spence
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Posts posted by spence
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21 hours ago, EricJ said:
That was 80's Disney, where they looked up old memos and said "Hey, lookit this one!--Walt bought the rights to the other stories back in the 50's, so he could do 'Rainbow Road to Oz'! Whatever happened wit' that?"?
So, 80's--as in, pre-Roger Rabbit era--Disney tried to make it. To its credit, the script is actually surprisingly faithful to the original Baum texts, before they gave it to a schizophrenic lunatic who had never directed a feature film before, and had his own mythologized ideas of "Kids' films should be scary-exciting!".
("But he's not crazy, he's Walter Murch! He worked for Coppola!" Okay. But at least he's never been allowed to direct another one since.)
No, we didn't. To his credit, Spielberg tries to wrap up Dr. Jones' sunset "finale" (he's back with Marion & son again, there's no more Nazis to fight, and the late Denholm Elliott got a statue at the university), even if George Lucas thought there was a fifth movie to make.
Why did they make it? The same reason they made Jurassic World--Dear lord, they'd been TRYING to for twenty years! If Skull's incoherent storyline seems like "three different movies", that's an unfair and inaccurate thing to say--It was actually seven different script storylines over the last twenty years since Last Crusade. Every single screenwriter who ever had a hit acclaimed script for Spielberg was given the club key to Spielberg's special sanctorum and given his own chance to come up with an Indy IV storyline: Chris Columbus, fresh off of Gremlins/Young Sherlock Holmes, came up with the "jungle" storyline of swinging with monkeys. Menno Megyes, after The Color Purple, came up with the Aztecs. Think it was Jurassic Park's David Koepp that came up with Area 51 and the UFO's, and another writer came up with the Communists, after Spielberg promised the Schindler Foundation he'd swear off movies with Nazis. Even Frank Darabont was given a crack at it, after everyone praised his 30's-serial pastiche in "The Majestic". And so on...Enjoy the highlight-reel compilation of What Could Have Been.
In Jurassic World's case, repeat the above, with attempts to "apologize" for JP2 & 3 with a big, actual, back to formula fourth movie, that...also took twenty years and just as many writers to come up with a storyline for. Until they threw them all out, gave it to a "new" director who wasn't born when the first movie came out, and decided that it was Cultural Nostalgia.
So, if you're asking "Why are we getting these?", just take "Blind muleheaded stubbornness" as the most efficient short answer. And let's not even get into the saga of last summer's Blade Runner: 2049, or how that Ghostbusters remake didn't just happen overnight, before taking a look at what Robert Zemeckis is still promising us will be the Roger Rabbit sequel someday...
Now "Roger Rabbit" woulda' been a marvelous idea
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8 hours ago, sewhite2000 said:
My understanding is that both Ford and Spielberg have signed on for a fifth Indiana Jones movie.
Yep, they are shooting it already I think & of course yet another "terminator???"
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It's all about $greed$ Although I'm not a big "Star Wars" fan but thought it a good installment (***-out of four)
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On 12/19/2017 at 12:41 AM, speedracer5 said:
Along the same vein of Hollywood running out of ideas...
What about when a movie series is revived years, if not decades, after the last film in the series? Or if it was a single film, albeit very popular film, and it's decided that a sequel is needed. Or perhaps there is a series and it's decided that a prequel is needed. Do the filmmakers genuinely think there is a story to tell? Or is this a cash grab and a story will be cobbled together amongst the onscreen CGI fest?
For example,
Jurassic Park IV, V, etc. The original trilogy came out between 1993-2001. The first movie was awesome. The second one, eh. The third one I cannot really remember. Then fourteen years later, it's decided that a fourth film is needed which depicts Jurassic World, a thriving theme park, built on the remains of the original Jurassic Park. Did we really need a continuation of this story?
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This film takes place almost twenty years after the third part of the trilogy. Did we really need this film? Did we need Shia LaBeouf as the Indiana Jones in training?
What other prequels/sequels can you think of? Do you think there was a legitimate story in there? Or was this a blatant cash grab by filmmakers?
