"I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that." :nerd:

(2022)
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/770096

The T Clark family Christmas film festival for 2025

Seven Psychopaths
Things to Come
A Christmas Tale
The Player
Superman

One Battle After Another

Lot of hype— not a bad film, I enjoyed it. Not on par with There Will Be Blood, but still a strong showing. Honestly, I have to admit that PT Anderson has been delivering much more than Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, or any of the other acclaimed directors (and certainly better than that overrated, pretentious engineer Christopher Nolan) lately. The only other person who’s delivered strong films is Scorsese, now in his 80s. Otherwise I can skip going to the theater.

I watched “Left Handed Girl” on Netflix— that pretty much blows the others away too. Goes to show that money and engineering doesn’t a movie make.

Otherwise I can skip going to the theater. — Mikie

Can't say I've seen a film I've enjoyed in around 25 years. My own theory is that for some of us only have a limited number of films we can watch before the entire enterprise becomes dull.

Can't say I've seen a film I've enjoyed in around 25 years. — Tom Storm

Wow, well that’s saying something. No Country for Old Men? I saw that one a couple times in theaters. Recently I’ve enjoyed The Killer, Left Handed Girl, One Battle After Another. I enjoyed Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris way back when.

Not a fan of any of those?

Midnight in Paris was ok. No Country for Old Men and The Killer were diverting but not exciting. I want the big electrical experince I got when I saw Blade Runner (the sequel was bland). I suspect the problem rests with me. I have had my thrills and can't recapture the experience. Actually there's one film I quite liked, Nightcrawler (2014) reminded me of when Scorsese wasn't making Ron Howard films. :wink:

when Scorsese wasn't making Ron Howard films. :wink: — Tom Storm

Blasphemy.

Also, I’ll never fully understand why Blade Runner is so praised. I liked it to a degree, but not even in my top 100. I guess I had to have been there.

I found No Country exciting. But that’s a film you have to see in the theater, I think. The use of sound (of all things) is one of the stars of that movie.

R.I.P Bela Tarr who I had the honor of meeting nearly three years ago :heart: :flower:

Also, I’ll never fully understand why Blade Runner is so praised. I liked it to a degree, but not even in my top 100. I guess I had to have been there. — Mikie

Fair enough. It would be odd if we all agreed on art. If BR came out today it wouldn't really interest me. When it came out it was a revelation and I don't like science fiction. What are your top 3 or 4 movies?

What are your top 3 or 4 movies? — Tom Storm

From another thread long ago:

Seven Samurai

Shawshank Redemption

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Usual Suspects

No Country For Old Men

Persona

8 1/2

Dances with Wolves

Goodfellas

There Will Be Blood

If I were to pick 3: Seven Samurai, Goodfellas, Dances with Wolves.

Yes, it’s become common to shit on Dances with Wolves — and I get why, some parts are cringe, plus the sentimentality (especially the ending, which I dislike) and portrayal of the soldiers is over the top. But Costner otherwise surrounded himself with talent, from cinematographer to composer to editor to actors — and some parts are so well done that it makes up for what it lacks, by far. Enough so to be one of my favorites.

Shawshank used to be way up there, for years. And of course, long ago my favorite film was Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I was 10 at the time— but maybe I had it right… that movie is gold.

Cool. I think what I needed from films was achieved in the 1980's and 1990's and now I just don't crave them or find them engaging. It's like a stage I went though. My idea of hell these days would be a trip to the cinema. Favourite films today include Sunset Boulevard, Psycho, Angel Heart, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Citizen Kane, The Trial, Walkabout, Once Upon A Time In The West, Blade Runner, Sorcerer, The Long Goodbye. I tend not to care much for plots or stories and prefer mood, character and formalist excess.

@T Clark and @Baden

Perhaps I arrived a bit late because this film was released two years ago, but I watched it a few days ago.

Small Things Like These is a historical drama whose plot focuses on the Magdalene laundries in Ireland. Since it is an Irish-based story, I also tag Baden, because he may know more interesting things about this controversial topic.

Cillian Murphy is one of my favorite actors. It is true that he played an important role in the "Peaky Blinders" show, but I think he is very good at interpreting drama characters.

The film is extremely nice, I think.

