bay of Blood - Mario Bava
Probably the most influential giallo on the slasher genre. The killing is cynical at best, none of that psychological nonsense. The cinematography is beautiful, second only to Blood and Black Lace.
The Saddest Music in the World - Guy Maddin
Maddin's most audience friendly work still has a lot of complexe poetic imagery. Maria De Medeiros' nymphmaniac and Isabella Rossellini's legless beer mogul are great characters.
"And the worms, they will climb
The rugged ladder of your spine"
Welcome to the Land of Shtis, a very hilarious French comedy. 11/10.
Here's the trailer, biloutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZpkYcIYlDc&feature=fvw
Fidler on the Roof ~ Topol and many others...some to go onto further stardom.
This musical is still great after all those years! I loved every minute of this fine film...definitely a 10/10!!!
Now, I need the soundtrack on CD!
"It's so mysterious, the land of tears."
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Fanboys
5/10
It had it's moments, and the ending was hilarious.
Naked except for a cigarette, you let your mind drift and forget your disbelief. Feel the chill down your back and the flutter of wings through dandelion fields, and forget the pull of gravity in a night without stars.
I lack eloquence and commitment to my arguments. They are half baked, and I will begin passionately, and then abandon them.
I am Legend with Will Smith. I actually like it and was slightly impressed by the philosophical/religious twist at the end. Overall, a good movie to rent on Netflicks for a Friday night when you feel like being brain dead and entertained.
Sweeney Todd ~ Tim Burton
....ahem....what can I say....quite different and very very bloody. It got to be laughable after awhile, because the blood to me, did look rather unreal. Let's just say it's a very dark movie and quite violent. I watched some interviews on the DVD and Burton intended it to be fashioned after the old horror film genre, but set to music; I did like that there was very little talking or dialogue; made it like a rock opera in some ways. I also thought that made the film flow well. It had it it's humorous parts too, like Helena Bohame Carter smashing the bugs in her pastry shop. That stuck me as funny. I am not big on old horror films at all personally, so I sort of found the blood bath a bit disgusting, but since they most times did look fake they didn't creep me out too much. I know it's a well done film; photographed really fine. I am positive I won't watch the film again. It's not too much to my taste, but I recognise the genius in the film and score. I can see why it was acclaimed. Johnny Depp's performance was excellent. So was Helena Bohame Carter. I like both stars emensely. If it wasn't for them in the film I would not have watched it. I can't bring myself to score this in terms of numbers. You have to see it for yourself. I thought, after all this time, I should get up my courage to watch it. I don't regret that, but it didn't really fit my own taste in musicals. The ending, I actually liked a lot. I found the film very tragic at that point.
Last edited by Janine; 06-26-2009 at 05:48 PM.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I was incredibly disappointed with Sweeney Todd. Most of my friends and I agree that Burton didn't live up to his old style and flair, and the expectations we had for him. The movie bored me, frankly, and the costuming and filmography just didn't do it for me... and the songs were AWFUL, but I don't like musicals in the first place, so what can we expect...Originally Posted by Janine
Naked except for a cigarette, you let your mind drift and forget your disbelief. Feel the chill down your back and the flutter of wings through dandelion fields, and forget the pull of gravity in a night without stars.
I lack eloquence and commitment to my arguments. They are half baked, and I will begin passionately, and then abandon them.
I didn't see the film, but I would imagine the songs would be the same as the Broadway musical. If I'm not mistaken, I think Sweeney Todd won Best Musical a few years ago.
I already knew the story, that was one reason Janine did not invite me to watch it with her. I'm very squeamish.
"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare." W.H. Davies
I also saw this movie and was quite disappoint at first, because I wasn't aware of the Broadway connection or the fact that it was a musical. Once Johnny started to sing, my heart melted. I couldn't believe he can sing too. Beside that fact, I think is was a well done film.
Yeah...you know, Becca, I think you are right. I think I was disappointed, also. I could not put my finger quite on the reason why, but today I was thinking about the fact, that the violence did not seem to phase me really; I didn't feel anything. It seemed a bit ridiculous, a man tenderly singing to his daugher as he is slitting throats and throwing the bodies casually down a trap door shoot. I thought Johnny Depp's voice was better than I imagined; it was ok in some scenes and better in others though. He did do an amirable job of the singing. Personally, I thought Helena Bohame Carter's voice was just ok; it was a little weak at times, but did not distract. I think the excess of all that blood made the film feel ridiculous to me. Sometimes less is more. I thought this film went 'over- the-top' and so it didn't feel real in emotional impact and that disappointed me. The scene where Sweeney finally kills the judge was awful. I expected it to be way better. It should have really built up to that scene. That was his showdown with evil.I was incredibly disappointed with Sweeney Todd. Most of my friends and I agree that Burton didn't live up to his old style and flair, and the expectations we had for him. The movie bored me, frankly, and the costuming and filmography just didn't do it for me... and the songs were AWFUL, but I don't like musicals in the first place, so what can we expect...
