Topic: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching

[goodguy]

I second the recommendation of Welcome to the Rileys. She was also the lead in Speak, Cake Eaters and a couple of other recommendable indies, all overshadowed by the Twilight craze.

As for Snow White, it's worth checking out. Not a great movie by any standard, but IMHO the least mediocre of all the blockbusters from this year.

[samuelrichardscott]

Whilst we're on Kristen Stewart recommendations, I'll also throw out The Runaways which also stars Dakota Fanning.

I've added Cake Eaters and Speak to my wish list.

[DSig]

Yes, Kristen Stewart has found herself typecast now because of the success of Twilight. I've not seen Twilight, but do own it but thought she was great in Panic Room and The Messengers also. I recommend checking out "Welcome to the Rileys" though - a very down film, but worth a watch. Co-stars James Gandolfini. There is a review of it in my movie marathon thread...

EDIT: Yep, thought I'd reviewed it - http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6328.msg154831.html

Thanks for the reviews - I still want to check out Snow White, but not had the chance as of yet. It's shame that the on-set affair between Kristen Stewart and the director has been in the papers so much here (British director) it has taken away the shine from the movie.

Cool .. put "Welcome to the Rileys" on my list of .. to look for.

Don't know anything about Stewart and the directory as we don't usually get that kind of crap in our papers .. we have a hole other level of crap.  Not sure why an affair should detract from the film but .. there you go.

Take time to watch the "The Twilight Saga".  It is overall very good.  The kind of thing you don't mind wasting time watching

[DSig]

Whilst we're on Kristen Stewart recommendations, I'll also throw out The Runaways which also stars Dakota Fanning.

I've added Cake Eaters and Speak to my wish list.

Thanks for the reminder .. I had forgotten about "The Runaways".  I did very much enjoy that film.  I also like the band when they came out.  Hard road for a group of girls.

[Najemikon]

<g> Yeah .. working through all my Alfred Hitchcock.  Got a burr in my saddle a couple of weeks ago.  Stop occasionally for some other things .. kind of a pallet cleansing <g>  Only 15 more to go

Ah, where were you a couple of years ago when we had a mammoth Hitchcock marathon? He's a favourite director of mine too.

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,5251.0.html

It became such a big endeavour, I created a fun little appendix thread too. There will be a couple of articles and links in here I bet you will enjoy:

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6376.msg112704.html#msg112704

[DSig]

<g> Yeah .. working through all my Alfred Hitchcock.  Got a burr in my saddle a couple of weeks ago.  Stop occasionally for some other things .. kind of a pallet cleansing <g>  Only 15 more to go

Ah, where were you a couple of years ago when we had a mammoth Hitchcock marathon? He's a favourite director of mine too.

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,5251.0.html

It became such a big endeavour, I created a fun little appendix thread too. There will be a couple of articles and links in here I bet you will enjoy:

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6376.msg112704.html#msg112704

:-) I was just collecting and enjoying life.  You are right .. it is a big endeavor.  As you can see I have started putting in other things occasionally to "cleanse the pallet" as it were.  Heck I only have 34 of his films but that is a lot of watching.

I really am drooling over the new release .. but it looks like it is missing a lot of bits.  I want to first get all of his films that are released on DVD and then get my favorites on Blu-Ray.

Good to meet another Hitchcock fan.  Although I might prefer some of his less renouned films I really like what he does.

[DSig]

What I am watching on 25sep12 -

Movies -

Stage Fright In Alfred Hitchcock's world, theatres are where danger stalks the wings, characters are not what they seem and that "final curtain" can drop any second. The droll Stage Fright springs from that entertaining tradition. Jane Wyman plays drama student Eve Gill, who tries to clear a friend (Richard Todd) being framed for murder by becoming the maid of flamboyant stage star Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich). Filming in his native England, Hitchcock merrily juggles elements of humor and whodunit and puts game ensemble (Alastair Sim, Sybil Thorndike, Joyce Grenfell, Kay Walsh and daughter Patricia Hitchcock) through its paces. No one turns a theatre into a bastion of dread like Hitchcock and Stage Fright is proof positive. Complete Info 3.0 Staring Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding, Richard Todd and Alastair Sim. Although well done this is not a favorite of mine.  It is too slow .. too much lovey dovey stuff.  Seems some extraneous bits going on.  But don't get me wrong .. i can understand why some like this film so much.

I Confess In Alfred Hitchcock's I Confess, Father Michael Logan (Montgomery Clift), apparently a model of clerical piety, hears a killer's confession. Eyewitnesses point to a priest as the murderer and the sacrament of penance forbids Logan to speak out – even in his own defense – when circumstantial evidence targets Logan as the prime suspect! Academy Award® winners* Anne Baxter and Karl Malden co-star as a former flame and a police inspector whose attempts to clear Logan only entrap him further. Filmed in Quebec on locations highlighting that city's Old World traditions, I Confess races toward a climax that's unforgettable. And in true Hitchcock fashion, you'll confess to being hooked all the way. *Baxter: Best Supporting Actress (1946) for The Razor's Edge, Malden: Best Supporting Actor (1951) for A Streetcar Named Desire. Complete Info 3.0 Staring Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter, Karl Malden and Brian Aherne. Karl Malden as a cop is great (what a nose) .. portents of things to come.  Just as striking in this one as his role in Nevada Smith.  Everyone in this is good .. the storyline is good and tight, and the direction / editing is good.  But once again this is not one of my favorites.  Not a bad watch .. just not something I will grab easily.

