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Post by Stephen on May 18, 2017 8:04:29 GMT
What is your favourite movie? Constantine (2005).  The Storyline? John Constantine is approached by Det. Angela Dodson who needs his help to prove that her twin sister Isabel's death was not a suicide. The dead woman was a devout Catholic and Angela refuses to accept she would have taken her own life. She's asked Constantine for help because he has a reputation for dealing with the mystical. In fact, he is a demon hunter whose sole purpose on Earth is to send demons back to Hell. John himself has been to Hell and knows that he is destined to return there on his death. He hopes his good deeds may find him a place in Heaven. Why? I do not really know why I love this film so much. It has something to do with the image of Heaven & Hell and the demonic in the movie. |
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Post by bryanreynolds on May 18, 2017 10:34:10 GMT
Andrei Rublev (1966) is my favourite since I first saw it. It's a B&W film by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, lengthy but divided into two parts, so almost like two movies. Very powerful movie, partly based on historical Russian ikon painter Andrei Rublev, partly fictionalised (as there is not much known about the real Rublev). I think I like it because it tells of an artist's arrival at and struggle to come to terms with — via his craft — some big theological questions.
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Post by Maolsheachlann on May 18, 2017 13:45:33 GMT
I saw Constantine in the cinema but it didn't grab me, I must admit. My favourite film is Groundhog Day. I absolutely love this film and I could write reams and reams about it. I haven't actually seen it in a long time, because I saw it so often, watching it seemed redundant-- I knew it off by heart. However, I feel like watching it again! Here is my blog post about it. |
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Post by rogerbuck on May 19, 2017 11:29:38 GMT
I almost stopped watching movies for years, but have recently re-started. Never even heard of Constantine - but am intrigued! Saw Andrew Rublev long, long ago in my New Age youth - but think I should return to it, after what you write bryanreynolds. I liked Tarkovsky's Solaris very much, which was in the worst movies list - but maybe that was the new version.
My tastes don't make much sense. Some are quite popular like Groundhog Day, which I love too. Also maybe a very sentimental American side of me loves It's a Wonderful Life.
But on the other hand, my old liberal self liked Woody Allen and I've recently returned to him. Which appears inconsistent with everything I believe! Allen is a dark tormented character and even without the child abuse charge (likely not true IMHO) he clearly represents a decadent, nihilistic force in modern culture.
And yet ... paradox. I think Allen is positively, positively HUNGRY for God. It comes through so powerfully in films like Magic in the Moonlight (not a great film, though). But tragically, the rational side of him is so overdeveloped, it can't accept what he deeply, deeply craves. And there is more in Allen that is really very intelligent. Zelig for example is both a wry acute commentary on the human condition and past versus present. Oddly, Allen is also quite alienated from the modern world, despite being a hugely modernising force ...
But now that I've confessed that one : - ) ...
I will tell you the best film I've seen in many, many years is the French Diary of a Country Priest. Totally blew me away. Deeply pious, realistic, and very, very highly recommended.
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Post by Maolsheachlann on May 19, 2017 11:42:22 GMT
I saw Annie Hall last year, I thought it was very good-- I watched it twice. More recently I saw a comedy he made called Bananas, which had a funny opening scene but was poor after that. I agree, his sense of life's inherent absurdity seems to show a yearning for God.
I think atheism is divided into upbeat, "What's the big deal?" type atheism-- Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins type atheism-- and the Camus, Woody Allen type atheism which accepts that a godless universe is absurd.
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Post by Maolsheachlann on May 19, 2017 11:47:12 GMT
I would hardly class it as my favourite, but I saw the Star Wars movie Rogue One and I really liked it-- I saw it in the cinema and then online. I've never been much of a Star Wars fan, this is easily my favourite of all the films.
The funny thing is, its makers suggested it was anti-Trump, possibly because the Empire seem mostly human while the rebellion is all different alien races as well as human.
But, watching it as an anti-globalist conservative, the rebellion's attempt to preserve freedom and independence against a mighty Empire seemed a lot more reflective of the anti-globalist cause! Also, the rebellion were the usual rag-tag alliance facing incredible odds against a very sleek, efficient Empire and that seemed much more applicable to the Trump campaign vis-a-vis the Clinton campaign. And I mention this because it is typical of so much cognitive dissonance that I find in mainstream entertainment.
