[Favorite Animated Films w/o Disney]

I haven't seen My Neigbor Totoro but my husband brought a copy with him upon our marriage almost five years ago. I suppose I should watch it. 

 

 

I urge you to correct that oversight as quickly as possible. It is a lovely movie. Very touching.

[Favorite Animated Films w/o Disney]

I've heard good things about that newer one, THE WIND ALSO RISES or something? Anyone see that one?

 

 

It is excellent! It is semi-factual also.

[Favorite Animated Films w/o Disney]

I am shocked and appalled that there has been mention of movies of: Hayao Miyazaki but no person has listed what I feel strongly is his best movie: My Neighbor Totoro (1988). I feel it it truly his most wonderfully innocent movie.

 

I like also very much: Howl's Moving Castle (2004). I believe that this is exemplary in particular as it is based on hack writer: Diana Wynne Jones' novel.

[I Just Watched...]

I agree.  I really liked this film.  What did you think of the sequel? Do you recommend Val Lewton's other films?

 

 

I feel that the sequel is very much a different type of story. It is also that the persecuted one is a child and I find that in general to be non-entertaining.

 

I had not thought to classify the original as: noir but I understand well why others have classified it as such. I believe the sequel could never truly be classified as: noir.

 

I have liked all Val Lewton movies which I have watched but in varying degrees. I can say only that his name on a movie draws me to watch it but I rarely have my expectations set high.

[I Just Watched...]

Cat People.

 

What I loved about Cat People was the way that Lewton told the story.  We never see Simone Simon transforming into a panther, but it is highly suggested that she does.  She constantly wears a black fur coat in the scenes where the panther appears.  I loved how the panther only appeared in shadows.  I also loved the music in this film.

 

 

What attracts me is how misunderstood she is. Her fears are very, very real but other people think she is deranged. She loves a man as deeply as any woman ever has but she has the strength of character to avoid physical passion because of the consequences. It is tormenting her and she is being persecuted for being so noble. The real horror in this movie is not the threat of an attack by a blood-crazed werecat but that people are so quick to judge others without trying to understand their heritage. 

 

I believe that a significant factor is added by the mystery that we are uncertain if her fears are real or are delusion. If it were overtly stated that she does change then it would be fantasy and we would find comfort in knowing that it is a story only. If it were stated overtly that she is truly delusional then we would find comfort in knowing that what she believes is not real.  The confusion created by not-knowing leaves us to question reality on a very instinctive level. 

 

The amazing cinematography of the movie parallels this by making us question whether we are truly seeing or we are imagining what we saw. 

 

I feel this raises the movie far beyond a typical horror movie and it makes it a supreme psychological drama.

[CRTC Forcing Cable Companies to Satisfy Viewers]

Can't give up seeing the best ways to off people and not get caught. Don't want to end up in the slammer by leaving carpet fibers on the corpse, or saliva emissions or even a gun whose serial number can be reestablished with some acid layer testing, after I spent hours trying to scratch it off.

 

 

I am sorry to say that I do not know source of this but it can be found reprinted on many sites:

 

 

Dear Makers of Tide Detergent:

 

I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it all of my married life, as my mom always told me it was the best.

 

Now that I am in my fifties I find it even better! Last month I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband belittled me about how clumsy I was and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse!

 

I grabbed my bottle of Tide with added bleach, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out!

 

In fact, they came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer a suspect in my husband's disappearance. What a relief! Going through menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product.

 

Well, gotta go! I also have to write a thank you letter to the Hefty bag people.

 

 

Edit: I would never advise an attempt to remove serial number from a weapon. I believe it is much better to fabricate your own so that there will be no trace of ownership. I suggest that you Google: "four winds shotgun" for hints, tips and tricks.

[Favorite Vampire films w/o Dracula!]

THE IRON ROSE (1973)

FIANCEE OF DRACULA (2002)

THE LIVING DEAD GIRL (1982) 

 

 

I have not seen these. I can not say why I like his movies. Perhaps it is underlying surrealism in a genre which is normally blatant.

 

I must wonder when TCM will do a tribute to this director and his lovely works.

[Favorite Vampire films w/o Dracula!]

Are you familiar with the works of: Jean Rollin?

 

Lips of Blood (1975)

The Nude Vampire (1970) 

Two Orphan Vampires (1997)

Fascination (1979)

Requiem for a Vampire (1971)

The Rape of the Vampire (1968)

The Shiver of the Vampires (1971)

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

I believe that: Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) will for all time remain my favorite noir.

 

I find the intensity palpable. The cinematography is wonderful.

 

I feel at a loss for words for describing effect of this movie on me.

[CRTC Forcing Cable Companies to Satisfy Viewers]

The cable companies really care about providing charity for those poor operations. We all know the cable companies are altruists in every respect.

 

 

I believe that they truly do care deeply because diversity increases sales. A cable company which can not offer channels which appeal to an ethnic group will not be able to sell in neighborhoods with high concentration of that ethnic group.

 

Diverse small channels prevents also claims that cable company discriminates against an ethnic group by not offering channels tailored to that ethnic group.

 

More sales and fewer PR nightmares make those channels quite attractive to cable companies.

[CRTC Forcing Cable Companies to Satisfy Viewers]

It is in U.S.A. that there is FCC requirement that all cable companies provide basic service of local, educational, government and public access channels at low cost. They do not advertise this package but it is available on all cable services in U.S.A.. It is for TWC that this is:"Starter TV" which includes twenty channels for twenty dollars.