Having talked about Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and The Trouble with Harry i am going to jump past them and move on down the list ... [/b]

	To Catch a Thief Cary Grant plays John Robie, a reformed jewel thief who was once known as "The Cat," in this suspenseful Alfred Hitchcock classic thriller. Robie is suspected of a new rash of gem thefts in the luxury hotels of the French Riviera, and he must set out to clear himself. Meeting pampered heiress Frances (Grace Kelly), he sees a chance to bait the mysterious thief with her mother's (Jessie Royce Landis) fabulous jewels. His plan backfires, however, but Frances who believes him guilty, proves her love by helping him escape. In a spine-tingling climax, the real criminal is exposed. Three Academy Award® nominations, including an Oscar® for "Best Cinematography." Complete Info 4.5 Staring an older / more mature Cary Grant, in one of her last appearences Grace Kelly, great as the rich socialite mother Jessie Royce Landis, again the great John Williams was the great cop in Dial M for Murder, Charles Vanel, and Brigitte Auber. Great story, great acting along with fine direction and cinematography.  There is not much this film is missing .. which is why it is one of my favorite Hitchcock films.
	The Man Who Knew Too Much Film buffs argue which version of exciting story is better. We vote this one, with Hitchcock in fine form weaving dry British humor into a story of heart-pounding suspense; young girl is kidnapped to prevent her parents from revealing what they've learned about assassination plot. Complete Info 3.0 This is a remake of Hitchcocks 1934 version of The Man Who Kew Too Much staring James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda De Banzie, Bernard Miles, Alan Mowbray, Hillary Brooke (several including Invaders from Mars, Costello Meet Captain Kidd  and the Abbott and Costello TV show plus many more, Christopher Olsen. This is not one of my favorite Hitchcock films.  In fact I am not sure that it is even as good as the original.  Parts seem too forced .. the singing bits with Doris Day, even James Stewart's acting seems strained.  The cinematography does not look that good .. the scenes where action is filmed before a background screen does not mesh well together at all.  Maybe this is because it is color.
	The Wrong Man The Wrong Man is like and unlike any other Alfred Hitchcock movie. The story packs tension, the images are spellbinding and the dilemma genuinely frightening. But this time the master of suspense dramatizes the harrowing true experiences of a man tried for crimes committed by a lookalike robber. Henry Fonda plays musician Manny Balestrero, a man full of visible but unspoken rage at his wrongful arrest. Vera Miles is his distraught wife Rose, driven to madness by the ordeal. And the right man to bring the unsettling facts of the case to vivid screen life with documentary precision is Hitchcock. He made New York City a star of the film and cast real-life Balestrero case witnesses in small roles. He shot in many actual locations, among them the Stork Club, Manny's jail cell and Rose's sanitarium. Complete Info 4.0 Staring Henry Fonda in i believe his only film with Hitchock, Vera Miles, the great Anthony Quayle, and Harold Stone who plays a great cop in this film. This is a very good film .. one of my favorites from Hitchcock.  Fonda gives a great performance here.  And Vera Miles is excellent .. descending into madness very well.  I really like the film work .. excellent in B&W.  Also, the music in the film is very subdued which in  its own way adds to the film. I highly recommend this film.

[Najemikon]

<g> Yeah .. working through all my Alfred Hitchcock.  Got a burr in my saddle a couple of weeks ago.  Stop occasionally for some other things .. kind of a pallet cleansing <g>  Only 15 more to go

Ah, where were you a couple of years ago when we had a mammoth Hitchcock marathon? He's a favourite director of mine too.

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,5251.0.html

It became such a big endeavour, I created a fun little appendix thread too. There will be a couple of articles and links in here I bet you will enjoy:

http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6376.msg112704.html#msg112704

:-) I was just collecting and enjoying life.  You are right .. it is a big endeavor.  As you can see I have started putting in other things occasionally to "cleanse the pallet" as it were.  Heck I only have 34 of his films but that is a lot of watching.

I really am drooling over the new release .. but it looks like it is missing a lot of bits.  I want to first get all of his films that are released on DVD and then get my favorites on Blu-Ray.

Good to meet another Hitchcock fan.  Although I might prefer some of his less renouned films I really like what he does.

You should enjoy exploring this then! http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9ee3449d

The BFI have been putting a lot of work into Hitchcock resources this year, including restoring some of his films. One (The Ring) was broadcast online and there will be another soon.

[DSig]

Thanks for the link .. am checking it out

[DSig]