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Post by rogerbuck on May 19, 2017 12:47:34 GMT
Haven't seen anything Star Wars related in twenty - thirty years so best not comment ... but quick response to this: I saw Annie Hall last year, I thought it was very good-- I watched it twice. More recently I saw a comedy he made called Bananas, which had a funny opening scene but was poor after that. I agree, his sense of life's inherent absurdity seems to show a yearning for God. I think atheism is divided into upbeat, "What's the big deal?" type atheism-- Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins type atheism-- and the Camus, Woody Allen type atheism which accepts that a godless universe is absurd. Yes to the latter - well put. Also would note that those early zany films like Bananas do very, very little for me. His stuff gets much, much more intelligent as the years go go by and the longing for God becomes more naked and obvious. Magic in the Moonlight - not great, as I say - features Colin Firth as a character whose life long cynicism and atheism is blown open and who is EXHILARATED to realise a spiritual reality exists. Until ... well I'd best not spoil anything. The recent Irrational Man is about a philosophy professor into Heidegger and Dostoevsky whose nihilism leads him to murder and I would say the movie does have a moral centre. Somewhere in him, Allen knows this nihilism is not right. Incidentally, Allen loves Dostoevsky. I see hope there. I pray for him. |
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Post by cato on May 19, 2017 20:26:50 GMT
"It's a wonderful life" has already been mentioned but it's so good I ll mention it again. It's funny , nostalgic, warm hearted and entertaining. There is a classic battle of good triumphing over evil. Its about the value of family , small communities, patriotism, and good neighbourliness. It has angels. Real ones . Not the new age imposters.It's in black and white.And we all know most things are black and white. I am not ashamed to say i rarely cry but when i do it's usually after rewatching this on a December afternoon.
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Post by Maolsheachlann on May 19, 2017 20:46:32 GMT
And it's nice to know that the star, Jimmy Stewart, really believed in all those things as well.
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Post by rogerbuck on May 22, 2017 10:47:38 GMT
I shall also add that not only was the director Frank Capra Catholic, but he also spoke with deep conviction of receiving the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Even if I am not sure he actually practiced that much, he most definitely believed. There is a scene of a Catholic Church interior in the film, with, I think, a TLM - but it's so brief that it's easy to miss.
I really do love this film.
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Post by cato on May 22, 2017 17:15:59 GMT
It was a flop originally at the box office and only became popular when it was shown on tv in the early 1960s. I suppose it goes to show good things aren't always appreciated at the time they first emerge. I read somewhere Frank Capa deliberately wove a strong pro life anti- suicide theme into the film which shows suicide was a concern even back then.
The movie is a great reminder how precious and irreplaceable each human life is without being preachy or perish the thought, "judgemental"!
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Post by assisi on May 25, 2017 14:46:56 GMT
Glengarry Glen Ross - I saw this years ago and was expecting little as the premise for the movie revolves around a bunch of real estate salesmen, hardly inspiring. However the acting and dialogue were excellent and it turned out a very perceptive movie.
Trains Planes and Automobiles - Funny and warm, rather than funny and cruel.
Contact - Cheesy but good sci-fi
Interstellar - Another cheesy but good sci-fi
The Usual Suspects - still not sure who did what, and who was who.
The Cat and the Canary - Innocent little horror but I always liked Bob Hope
This is Spinal Tap - A spoof of 1980s rock band that try to take themselves too seriously
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Post by Maolsheachlann on May 25, 2017 14:59:34 GMT
I used to like The Usual Suspects but not so much anymore, for whatever reason. I think This is Spinal Tap is the funniest movie ever made and constantly quote it. ("There's such a thin line between clever and stupid..."). I really like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, especially it's title...I can remember I first heard of the title during a game of Hangman, and it instantly struck me as a great title. I also love the film. Only yesterday, I was watching this excellent review of it from Siskel and Ebert-- they both loved it. |
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Post by cato on Jun 16, 2017 8:46:37 GMT
Sony are now offering cleaned up family versions of some of their more popular movies with less violence , bad language and sexual references.
The objections are unsuprisingly predictable. You can read about it on the BBC news channel
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Post by Stephen on Jun 16, 2017 12:23:39 GMT
Sony are now offering cleaned up family versions of some of their more popular movies with less violence , bad language and sexual references. The objections are unsuprisingly predictable. You can read about it on the BBC news channel I think this is a good idea from economic and social points of view. Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40286905 |
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