Movie Rambles

[movieman1957]

FF:

 

On your Grace Jones comment, there are two things to remember. 1 - 1985. 2 - She is nothing if not eccentric. Don't know a thing about her music but every picture I've seen of her she is mostly on the unusual side.

 

There is some excitement at the end with the Golden Gate Bridge scene and the underground scene prior but not a lot going on earlier. Tanya Roberts is not all the great. Walken who seems like a perfect a villian comes across to me as mostly crazy but not particularly evil. His talent with a machine gun is evident but for all he does with it doesn't come across as all that sinister. Certainly not in the way Blofeld does and without the charm (as far as it goes) as Goldfinger.

[Film_Fatale]

On your Grace Jones comment, there are two things to remember. 1 - 1985. 2 - She is nothing if not eccentric. Don't know a thing about her music but every picture I've seen of her she is mostly on the unusual side.

 

Oh, it's not unusual that I mind - that makes for a better Bond movie, most of the time. I just think there's "unusual" that flatters a performer and "unusual" that, well, maybe doesn't. I wonder if she'd have looked better with a different, also unusual, hairstyle. But it's a very small quibble about the movie.

 

There is some excitement at the end with the Golden Gate Bridge scene and the underground scene prior but not a lot going on earlier. Tanya Roberts is not all the great. Walken who seems like a perfect a villian comes across to me as mostly crazy but not particularly evil. His talent with a machine gun is evident but for all he does with it doesn't come across as all that sinister. Certainly not in the way Blofeld does and without the charm (as far as it goes) as Goldfinger.

 

Yes, it's really one that made it feel as though the franchise was running out of steam - or at least, inspiration.

 

Later on I watched *License to Kill* - how funny that Benicio del Toro, who had a bit part in that one, would go on to become an Oscar-winning actor. He'd probably make a fairly good heavy today, in a Bond movie or any movie.

[JackFavell]

Benicio del Toro is a really good actor, but for the first 3 pictures that I saw him in, I could not figure out a word he said. It is amazing to me that he ended up with a career at all.

[Film_Fatale]

Benicio del Toro is a really good actor, but for the first 3 pictures that I saw him in, I could not figure out a word he said. It is amazing to me that he ended up with a career at all.

 

Odd. He seemed to talk normally in the Bond movie. Maybe it's just a little trick he borrowed from Marlon Brando?

[JackFavell]

>

> Odd. He seemed to talk normally in the Bond movie. Maybe it's just a little trick he borrowed from Marlon Brando?

 

He certainly seemed to be a mumble and stumble type for a while there.

 

I like Grace Jones. She looks strong and I kind of enjoyed the gender games that were going on back then.

[Film_Fatale]

I like Grace Jones. She looks strong and I kind of enjoyed the gender games that were going on back then.

 

I didn't know there were gender games going on in the mid-80's.

 

Well, I guess the main thing I've learned from trying to watch all 20+ Bond movies in just a few days' time is that there's no substitute for the early Bond from the 60's, that's when the franchise was brand new and it was quite different from everything that was being done in action movies, I guess. Today's Bond is entertaining enough I guess, but it has to work extra hard to differentiate itself from other series like the Jason Bourne movies.

[JackFavell]

I hate to say it right at this moment, but I like the Bourne movies.....

[movieman1957]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

> I hate to say it right at this moment, but I like the Bourne movies.....

 

No reason to hate to say it as they are pretty exciting in their own right. It's just a dofferent type of spy movie. I like them too. The last one had all that hand held camera work during the fight that would not end and I started to get a headache but I thought it quite clever in the way it tied info from the prior movie(s) into the plot.

[Film_Fatale]

I also don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the Bourne movies, they've done a pretty good job. They're certainly better than most of the other action movies being done today and give even modern Bond movies a run for their money.