What I am watching on 26sep12 -

Movies -

	Vertigo One of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest cinematic achievements, Vertigo, celebrates its 50th anniversary with an all-new 2-disc Special Edition DVD! Set in San Francisco, Vertigo creates a dizzying web of mistaken identity, passion and murder after an acrophobic detective (James Stewart) rescues a mysterious blonde (Kim Novak) from the bay. Recognized for excellence in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies, this dreamlike thriller from the Master of Suspense is as entertaining today as it was 50 years ago. Featuring revealing bonus features and a digitally remastered picture, Vertigo is a "great motion picture that demands multiple viewings" (Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide). Complete Info 3.5 Staring James Stewart and Kim Novak (others involved but this is really about them). I really like this period, to me the second period, of James Stewart.  More serious with a bit of swagger.  And Kim Novack .. wow . what can be said.  The team up again in the great Bell, Book and Candle released the same year.
	North by Northwest Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is not a spy. And he's certainly no murderer. Nevertheless, Thornhill's a wanted man: enemy agents want him dead, the police want him arrested, and a cool, mysterious blonde (Eva Marie Saint) just plain wants him. A victim of mistaken identity, Thornhill can't afford to make any mistakes of his own - so he embarks on a death-defying run for his life. Relentlessly pursued by plane, train and automobile, Thornhill's cross-country chase finally ends atop Mt. Rushmore where, if he doesn't watch his step, he could be in for a terrible fall. Nominated for three 1959 Academy Awards®*, Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest is a masterful blend of suspense and romance, one of the best and most thrilling movie adventures ever created. *Oscar® and Academy Award™ are the registered trademarks & service marks of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Complete Info 4.5 Staring Cary Grant, the ever beautify Eva Marie Saint, the always classy James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis who was in To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant just years earlier, Leo G. Carroll who was one of Hitchcocks goto guys and a very early performance for Martin Landau. This film is a winner from start to end.  Along with the great acting (and chemistry between Grant and Saint) the cinematography is beautiful.   Grant is magnificent in this film.  Having reached full maturity as an actor it appears that his acting is effortless at this point.  And scenes such as the iconic one where Grant is waiting by the side of the road .. in nowhere .. and gets chased by a plane.  Wow  This could be Hitchcocks best film.
	The Avengers The Avengers is the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Complete Info 4.5 Staring Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man (possibly the best character/actor match up ever), Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America (another brilliant assignment), Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk (I like Ruffalo but I still see Bana as the Hulk), Chris Hemsworth as Thor (who would have thought .. after such a short career), Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Tom Hiddleston as Loki (this was a complete surprise .. i really had no idea who could play this part well .. he hit it out of the park), Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson (will miss him in the future), Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Stellan Skarsgård as Dr. Erik Selvig (of course he was brilliant in the Norwegian version of the film Insomnia and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Although not as old as Captain America, it turns out that in researching this that I am as old as Thor .. oh my.  So I grew up on Marvel Comics.  The characters in DC comics, with the exception of say Batman, were too squeaky clean.  But the characters in Marvel seemed to always have some flaws ... just like me as a teenager.  So there was more of a connection. Okay .. I loved this film in the theaters and I love it just as much on my big screen at home.  Joss Whedon has again done a marvelous job.  Pulling together such divergent characters with very different themes.   And I really like the story line.  There might have been 1 or 2 bits I wondered about IN THE 3rd WATCHING but I think that is normal even in the best of films.  I still am not thinking about other things throughout. And the cast .. not a weak point here.  All did a magnificent job.  Of course I have my favorites such as Iron Man and the Hulk (although I really liked the 1st Hulk film with Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly ... Ang Lee did a brilliant job bringing the big guy to life). If you are an action / adventure / BIG event kind of watcher then this film is for you (or should be).  It is magnificent.

[DSig]

What I am watching on 27sep12 -

Movies -

I think I have figured out a problem i have with Hitchcock films.  With the exception of a couple films, like "The Trouble with Harry" and "North by Northwest", I think that I find the B&W films much more compelling ... more disturbing.  That is one reason why the great films of the 'film noir' period were so great.  Put the same film in color and you don't get the same feeling .. intensity.  Well that is for me.

	Psycho Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of the macabre stars Anthony Perkins as the troubled Norman Bates, whose "old dark house" and adjoining motel are not the place to spend a quiet evening. No one knows that better than Janet Leigh, the film's ill-fated heroine who is victimized in the now-notorious "shower scene." Vera Miles, Martin Balsam, John Gavin and John McIntire co-star in Hitchcock's most compelling and terrifying film. Screenplay by Joseph Stefano. Complete Info 4.5"Why she wouldn't even harm a fly". Staring ... Anthony Perkins a great actor in the role of a life time.  Just as good here as he was in Fear Strikes Out. Vera Miles who was great in The Wrong Man, The Searchers and The Man Who SHot Liberty Valance is also very good here. John Gavin Martin Balsam a great character actor in a great number of films. John McIntire who was great in a number of westerns. Janet Leigh in another great film, though her part is short lived.  What a beauty in the shower.  I really loved her in Holiday Affair and Angels in the Outfield.  Truly a beautiful woman. This film has it all.  It is of course the best of the 4 Psycho films which include (notice the inventive names .. )Psycho II with Vera Miles, Psycho III and Psycho Iv: The Beginning all with Anthony Perkins.   Now for my confession .. I like all 4 of the movies.  Of course this film, "Psycho" is the greatest of them all.  In fact noted in some lists as the greatest film of all time.
	The Birds Tippi Hedren plays Melanie Daniels, a beautiful blonde who arrives in Bodega Bay in pursuit of the handsome and eligible Mitch Brenner, played by Rod Taylor. But love is not the only thing in the air when thousands of birds descend upon the town, attacking and terrorizing its residents. Soon Melanie and Mitch are fighting for their lives against a deadly, unexplainable force in this spine-tingling portrait of nature at its most powerful and ruthless. Complete Info 4.0 Staring Rod Taylor from the Time Machine Jessica Tandy of course from the brilliant *batteries not included Suzanne Pleshette from many things but possibly best known for the crazy Support Your Local Gunfighter and TV's The Bob Newhart Show Tippi Hedren who had just starred in "The Birds". I really like this film also.  But I am sad to say that I think it is the turning point in Hitchcocks career.  Quality of work and stories just never seemed the same after this one .. of course having climaxed with "Psycho". Now a confession .. We (my family as I grew up) always stayed on the coast.  And feeding seagulls, who are not discriminating eaters, was always a treat.   You could get 20-50 almost instantly after setting food out.  Then at 12 years old I saw "The Birds".  It was never as much fun again.  Watching this again brought back a flood of early memories.
	Captain America: The First Avenger Captain America leads the fight for freedom in the action-packed blockbuster starring Chris Evans as the ultimate weapon against evil! When a terrifying force threatens everyone across the globe, the world's greatest soldier wages war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix). Critics and audiences alike salute Captain America: The First Avenger  as "pure excitement, pure action, and pure fun!" Complete Info 3.5 Staring: Chris Evans always good as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in The Fantastic Four films Tommy Lee Jones good in just about everything Hugo Weaving with a great range .. from the character of Priscilla in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to Agent Smith in the The Matrix Trilogy And the great Stanley Tucci who i really enjoy here .. though short time. This is a very enjoyably film.  Although it is not my favorite Marvel World film it is very good .. and happy to have bought it as DVD. Though the story of Steve Rogers/Captain America is changed again here  the differences are not enough to ruin the film.  I know this has been asked before but .. why do so many Super Hero's have young boys for their companions?  Well maybe not a lot have companions but some. Acting and direction are all top notch .. with a good WW2 story line.  Not sure another one is warranted or even going to be good but will have to see.  I think they told the best of the story.