Went to "SW: The Last Jedi" yesterday & there is yet another "Jurrasic Park" due next year, this one in 3-D???
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To Jakeem & others, we should have a little contest of predict the nominees for the *Oscars & of course the actual winners. Below are my own predictions of the nominations for the 90th Annual *Academy Awards-(not my final annual predix, a running tally sheet only. My 36th year at *Oscar oddsmaking)>
Best Picture-=(there will likely be 8 to 10 again)?: (*-denotes early frontrunner)
"Call Me By Your Name"
"Darkest Hour"
*"Dunkirk'
"Get 0ut"
"Lady Bird"
"Mudbound"
"The Phantom Thread"
"The Post"
*"The Shape of Water"=-(will possibly lead the field with most nods)
& *"Three Billboards 0ut of Ebbing Missouri"
Best Actor?:
Timothy Chalamet in "Call Me By Your Name"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "The Phantom Thread"
James Franco, "Disaster Artist"
Tom Hanks in "The Post"
& *Gary 0ldman, "Darkest Hour"
Best Actress?:
*Sally Hawkins in "The Shape of Water"
*Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards..."
Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
Soairse Ronan, "LadyBird"
& Meryl Streep, "The Post"-=(will cite her already record 21st nomination)
Supporting Actor?:
*Willem Dafoe in "The Florida Project"
Woody Harrelson, "Three Billboards...:"
Richard Jenkins, "The Shape of Water"
Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards..."
& Michael Stuhlbarg, "Call Me By Your Name"
Supporting Actress?:
Mary J. Blige in "Mudbound"
Holly Hunter, "The Big Sick"
Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"
*Laurie Metcalf, "LadyBird"
& 0ctavia Spencer, "The Shape of Water"
& Best Director?:
*Guillermo Del Toro for "The Shape of Water"
Greta Gerwig, "LadyBird"
Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards...":
Christopher Nolan, "Dunkirk"
& Steven Spielberg, "The Post"
THANK YOU & PLEASE SEND ANY COMMENTS
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A good one, wish it were longer
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On 12/5/2017 at 8:00 PM, jamesjazzguitar said:
I was pulling for Tracy all the way in Fury! But seriously, he wasn't justified but it was understandable why he did what he did. Many consider this to be an early noir film. Regardless of how one classifies the film, it is a fine film with great acting and lots of tension. Loved Sylvia Sidney ever since I saw Dead End (with Joel McCrea and Bogart).
*Katharine Hepburn always found "Fury' a great film & after she saw it she almost immediately wanted to not only meet him, but work with him. She was said-(according to her) to search all mover M-G-M, but he was at that time filming "The Yearling" in 1941 & in the Florida everglages, which was a failure of course, with King Vidor & *Ann Revere in the cast
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On 12/3/2017 at 8:02 PM, TopBilled said:
Yes, very good. Uses a script by Rod Serling (previously filmed as a TV drama with Jack Palance). The supporting cast is exceptional-- Mickey Rooney, Jackie Gleason and Julie Harris. Anthony Quinn takes over for Palance and does an admirable job.
& an upbeat ending, as opposed to the other version
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Many were stunned at just how many celebs went in 2016
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3 hours ago, LawrenceA said:
If someone can find it posted somewhere, a link or an embed would be appreciated.
To Lawrence, still don't know the difference between a link & embed, what is the latter please?
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5 hours ago, Sepiatone said:
Different weight class, Spence. And I'd say a 67-10 record (with 52 KOs) was pretty great in those days.
And that's Graziano's 77 fights as opposed to Marciano's 49.
Sepiatone
thanks for replying, I know he had more bouts, but overall I personally rate "The Rock" as in MARCIANO greater. ever see the computer match between Ali & Marciano?
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But none of the newer flix even won a single *Academy Award?
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On 10/10/2017 at 5:24 AM, jakeem said:
I'm not a big"SW' fan, but thought this installment was very strong (***1/2-out of four) & am seeing the latest this coming week (P.S. This site also keeps erasing letters?)