 

It's just harder I guess to really make an impression with action movies these days because the bar has been raised so high. Nothing will ever come along I guess that could quite duplicate the impact Bond movies must have had in the 60's. B-)

[butterscotchgreer]

my parents love the bourne movies and even my grandparents like them, but i cold never bring myself to love them as much....i just love to see Matt Damon!! cutie extreme! heehee! they are really violent, but i like the first one more b/c of the romantic twist to it, i didnt however olike the 2nd one, b/c they killed her off! how mean to take his love away like that. i couldnt believe it!

[JackFavell]

> It's just harder I guess to really make an impression with action movies these days because the bar has been raised so high. Nothing will ever come along I guess that could quite duplicate the impact Bond movies must have had in the 60's. B-)

 

That's for sure.

 

I agree that the Bourne movies have gotten successively less good. The first is the best. But I like the way they come full circle. I also enjoy the sort of shock value they employ- like when Jason is talking to Joan Allen and you suddenly realize he is right across the street! I love the way they do that kind of thing over and over!

 

You really can't top the first one, because he didn't know why or how he knew to do the things he did. (Whew. What a convoluted sentence). The fact that he could kill someone, but didn't know why he knew how to do it was intriguing.

[JackFavell]

The romance was part of the charm of the first one, Scotchie, as were the locations..... very romantic.....

[butterscotchgreer]

*The romance was part of the charm of the first one, Scotchie, as were the locations..... very romantic.....*

 

i know! i loved those parts! i have the whole first movie memorized, b/c my parents watch it so much. goodness me!

[Film_Fatale]

Well, that's the problem with any sequels. People want to see "the same, but different" and it's hard for any filmmaker to get it just right. The more original the first film was, the harder it is to recreate the same thrill and excitement, it's the law of diminishing returns. You can only go back to the well so many times.

 

But Franka Potente really was good in the Bourne movies. She was a very unique presence. B-)

[MissGoddess]

Excellent, Jackie, on *Strangers on a Train*. You caught those stalking scenes perfectly.

 

It's not one of my favorites by Hitch. I'm just not crazy about the cast. Marion Lorne is pretty

funny, though, as the clueless mother and once again, Hitch gets in a dig on a "modernist"

painting.

[Film_Fatale]

Good point about the dig on the "modernist" painting. B-)

[JackFavell]

This may have been posted somewhere else, but my travels here in TCM land all tend to stay around this thread and a couple others.

 

What are your favorite Hitch movies, Miss G.? FF? I am guessing that Miss G likes The Lady Vanishes, and maybe some of the more romantic Hitch movies? I cannot possibly guess FF's choices B-)

 

My favoriteclassic Hitch movies run back and forth between:

 

Strangers on a Train

Shadow of a Doubt

 

I also like The Lady Vanishes, The Thirty-nine Steps, and Saboteur. (Maybe I just like handcuffs).

I would say that Hitch's masterpiece is Vertigo, but I just don't get all excited watching it. It is a cold movie, and I like Hitch's warm movies best.

 

I also really love:

 

The Trouble with Harry

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

[MissGoddess]

(Maybe I just like handcuffs).

 

Ha! Don't knock them if you lock them, I say.

 

I love *Shadow of a Doubt*, too. It's a wonderful film in every respect and immensely

re-watchable.

 

My top six in order of "enjoyability" (I can't limit it to less):

 

1. To Catch a Thief

2. Rebecca

3. Marnie

4. Rear Window

5. Vertigo

6. Mr and Mrs Smith

[MissGoddess]

I can't stand Martha Hyer's character in Some Came Running!

 

But what I really want to say is what an interesting lineup TCM has up for tonight

(including some lesser known Samuel Goldwyn productions):

 

8:00pm *We Live Again* (1934)

A Russian nobleman discovers the peasant girl he once seduced has turned to crime.

Cast: Anna Sten, Fredric March, C. Aubrey Smith. Dir: Rouben Mamoulian. BW-82 mins

 

9:30pm *Beloved Enemy* (1936)

During an Irish uprising, a rebel leader and a British noblewoman fall in love.

Cast: Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, David Niven. Dir: H.C. Potter. BW-86 mins

 

11:15pm *Come And Get It* (1936)

Years after deserting his true love, a lumber tycoon vies with his son for her daughter's hand.

