What's the last movie you watched?

[DeepSleeper44]

Winnie the Pooh

[DeepSleeper44]

Broadway Danny Rose

[DeepSleeper44]

In Bruges
4/5

[jojo]

30 Minutes or less.

[Vladimir_Angel]

Hatchiko, the dog's story

[jojo]

The Town.

[ammunition]

Jersey Girl

[tropicalheatwave]

halloween

[DeepSleeper44]

Citizen Kane

[MysteryGirl44]

Jersey Girl

[DeepSleeper44]

Apocalypse Now
5/5

[Xero.]

Fight Club.

[DeepSleeper44]

Love and Death

[Dorn]

Apocalypse Now
5/5

Which version?

[DeepSleeper44]

Apocalypse Now
5/5

Which version?

The original cut. I specifically wanted to see the original before the redux, and from what I've heard about it, while everything in the redux isn't completely necessary, it's still very good, as it is essentially more of the same of movie.
What are your views on "original vs. redux"?

[Dorn]

The original cut. I specifically wanted to see the original before the redux, and from what I've heard about it, while everything in the redux isn't completely necessary, it's still very good, as it is essentially more of the same of movie.
What are your views on "original vs. redux"?

I'm a sucker for editing. Looking back, Coppola held a naive view of the Vietnam War and of Kurtz, which he was able to alleviate later on by making Kurtz himself less of a '60s spectacle and more of a timeless enigma. I know that some were annoyed by the French intermezzo added in the Redux version, but I find it to be another aspect of the obstacles along the river--like the Playboy bunnies or the threats from the jungle--that functions as a contrast to the dreamlike or hallucinogenic episodes. Moreover, the Redux ending is much more to my liking as it builds on Willard's descent into the Heart of Darkness of Kurtz's Cambodian tyranny.

Here's a rich account (with spoilers) by A.O. Scott, in case you want a sharp analysis from the world's (in my opinion) leading film critic.

[Bubbydoll]

Contagion.

What did you think of it? I believe it to be a pretty solid film.

The last film that I saw was Midnight Cowboy.
5/5

I enjoyed Contagion but person I went to see it with was bored by it.

I watched Melancholia and I loveeeeeeeeeeeed it. All the actors were fantastic in it, the visuals, the storyline, even the ending. Having depression I could relate to her character, I have never been as incapacitated as she was in parts of the movie but the feeling of why bother it feels like too much effort some days, I definitely understood. Excellent movie.

[gargoylegoil]

Watched Elf last night

[DeepSleeper44]

@Dorn
I'll check out that article when I get the chance. I like A.O. Scott. While I sometimes disagree with him, there are times when I am 100% with him (As is the case in his The Tree of Life review).

@Bubbydoll
Glad to hear that you saw (And loved!) Melancholia. It opens in my area on friday, and I am loooking forward to finally watch it!!!

[JeremyM]

Last saw and watched- Drive and Horrible bosses

[KRSTYSTLCLR]

It's Kind of a Funny Story

[DeepSleeper44]

Badlands

[DeepSleeper44]

Take Shelter
5/5 Masterful.

[DeepSleeper44]

Martha Marcy May Marlene
4.5/5

[Dorn]

[...] Melancholia. It opens in my area on friday, and I am loooking forward to finally watch it!!!

Well, did you?

[DeepSleeper44]

[...] Melancholia. It opens in my area on friday, and I am loooking forward to finally watch it!!!

Well, did you?

I was mistaken. It either opens here on the 23rd or Dec. 2nd.

[RockPillow®]

I got around to watching the 1974 version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. What an intense movie. After the guy walks into the house and gets clobbered by leatherface, the movie has this fierce momentum that I have never seen in any other movie. And the actors seemed genuinely psychotic, especially at the dinner table scene.

Ugh, all this talk of Melancholia...it's not showing anywhere near me. D:

[beccalynn122]

harry potter part 2 is awesome.. except some parts which make me sad

[DeepSleeper44]

Grey Gardens

[Future Dreams]

Captian America

[DeepSleeper44]

The Seventh Seal
5/5

[JeremyM]

Thor

[tropicalheatwave]

rebound. the legend of Earl ''The Goat'' Manigault.