Finally for the last Alfred Hitchcock film in my collection .. i give you Marnie

Marnie The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, creates a spellbinding portrait of a disturbed woman, and the man who tries to save her, in this unrelenting psychological thriller. 'Tippi' Hedren is 'Marnie', a compulsive thief and liar who goes to work for Mark Rutland (Sean Connery), then attempts to rob him. Mark impulsively marries the troubled beauty and attempts to discover the reasons for her obsessive behavior. When a terrible accident pushes his wife to the edge, Mark forces Marnie to confront her terrors and her past in a shattering, inescapable conclusion. Complete Info 3.5 Staring: Tippi Hedren who had just starred in "The Birds" the year earlier, takes on this psychological thriller quite well.  She plays crazy quite well here. Sean Connery from Darby O'Gill and the Little People to James Bond (the only true Bond) to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .. always play well with greater performances as he aged.  Very similar to me as Cary Grant though not quite the humerous range. Diane Baker with dramatic rolls such as Journey to the Center of the Earth (the REAL Journey to the Center of the Earth) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_300_Spartans to lighter roles such as The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit. Martin Gabel Louise Latham Although this is an enjoyably film, it is not up there with "Psycho" and "North by Northwest".  Good script/storyline and good acting (both Connery AND Baker do excellent in this film). I will watch it again though it wont be on top of my list.

[DSig]

