tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post6767047896238914191..comments2024-03-28T22:21:46.973-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: #IWSG: Mad About MoviesArlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-79876077887350893742014-06-15T10:32:14.981-07:002014-06-15T10:32:14.981-07:00I liked the Avengers not because it was a great mo...I liked the Avengers not because it was a great movie but it was fun and I knew going in it would be silly. I had no expectations about it. I agree with you on the CGI and am sick of that and 3D because they are giving up a little thing called writing for an ooohh and an awwwww. I think a worse stinkaroo is Gravity. It made me think of Attack of the 50 ft Woman at the very end of the film. Load of crappola. Now I appreciate Fellini and realize he is in the top 10 of all time great film makers but I would have "The Searchers" on the list, "Casablanca", La Belle et La Bette" and "Lord of the Rings" series as that was great story telling mixed in with CGI but it didn't take away from the story or the acting. I am glad you recognized "Singing In The Rain" as that is superb and "Citizen Kane" goes without saying. Well I'm just saying:)Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-47101321158236624182014-06-15T10:32:14.693-07:002014-06-15T10:32:14.693-07:00I liked the Avengers not because it was a great mo...I liked the Avengers not because it was a great movie but it was fun and I knew going in it would be silly. I had no expectations about it. I agree with you on the CGI and am sick of that and 3D because they are giving up a little thing called writing for an ooohh and an awwwww. I think a worse stinkaroo is Gravity. It made me think of Attack of the 50 ft Woman at the very end of the film. Load of crappola. Now I appreciate Fellini and realize he is in the top 10 of all time great film makers but I would have "The Searchers" on the list, "Casablanca", La Belle et La Bette" and "Lord of the Rings" series as that was great story telling mixed in with CGI but it didn't take away from the story or the acting. I am glad you recognized "Singing In The Rain" as that is superb and "Citizen Kane" goes without saying. Well I'm just saying:)Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-46232524068356348912014-06-08T06:46:20.238-07:002014-06-08T06:46:20.238-07:00Pat-- I thank you for the compliment. To be a bit ...Pat-- I thank you for the compliment. To be a bit provocative generates more than a string of "Nice Post" comments and sometimes gets a discussion going and I enjoy that. <br /><br />Your list is excellent and I would rank most of those high on my favorites list. Oddly I've never seen any of the <i>Godfather</i> films. I keep meaning to since they're so highly regarded. I'll get around to those one day I guess.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your list of favorites. It's a quality list for sure.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-68001413585105363932014-06-08T01:08:36.706-07:002014-06-08T01:08:36.706-07:00You are the master of creating discussion with tho...You are the master of creating discussion with thought provoking and polarizing post. That is NOT a criticism, it's a compliment.<br /><br />Here is a partial list of my favorite movies.<br /><br />Godfather Part 2 <br />It is odd that the second movie in a series is better than the first. <br /><br />Godfather <br />This movie not only made me want to be Italian, it made me want to be a gangster.<br /><br />Shawshank Redemption <br />Without Morgan Freeman it only would have been a great movie. With him, it was amazing.<br /><br />Pulp Fiction <br />Not much to say, you either get it or you don't.<br /><br />The Dark Knight <br />Heath Ledger as the Joker, was one of the best performances EVER.<br /><br />Goodfellas <br />The long unbroken scene when Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco walk into the back door of the “Copacabana” restaurant, go through the kitchen and all the way out to the night club in front, went over 3 minutes in one continuous shot. I LOVED this movie and it was made even better because of that scene.<br /><br />Apocalypse Now <br />Realistic? Not at all! But it doesn't matter. <br /><br />Full Metal Jacket <br />The first 35 minutes is the most realistic and hilarious portrayal of Marine Corps Boot Camp ever done. The rest of the movie was average. Most people don’t care that much about it, but it’s my list!<br /><br />Fargo <br />The script was amazing and the offbeat actors in the movie made it run like a Swiss watch. The current TV series with same name, is also great.