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On 12/11/2017 at 10:27 PM, jakeem said:
The great soul singer Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash 50 years ago this week in Madison, Wisconsin. His last hit record -- the wistful "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" -- was released shortly afterwards and became a No. 1 hit. Earlier in the year, Aretha Franklin's song "Respect" reached the top of the charts. It was written by Redding.
He was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
He actually drowned, didn't he? Some gruesome shots of them taking him out of the water were published
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On 11/16/2017 at 8:31 AM, TopBilled said:
Another conversation piece part 1
Several months I ago I had the pleasure of chatting with a classic film fan who also admired Maureen O'Hara. Then I found out, she once worked with Maureen.
Joan: I usually don’t talk about this ancient history but I was Judy Miniver in the TV version of 'Mrs. Miniver.' Maureen played the lead, and I played her daughter.
TopBilled: Oh that's very interesting, Joan. According to Maureen's filmography on the IMDb, it was produced in 1960. I clicked on the page for this production. A very young Keir Dullea was a German pilot in it, and I see your name listed as well.
Joan: I saw Keir at the tribute to Kubrick at the Director’s Guild. It hadn’t started yet and he was standing in the audience by the stairs leading up to the stage. I walked over to him and said, “Hi. I’m Judy Miniver.” I’ll never forget his expression! He nearly feel over backwards. I told him what my mother used to say about him. “You Just play around with Peter (who played my brother and I had a huge crush on) and look at Keir, he just works all day long, rehearsing with his friend.” He laughed and told me that he only did that because he had to learn how to speak German so it sounded real.
TopBilled: I love Keir Dullea. He seems like an intense actor/performer. I notice Maureen did another TV project with the same director (Marc Daniels) that year.
Joan: Really? I know he really liked working with her. I was very impressed when he needed her to cry in one scene with us and he just said, "okay. turn on the onions." And boy did she ever...what bloody control she had. We were sitting "outside" and she was reading to us and our brother flew overhead and cut his engines three times to say hello...she continues reading through her tears...and there were many.
TopBilled: Your anecdotes are so interesting. I love the phrase 'turn on the onions.' Wonder if a lot of other directors say that too. I agree she must have had amazing control as an actress, you can really see it in THE QUIET MAN and most of her other performances.
Coming up in part two: Joan talks about working with James Stewart on another production.
Never heard a negative word about 0'Hara
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13 hours ago, bily jack said:
im fairly new to this forum i was wandering if any one wishes to have a converastion re the olde classics which i enjoy maany thanks bily jack
It's officially a 1965 release though, Wyler earned his record 12th Best Director nod & Egar was up for Best Actress
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Jakeem, any predix from you?
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On 12/14/2017 at 4:57 AM, jakeem said:
Oprah Winfrey, the actress, talk show host, entertainment mogul and humanitarian, will be presented the annual Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Golden Globes.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that votes on the annual film and television awards, announced her selection on Wednesday. The DeMille Award is presented to an honoree for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment."
Winfrey's syndicated talk show "Oprah" ran from 1986 to 2011. She now heads her own cable channel The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
She made her screen debut as Harpo in Steven Spielberg's 1986 drama "The Color Purple," based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. Winfrey later named her production company Harpo, which also is her first name spelled backwards.
For her performance in the film, Winfrey received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2014, Winfrey earned an Oscar nomination as a producer of the historical drama "Selma," which was a contender for Best Picture.
For her many charitable causes, she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Next year, Winfrey will star as Mrs. Which (pictured below) in "Selma" director Ava DuVernay’s screen adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's 1963 fantasy novel "A Wrinkle in Time."
"As a global media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress, she has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today," said HFPA president Meher Tatna. "For generations, Oprah has celebrated strong female characters on and off screen, and has been a role model for women and young girls for decades. Holding titles such as chairman. CEO and founder, Oprah is one of the most influential women of our time, and the honor is well deserved especially in this 75th anniversary year of the Golden Globe Awards."