What I am watching on 01sep12 -

Movies -

	Thor The world has many heroes...but only one is a god. When the arrogant warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth, Star Trek) is banished to Earth from his homeworld of Asgard, He must fight to reclaim his lost powers. Pursued by an invasion force sent to destroy him the fallen God of Thunder must rise to the battle and learn what it takes to become a true hero. Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Anthony Hopkins (Beowulf ) also star in the blockbuster adventure critics are calling "thrilling, entertaining and cool" (Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool News). Complete Info 4.0 Staring Chris Hemsworth with this being his real first film .. he does a magnificent job Natalie Portman with brilliant performances as a child in Leon: The Professional to the dancer in Black Swan .. beautiful and brilliant Tom Hiddleston .. great here as Loki and great in The Avengers playing the same role Stellan Skarsgård always great .. as in Insomnia Colm Feore Rene Russo who single handedly kept the Lethal Weapon Series alive .. ever beautiful. Anthony Hopkins as [yrl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin]Odin[/url] .. what a great casting job This is a great introduction to one of the best characters in the Marvel line-up.  Good story line with fun bits to accent the action .. great casting and very good cinematography (well .. cgi . Marvel Films are really getting their business together .. This is a BIG recommendation ..
	A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy Teeming with all "the beauty of an impressionist painting" (The New York Times), A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy is writer/director Woody Allen's "lightest and most sensual film" (L.A. Weekly) to date. Starring Allen, Mia Farrow (directed by Allen for the first time), Jose Ferrer, Julie Hagerty, Tony Roberts and Mary Steenburgen, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy is a dazzling, uproarious masterpiece from "America's best comic filmmaker" (The Film Journal)! Love is in the air and magic is afoot when turn-of-the-century inventor Andrew and his wife Adrian host a country wedding for the pompous philosopher Dr. Leopold and his young fiancée Ariel. But when Andrew's best friend, the randy Dr. Maxwell Jordan, and his lusty nurse Dulcy turn up for the festivities, the stage is soon set for thwarted seductions, mismatched mates and magical mayhem, as Maxwell falls for Ariel, Ariel seduced Andrew, Leopold beds Dulcy – and the bride and groom say "I do" to everyone...except each other! Complete Info 3.5 Staring Woody Allen Mia Farrow, besides the Woody Allen films (and marriage) she is probably best know for her great role in Rosemary's Baby José Ferrer, probably best know for films such as Cyrano de Bergerac and The Caine Mutiny Julie Hagerty, this being just her second film .. having just come off the wonderful Airplane! and great in others including Lost in America and What About Bob? Tony Roberts who is best know for his role in several Woody Allen films including his best Play It Again, Sam and Annie Hall Mary Steenburgen whose credits include the fun sci-fi / thriller Time After Time and very funny Parenthood This film was created at the end of what I like to call Woody Allen's second period .. and probably funniest period.  Though not best of the period it is funny and witty.  It deserves better than it got from critics (the only Allen film to be nominated for a Razzie).  Fun characters and as usual a verbiage banter from beginning to end and brilliant cinematography.
	The Andromeda Strain Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton, the A&E mini-series event The Andromeda Strain arrives on DVD in this special 2-disc collection! Two-time Academy Award® nominee* Mikael Saloman (Band of Brothers) directs a powerhouse cast, including Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order), Christa Miller (Scrubs), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Ricky Schroder (NYPD Blue), Andre Braugher (City of Angels), Viola Davis (Disturbia), and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) in this thrilling sci-fi adventure. When a mysterious virus is brought to earth by a returning satellite, an elite and dedicated squad of scientists assembles to search for the truth and stop the mutating killer before it ends life on earth. Presented by three-time Academy Award® nominee** Ridley Scott (American Gangster) and Primetime Emmy award winner† Tony Scott (Numb3rs), The Andromeda Strain includes all 4 televised hours, exclusive bonus materials and features Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. Own the action-packed epic today! * 1989 Best Cinematography, The Abyss; 1991 Best Visual Effects, Backdraft ** 1991 Best Director, Thelma & Louise; 2000 Best Director, Gladiator; 2001 Best Director, Black Hawk Down † 2002 Outstanding Made for Television Movie, The Gathering Storm Complete Info 3.5 Staring Benjamin Bratt, primarily TV but like him in the film One Good Cop and Demolition Man Eric McCormack again primarily TV with good roles in Will and Grace and the new series Perception Christa Miller primarily in TV with reoccuring roles in Cougar Town which i really dislike and Scrubs to which i am indifferent Daniel Dae Kim Lost and Hawaii Five-O Paul Perri films include the GREAT Manhunter and Demolition Man with many TV shows Viola Davis ever beautiful .. award winning for her Role in The Help among others and her portrayal of Officer Molly Crane in the Jessie Stone tv movies and Officer Terry Randolph in the series Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 1 episode 20 "Badge". Ricky Schroder Andre Braugher With Production by Ridley Scott and little brother Tony Scott (and others) this proves to be a very well done version of the great 1969 novel by Michael Crichton called [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain]The Andromeda Strain and the 1971 film The Andromeda Strain and Directed by of Hard Rain (which i really liked) and A Far Off Place and several notable TV series and miniseries. This film is not really a "remake" of the earlier film and is not a faithful rendition of the novel.  It is, on its own, a good watch.  I like several of the stars and the storyline is pretty good.  The only real think I don't like about this film is that it seems to be a bit slow in parts. Overall it is a good watch.
	Take the Money and Run "The gags come every 30 seconds" ('Boxoffice') in this "delightful satire" ('Hollywood Citizen-News') from legend Woody Allen in his brilliant first outing as writer, star and director.  Allen is "hilarious" ('NY Daily News') and "never fails to steal the audience's heart" ('LA Herald-Examiner') in this inspired comedy that's nothing less than "nuttiness triumphant" ('Look Magazine')! Virgil Starkwell (Allen), having no talent for his beloved cello, turns to larceny as a career.  Unfailingly optimistic, he is nevertheless a complete criminal failure -- although his prison breakouts are often successful.  And with the support of his loving wife Louise (Janet Margolin), he may yet pull off a successful bank heist... if he can just manage to write out a legible stickup note! Complete Info 3.0 Staring Woody Allen Janet Margolin another good talent who died too early. Louise Lasser best known for her many appearences win Woody Allen films (was married to him) and her great performance in the cult tv show http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Hartman,_Mary_Hartman]Mary Harman, Mary Hartman .. a great talent This is a very funny movie.  Filmed as a kind of documentary .. it is the third film for Woody Allen .. His second directing, writing and staring in.  We are almost at the end of Mr. Allen's first period of films .. more slapstick and reach.  Seeing what can be done.  He is just about ready to break into his most productive years with 1972's Play It Again, Sam and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)

[DSig]