Cast: Edward Arnold, Frances Farmer, Walter Brennan. Dir: Howard Hawks, William Wyler. BW-99 mins, TV-G

 

1:00am *Nana* (1934)

A streetwalker rises to stage stardom but triggers a scandal when two brothers fall for her.

Cast: Anna Sten, Lionel Atwill, Richard Bennett. Dir: Dorothy Arzner, George Fitzmaurice. BW-87 mins

 

2:45am *One Heavenly Night* (1930)

A flower seller goes into exile in place of a notorious opera singer.

Cast: Evelyn Laye, John Boles, Leon Errol. Dir: George Fitzmaurice. BW-80 mins

 

4:30am *Masquerader, The* (1933)

An unemployed reporter impersonates his look-alike cousin and falls for the man's wife.

Cast: *Ronald Colman* ( ! ), Elissa Landi, Juliette Compton. Dir: Richard Wallace. BW-77 mins

 

The only one I have seen before is *Beloved Enemy*. I will probably record most if not all

of them.

[Film_Fatale]

What are your favorite Hitch movies, Miss G.? FF? I am guessing that Miss G likes The Lady Vanishes, and maybe some of the more romantic Hitch movies? I cannot possibly guess FF's choices B-)

 

I don't know, it's hard to give a straight answer. Obviously I'm in awe of *Vertigo*. After that, I don't know if there's any particular Hitchcock movie that I like, as much as just relishing almost every moment of everything (or almost everything) that he did. What movie I might enjoy best on any given day might depend greatly on what mood I'm in.

 

Even his lesser movies are interesting, although not as absorbing as his better ones.

[Film_Fatale]

But what I really want to say is what an interesting lineup TCM has up for tonight

(including some lesser known Samuel Goldwyn productions):

 

I agree with April. I'm looking forward to *Beloved Enemy* because it's a TCM premiere and I've never seen it. I will also be recording most of the movies being shown tonight.

[rohanaka]

We now know exactly what Bruno is capable of.

 

Spot on w/ your ramble on Strangers on a Train, my sister. Very good description of the "events behind the events" and also of Bruno's mindset. What a creepy little monster he was. I think this gives me a whole new perspective on Walker's talent only having seen him in a couple of other roles. He was VERY convincing in this one.

 

The only part I found a bit too far fetched was the party scene where he was talking murder methods w/ the two society ladies. I found the whole bit where he passed out a bit too unbelievable...I could better see him staring at the girl and starting to get too real w/ the strangle hold on the other lady and then getting his composure back after she started to protest...but the whole losing it and going lights out was a bit too contrived for me.

 

What did you think of young Ms. Hitchcock's performance? At first I thought she was a little stiff but boy she loosened up and then almost stole the show a few times.

 

All in all, I have to say this one was a good little suspense/crime drama. But not ready to put it way up at the top. However, I think I mentioned this before...the merry go round scene....I may never let my daughter ride one of those again!!!

[Film_Fatale]

All in all, I have to say this one was a good little suspense/crime drama. But not ready to put it way up at the top. However, I think I mentioned this before...the merry go round scene....I may never let my daughter ride one of those again!!!

 

Hiya Kathy

 

How do you rate this one compared to other Hitchcock movies you've seen? B-)

[rohanaka]

compared to other Hitchcock movies you've seen

 

I am sure I have not seen nearly as many of his films as some...so I may not be the best one to judge...but somewhere in the middle maybe...I would put it sort of on the same level as Rope as far as likeability for me though the two are not really all that similar in story. This story has way more "action" than the other.

[Film_Fatale]

Well, if you haven't seen that many Hitchcock movies, there's always something to look forward to

 

When I was in college, I decided to watch as many Hitch movies as I could so I started with some of his British movies from the 30's and then watched every single thing he did after that up until his death. It was a lot of fun to watch them in the order they were made.

 

Kind of like I'm doing right now with all the Bond movies B-)

 

Next time I dedicate some major time to Hitch I want to make sure to watch everything that's available of his pre-Hollywood career in Britain.