<br /><br />The Big Lebowski <br />You knew this had to be in here somewhere, right? If you haven’t seen it, you really should. Know in advance, that when it gets weird, he's not dreaming, he's having acid flashbacks. Okay?<br /><br />Except for numbers 1,2,3,4,6,7 and 88, I loved your list... <br />I totally agree with you about the Avengers. <br />Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-6264655737510604722014-06-06T21:54:11.627-07:002014-06-06T21:54:11.627-07:00Jackie B-- You make a good point about watching a ...Jackie B-- You make a good point about watching a movie being an investment of one's time and it's preferable to have a good return on one's investment. To me the <i>The Avengers</i> was not a horrible film but I didn't get a sense of receiving a good return for my investment of time. But I think I've just become kind of jaded about superhero and science fiction films. That doesn't mean I'll totally stop watching them though.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-76193531544967320782014-06-06T21:07:02.341-07:002014-06-06T21:07:02.341-07:00We can agree to disagree over Avengers. Technicall...We can agree to disagree over Avengers. Technically, I'd been a Marvel fan since Spider-man, but Iron-Man got me started on all the Avengers-related films. For me, they worked because they built on each other piece by piece, all leading up to Avengers. As one person said, the interplay between the characters was great. For me, the interaction along made it work so well for me, seeing how these different personalities get along. I only put it at #50 of my 101 favorite films because it only came out a couple years ago and other films have had more years to make an impact on me as a movie lover and a person.<br /><br />But I just enjoyed it because of the actors (great cast!) and the great script and that's just my type of movie. <br /><br />Of the movies on your "best films" list, I'll give you Citizen Kane (for obvious reasons), "Singin' in the rain" and "Wizard of Oz"... I've yet to see the others except for "good bad and the ugly." maybe because it's not my genre of choice, but I found it overlong and boring after the first hour :shrug: but that's just me.<br /><br />I confess that I need to see "gone with the wind" again at some point, but right now my opinion is if I'm gonna stick around for 4 hour movie, I want to feel the ending was worth those 4 hours. Its beyond depressing ending made me feel like I needed those 4 hours of my life back.<br />The only other movie of substantial length I'd seen so far was "Dr. Zhivago," which did run long, but I thought it was well done. Either it was a better film, Omar Sharif appealed to me more than Clark Gable or seeing it in my 20's (opposed to my teens with Gone with the Wind) made the overall difference.Jackie B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00710967201214369828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-18738669045182433082014-06-06T05:24:27.091-07:002014-06-06T05:24:27.091-07:00Donna -- I keep returning to the older flicks from...Donna -- I keep returning to the older flicks from the 60's and before that. I like the way they presented stories back then. On movie nights with my wife I get the recent action flicks--not superheros, but tough guys and car chases--that's what she enjoys and I do too.<br /><br />Nick-- Recently I rewatched the first <i>Alien</i> movie after not having seen it for many year and was disappointed. I think I just kind of bored with a lot of science fiction. I now prefer the stranger more philosophical films like <i>Another Earth</i> and I'm always up for time travel films.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-23641465220317431332014-06-05T23:44:03.503-07:002014-06-05T23:44:03.503-07:00I haven't seen the Avengers, but I agree it...I haven't seen the Avengers, but I agree it'a annoying when the impressiveness of the CGI is what carries the entire movie.<br /><br />Some good picks on your list. I would add the first two Aliens movies, which combine amazing special effects (before CGI) with great story. Also, can't beat a bit of It's A Wonderful Life.Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-33388246903372820362014-06-05T22:40:54.779-07:002014-06-05T22:40:54.779-07:00I haven't been watching the new superhero movi...I haven't been watching the new superhero movies either; too much angst, and its all been done so many times all they do is put in a newer/younger actor and rehash the same old story.<br /><br />Not much good stuff out there to watch anymore, even without the CGI.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-15969841185064950952014-06-05T22:20:37.260-07:002014-06-05T22:20:37.260-07:00Trisha F-- In 10 or 20 years we'll get a bette...Trisha F-- In 10 or 20 years we'll get a better idea. Will it still be remembered as great? I wouldn't even consider it a groundbreaking film. It was well done with some good effects, but it's one of many that I've seen like that.