What I am watching on 03Oct12 -

Movies -

	Stephen King's Golden Years Reigning horror master Stephen King (Misery, Pet Sematary, The Shining) creates a chilling vision of scientific progress run amok in this electrifying, original techno-thriller! Starring Keith Szarabajka (Missing, "The Equalizer") and Frances Sternagen (Misery, Doc Hollywood), Golden Years features make-up and special effects supervised by legendary effects master Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Amadeus) and a plot that builds to an astonishing ending! When aging janitor Harlan Williams is accidentally exposed to exotic chemicals in a lab explosion, he undergoes an extraordinary change. It's a process the government will do anything to learn more about–no matter who has to die in the process. Soon, Harlan, his wife Gina and the lab's beautiful security chief are on a cross-country race to evade a murderously effective federal agent. But even as he stays one step ahead of his ruthless pursuers, Harlan continues his transformation into something the world of science has never seen... or imagined! Complete Info 2.5 Staring Keith Szarabajka Felicity Huffman Ed Lauter R.D. Call Bill Raymond Frances Sternhagen Matt Malloy This is a 'fair' TV-Miniseries.  Although it was done in 1991 it really has a feel of the 1980's.  The casting is ok .. and the story line is okay.  But there is really nothing about this that is memorable.  My memory of it is better that it is.
	BBC America - Copper Copper is a drama television series created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos currently being broadcast on BBC America. It is set in 1860s New York City during the American Civil War and stars Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish immigrant cop who patrols the Five Points neighborhood. Other cast members include Kyle Schmid, Anastasia Griffith, and Franka Potente. The series is BBC America's first original scripted program after previously only airing shows from the United Kingdom and co-productions. Fontana, Rokos, Barry Levinson and Christina Wayne are executive producers of the series. The first season of ten episodes premiered on August 19, 2012. Complete Info 4.0 Staring Tom Weston-Jones Kyle Schmid Ato Essandoh Anastasia Griffith Franka Potente Kevin Ryan Tessa Thompson Kiara Glasco .. brilliant as Annie Reilly. Episodes Watched -- 001 - Copper - S01E01 - Surviving Death 002 - Copper - S01E02 - Husbands and Fathers 003 - Copper - S01E03 - In the Hands of an Angry God 004 - Copper - S01E04 - The Empty Locket 005 - Copper - S01E05 - La Tempete 006 - Copper - S01E06 - Arsenic and Old Cake 007 - Copper - S01E07 - The Hudson River School This is a really good .. gritty period drama.  Set in the 1860's in New York City it brings forward a flavor of what life was like at the time (though my guess is that it wasn't even this nice).  Characters are strong and well performed.  Tom Weston-Jones is very good as the lead charater Kevin Corcoran.  Scripts are well done and the sets are great. I am giving it very high mark right now as the series is starting out very well .. hope it keeps it up.
	Revolution Revolution is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama series created by Eric Kripke. It is produced by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions for the NBC network. It debuted on September 17, 2012 and airs on Mondays at 10:00 pm (ET).[1] The network placed a series order in May 2012.[2] Film director Jon Favreau directed the pilot episode. The pilot episode was viewable on Hulu[3] and NBC.com,[4] prior to the series' broadcast premiere. Complete Info 3.5 Billy Burke Tracy Spiridakos Giancarlo Esposito Zak Orth David Lyons Anna Lise Phillips Tim Guinee Elizabeth Mitchell Graham Rogers J. D. Pardo Maria Howell Daniella Alonso Episodes Watched -- 001 - Revolution - S01E01 - Pilot 002 - Revolution - S01E02 - Chained Heat 003 - Revolution - S01E03 - No Quarter First 3 episodes of this new TV Series which airs on Mondays at 22:00 pacific time. The first this looks like it will be a fast pace action drama dealing with the a post-apocalyptic dystopian set 15 years after an unknown phenomenon disables all technology that is dependent on electricity. It does have elements of many past shows / films of the same genre but it does have a good feeling about it.  Being produced by J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot Productions this could turn out to be a long time winner.

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What I am watching on 04Oct12 -

TV Shows -

Elementary Elementary is an American take on the Sherlock Holmes story.  With Sherlock Holmes, played by Jonny Lee Miller, being an addict who has just been released from a rehabilitation center.  With the help of Joan Watson, portrayed by Lucy Liu, an ex-surgeon with demons of her own whose job it is to keep Holmes clean. Complete Info Episodes Watched -- 001 - Elementary - S01E01 - Pilot 3.5 Staring Jonny Lee Miller .. yep .. he was the star in Hackers .. along with Angelina Jolie Lucy Liu of course the very rude and beautiful Ling Woo in the great comedy tv series , plus the very bad and oh so sexie O-Ren Ishii (Cottonmouth) in Kill Bill Volume 1 and Payback Aidan Quinn who was brilliant in Benny and Joon and Legends of the Fall among others This is an American take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character Sherlock  Holmes.  I enjoyed this episode very much and look forward to others to see if the characters grow.