[DeepSleeper44]

Hunger (2008)

[DeepSleeper44]

The Descendants

[DeepSleeper44]

The Muppets

[gargoylegoil]

A Christmas Story

[tropicalheatwave]

a walk to remember

[KRSTYSTLCLR]

An Invisible Sign

[DeepSleeper44]

Melancholia + The Artist

[Dorn]

Melancholia ...

That's it? No rating, no review ...? Not even the slightest comment on that overflow of Germanic dread and despair?

I saw it almost six months ago, in Copenhagen, and find it to be Lars von Trier's oeuvre. The influences from Ibsen and Bergman, as dramatist and director respectively, reach an entirely new level. And the casting is extraordinary.

I was actually worried about Kirsten Dunst's capacity before I saw it, but she outperformed herself.

[DeepSleeper44]

Melancholia ...

That's it? No rating, no review ...? Not even the slightest comment on that overflow of Germanic dread and despair?

I saw it almost six months ago, in Copenhagen, and find it to be Lars von Trier's oeuvre. The influences from Ibsen and Bergman, as dramatist and director respectively, reach an entirely new level. And the casting is extraordinary.

I was actually worried about Kirsten Dunst's capacity before I saw it, but she outperformed herself.

I got in really late last night, so I was too tired to write much.
Anyway...
I really, really liked this. The first and last ten minutes were hauntingly beautiful. The use of Tristan and Isolde throughout was brilliant. I loved how the problems that the 2 sisters were dealing with (Justine- Depression and Claire- Anxiety) were expressed and explored. Justine's affliction was more inward and Claire's was more of an outwardly affecting affliction and they had to deal with this as an external force came hurtling towards them, spelling out doom. Kirsten Dunst was extraodinary, but I must say that I prefer Gainsbourg's performance. Now for criticisms, I'll start out by saying that Justine's part had no business being so lengthy. I understand that they had to build up the character and set the tone, but some of the things that went on at the party could have really been left out. I was a bit befuddled at the inclusion of humor at the strangest of moments. Lastly, Justine's apparent ability to see the future (ie. Melancholia hitting, 678 pebbles) was a little much. That last one wasn't a very big complaint, more of a minor quibble. Overall, an exceptionally crafted film that will be stuck in my head (As will Tristan and Isolde) for some time.
4.5/5

Dorn, have you seen The Artist? I felt that Melancholia was better, but it's still a sweet film.

[DeepSleeper44]

Seven Chances

[JeremyM]

Crazy stupid love. Wasn't my pick of movies.

[Bubbydoll]

Melancholia ...

That's it? No rating, no review ...? Not even the slightest comment on that overflow of Germanic dread and despair?

I saw it almost six months ago, in Copenhagen, and find it to be Lars von Trier's oeuvre. The influences from Ibsen and Bergman, as dramatist and director respectively, reach an entirely new level. And the casting is extraordinary.

I was actually worried about Kirsten Dunst's capacity before I saw it, but she outperformed herself.

I got in really late last night, so I was too tired to write much.
Anyway...
I really, really liked this. The first and last ten minutes were hauntingly beautiful. The use of Tristan and Isolde throughout was brilliant. I loved how the problems that the 2 sisters were dealing with (Justine- Depression and Claire- Anxiety) were expressed and explored. Justine's affliction was more inward and Claire's was more of an outwardly affecting affliction and they had to deal with this as an external force came hurtling towards them, spelling out doom. Kirsten Dunst was extraodinary, but I must say that I prefer Gainsbourg's performance. Now for criticisms, I'll start out by saying that Justine's part had no business being so lengthy. I understand that they had to build up the character and set the tone, but some of the things that went on at the party could have really been left out. I was a bit befuddled at the inclusion of humor at the strangest of moments. Lastly, Justine's apparent ability to see the future (ie. Melancholia hitting, 678 pebbles) was a little much. That last one wasn't a very big complaint, more of a minor quibble. Overall, an exceptionally crafted film that will be stuck in my head (As will Tristan and Isolde) for some time.
4.5/5

Dorn, have you seen The Artist? I felt that Melancholia was better, but it's still a sweet film.

