Movie Thread

[Tricycle Rider]

I haven't heard much from the Japanese side either, usually history classes spend a lot more time with the Eastern Front. Even a American war book that has chapters of each war has less about the Western front. Not counting movies or games almost always focus on Eastern front.

The only reason I even found out about Unit 731 was because there was some contentious discussion going on on a reddit forum I frequent about some individuals getting the traditional Japanese Rising Sun tattoo, and then one thing led to another while reading wiki, and here I was finding out about Unit 731. I never even heard about the Japanese side of the war in school besides maybe a bit about Pearl Harbor myself, btw.

The documentary link I had posted doesn't go too much into the actual gruesomeness of the experiments that had been performed, but, if you guys want to find out more there's plenty of much more graphic documentaries on youtube.

 

[movingtarget]

You never hear as much about the Japanese atrocities compared to the Nazis but there were plenty. I'm sure the Chinese and Koreans remember them and Allied prisoners.. The Russian invasion of Germany towards the end of the war also was not a fine time for humanity but of course the Allies were no white knights either even if they didn't have prison camps like the Japanese and Nazis. A lot of it from both sides were reprisals or paybacks as French collaborators found out when the war ended. People have good memories for bad behavior. But you also don't hear as much as you should about Germans and other Europeans that helped Jews during the war. There were many Schindlers and Wallanbergs. Amazingly some of the research from the Nazis and Japanese as appalling as it was was seen as valuable in the medical community later on. Ethics of course had nothing to do with it................

 

[movingtarget]

Watched Clint Eastwood's war movie double act from 2006. Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. The two films were shot back to back, one from the American perspective and one from the Japanese. Interestingly the Japanese one was the better film and more moving but it was also the more intimate and emotive movie. Away from the battlefield the first movie got a bit lost and couldn't maintain interest while the second one was a better take on the inhumanity of war and the evils of politics. As with all Eastwood movies the visuals were very good and the spare piano music score also worked well. Nice performances from Ryan Philippe in FOOF and Ken Watanabe as the Japanese commander in LFIJ.

 

[movingtarget]

Watched Mad Max ; Fury Road. Fans who love action movies but don't care about the story will probably lap it up. I thought it was a pretty empty experience save for the visuals and stunt work. I have to admit I'm not a fan of the the franchise and I only watched it because it was available.

For something that is the total opposite to that movie, I also watched Christine (2016) about an ambitious female reporter during the Nixon years who becomes mentally unstable. Superb performance by Rebecca Hall. The final five minutes were hard to watch.

 

[jmdirt]

Watched Mad Max ; Fury Road. Fans who love action movies but don't care about the story will probably lap it up. I thought it was a pretty empty experience save for the visuals and stunt work. I have to admit I'm not a fan of the the franchise and I only watched it because it was available.

For something that is the total opposite to that movie, I also watched Christine (2016) about an ambitious female reporter during the Nixon years who becomes mentally unstable. Superb performance by Rebecca Hall. The final five minutes were hard to watch.

I didn't love Fury Road either, but agree with you that there are some great visuals, and crazy chase scenes.

I watched Lara Croft Tomb Raider last night. While its pretty meh IMO, it doesn't play like its a 20 year old movie.

I'll look for Christine. Remember the '80s scary movie Christine?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Story was never the Mad Max series strong suit. Don't get to see him with his car a lot. There was rumors they would make more and a prequel of the driver of the truck, I forgot her name at the moment.

 

[jmdirt]

Story was never the Mad Max series strong suit. Don't get to see him with his car a lot. There was rumors they would make more and a prequel of the driver of the truck, I forgot her name at the moment.

That depends on the brain its going into! The first one was in the late '70s and I was 12 ish so it was a great story! I'm not sure if I saw 2 and 3?

 

[SHAD0W93]

That depends on the brain its going into! The first one was in the late '70s and I was 12 ish so it was a great story! I'm not sure if I saw 2 and 3?

First one definitely had the strongest story over Road Warrior, Thunderdome, and Fury Road. I enjoyed all 4 and own them. Hardy did a really good job replacing Gibson.

 

[movingtarget]

I didn't love Fury Road either, but agree with you that there are some great visuals, and crazy chase scenes.

I watched Lara Croft Tomb Raider last night. While its pretty meh IMO, it doesn't play like its a 20 year old movie.

I'll look for Christine. Remember the '80s scary movie Christine?

Yeah I remember the Stephen King movie Christine about the psycho car. Had some good moments.

 

[movingtarget]

Watched Janis : Little Girl Blue, a musical documentary about Janis Joplin. Some great interviews and archival material. Well worth seeing for anyone that enjoyed her music or the 60s music scene.

 

[Oldermanish]

Laurel Canyon is a 2 part mini-documentary about the 60's LA music scene. On Epix network for those that can get it. Very entertaining and nostalgic for those of us coming of age at that time.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Laurel Canyon is a 2 part mini-documentary about the 60's LA music scene. On Epix network for those that can get it. Very entertaining and nostalgic for those of us coming of age at that time.

Love that whole 60s music and vibe, unfortunately wasn't there for it, it was a bit before my time. But yeah, it must have been really something. Having said that...