Movies -

	Raiders of the Lost Ark Join the legendary hero Indiana Jones™ (Harrison Ford) in one of the greatest screen adventures of all time now on DVD. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ has been meticulously restored and remastered frame-by-frame and features all-enveloping 5.1 digital surround sound. Accompanied by his feisty, independent ex-flame Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), the two-fisted archaeologist embarks on a thrilling quest to locate the mystical Ark of the Covenant. Indy must discover the Ark before the Nazis do, and he has to survive poison, traps, snakes and treachery to do so. Explore the darkest jungles of South America, the bustling marketplaces of Cairo, and a top-secret submarine base with Indiana Jones as your guide to adventure. And finally witness the power of the Lost Ark unleashed as Indy stays one step ahead of the Nazis in the classic treasure on DVD. Complete Info 4.5 Staring Harrison Ford with so many to list i will just give a couple of my favorites .. like adventure/action  films Star Wars Trilogy, Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games and drama films like Blade Runner and Witness Karen Allen who along with being in this and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was also great in and memorable in Starman and memorable in Scrooged Paul Freeman who was in the funny british film with Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley and also in Hot Fuzz with the comic genius duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Ronald Lacey John Rhys-Davies who played the part of Gimli in one of the greatest film series ever made .. The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy .. also fun in the TV Series Sliders .. playing the role of Maximillian Arturo Denholm Elliott who was great in The Missionary and Trading Places among others .. really classy Yes .. this is the one .. the greatest of the Indiana Jones franchise.  The collaboration between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg is simply incredible. There is so much that can be said about this film but simply put this is one of my all time favorite films.  It is magnificent from the films score by John Williams to the cinematography and editing.  The acting and directing are very good.  There is no weak point in this film.  I really like those Nazi bastards melting If you haven't seen it then you must .. if you have .. watch it again.
	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones™ (Harrison Ford) brings his darkest and most chilling adventure to DVD like never before thanks to the wonders of frame-by-frame digital restoration and remastering and immersive 5.1 digital surround sound. Follow the legendary hero from one cliffhanger to another in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom™.  After barely escaping a raging Shanghai nightclub brawl, Indy crash-lands into the wilds of India where he uncovers a sinister scheme that has enslaved a remote village's children in a fortress-like mine. Indy must save the children and avoid becoming a slave himself to the evil Thuggee cult. Along for the raucous rescue attempt is Indy's pint-sized sidekick, Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) as well as a reluctant nightclub songbird, Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw). Join Indy as he outwits bloodthirsty villains and experiences the spectacular twists and turns of a thrilling mine car chase in the ultimate roller-coaster adventure on DVD. Complete Info 3.0 Staring Harrison Ford see above Kate Capshaw, not too many titles but a couple that I am familiar with are Just Cause with Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne,  and Black Rain with Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia Amrish Puri Roshan Seth Philip Stone And Jonathan Ke Quan as Short Round.  Few films/TV but other most memorable is as Data Wang in The Goonies. This is the least favorite of the Indiana Jones Franchise for me .. but I like it better with this watching.  It has been a long long time since I have watched it and I find more things to like about it.  I like the story line and most of the movie bits.  The acting is good and the filming seems very nice (especially since much of the film was done on sound stages .. and it doesn't always look like it. I think that much of my dislike was my expectations that the film be a continuation of the original Raides of the Lost Arc.  Expectations are something I usually avoid .. but I think they came into play with my feelings about this film when I first saw it.  This film just about has to be watched while completely ignoring any of the other films.  It is darker .. more intense than the others.  Possibly if this had come out first, as this is a prequel, then it might have been better with the lighter one coming second. Like I said .. it is not my favorite film BUT it certainly isn't my least like film.  If you haven't watched it OR it has been a long time, you might give it a try and see what you think.  Just park your expectations at the door.
	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Relive the fun and excitement of keeping up with the Joneses in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade™ on DVD, now digitally restored and remastered frame-by-frame for the ultimate picture and featuring sweeping 5.1 digital surround sound. In a prologue that reveals a young Indiana Jones™ (River Phoenix) in one of his first adventures, this thrilling screen epic continues as an adult Indy (Harrison Ford) embarks on a perilous quest for his cantankerous father, Professor Henry Jones, Sr. (Sean Connery). The Nazis are on the trail of the Holy Grail, and have kidnapped Indy's father, the foremost authority on the Cup of Christ. Follow Indy as he inches through the rat-filled catacombs of Venice, battles Nazi flying aces in a thrilling biplane dogfight, and braves the thunderous firepower of an unstoppable tank. And behold the Holy Grail's power to give and take life, as Indy and his father race against time in this timeless classic on DVD. Complete Info 4.0 Staring Harrison Ford please see link Sean Connery please see link Denholm Elliott please see "Raiders of the Lost Ark" above Julian Glover he was hilarious in King Ralph and very good in Troy River Phoenix Poor ole River dead and gone, left me here to sing his song, pretty little girl with the red dress on, poor old River dead and gone.  What a loss .. favorite bits include (my favorite) Running on Empty with the beautiful Martha Plimpton, Sneakers and The Mosquito Coast John Rhys-Davies See "Raiders of the Lost Ark" above Alison Doody This one is almost as brilliant as "Raiders of the Lost Ark".  The casting of Sean Connery (only 58 at the time) was brilliant.  He really brought a new oomph to the ambiance of the film.  I think that this film brought the franchise back to the great adventure with humor and drama that the original one started it with. This is a must watch/have in any list/collection

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What I am watching on 05Oct12 -

Movies -

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull STEVEN SPIELBERG and GEORGE LUCAS bring you the greatest adventurer of all time in a film packed with "sensational, awe-inspiring spectacles" (Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES). Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull finds Indy (Harrison Ford) trying to outrace a brilliant and beautiful agent (Cate Blanchett) for the mystical, all-powerful crystal skull of Akator in a quest that is filled with "spectacular fun" (Claudia Puig, USA TODAY). Teaming up with a rebellious young biker (Shia LaBeouf) and his spirited original love Marion (Karen Allen), Indy takes you on an action-packed adventure in the exciting tradition of the classic Indiana Jones movies! Complete Info 4.0 Staring Harrison Ford please see link and notes in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" above Shia LaBeouf very good in the Transformers Trilogy, and Disturbia Cate Blanchett brilliant and beautiful in Lord of the Rings Trilogy and so hard and cold in The Missing plus many others Karen Allen please see link and notes above in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" .. great to have her back. Ray Winstone did a very good job in the made for tv 2006 BBC version of and Sexy Beast and King Arthur John Hurt .. another brilliant casting .. please see link but like him in The Elephant Man, Alien and Contact and so many more Jim Broadbent his role as Horace Slughorn in Harry Potter films, Hot Fuzz and Bullets Over Broadway I think this film is as good as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade".  Sean Connery is not in this one (health) but here it is 19 years after "The Last Crusade" and we are right back with the action as if no time has passed. The storyline thankfully takes into account that Indiana Jones is older (can't hide that with Harrison Ford) and times have changed (no Nazi bastards in this one .. just those devil Russians). The cinematography is great and sets are very good.  The casting is again brilliant with the addition of John Hurt as Harold "Ox" Oxley and Shia LaBeouf as Indiana Jones son Henry "Mutt Williams" Jones III.  Bringing back Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood and the addition of Cate Blanchett .. Like I said .. this is as good as it gets.  Continuous action/adventure in the great "Indian Jones" tradition.  Great funny bits to break things up. This is another must have in anyone's collection.