I expected to get a lot of slack from everyone, about not truly liking this film; I am surprised to hear the contrary.
Could someone also tell me something? Why did Helena take that cute young boy (by the way, I thought his voice the best of all) down in the basement to run the furnace and the meat grinder? Wouldn't he see the bodies dropping on the floor as well, and give the whole thing away? I was confused about that part. I also was confused as to why there was so much blood exiting a neck and then shortly after only a small area of blood was detected on Sweeney Todd's sleeve. Also, he cleaned up the bloody floor pretty fast, if you ask me. Another thing I wondered about. is why no one came under suspicion with the law. People went into the shop and never came out; lots of people/lots of victims. Weren't they missed in the real world? I guess the whole thing is not suppose to be anyway realistic. It certainly wasn't, that's for sure. I wasn't so bored but I thought some parts were just plain silly.
Quote by Lynne
I did show you the film last night. I definitely know that you're squeamish; you winced when I pulled it out of my library bag; you definitely could not stomach this film; so never ever watch this film unless you get a lot braver about blood. Lynne, actually on the Extra Features it was brought out that originally, the play was staged in London and it was not liked at all. Then later, it went on to become popular. I think it did win awards as a stage play. The music was fine. I would not call it the most outstanding music from a musical, but maybe one has to really love Sondheim's work. I have some songs I like and some not at all. This was a mix for me.I didn't see the film, but I would imagine the songs would be the same as the Broadway musical. If I'm not mistaken, I think Sweeney Todd won Best Musical a few years ago.
I already knew the story, that was one reason Janine did not invite me to watch it with her. I'm very squeamish.
Oh a happier note, I got "The Strange Case of Benjamin Button" from my library to watch this weekend.
Quote by Jersea
Jersea, I liked JD's singing fine and at times engaging, I agree. I didn't have any qualms about any of the singing, the set design, the artistry of the film. I can't dispute that it was well done. I think it was just the whole concept of this film, that I wasn't really fully able to get into. The movie flows well, from scene to scene, and it went by pretty quickly, as well. I didn't feel so much bored as appalled at the violence, or the way it was presented, because it got so exessive. Like I said before, "less can be more" sometimes. I think showing less would have made it more interesting and created more tension and more intrigue....it actually would have made it more horrifying. I think Burton chose to show too much of the horror. He needs to watch some Hitchcock and see how 'suggestion' can be more effective. Of course, all this is just my own personal opinion.I also saw this movie and was quite disappoint at first, because I wasn't aware of the Broadway connection or the fact that it was a musical. Once Johnny started to sing, my heart melted. I couldn't believe he can sing too. Beside that fact, I think is was a well done film.
Last edited by Janine; 06-26-2009 at 06:22 PM.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I didn't care for Sweeney Todd at all. Unless Burton was going for the audience to be sort of desensitized by the all the gore and blood...he over did it I think. He may very well have wanted the audience to realize the grotesqueness of being desensitized to the murder and slice and dicing and eating people...which only made me nauseous at the thought afterwards.
"So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss, and my heart turns violently inside of my chest, I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about, the way....He loves us..."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5xXowT4eJjY
I saw Angela's Ashes last night. I read the book a few years ago and, despite the subject matter, I thought it was one of the funniest books I ever read. I liked the movie, but the humor didn't come across as well.
medusa_woman, I haven't read the book, but I know others who have and said it's very, very sad. I loved the movie. It also was sad, but you are right - there were some very funny moments in it. I loved when the little boy had mistaken one biblical line and now I can't recall exactly what he said; but it was hilarious. I think it was something about the holy ghost. Did he said holy toast? I am doubtful that was it; been awhile since I saw it last. I have seen it a couple of times. It's always good. I just know the line was just so cute. The movie also was so well acted. Who can beat the actors who played the parents? They were great. Emily Watson has long been a favorite of mine. Carlyle is a fantastic actor and he played the drunken father incredibly well. I think most people would identify him with "Train Spotting". I found his performance in "End of All Wars" totally dynamic and heartbreaking, too. It's a great movie, also.
Grace, I totally agree with what you wrote. I had to actually get the DVD out of my house and back to the library today. I felt like the DVD itself was covered in blood. I felt disgusted just looking at the jacket. I admit it certainly was not my type of movie. I am beginning to think I like old films best. Lately I have been so disappointed in films from last year. I am going to watch the 'Benjamin Button' film now and will let you all know what I think later on.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I tried to watch "Unforgiven" last night but I wasn't able to finish it 'cause it was boring...
I saw "Transformers 2". What can I say...more transformers, more explosions, more stupidity. I'd expected something like the first film, but nevertheless facepalmed. Michael Bay, stay on course! For the greatest justice and brave US army!
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