i'm going to set the entire region of new england on fire if you don't shut the fuck up already

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Great documentary about Valentino's final show before retiring. I have no practical interest in fashion but I am fascinated with the world it creates for itself, the way it seems completely disengaged with anything outside. Watching the scenes here with Valentino talking to Karl Lagerfeld about what they represent is a view into a totally parallel universe. Great stuff, and perversely inspiring.

who was mirthful that 160 people died in a fire?

people who don't believe that circuses are a conspiracy against the state of conneticut

Am still lovin' this one even after all these years. Great, life-affirming stuff all round, really.

I don't dislike it and I prefer it to everything he did afterwards but it increasingly feels to me like the beginning of his decline rather than the end of his heyday.

been watching some andy milligan stuff thanks to mellysingsdoom, all 3 i've seen are pretty good movies

As much as I love "Hairspray", I think I'd have to agree with you there. Certainly everything he did afterwards - as fun as it can be at times - really isn't a patch on his earlier work at all.

I loved, loved "Under the Skin". I don't kow if the metaphors are THAT deep... really it was just Glazer paring down a sci-fi novel into its base form: alien sent to earth to destry/emulate human beings and ends up sympathizing and trying to be one. This has been the staple of sci-fi for years. The music... zombie-like performances and especially the rationalization of Johansson's "handlers" being these motorcycle meat heads was pretty amazing IMO. And Glazer has a perfect sense of mise-en-scene. Just watch the scene where the alien picks up one "unique" traveler, and the red blinking tail light just barely registers his face outside the van and we realize something is not right. Interesting this is basically the impetus that sort of forces Johansson's alien charachter to change her mind about her mission.

Conan the Barbarian if I recall right.

I wouldn't usually change my mind about seeing a film again that I didn't enjoy first time round, but after thinking on this (both from comments here and the other place), I'm going to give this one a second shot. Will most likely have to wait for the DVD release of course, but in typically Melly style, it looks like I've missed big chunks from my understanding on this one. See pop kids, this is what happens when you take on different viewpoints on film watching/appreciating.

And now let us renew normal service: the two I've seen most recently:

"The Return Of Godzilla" - this is the original Toho Studios version of what New World Cinema later re-cut as "Godzilla 1985". Have to say the New World Cinema version completely baffled me when I last saw it, and now I know why: they removed 16 minutes from the original, did a big re-cut of it, and shoe-horned in loads of new footage. No wonder this kinda irritated various film scribes at the time. The original hangs together much better, I reckon, and you can't beat the big feller when he hits his stride, that's for sure. If you're into Godzilla, this is a worthy entry into the canon.

And then this one:




An all monster hoe-down here, with all your favourites coming together to do their thing, whilst the protagonists take on a dastardly threat from outer space. I could've done with a bit more Godzilla etc business, but the final battle against King Ghidorah is mighty fine stuff indeed. And hey, this one has a happy ending for Godzilla and co too!

shamans of the blind country

ethnographic classic by micheal oppitz
bill burroughs is one of the narrators.
good spent 4 hours

The Exterminator

A real stone classic from a genuine golden age for stuff like this. Still holds up today and is if anything a better film than its video nasty era cult following gave it credit.

Uses its simplicity to reach a level of sophistication. A highly underrated original version if there ever was one.

Why did none of you watch The Running Man and then Adam & Paul on film 4 the other night and then post on here about it?? shame on you all.

You could've copied Adam & Paul and gone out and scored some dope for you and your friends and then died only for the one who survived to log in here and post about the experience. God! Rubbish!

this was pretty great but not the best. great story and characters and all and mifune is always awesome, but some scenes are just a bunch of yap yap yap yap yap and i couldn't wait to get to the fights--and the fights weren't that great either. but the story, itself, wow-- and what an ending.

The Prestige

Bit of a sleeper this. Very good but I suppose the subject matter put a lot of people of.



Gravity

Brilliant.

really? i make a point to never watch sandra bullock movies because i assume they're complete crap.

how very very wrong was i on this one?

Very very. Bullock is brilliant. I've never been a huge fan of her in the past but she doesn't put a foot wrong here. And hats off to both her and Clooney for doing a movie that would've been outside the comfort zone for 90% of A-listers. Very highly recommended. I've seen it both at the cinema and at home. It definitely benefits from a big screen but it's essentially a very human film and, if anything, that side comes across better on a small screen. Of course, visually, however you're watching it, it's absolutely beautiful.

Honestly, put whatever reservations you might have to one side and give it a go.