Manhattan Nominated for two Academy Awards® in 1979*, and considered "one of Allen’s most enduring accomplishments" (Boxoffice), Manhattan is a wry, touching and finely rendered portrait of modern relationships set against the backdrop of urban alienation. Sumptuously photographed in black and white (Allen’s first film in that format), and accompanied by a magnificent Gershwin score, Woody Allen’s aesthetic triumph is a "prismatic portrait of a time and a place that may be studied decades hence." (Time Magazine) 42-year-old Manhattan native Isaac Davis (Allen) has a job he hates, a 17-year-old girlfriend, Tracy (Mariel Hemingway), he doesn’t love, and a lesbian ex-wife, Jill (Meryl Streep), who’s writing a tell-all book about their marriage...and whom he’d like to strangle. But when he meets his best friend’s sexy, intellectual mistress, Mary (Diane Keaton), Isaac falls head over heels in lust! Leaving Tracy, bedding Mary, and quitting his job are just the beginning of Isaac’s quest for romance and fulfillment in a city where sex is as intimate as a handshake – and the gateway to true love...is a revolving door. *Supporting Actress (Hemingway); Screenplay Complete Info 3.5 Staring Woody Allen favorites beyond this one include Play It Again, Sam, Annie Hall and A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy Diane Keaton favorites among many include Play It Again, Sam, Annie Hall and Looking for Mr. Goodbar Michael Murphy a very bad father in X-Men: The Last Stand and A Year of Living Dangerously plus a great episode of M*A*S*H Mariel Hemingway so beautiful .. Great in Lipstick, Personal Best, really great in Creator and The Mean Season among several others .. like Sunset Meryl Streep Kramer VS Cramer which really made me dislike her .. in most everything, Out of Africa, The River Wild and Death Becomes Her and It's Complicated plus many more Anne Byrne (Hoffman) I really like this Woody Allen film .. coming in his second period .. probably the strongest of his film periods.  Lots of neurosis and plenty of guilt for everyone.  Not as *funny* as his earlier works .. but possibly one with more feeling.  And this one has great scenes in New York.  It is filmed in Black and White which really adds to the flavor of the film. A must for Woody Allen fans .. and Mariel Hemingway is stunning in this, only 18 at the time and showing great bits of acting.

The Lovely Bones From Academy Award® winning* director Peter Jackson comes the extraordinary story about one girl’s life, and everything that came after. When 14-year-old Susie Salmon was murdered, she left her unfinished life behind. But now from her place in a strange but beautiful in-between world, she must help her father catch her killer and protect her family before she can finally move on. Filled with thrilling suspense, hope and the redeeming power of love, it’s “One of the best films of the year. Incredibly powerful.” – Harry Knowles, AIN'T IT COOL NEWS *Winner: Best Directing, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King; 2003 Complete Info 4.0 Staring Saoirse Ronan Atonement and Hanna Mark Wahlberg many films but with some of the best being Four Brothers, The Italian Job, and Shooter among others .. and don't forget Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Rachel Weisz Chain Reaction, Stealing Beauty, the first two 'new' Mummy movies The Mummy and The Mummy Returns and then  Constantine plus a couple others Susan Sarandon again .. so many but here are a few of my favorites .. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pretty Baby, The Witches of Eastwick, and Bull Durham the great Stanley Tucci Julie & Julia, The Core, and the hilarious Big Trouble Michael Imperioli likes to play a cop or a bad guy .. Last Man Standing, TV series The Sopranos, TV series and TV series Life on Mars (US) This is the second time that i have watched this film and I still really like it.  It covers a horrible subject .. the worst subject any parent could contemplate .. but Peter Jackson does it in a manner that is approachable and *entertaining* if that is possible for the subject. The main cast of Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and  Michael Imperioli are very good .. with good depth of emotion.  But Saoirse Ronan really steals the film.  The camera loves her .. as you will as you watch this film.  Of course she does grow and in just 2 years she went from this performance to a great performance in "Hanna".  Regardless of what you think about "Hanna" the film, Saoirse Ronan's performance was brilliant. This is a big 2 toes up.

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TV Shows -

Elementary Elementary is an American take on the Sherlock Holmes story.  With Sherlock Holmes, played by Jonny Lee Miller, being an addict who has just been released from a rehabilitation center.  With the help of Joan Watson, portrayed by Lucy Liu, an ex-surgeon with demons of her own whose job it is to keep Holmes clean. Complete Info Episodes Watched -- 002 - Elementary - S01E02 - While You Were Sleeping 3.5 Staring Jonny Lee Miller .. yep .. he was the star in Hackers .. along with Angelina Jolie Lucy Liu of course the very rude and beautiful Ling Woo in the great comedy tv series , plus the very bad and oh so sexie O-Ren Ishii (Cottonmouth) in Kill Bill Volume 1 and Payback Aidan Quinn who was brilliant in Benny and Joon and Legends of the Fall among others I enjoyed this episode very much also.  Still waiting to see if they can continue the good storytelling without sacrificing it to the TV gods .. bringing a relationship etc.  Though this weeks episode was not quite as good as the Pilot .. still have hopes for this.