What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demoncrat]

Rewatched In The Mouth Of Madness at mates behest.
A film that isn't just quite there really. The awful "metal" main theme that would have suited a more electronic version more imo, Nicotero's grandstanding where a swarming mass of tentacles would have sufficed, the wooden female lead etc etc.
I still love it. Neill doesn't quite reach his Possession heights, but you can't have everything haha.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Leopard Man (1943)

Screenwriter Ardell Wray adapted Cornell Woolrich's story Black Alibi for producer Val Lewton.

I've seen The Leopard Man several times now and whilst not bad it's not among Lewton's best work. Less a cohesive film, more a series of memorable set pieces greater than the sum of it's parts.

One moment stands out above all others and deserves a place in any list of classic Lewton sequences. - A gypsy girl is forcibly locked outside and then attacked by an unseen assailant, believed to be the mythical leopard man, we then see her blood flow under the door and into the house.

At a mere 66 minutes too much time is taken with Mexican dancing and not enough on mystery, meaning director Jacques Tourneur didn't hold my attention as he does in most of his classic horror work. However a reported budget of just $150,000 is spent wisely as the film looks tremendous, helped by the usual Lewton trait of under lit sets and a brilliant use of light and shadow.

[keirarts]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I think Four Lions is a superb film, but i think many would disagree that a bunch of thick twats could have caused the mayhem in Paris last year and it was a well worked out plan, suggesting the overblown thrillers are closer to reality.

You would be surprised at the level of research done by Chris Morris in the subject, a lot of which he goes into in interviews. Surprisingly there is a large number of cases almost as surreal as the ones in the film including the suicide bomber who hid explosives up his bum and ended up launching himself through the ceiling.

Suicide bum-blast bombing startles Saudi prince • The Register

10 Of The Dumbest Terrorists Ever (dumb terrorist, al qaeda, islamic terrorism, jihad, jihadist) - ODDEE

While its easier to think of these morons as being ingenious monsters, the fact is most people prepared to blow themselves up over a cause are thick.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by keirarts

You would be surprised at the level of research done by Chris Morris in the subject, a lot of which he goes into in interviews. Surprisingly there is a large number of cases almost as surreal as the ones in the film including the suicide bomber who hid explosives up his bum and ended up launching himself through the ceiling.

Suicide bum-blast bombing startles Saudi prince • The Register

10 Of The Dumbest Terrorists Ever (dumb terrorist, al qaeda, islamic terrorism, jihad, jihadist) - ODDEE

While its easier to think of these morons as being ingenious monsters, the fact is most people prepared to blow themselves up over a cause are thick.

The really sad thing is the documentary on the disc is filmed mere minutes from me in Nelson and Burnley.

[Mojo]

CAPTURED
Prisoners captured during the Korean War are the subject of this harrowing drama from John Krish, which was restricted on release and has only now been released by the BFI on its Flipside series. It's an excellent piece and the deteriorating relationships between the prisoners makes for compelling viewing.

THE FINISHING LINE
Krish's public safety film about the dangers of playing on railway lines is turned into a grotesque sports day, where events such as fence breaking, stone throwing and racing across the tracks in front of an oncoming train, culminates in The Tunnel Walk, resulting in absolute carnage.
This film was banned for over 20 years and would never get commisioned today, such is the harrowing nature of the subject matter. Stays with you long afterwards.

[Nordicdusk]

I watched Possession over the weekend I was left a little disappointed did I miss something

[sjconstable]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

I watched Possession over the weekend I was left a little disappointed did I miss something

Sounds like you missed everything! Did you watch this by mistake? Possession (2008) - IMDb

[Nordicdusk]

Originally Posted by sjconstable

Sounds like you missed everything! Did you watch this by mistake? Possession (2008) - IMDb

Sadly it was the one with Sam Neill maybe i was too hyped up for it might rewatch it again soon.

[Frankie Teardrop]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

I watched Possession over the weekend I was left a little disappointed did I miss something

It's genuinely one of my fave films of all time, definitely one of the horror films I like most. It's just got a really off kilter atmosphere, all the communication between the characters is off or distorted somehow, there's Adjani having a kabuki miscarriage in the subway, that German dude who looks like he's always about to start dancing with people, then the whole Lovecraftian octopus shagging angle...There are so many layers to it that might not mean anything or make sense, but make it feel so mysterious. But then again, I've known some people who otherwise really dig surreal horror / Jodorowsky et al to knock it back, so I guess it's really about what pushes yr buttons. If like me you change your mind a lot about films I'd give it another go though, sometimes my willingness to take things in or get into stuff varies a lot with how I'm feeling, and I can (and often do) go from nought to sixty on some flicks just by being less knackered / preoccupied.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Following on from 2005's splendid Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace is a damp squib. Whilst the action is still there, director Marc Forster seemingly has no idea how to stage it, breaking up exciting set pieces with horse racing and opera. This wouldn't be so bad had the film an exciting story line, alas it doesn't, it barely has a plot at all.

Daniel Craig does nothing at all for the character in a lifeless seemingly robotic performance proving how perfect Messrs Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan and even Lazenby, were for the role, as even in the worst examples of a 007 movie it's hard to fault the star who on occasions carry the lesser films.

Of the supporting cast Giancarlo Giannini and Gemma Arterton are sadly underused and killed off far too soon, Olga Kurylenko hasn't the screen presence or indeed sex appeal to carry off the role of leading lady, and perhaps worst of all, Mathieu Amalric is a completely forgettable villain. It doesn't say much at all for Quantum of Solace when all the best scenes involve Judi Dench as M.

Finally the theme song by Jack White and Alicia Keys...it's just a travesty that makes previous worst song, Madonna's Die Another Day, sound like the best Bond song ever.

Quantum of Solace is easily the worst of the official James Bond films to date.