Another thing that came totally before my time were these WWII Maunsell Sea Forts - have you guys (especially in England) heard about them or seen them? I somehow stumbled upon them while reading wiki, I had never heard about them before.

There appear to be very few quality documentaries about them being they're now very old and decrepit, and had been decommissioned many moons ago, but this doc at least gives you an idea of their purpose. I think these forts are just fascinating, and definitely rather ingeniously designed.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqDeJwYVMI

 

[movingtarget]

Love that whole 60s music and vibe, unfortunately wasn't there for it, it was a bit before my time. But yeah, it must have been really something. Having said that...

Another thing that came totally before my time were these WWII Maunsell Sea Forts - have you guys (especially in England) heard about them or seen them? I somehow stumbled upon them while reading wiki, I had never heard about them before.

There appear to be very few quality documentaries about them being they're now very old and decrepit, and had been decommissioned many moons ago, but this doc at least gives you an idea of their purpose. I think these forts are just fascinating, and definitely rather ingeniously designed.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqDeJwYVMI

Interesting doco on the sea forts. Have seen them before in other docos from the UK but didn't know the background info.

 

[movingtarget]

Watched Let Me In (2010) the Hollywood remake of the Swedish movie Let The Right One In (2008). As far as remakes go it's pretty good. Well acted but for me does not capture the atmosphere of the original. If you like offbeat horror movies you will probably like it. The book also was a good read.

 

[BlueRoads]

Has anyone seen Nurejew? (I haven't, yet.)

 

[movingtarget]

Has anyone seen Nurejew? (I haven't, yet.)

Haven't seen that one.

 

[BlueRoads]

Haven't seen that one.

I bought it and now I'm just not in the mood to watch it. I thought someone could tell me "watch it, it's amazing!" or something like that...

 

[jmdirt]

Laurel Canyon is a 2 part mini-documentary about the 60's LA music scene. On Epix network for those that can get it. Very entertaining and nostalgic for those of us coming of age at that time.

Here was my take:
"Echo in the Canyon
'65-67 Laurel Canyon music scene, hosted by Jakob Dylan.

Interesting, there could probably be at least three more made to cover the next few years and/or give greater depth for those few years. "

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Watched Let Me In (2010) the Hollywood remake of the Swedish movie Let The Right One In (2008). As far as remakes go it's pretty good. Well acted but for me does not capture the atmosphere of the original. If you like offbeat horror movies you will probably like it. The book also was a good read.

I just love the Swedish original, the atmosphere is appropriate spooky and somber. Haven't seen the remake though, just wasn't interested in yet another Hollywood remake.

On my end I watched The Last Emperor (1987) last night- it's been a few decades since I last saw this epic biographical drama, but being I'm much more familiar with Chinese-Japanese relations these days I understand it a lot more. It clocks in at over 2.5 hours, but even though the story gets progressively darker it goes by quickly.

The emperor himself is not a very sympathetic character being he's grossly privileged and spoiled rotten, and neither are actually any of the other characters except for maybe Peter O'Toole's. But the cinematography is just stunning (especially the first hour or so), I remember it was a big deal back then that a western movie was actually allowed to be filmed inside the Forbidden City by the Chinese government.

Anyhoo, for those interested in East Asian history and who have a few hours to spare I would definitely recommend this movie, it gives you a glimpse of what living under the Chinese dynasties and then living during the communist revolution must have been like. The movie covers quite a bit.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Has anyone seen Nurejew? (I haven't, yet.)

Are you talking about The White Crow (2018) directed by Ralph (he's so fine) Fiennes? If so I've seen it, can't remember much. But I wouldn't mind seeing it again, one tidbit I do recall is that the lead actor who played Nureyev did actually study ballet.

I now must see it again, if this is the movie you're talking about you should definitely watch it!

 

[BlueRoads]

Are you talking about The White Crow (2018) directed by Ralph (he's so fine) Fiennes? If so I've seen it, can't remember much. But I wouldn't mind seeing it again, one tidbit I do recall is that the lead actor who played Nureyev did actually study ballet.

I now must see it again, if this is the movie you're talking about you should definitely watch it!

That's the one I meant, thank you! That's what I needed...

 

[movingtarget]

I just love the Swedish original, the atmosphere is appropriate spooky and somber. Haven't seen the remake though, just wasn't interested in yet another Hollywood remake.

On my end I watched The Last Emperor (1987) last night- it's been a few decades since I last saw this epic biographical drama, but being I'm much more familiar with Chinese-Japanese relations these days I understand it a lot more. It clocks in at over 2.5 hours, but even though the story gets progressively darker it goes by quickly.

The emperor himself is not a very sympathetic character being he's grossly privileged and spoiled rotten, and neither are actually any of the other characters except for maybe Peter O'Toole's. But the cinematography is just stunning (especially the first hour or so), I remember it was a big deal back then that a western movie was actually allowed to be filmed inside the Forbidden City by the Chinese government.