What was with the husband leaving after her episode hit and she closed herself off? I read that the marriage was not real, it was something given to her to make her happy by her sister and her bil. His role was finished when she broke her happiness? Why would he just leave her that way after only marrying if it was not put on? Just something I thought I would discuss with you since you've now seen the movie

[DeepSleeper44]

What was with the husband leaving after her episode hit and she closed herself off? I read that the marriage was not real, it was something given to her to make her happy by her sister and her bil. His role was finished when she broke her happiness? Why would he just leave her that way after only marrying if it was not put on? Just something I thought I would discuss with you since you've now seen the movie

Yeah, I thought that was odd. They seemed really content together at the beginning when they were struggling to get the limo up the road, but when they arrived and Justine spotted Melancholia in the sky, everything changed rather suddenly. When he left, I almost didn't believe it. I read an idea somewhere about the wedding being imaginary and the end of the world not being literal, but that doesn't seem right. Her having sex with that guy on the golf course was kind of weird, too.

[Abe1998]

If your just talking a movie in general, Star wars 3. But if you mean a movie all the way through....I'm not sure.

[Dorn]

I really, really liked this. The first and last ten minutes were hauntingly beautiful. [...]
Overall, an exceptionally crafted film that will be stuck in my head (As will Tristan and Isolde) for some time.
4.5/5

That was very well put, and that goes for all the other text on which I am not commenting. (It would simply be too many "I agrees" in one post.)

Now for criticisms, I'll start out by saying that Justine's part had no business being so lengthy.

I think it's almost exactly divided with a little over one hour for each sister.

I was a bit befuddled at the inclusion of humor at the strangest of moments.

That's the Scandinavian trademark. Like Ibsen, von Trier is a mischievous troll who finds the greatest amusement in the quirkiest of characters.

Lastly, Justine's apparent ability to see the future (ie. Melancholia hitting, 678 pebbles) was a little much.

I interpreted that as a rigged game and (no show) culmen of her "perfect" wedding, where every wish came true, one by one. I assumed that Claire had set it up; she even ordered Udo Kier's character to throw it away at the end of part one.

Dorn, have you seen The Artist? I felt that Melancholia was better, but it's still a sweet film.

I'll be spending my time in Scandinavia and then Southern Europe for months ahead, so it will be difficult to get a hold of films that are outside of the mainstream (or outside the reach of the local supply).

What was with the husband leaving after her episode hit and she closed herself off? I read that the marriage was not real, it was something given to her to make her happy by her sister and her bil. His role was finished when she broke her happiness?

It is the fulfillment of every wish, which is the beginning of the most horrible of nightmares. When all things desired are fulfilled, the Real remains. And by the Real I don't mean the repetitive treadmill of everyday life, nor reality, but the horrible unseen forces that direct the universe at large. The Real is the horror of natural disasters, inertia, rot, decay, violence, entropy, death--albeit in such a forceful manner that one stands powerless against it and resigns altogether. That is Justine's insight, before which she welcomes the end of her ceaseless pain and melancholy.

I read an idea somewhere about the wedding being imaginary and the end of the world not being literal, but that doesn't seem right.

I'd disregard that. Like Tarkovsky, von Trier can be expressionistic but remains a materialist (philosophically speaking).

Her having sex with that guy on the golf course was kind of weird, too.

It displays the emptiness of sexual gratification, also the utmost travesty of the wedding night ritual--infidelity in word and deed.

[DeepSleeper44]

^A truly excellent post, Dorn.
I enjoy discussing this film, and like many great films, I am still thinking about it days later (And most likely will be for weeks/months).

Also, what did you think about Claire's husband killing himself? I was really not expecting him to do that (And not even leaving any pills for Claire and the kid!). His completely abandoning his family like that was shocking, but he was an odd character- very obsessed with his wealth and egotistical- so perhaps it wasn't so strange of him to do that? Your thoughts?

[KRSTYSTLCLR]

THE SAND LOT