Small Things Like These is a historical drama whose plot focuses on the Magdalene laundries in Ireland. Since it is an Irish-based story, I also tag Baden, because he may know more interesting things about this controversial topic. — javi2541997

Thanks as usual.

I have a hard time watching movies (or TV for that matter) these days. I haven't seen a movie in a theater in about 20 years. I really don't think they make them as well as they used to. Sequels, remakes, and superheros. Narrativeless plot lines like grapes suspended in jello. I do love watching movies with my kids. My son, his partner, and I have just agreed to watch a different movie every two weeks. Then again, I definitely have old coot syndrome.

PT Anderson — Mikie

Loved "Licorice Pizza" although the ending was very disappointing.

Woody Allen, — Mikie

Every fifth movie is wonderful, you're right though, noting really recent--"Annie Hall," "Manhattan," "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Radio Days," "Crimes and MIsdemeanors," "Everyone Says I Love You," "Midnight in Paris," Amazingly prolific.

My own theory is that for some of us only have a limited number of films we can watch before the entire enterprise becomes dull. — Tom Storm

Yes, I kinda ran out of steam. You may also be an old coot like me.

it’s become common to shit on Dances with Wolves — Mikie

I'm here to add more to the pile--"Little Big Man" is so much more humane, funny, and moving. Also, I have a visceral and unreasonable aversion to Costner.

You definitely have different taste than I do, although I can't believe how good "Goodfellas" is.

What are your top 3 or 4 movies? — Tom Storm

Yes, I know you didn't ask me, but here they are anyway. More than 4. Nothing before 1975.

"Annie Hall"
"Manhattan"
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "Smiley's People"--BBC versions with Alec Guiness
"Tombstone"
"Moonstruck"
"Long Goodbye"
"Fargo"
"Raising Arizona."

Enough. If I tried, I could name 20 more.

I haven't seen a movie in a theater in about 20 years. I really don't think they make them as well as they used to — T Clark

Me too. Not sure if they make them well or not. I think I don't watch them as well as I used to.

Yes, I kinda ran out of steam. You may also be an old coot like me. — T Clark

I think so. I was 45 when I turned 12...

I'm here to add more to the pile--"Little Big Man" is so much more humane, funny, and moving. — T Clark

Good to know — I’ve never seen it. Could be one reason why I liked DWW so much. Reminds me of people who love the Magnificent Seven and never watched Seven Samurai. I could be one of those schmucks in this case.

Moonstruck — T Clark

Moonstruck is great. I loved it when I was 17 and watched it recently — still love it.

, I definitely have old coot syndrome. — T Clark

How old are you? I’m 44. I consider myself old, so…

Moonstruck is great. I loved it when I was 17 and watched it recently — still love it. — Mikie

When people ask who is the most beautiful actress, I always say Cher in Moonstruck.

How old are you? I’m 44. I consider myself old, so… — Mikie

74. My daughter is 44. We call people like you “youngsters.”

Good to know — I’ve never seen it — Mikie

The book is also one of my favorites. I gave it to two people for Christmas this year.

True Romance

Heard about this one for decades. So many good actors and a script by Tarantino.

Yet, it was just okay. Don’t see the big deal. Maybe I just waited too long and had to have been there.

Watching Super Bowl. God this one sucked. Boring.

I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion again the other day. Hadn't seen it in about 20 years and forgotten it but a friend some time ago spoke of the 'controversial ending' but did not give spoilers.

I watched through the whole pretty uninteresting series to get to the end which was not the kind of controversial I was expecting. I was pretty much watching through the generally boring rest of the series expecting some grand finale that was some kind of messed up or pushing the boundaries in terms of perhaps obscenity and got the most avante garde rubbish. It really was a struggle to get through and I was thinking 'maybe this controversial thing that is spoken about will come soon, I will sit through this utter nonsense' but no, the utter nonsense was the controversial thing everyone goes on about.

Most overrated anime I have ever watched.

I love mecha and sci-fi but that was just boring and the mecha are stupid like power rangers. I much prefer the 'real robot' type stuff more based on actual science than that organic crap.

it is possible you have been duped.

NGE was run through the 90s until old mate ran out of time and money (over three attempts to get it done!!). He absolutely hated hte ending, because they weren't able to do what he wanted to do. He became incredibly depressed and his wife left him (i think).