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-46645968515439224562014-06-05T20:16:42.631-07:002014-06-05T20:16:42.631-07:00YAY!!!!!!!!!! Someone else who didn't LOVE the...YAY!!!!!!!!!! Someone else who didn't LOVE the Avengers. ;) I thought it was very "meh". I think the main problem was that it was soooo hyped up, with people saying their friends who didn't generally like movies at all LOVED it. This seemed to suggest it must be the best movie ever made. Obviously it wasn't that.<br /><br />I love Joss Whedon, but this movie just didn't thrill me.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-47241830963810581552014-06-05T12:45:37.849-07:002014-06-05T12:45:37.849-07:00Carol-- The Book Thief is actually a recent movie ...Carol-- <i>The Book Thief</i> is actually a recent movie that I've seen. My wife and I both liked it, though there were quite a few highly critical reviews that I've read.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-53283325048021371482014-06-05T12:11:39.826-07:002014-06-05T12:11:39.826-07:00I agree about all the animation used today. Haven&...I agree about all the animation used today. Haven't seen but a few of the movies on your best list, and didn't particularly care for those. The most recent movie on my personal best list is The Book Thief.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745686632918324803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-66112977246270037362014-06-05T10:35:10.590-07:002014-06-05T10:35:10.590-07:00Doreen-- CGI would have certainly improved the Atl...Doreen-- CGI would have certainly improved the Atlanta burning scenes in <i>GWTW</i>--those were a bit weak in the original though not terrible. <i>Ben Hur</i> they would have taken over the top probably.<br /><br />Rachna-- Too much hype is the problem I often have. I like it better when I don't know much about a film and get surprised.<br /><br />Ken -- And that's the problem I'm suggesting. The movie was like a ride and should have been shorter. I found it to be a bit excessive and exhausting. These CGI extravaganzas are too much like the amusement park virtual reality rides. Many of those films actually end up getting the ride treatment at places like Universal Studios Theme Parks. <br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-16222014356063560962014-06-05T10:23:47.248-07:002014-06-05T10:23:47.248-07:00I loved The Avengers movie. A classic escapist mo...I loved The Avengers movie. A classic escapist movie and one of the better ones. sometimes you just have to enjoy the ride.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-64761164928131426962014-06-05T09:13:56.181-07:002014-06-05T09:13:56.181-07:00I haven't seen the Avengers, so can't comm...I haven't seen the Avengers, so can't comment on that. But I feel some of the movies are over hyped.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-47107793410458939242014-06-05T05:28:21.400-07:002014-06-05T05:28:21.400-07:00I agree with your movie choices, I did like Ben Hu...I agree with your movie choices, I did like Ben Hur and Gone with the Wind. What whould they be like with CGI?<br />doreenmcgettigan.comDoreen McGettiganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-54719806817805413082014-06-05T05:27:37.019-07:002014-06-05T05:27:37.019-07:00Susan Scott-- Atlas Shrugged would probably mostly...Susan Scott-- <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> would probably mostly appeal to fans of the book. It has a lot of faults, but I was able to get past them.<br /><br />Liza-- Sometimes saying extreme things gets readers to react.<br /><br />Carolyn-- Most studio films probably use CGI to make certain things easier like location shooting. I'm getting a bit tired of films being driven by excess CGI to create outlandish effects. Things start looking too CGI. I go back to the example of the Hulk scenes. Fake looking.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-84083942041082182602014-06-05T04:18:50.789-07:002014-06-05T04:18:50.789-07:00I must also disagree with your dislike, because I ...I must also disagree with your dislike, because I really enjoyed the Avengers! Sorry, but the digitized movie development does it for me. I love being immersed in the fantasy of it all, although I also like the traditional style of movie as well, but I think you would find that a lot of those movies today are also created through the use of computers and not filmed on site.