Winfrey is the 14th woman to be designated for the honor.
The Golden Globe Awards will be hosted by late-night host Seth Meyers on Sunday, January 7, 2018 on NBC.
The DeMille award was first presented in 1952 to its namesake, the great filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille. Other winners were:
- Walt Disney (1953)
- Darryl F. Zanuck (1954)
- Jean Hersholt (1955)
- Jack L. Warner (1956)
- Mervyn LeRoy (1957)
- Buddy Adler (1958)
- Maurice Chevalier (1959)
- Bing Crosby (1960)
- Fred Astaire (1961)
- Judy Garland (1962)
- Bob Hope (1963)
- Joseph E. Levine (1964)
- James Stewart (1965)
- John Wayne (1966)
- Charlton Heston (1967)
- Kirk Douglas (1968)
- Gregory Peck (1969)
- Joan Crawford (1970)
- Frank Sinatra (1971)
- Sir Alfred Hitchcock (1972)
- Samuel Goldwyn (1973)
- Bette Davis (1974)
- Hal B. Wallis (1975)
- No award presented (1976)
- Walter Mirisch (1977)
- Red Skelton (1978)
- Lucille Ball (1979)
- Henry Fonda (1980)
- Gene Kelly (1981)
- Sidney Poitier (1982)
- Sir Laurence Olivier (1983)
- Paul Newman (1984)
- Elizabeth Taylor (1985)
- Barbara Stanwyck (1986)
- Anthony Quinn (1987)
- Clint Eastwood (1988)
- Doris Day (1989)
- Audrey Hepburn (1990)
- Jack Lemmon (1991)
- Robert Mitchum (1992)
- Lauren Bacall (1993)
- Robert Redford (1994)
- Sophia Loren (1995)
- Sir Sean Connery (1996)
- Dustin Hoffman (1997)
- Shirley MacLaine (1998)
- Jack Nicholson (1999)
- Barbra Streisand (2000)
- Al Pacino (2001)
- Harrison Ford (2002)
- Gene Hackman (2003)
- Michael Douglas (2004)
- Robin Williams (2005)
- Sir Anthony Hopkins (2006)
- Warren Beatty (2007)
- No award presented (2008)
- Steven Spielberg (2009)
- Martin Scorsese (2010)
- Robert De Niro (2011)
- Morgan Freeman (2012)
- Jodie Foster (2013)
- Woody Allen (2014)
- George Clooney (2015)
- Denzel Washington (2016)
- Meryl Streep (2017)
Don't think 0rah deserves this though, she's hardly made any films
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Strangely never even heard of "Wada?" I do remember when they pretty much started this though & was based on colorization of classic flix in the '80's
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5 hours ago, Bogie56 said:
Sunday, December 17
10 p.m. Modern Romance (1981). Albert Brooks' brilliant breaking up film. Don’t forget to check out George Kennedy’s feet and never jog broke.
Albert Brooks is among the few that can still make me laugh in our era & was an *Academy Award contender for '87's "Broadcast News" (TRIVIA: His brother is Super Dave 0sborne)
Who also caught his even better 1985 "Lost in America?"
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1 hour ago, ChristineHoard said:
I watched this again and I have to say I love Ann Sheridan's top - especially the hands in the front. She's very funny in this as is Jimmy Durante. Lots of references to famous people in the 1940's; I wonder how many go over the heads of today's audience.
Very good (***1/2) but stagey
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On 12/15/2017 at 9:24 AM, Bogie56 said:
Saturday, December 16
3:45 a.m. Island of Lost Souls (1933). Are we not men.
Anyone ever see the 1996 version & *Brando in what is probably his most bizarre role?
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THANX FOR THE CLIP! Pier Angeli killed herself in 1971. Rocky G. wasn't a great fighter, but a good one, not like MARCIANO though
Prequels/Sequels/etc. That Come Out Years/Decades After the Original. Good Idea? Or Cash Grab?
in General Discussions
Posted
"Aliens" was very strong ($81m.) (***1/2)