Films! good, bad, recomendations, and general film talk

[Philly Q]

Black Dynamite

Part homage, part spoof of early-'70s blaxploitation movies.  The comedy is a bit hit-or-miss, but the look, sound and style is spot on.  Michael Jai White does a great job of channelling Jim Brown and Jim Kelly.  Cool soundtrack too.

[Philly Q]

Merantau

Unquestionably the best Indonesian martial arts movie directed by an ex-pat Welshman I have ever seen.... 
Very much in the Ong Bak mould (the original, not the dodgy sequels), but with slightly less spectacular stunts.

[_tom_]

I rewatched Black Dynamite last night, love that film! My favourite scene is that one at the diner where they figure out the "plot" behind Anaconda Malt Liqor :lol: Also the "Euphoria, shut the f_ck up" scene!

[Philly Q]

My favourite scene is that one at the diner where they figure out the "plot" behind Anaconda Malt Liqor :lol:

Yeah, with all the references to Greek and Roman mythology!  That was very clever, but not sure why they included it in a blaxploitation spoof!  It was like the ridiculous "clues" Nic Cage figures out in National Treasure.

[Loomer]

Merantau

Unquestionably the best Indonesian martial arts movie directed by an ex-pat Welshman I have ever seen.... 

Good. The market's really been clogged up with those recently  :lol:

[Ian Price]

I'll be watching some Chrimbo films soon. A bit early I know but there are quite a few I would like to fit in this year. I didn't get round to watching It's a Wonderful Life last year - definitely on my list this year. One of the greatest films ever made IMO.

[Philly Q]

Merantau

Unquestionably the best Indonesian martial arts movie directed by an ex-pat Welshman I have ever seen.... 

Good. The market's really been clogged up with those recently  :lol:

Yeah, everyone's jumping on the bandwagon aren't they?!

I'll be watching some Chrimbo films soon. A bit early I know but there are quite a few I would like to fit in this year. I didn't get round to watching It's a Wonderful Life last year - definitely on my list this year. One of the greatest films ever made IMO.

Believe it or not, I've never seen it!  :oops:

I'm not particularly into Christmas films, but one good memory I have is, many years ago, the BBC showed the films of Jacques Tati early each morning over the Christmas period.  Those are probably my favourite films of all - they certainly make me feel more happy than any other films I can think of.   :)

[Ian Price]

I'll be watching some Chrimbo films soon. A bit early I know but there are quite a few I would like to fit in this year. I didn't get round to watching It's a Wonderful Life last year - definitely on my list this year. One of the greatest films ever made IMO.

Believe it or not, I've never seen it!  :oops:

I'm not particularly into Christmas films, but one good memory I have is, many years ago, the BBC showed the films of Jacques Tati early each morning over the Christmas period.  Those are probably my favourite films of all - they certainly make me feel more happy than any other films I can think of.   :)

I don't believe it!

Actually, I've never seen any Jacques Tati films - are they anything like the stuff Hattie Jacques was in? I don't think I've even heard of him before. I'm obviously not as cultured as you.

[Philly Q]

Actually, I've never seen any Jacques Tati films. I don't think I've even heard of him before. I'm obviously not as cultured as you.

He was a French actor/writer/director who only made a handful of films between the late '40s and early '70s.  They're very gentle comedies, not silent but with almost no dialogue, and most of them star Tati as M. Hulot, a middle-aged man who is somewhat baffled by the people and the modern world around him.  They're utterly charming and I love them to bits.  :D


(Nothing like Hattie Jacques!  But do you remember Eric Sykes, who had a long-running TV series with Hattie Jacques?  He made a famous short film called The Plank, which was quite similar to Tati's style)

[Andrew W]

Actually, I've never seen any Jacques Tati films. I don't think I've even heard of him before. I'm obviously not as cultured as you.

He was a French actor/writer/director who only made a handful of films between the late '40s and early '70s.  They're very gentle comedies, not silent but with almost no dialogue, and most of them star Tati as M. Hulot, a middle-aged man who is somewhat baffled by the people and the modern world around him.  They're utterly charming and I love them to bits.  :D


(Nothing like Hattie Jacques!  But do you remember Eric Sykes, who had a long-running TV series with Hattie Jacques?  He made a famous short film called The Plank, which was quite similar to Tati's style)

Tati for the win! Playtime and Jour des Fêtes are two of my favourite films of all time. Hattie isn't in either of them.

[Ian Price]

Well, I might need to look these up one day. Jane is more of a Sci-Fi buff though so perhaps I should watch them on my own.

[Loomer]

I think I'll look up those Tati things too. Sounds like a pleasant "Sunday-afternoon-on-the-couch-with-a-pot-of-tea"-type thing!

[Sifu Ben]

Inspired by Philly I watched The Black Shield of Falworth on Bluray this week, just as great as I remembered :)
I also watched Chico and Rita, a beautiful animated film about the troubled love between two Cuban musicians from the 40s to the present. Seriously the first time I've cried at a cartoon since Baloo "dies" in Jungle book!
Philly, you have to see It's a Wonderful Life, it's fantastic. Not really so much a Christmas film as a film set at Christmas.

[Philly Q]

Philly, you have to see It's a Wonderful Life, it's fantastic. Not really so much a Christmas film as a film set at Christmas.

Yeah, I should make the effort.  Maybe I'll buy it on Blu-ray - I shall have to check what editions are available.

Glad you enjoyed The Black Shield of Falworth!  :D

[Sancho]

Glad you enjoyed The Black Shield of Falworth!  :D

That's an awesome movie! If it's out on BluRay, I need to get it.