Anyhoo, for those interested in East Asian history and who have a few hours to spare I would definitely recommend this movie, it gives you a glimpse of what living under the Chinese dynasties and then living during the communist revolution must have been like. The movie covers quite a bit.

I haven't seen many Bernardo Bertolucci movies including The Last Emperor. I did see The Last Tango In Paris which was very good with one of Marlon Brando's best performances. Too bad that the movie is notorious for the sex scene which the actress involved said was not rape or actual sex, and changed her mind a few times after that. The director Bertolucci denied it and said the sex was simulated but after Maria Schneider's book was released the controversy was reignited again in the Weinstein era. Whatever the truth of the scene, the movie was very good although a bit bleak for some probably. European art house fans will probably like it. Brando continued phoning in performances for huge salaries. Apart from this movie and Apocalypse Now he never seemed too interested in acting later in his career except for the money and he even admitted it. He was also good in the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeve even though he was paid a fortune for little screen time as Superman's father ! The Missouri Breaks was another great Brando performance from the mid 70s. An offbeat western. The film itself was nothing special but it was interesting seeing Nicholson and Brando in the same movie as Nicholson was a star on the rise at that time. But it's Brando's eccentric performance that the film will be remembered for. Will have to chase up The Last Emperor as I always meant to see it.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I haven't seen many Bernardo Bertolucci movies including The Last Emperor. I did see The Last Tango In Paris which was very good with one of Marlon Brando's best performances. Too bad that the movie is notorious for the sex scene which the actress involved said was not rape or actual sex, and changed her mind a few times after that. The director Bertolucci denied it and said the sex was simulated but after Maria Schneider's book was released the controversy was reignited again in the Weinstein era. Whatever the truth of the scene, the movie was very good although a bit bleak for some probably. European art house fans will probably like it. Brando continued phoning in performances for huge salaries. Apart from this movie and Apocalypse Now he never seemed too interested in acting later in his career except for the money and he even admitted it. He was also good in the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeve even though he was paid a fortune for little screen time as Superman's father ! The Missouri Breaks was another great Brando performance from the mid 70s. An offbeat western. The film itself was nothing special but it was interesting seeing Nicholson and Brando in the same movie as Nicholson was a star on the rise at that time. But it's Brando's eccentric performance that the film will be remembered for. Will have to chase up The Last Emperor as I always meant to see it.

I haven't seen The Last Tango in Paris, but because of the controversy alone I'll have to put it on my viewing list. And I hang my head in shame, but I have seen very few movies with Marlon Brando, except for maybe the Godfather, Sayonara, and Superman. (Haven't seen any of the huge ones with James Dean either, for that matter.) But speaking of famous actors of yesteryear...

I watched The Eagle Has Landed (1976) yesterday - oh dear, Midsomer Murders meets WWII. This was such a silly movie, but I did enjoy seeing Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Donald Pleasance, and Larry Hagman, and the scenery was lovely. And I think some of the WWII planes and vehicles might have actually been authentic (not an expert on that), and that's about all I have to say about that.

In order to cleanse my WWII palette I watched Patton (1970) again afterwards, this is one of my fave WWII movies. George C. Scott gave such a great performance as Patton. IRL Patton, Montgomery, and Rommel were all flawed as people, but there is no denying they were all brilliant tacticians and military men.

There are many intense battle scenes, I was getting a bit tired of them toward the end. But Patton was such an interesting character, and his pissing contest with Monty kept things light, so that is why I didn't mind sitting through nearly three hours of watching warfare.

 

[Oldermanish]

Oh wait! I've got a great guilty pleasure movie: Go!
Had a great soundtrack and many stars in the making. Seriously funny at times, too. Kind of a Tarantino plot line.

 

[movingtarget]

I haven't seen The Last Tango in Paris, but because of the controversy alone I'll have to put it on my viewing list. And I hang my head in shame, but I have seen very few movies with Marlon Brando, except for maybe the Godfather, Sayonara, and Superman. (Haven't seen any of the huge ones with James Dean either, for that matter.) But speaking of famous actors of yesteryear...

I watched The Eagle Has Landed (1976) yesterday - oh dear, Midsomer Murders meets WWII. This was such a silly movie, but I did enjoy seeing Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland, Donald Pleasance, and Larry Hagman, and the scenery was lovely. And I think some of the WWII planes and vehicles might have actually been authentic (not an expert on that), and that's about all I have to say about that.

In order to cleanse my WWII palette I watched Patton (1970) again afterwards, this is one of my fave WWII movies. George C. Scott gave such a great performance as Patton. IRL Patton, Montgomery, and Rommel were all flawed as people, but there is no denying they were all brilliant tacticians and military men.

There are many intense battle scenes, I was getting a bit tired of them toward the end. But Patton was such an interesting character, and his pissing contest with Monty kept things light, so that is why I didn't mind sitting through nearly three hours of watching warfare.

Yes The Eagle Has Landed has not dated well but when I saw it in the 70s I thought it was okay. Patton was a much better movie obviously. Scott and Brando had reputations for being notoriously difficult on set and would drive producers, directors and actors crazy with their antics and self indulgence although I never heard anyone deny their talent. They also both had deeply troubled personal lives as well it seems.