What Films Have You Seen Recently? - Page 3617

Make Them Die Slowly · #**36161** 22nd March 2016, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

You should make an effort to catch them. As far as I'm concerned, they are his best two films.

My Life as a Dog is my favourite.

Nosferatu@Cult Labs · #**36162** 22nd March 2016, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Make Them Die Slowly

My Life as a Dog is my favourite.

That's properly third on the list.

Make Them Die Slowly · #**36163** 22nd March 2016, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

That's properly third on the list.

Have you read The Cider House Rules? It is a great read along with all of Irving's earlier work with A Prayer for Owen Meany being outstanding.

Nosferatu@Cult Labs · #**36164** 22nd March 2016, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Make Them Die Slowly

Have you read The Cider House Rules? It is a great read along with all of Irving's earlier work with A Prayer for Owen Meany being outstanding.

No, I haven't read any of his books.

Make Them Die Slowly · #**36165** 22nd March 2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

No, I haven't read any of his books.

He is very good and an easy read which is handy as he can stretch a story to over 400 pages. The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire have both been made into so-so films.

Nosferatu@Cult Labs · #**36166** 22nd March 2016, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Make Them Die Slowly

He is very good and an easy read which is handy as he can stretch a story to over 400 pages. The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire have both been made into so-so films.

I'll keep that in mind for when I have some spare time during the summer.

sjconstable · #**36167** 22nd March 2016, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebor8273

Attachment 176906

Enjoyed this more than the last few times I saw it, don't get me wrong it's not a bad movie, it just felt more like a alien invasion movie with superman nothing more than a brutish ape at times

But that's not a problem with the film - as soon as he learns of his origin, puts on the suit, and learns how to fly, there are trained Kryptonians beating the shit out of him! He acts exactly as he should, especially when they threaten his mother and he totally loses it, flying Zod through any building that happens to be in the way - you'd do exactly the same

trebor8273 · #**36168** 22nd March 2016, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjconstable

But that's not a problem with the film - as soon as he learns of his origin, puts on the suit, and learns how to fly, there are trained Kryptonians beating the shit out of him! He acts exactly as he should, especially when they threaten his mother and he totally loses it, flying Zod through any building that happens to be in the way - you'd do exactly the same

Your right, I think brutish ape was the wrong thing to say, it's more that he's just starting out not fully understanding the extent of his powers. But it's a lot more realistic than the Christopher Reeve film in the respect that he's just starting out and will make mistakes and as you said the did treating his mother. It is the only film that shows us what superman can really do and this is way he nearly always holds himself back

trebor8273 · #**36169** 22nd March 2016, 10:45 PM

Demdike@Cult Labs · #**36170** 22nd March 2016, 11:43 PM

Murder Mansion (1972)

A disparate group of strangers trying to escape a pea souper fog find themselves holed up at an old dark house. Once there they meet the beautiful Martha (Ida Galli) with all sorts of horrors awaiting them.

I really like this Spanish / Italian co-production. Similar to the following years Seven Dead in the Cat's Eye (1973) the film brings the genres of Gothic horror and Gialli crashing into one another with wondrous results.

The film plays with Gothic staples like vampires and the un-dead but it is the classic old dark house creepiness that works best of all. The initial plot is strikingly similar to James Whale's classic 1932 film - The Old Dark House - as the group of strangers are randomly thrown together with the seemingly odd folks who reside there. Whereas Whale had Karloff hulking about and a pyromaniac locked away upstairs, Murder Mansion has supernatural elements and in true giallo style a possible killer round every corner.

The Gothic horror is the main draw for me. Director Francisco Lara Polop creates a beautifully creepy landscape from the shadowy house to the stunning fog bound graveyard which echoes the best of the Corman / Poe films of the 60's.

For a giallo there's minimal blood and no nudity whatsoever. My dvd looks fairly poor at times and is clearly a nth generation vhs print which looks like it could have been cut for violence and nudity, but i'm not too sure. As with the aforementioned Corman / Poe cycle, Murder Mansion works on a subtler level, playing on audience reaction to characters fears rather than on screen violence. The fact some of the editing seems 'sharp' - well, many Italian films of the time seemingly suffered this problem.

The film sports some fantastic set pieces, including the lovely Anal?*a Gadé in a strong performance, seemingly being stalked round the house and grounds with only a flickering flame for protection. Polop directs these sequences with skill and creates suitable tension and generally maintains an all round air of creepy weirdness throughout.

In among the general eeriness, red herrings await in customary giallo fashion and the film finishes with a fun practically Scooby Doo style big reveal ending.

Murder Mansion is a fine film and is begging for a suitable restoration and re-release.