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678216576112327332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-72026125484259457942014-06-05T04:12:05.660-07:002014-06-05T04:12:05.660-07:00Well, you sure sparked some good discussion. Have...Well, you sure sparked some good discussion. Haven't seen the Avengers. Love Singing in the Rain and Wizard of Oz and as one of your commentors suggested, I believe To Kill a Mockingbird is an all time best, too! Great way to stimulate dialogue, Lee.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-59073845515214747822014-06-05T01:38:50.327-07:002014-06-05T01:38:50.327-07:00Good morning! I haven't seen The Avengers - mi...Good morning! I haven't seen The Avengers - mixed reviews here! I hope madly that Atlas Shrugged is made available here in South Africa. I am a fan of Ayn Rand and her book of same name is extremely powerful. I'm hoping to see 'Nebraska' sometime. 'Philomena' was good .. about 8/10. 'Her' was also good taking the 'operating system' to a new level. CGI? Doesn't appeal - it seems a cop out. Sci-fi and fantasy is not on my radar really. I loved the movie 'The Prince of Tides' though much of the book was left out of the film. I resisted seeing this because I thought the book (Pat Conroy) was so excellent .. but I'm glad I saw the movie.Thanks Arlee - enjoyed your post and the comments.<br /><a href="http://www.gardenofedenblog.com" rel="nofollow">Garden of Eden Blog</a><br />Susan Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041548718544123557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-18082701094327195542014-06-04T22:25:57.817-07:002014-06-04T22:25:57.817-07:00Elizabeth -- Everything computer is here to stay a...Elizabeth -- Everything computer is here to stay as long as civilization as we know it exists. But it's nice to stay grounded in reality sometimes.<br /><br />Angel-- I can only take so much fantasy for a dose of escapism. Mostly I want real stories about real people. I want to escape be be able to have some identity with the escape zone.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-90810085034002303562014-06-04T21:43:06.118-07:002014-06-04T21:43:06.118-07:00I'm not into CGI either. A little is great, to...I'm not into CGI either. A little is great, too much is just a bore. But I'm not a sci-fi or fantasy fan though. The Wizard of Oz is about as much fantasy as I want. It, by the way, was indeed a most spectacular movie. I prefer psychological thrillers, political thrillers, murder mysteries and war movies. <br />And I did absolutely love Nebraska! It was bittersweet: it was hilarious in some parts and downright heartbreaking in others. I was so happy to see it get some Oscar nods! Well-deserved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-44975582770229675172014-06-04T16:44:39.492-07:002014-06-04T16:44:39.492-07:00Hi, Lee! Well, I have been thinking if people will...Hi, Lee! Well, I have been thinking if people will get sick of CGI and if so, when. Just as everyone is sick of vampires and paranormal (or should be). I doubt movies will ever go back to the time when there was NO CGI and I say the same of book covers. Will readers, publishers, authors, ever tire of CG book covers? It is nice to see the humanity in things we create, right? :PElizabeth Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028099814857743134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-43741383282385944532014-06-04T16:10:45.839-07:002014-06-04T16:10:45.839-07:00FAE -- Philomena and About Time are on my Netflix ...FAE -- <i>Philomena</i> and <i>About Time</i> are on my Netflix list. I was intentionally being a bit provocative, but there is some truth in what I stated here as well. I want story and not dazzle, though some dazzle can be fun at times.<br /><br />Gary -- Yes, I have been paying attention to your tactics. The only thing I've yet to do is let my dog post, but seeing as how I don't have a dog I'm at a disadvantage in that respect. And the original Steed and Peel <i>Avengers</i> had more acting, story, and class.<br /><br />Carrie-Anne ---There were some great silents. I'd also include Chaplin films, <i>Sunrise</i>, and <i>Intolerance</i>. It is long, but I think <i>Citizen Kane</i> still holds up well and I still love that ending which I'm sure inspired Spielberg in <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i>.<br /><br />Finley -- I also like Russell Crowe and am obligated to watch all his films since my wife is in love with him. <i>Gladiator</i> was an excellent film where CGI was tastefully incorporated.<br /><br />Susan GK -- The big fights in the cities allow for more destruction hence more CGI. Nothing better than seeing big buildings being destroyed and all sorts of traffic calamities. <br /><br />Lee<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com