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| Author |
Message |
| 23 new of 241 responses total. |
mcnally
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response 219 of 241:
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Dec 7 01:29 UTC 1999 |
This response has been erased.
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mcnally
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response 220 of 241:
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Dec 7 01:29 UTC 1999 |
I bet her premiums cost an arm and a leg..
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goroke
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response 221 of 241:
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Dec 7 13:24 UTC 1999 |
I just caught the remake of "Psycho" on cable the other night. What a
complete waste of film stock.
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remmers
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response 222 of 241:
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Dec 7 15:59 UTC 1999 |
After watching the "Psycho" remake, my question was "Why?" The fact
that talented people were involved made the existence of this movie all
the more puzzling.
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mcnally
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response 223 of 241:
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Dec 7 16:59 UTC 1999 |
We're living in the 90's (for another three weeks, anyway..)
The studios are required to produce at least one high-profile
remake for every new idea they produce.. You don't think
anyone *wanted* to produce a version of Diabolique with Sharon
Stone instead of Simone Signoret, do you?
As far as "Psycho" goes, though, I chalk it up to the Gus van Sant
factor. I've met people who have claimed to enjoy his films but
they're obviously seeing different versions of them than I am..
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richard
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response 224 of 241:
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Dec 7 17:26 UTC 1999 |
The cool thing to do with Psycho is to rent the DVD of the original film
and the videotape of the remake, and play both at the same time, so you
can jump back and forth. Since the sequel is a scene for scene, shot
for shot remake, watching both at the same time is really eerie.
|
goose
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response 225 of 241:
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Dec 7 20:45 UTC 1999 |
Again, this begs the question: Why?
(of course my stock answer is that Hollywood has no original ideas left
and resorts to remakes to keep the myth floating)
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goroke
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response 226 of 241:
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Dec 7 21:22 UTC 1999 |
Yeah, Van Sant did a carbon copy of the Hitchcock masterpiece, but lost all
the wit and humor. Hitchcock's "Psycho" is actually a wickedly funny film.
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drewmike
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response 227 of 241:
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Dec 8 14:48 UTC 1999 |
This summer, I was briefly parked in Van Sant's space at the Universal lot.
Apparently, *that's* an exact duplicate of Hitchcock's, too.
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remmers
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response 228 of 241:
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Dec 8 22:28 UTC 1999 |
Except for "Psycho", I've mostly liked the Van Sant films I've seen:
"My Private Idaho", "To Die For", "Good Will Hunting".
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mcnally
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response 229 of 241:
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Dec 8 23:13 UTC 1999 |
I turned off "To Die For" about 2/3 of the way through, after waiting
in vain for it to go somewhere or start developing a point (that is,
a point other than "Look! Nicole Kidman!")
"Drugstore Cowboy" didn't do much for me, either (except for the sndtrk.)
And must I really dredge up "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"?
|
omni
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response 230 of 241:
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Dec 9 09:37 UTC 1999 |
The Seven Samurai is being shown on TCM at 7:30pm Dec 9. I strongly suggest
taping it, or watching it. I think it just might get the bad taste of that
terrible Psyco out of your mouth. It IS 4 hours long so be prepared for that
as well.
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omni
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response 231 of 241:
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Dec 10 18:05 UTC 1999 |
I made a mistak. It was on at 10:30pm.
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remmers
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response 232 of 241:
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Dec 12 23:31 UTC 1999 |
Yes, with "The Magnificent Seven" (Hollywood version of "Seven Samurai")
on just before.
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omni
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response 233 of 241:
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Dec 13 11:13 UTC 1999 |
I have also got wind that both the silent and the 1959 versions of Ben-Hur
will be shown as well as Gone With The Wind. Uncut. In one piece. I'm not sure
I'm worthy of such good programming. ;)
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richard
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response 234 of 241:
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Dec 18 21:50 UTC 1999 |
I got myself an early christmas present yesterday-- the new Criterion
Collection DVD of Jean Renoir's classic "La Grande Illusion" (which
actually translates into 'the Great Illusion', but everyone calls it
'Grand Illusion'. This is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies
ever made-- a story of people trying to maintain their humanity and decency
while caught up in the chaos of World War I. Renoir was the son of the
famous artist of the same name and became France's greatest film director
The DVD has a clip of Renoir introducing the film, saying that it summed
up his hopes for the world, and what he felt was the most dangerous threat
to our futures, the gradual loss of humanity in the modern world.
The film details the travails of prisoners of war in a german prison camp,
how they cope with being in prison, without losing their basic essential
decency. This DVD is the new uncut digitally remastered version made
directly from the original negative. Hitler's cronies saw the film as
propoganda and attempted to destroy all copies. For years until recently,
there were no uncut copies and scenes were missing. But, miraculously,
the original negative was smuggled out of Nazi occuppied France during
World War II by an american captain, and with the wonders of modern
technology this one of the greatest of all films has been beautifully
restored. One of the extras on the DVD is the story of Criterion's
restoration process, comparing chopped up and missing scenes from previous
issues with the uncut digital version offered here.
This also has the 1937 radio broadcast of Renoir accepting the 1937
Academy Award for Best Foriegn Film, and a radio interview with great
German director Eric Von Stroheim, who plays the German prison camp
commander here. And of course the trailer for the film and a whole bunch
of other stuff (the Criterion DVD's are loaded with more extras than most)
Suffice it to say that being able to own this DVD of "Grand Illusion" is
by itself worth the price of buying a DVD player. It is one of the prizes
of my movie collection.
GRAND ILLUSION (***** five stars, masterpiece...DVD version 5+ stars!)
|
remmers
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response 235 of 241:
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Dec 19 13:00 UTC 1999 |
I am somewhat less than patiently for the restored "Grand Illusion"
to make its way to an Ann Arbor theater.
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remmers
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response 236 of 241:
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Dec 19 13:16 UTC 1999 |
(Make that "I am waiting somewhat less than patiently...")
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richard
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response 237 of 241:
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Dec 19 22:27 UTC 1999 |
Criterion released the restored version in theaters back in august because
the early reviews of the new dvd were raves. Since the DVD is now out,
I think the theatrical run is probably done. French films with english
subtitles from the 30's arent the sort to have long theater runs.
They are now working on restoring Renoir's other classic, "Rules of the
Game"...I cant wait
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mrmat
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response 238 of 241:
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Dec 20 00:43 UTC 1999 |
Actor Desmond Llewellyn (sp?) who played the character Q in the James Bond
series was killed in a trafic accident today. He was 85. A sad loss.
|
remmers
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response 239 of 241:
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Dec 20 13:02 UTC 1999 |
Re resp:237 - On the other hand, Ann Arbor has a theater (the Michigan)
which commonly does short runs of foreign films and restorations, so
I'm puzzled why they haven't shown "Grand Illusion". Perhaps I should
ask them.
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mcnally
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response 240 of 241:
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Dec 20 16:00 UTC 1999 |
Maybe they figure that the last lingering shards of the Cinema Guild
hold a monopoly on campus-area showings of Renoir's films..
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goat
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response 241 of 241:
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Dec 21 16:57 UTC 1999 |
Grand Illusion played out here at the DIA last November. I was in awe. it
was well worth the wait. i recommend it to all the film watchers out there
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