"Timing constraints[citation needed] at Gainax also forced Anno to replace the planned ending of Evangelion with two episodes set in the main characters' minds. In 1997, Gainax launched a project to re-adapt Evangelion's scrapped ending into a feature-length film. Budgeting issues left the film unfinished,[citation needed] and the completed 27 minutes of animation were included as the second act of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth. Eventually, the project culminated in The End of Evangelion, a three-act film that served as a finale to Neon Genesis Evangelion. "

Years late he was given the opportunity to complete it properly. The films Evangelion 1.0 through 4.0 (sort of) are what you should really be watching. A shame, because I understand not being bothered with it after getting through the series. Perhaps leave it another few years and watch these films instead. Incredibly work - but it's not the Shakespearean gold it's sometimes held out to be! The creator, Hideaki Anno, worked a lot with Hayao Miyazaki so there's some credibility to it lol.

↪unimportant
it is possible you have been duped. — AmadeusD

By who? The developers or my then friend? :)

I actually did read around after watching it to see wtf happened there but I read, on the contrary, to him not being satisfied, he said in an interview he was completely satisfied with it and the subsequent films were not 'fixing a problem' but rather 'alternatives'. The article stated he wanted to get it clear that he was happy with it and not trying to make up for some mistake.

Also I was reading reviews on myanimelist to see if the films did a better job but I read one that said if you hated the original ending not to waste your time as the film (maybe EofE) or all, can't recall, are just the same fare as the tv series - starting off normal enough through the first half but descending into self indulgent instrospective stuff again just like the original ending.

Tons of other anime out there. It is not like I particularly liked the rest of the series and the ending was a letdown. I found all of it below average. I love sci-fi and mecha but that was childish and absolutely hated the designs - like power rangers as I mentioned - of the mechs and the enemies were even worse. Lol the least amount of imagination went into the 'Angels' - ok let's make a big cube, a ring, one that looks just like a mech but with more spindly legs, then some dumb floaty random shape with an eye and so on.

So it was not rewarding to start so seems little point wasting more time on that. Tons of other anime which look way more up my street! I only watched that one to see what all the fuss was about, which was a huge anticlimax. I put that on par with the Game of Thrones season 8 level of atrocious but the difference is GoT was amazing to start then nosedived while this one I was not impressed from the outset.

By who? The developers or my then friend? :) — unimportant

By watching the series instead of the films! They don't represent with Anno wanted in the series overall

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/06/movies/evangelion-hideaki-anno.html#:~:text=Despite%20its%20popularity%2C%20%E2%80%9CEvangelion%E2%80%9D,to%20a%20surprisingly%20upbeat%20conclusion.
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/11/evangelion-creator-hideaki-anno-offers-insights-into-its-audacious-conclusion/

These two articled seem to be a clear indication he was unsatisfied, which was my initial understanding. I imagine as he came out of his depression he got some perspective.

I can't make it through an episode of GoT. Probably the worst show that more than two of my friends like i've ever watched LOL.

Have you watched Shinjeki no Kyojin?

Have you watched Shinjeki no Kyojin? — AmadeusD

I watched an episode or two. Nothing against it particularly and might get through it sometime but for me pre-2000s stuff is where it is at. The 90s being my formative years but even 80s stuff two I am diving into now.

Post 2000s when it become computer generated it lost its charm but I know there are still good series of the more contemporary stuff, but do not have the artistic aesthetic of the older stuff.

Yeah, that's probably true. I think most of hte Good recent stuff is of a totally different bent like Fruits Basket or Demon Slayer or something. I will say Death Note was great.

Yes I was actually thinking of Death Note when I wrote that about some newer ones being good.

I was about to write Cowboy Bebop as another good newer one but just checked and see that was also late 90s. :)

I mean you can't really recreate those past series, well maybe if someone tried really hard, because they were 'of their time' which has now passed, just like music and whatever else of those heady days.

I used to have little patience for the even older ones of the 80s as they looked laughable sometimes with the dated animation but I got over that now and after a few episodes I forget about that. I watched through the whole Hokuto No Ken recently which is hilarious and great for its over the top MANLINESS. MANime I see it is called for this genre online. I had watched the movie a long time ago and thought I would give the show a look as I saw comments that the movie was just a compressed version of the first half of the show. Was not disappointed in that case. Also I have read so many mentions about how influential to anime that went after it I wanted to see just for its historical significance.