 

It is my understanding that the primary argument against: à la carte pricing is that niche channels can not survive on income which they could generate independently. Forcing many people to pay small amount achieves diversity which would not exist if minorities had to pay true costs for entertainment which matches their tastes. To require all one million customers of a cable service to pay one dollar for channel: 'XYZ' whether they want it or not generates one million dollars for: 'XYZ'. To allow customers to chose channels would mean that the one thousand people who truly want: 'XYZ' would have to pay one thousand dollars each. 

 

It is also that only large corporations could introduce new channels because of huge expense of supporting channel until viewers become aware of it and begin subscribing in sufficient numbers.  

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

One thing with noir is its definition. Some people will consider one film as a noir, while others will disagree. What do you feel is a defining characteristic of noir?

 

 

I can not define it but I know it when I see it.

 

What places a movie squarely in: noir classification for me is sense that main character is very desperate but is controlling it but that control is illusionary and might disappear at any moment. The movies must also be intense on personal level. Other elements such as it is crime thriller with stark elements in cinematography must be present but desperation and intensity are what mark it for me as: noir.

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

ARMORED CAR ROBBERY

 

Any comments on those? Any good?

 

 

I feel that this is an excellent movie. I like it very much. It truly placed me in the scene.

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

I agree about Dark Passage.  I think the "strange and brooding" feeling is part of what attracts me to the film.  This moody quality definitely matches the mindset of Bogart's character.  If you're on the lam, you're definitely going to feel paranoid and nervous.  He's untrustworthy of everyone and scared that he'll be recognized. 

 

 

I feel the tone is perfect. The sense of controlled desperation is intense. 

 

I believe that this movie strikes a particular chord with me also in that the method of presentation is often used as a gimmick but this is the movie which established it as legitimate storytelling technique. Alternative would have been to have two actors of similar build playing before and after surgery roles. I feel that would not have worked nearly as well. 

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

I love very much both: Laura (1944) and: Cat People (1942) but I would not have classified them as: noir. I looked at lists of: noir movies so that I would not appear stupid by forgetting some of the most classic ones and was surprised to find these two on several lists. IMDB.com gives their genre as: Film-noir. 

 

I can understand the rationale to an extent in that they portray innocents drawn into situations not of their making and the cinematography has stark elements common in: noir.

[The Ultimate Film Noir Thread]

My favorite: 1940s Film Noir in epistolaric order:

 

Laura (1944)

Double Indemnity (1944)

The Third Man (1949)

Dark Passage (1947)

Cat People (1942)

The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)

The Unsuspected (1947)

Conflict (1945)

This Gun for Hire (1942)

Tension (1949)

["I Married a Witch"]

I feel that this is a great movie because it so perfectly embodies what a movie is meant to do: Entertain! 

 

There is no social commentary, political justice or ideological discourse. It is a: "park your troubles at the door" which sweeps the viewer away into a world of whimsy. 

[Title Misrepresentation]

Just like when there is a title like "Babes in Toyland" and it should be about infants but yet stars Annette Funicello and Tommy Sands.

 

 

I believe that: Annette Funicello was considered: 'a babe' by menfolk of the era. I doubt that the same could be said of: Tommy Sands.

[Movie Clichés cont'd..]

As a teen I never understood why the guy would give up the fun , easy to get girl and chase this stuck up one that you have to jump so many hurdles for. But, then you wouldn't have a movies, I guess.

 

 

I believe that it is subtle education into ways of the world as represented in old saying: if she will cheat with you, she will cheat on you.

[Great One-Liners]

More from: Serenity (2005):

 

 

Mal is taking River to commit a little armed robbery:

Simon: Now, River, stay behind the others. If there’s fighting, drop to the floor or run away. It’s okay to leave them to die.

 

 

Speaking of: Reavers:

Jayne: I just don't get it. How's a man get so wrong? Cuttin' on his own face, rapin' and murdering — Hell, I'll kill a man in a fair fight... or if I think he's gonna start a fair fight. Or if he bothers me. Or if there's a woman. Or if I'm gettin' paid. Mostly only when I'm gettin' paid. But these Reavers... last ten years they show up like the bogeyman from stories. Eating people alive? Where's that get fun?

 

 

Mal [on intercom]: This is the captain. We have a little problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and then explode.

[Top Ten Films of...]

I knew my suggestion would not be popular. 

 

I think photos are a really nice enhancement in many of our threads, but IMHO not in this one.

 

 

I thought your suggestion a good one but I knew there would be push-back.

 

You might wish to add some posters to your: Ignore list. I have placed one person on my list solely because they insist on attaching images or embedding videos in most of their posts with no concern if it is appropriate to that thread. Their comments were welcome - their causing slow loading was not. 

 

Edit: I see now that while I was composing my post that you stated that you do not wish to use: Ignore. To each his own. I find this forum to be much more enjoyable if I am only minimally reminded that some posters exist.

[Top Ten Films of...]

A mention was made at some point in this thread concerning movies in specific genres by year or decade.

 

Is there a plan to continue this thread with such lists?

[Movie Clichés cont'd..]

It is possible for a detective to stand near where gunshot victim fell and judge angles by eye sufficiently to determine precisely where shooter was hiding.

[Movie Clichés cont'd..]

Whenever two or more police cars are in pursuit of a vehicle, at least one of them will crash into something.

 

 

And a very high percentage of these accidents cause the automobile to flip over on its side.

[Movie Clichés cont'd..]

It is possible at all times to obtain a job as maid or janitor and start the same day when you need access to the villain's hotel room or home or place of business.