Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[titoli]

An American in Paris (1951) Not a great musical, not even interesting. I don't know if the fame derives from Oscars or by the artsyfartsy (for mass audiences of the '50's) conception. But the best american musicals thrive on rhythm (both narrative and musical), comedy (here courtesy of Oscar Levant) and not taking itself seriously (which is exactly what makes great the 2 best musicals ever: The Band Wagon and Singin' in the Rain). I'll add that Leslie Caron can't be dubbed ugly only because she was very young (I dare not see what she can have become thereafter) but it suffices to compare it to Cyd Charisse in the other two movies to understand the difference. The choreographies are nothing memeorable. Of course there's a couple of great numbers (Stairway to Paradise and the final ballett: which can't compare though to the Girl-Hunt and Gotta Dance of the other two movies). 7\10 is generous and only out of respect to Gershwin.

[dave jenkins]

An American in Paris (1951) Not a great musical, not even interesting. I don't know if the fame derives from Oscars or by the artsyfartsy (for mass audiences of the '50's) conception. But the best american musicals thrive on rhythm (both narrative and musical), comedy (here courtesy of Oscar Levant) and not taking itself seriously (which is exactly what makes great the 2 best musicals ever: The Band Wagon and Singin' in the Rain). I'll add that Leslie Caron can't be dubbed ugly only because she was very young (I dare not see what she can have become thereafter) but it suffices to compare it to Cyd Charisse in the other two movies to understand the difference. The choreographies are nothing memeorable. Of course there's a couple of great numbers (Stairway to Paradise and the final ballett: which can't compare though to the Girl-Hunt and Gotta Dance of the other two movies). 7\10 is generous and only out of respect to Gershwin.

This is a fair summation. However, it should be noted that AAiP preceeded those other, better musicals you mention, and so could be credited for clearing the space that made those successes possible.

[titoli]

This is a fair summation. However, it should be noted that AAiP preceeded those other, better musicals you mention, and so could be credited for clearing the space that made those successes possible.

What was the space that had to be cleared?

[dave jenkins]

For example, the long ballet at the end of AAiP. The fact that audiences were willing to embrace that as a way to end the picture helped establish a precedent. Then filmmakers knew they could finish a musical with something like the "Gotta Dance" number in Singin' In the Rain or the Girl Hunt ballet at the end of The Band Wagon and expect to meet with success. Further, the piece at the end of AAiP was very ambitious--Kelly/Donan knew they would have to top it in subsequent films. Minnelli too had a standard he knew he would need to exceed if he wanted to impress his audience. These creators thus pushed beyond the success of AAiP to produce even greater work.

[titoli]

So the number where you pump more money than required by the rest of the movie needed to be "excused"? Maybe. But not from audiences, rather from Schary.

[Banjo]

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

A loose remake of the far superior CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.I liked the basic plot of the miracle alzeimer curing drug being given to the apes turning them to super intelligent but unfortunately to make up for the lack of a charismatic ape lead to rival Roddy McDowall's Caeser in the original (the rest of the cast are dull too) we are bogged down throughout by a tedious CGI fest.Not to mention the complete absense of the clever satire of the older films.

Not even the odd (mainly crap) reference to the original series saves this from being a very disappointing 3 out of 10.

[dave jenkins]

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

A loose remake of the far superior CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.I liked the basic plot of the miracle alzeimer curing drug being given to the apes turning them to super intelligent but unfortunately to make up for the lack of a charismatic ape lead to rival Roddy McDowall's Caeser in the original (the rest of the cast are dull too) we are bogged down throughout by a tedious CGI fest.Not to mention the complete absense of the clever satire of the older films.

Not even the odd (mainly crap) reference to the original series saves this from being a very disappointing 3 out of 10.

A bit lower than I pitched it. But I admit I don't feel the need to ever see it again.

[dave jenkins]

the far superior CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

And speaking of J. Lee Thompson:

Return From the Ashes (1965) - 7/10. Maxamillian Schell (in Charming Swine mode, as opposed to his other setting, Heartless Nazi Bastard), is married to Ingrid Thulin (lucky), but he's also nailing Samantha Eggar (luckier), his step-step-daughter (give it a think, you'll figure it out). He's essentially a kept man, a position I've been after for decades myself, but Max finally decides to do away with the women so he can have their money and so spend all his time thinking about chess. Say what? Dude, the whole reason for having money is so you can use it to marry Ingrid Thulin and/or nail Samantha Eggar! How much disbelief do they want me to suspend, these film guys? Herbert Lom, also in the picture, stands around and wonders what he's doing there. In spite of this, the suspense is quite good, and the film bounces along at a nice clip. Julius Epstein, of Casablanca fame, supplies the requisite amount of barbed dialog, and everything is beautifully photographed in scope and b&w.

[drinkanddestroy]

RIO CONCHOS 6/10.... Richard Boone is one of a few bright spots in a film that is frustrating because it has bright spots but overall wasn't done properly. at certain points u think this has great potential, but then some of the plot elements just seem absurd; some of the comedic bits with the half-breed are real funny, but then at times they are ovedone. i loved the final set (ie. the half-built mansion). i think that if this film is re-made properly, with good casting and fixing some of the writing, it has potential to really be a good film.

[drinkanddestroy]

re: my previous post about RIO CONCHOS: I just wanted to add that I rented the movie from iTunes, cuz it was unavailable from Netflix. and unfortunately, it was a pan and scan version. the film was shot in cinemascope, which i believe uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio; my math isn't the greatest, but off the top of my head, when you pan and scan a 2.35:1  film to 4:3, you lose something like 40% of the width of the picture, right? needless to say, that was pretty awful. on some shots which had two people, they show half of each person's face, rather than just cutting out one person completely. so it was awful.... and it is doubly pathetic cuz they show the widescreen version for the opening credits (cuz otherwise they wuld have to cut out some of the words), and then switch to the pan and scan starting with the first cut after the credits; then revert back to widescreen for the closng credits.... anyway, i don't think i have to convince anyone here about the evils of pan and scan; just expressing my frustration at how awful this was (though i doubt it would have changed my mind much about a film that was not very well-written

[Banjo]

A bit lower than I pitched it. But I admit I don't feel the need to ever see it again.

Maybe i was a bit mean and perhaps it deserves a 5 out of 10.

I agree with Groggy that the dialogue was cringeworthy and Caesar's deep voice ("i am home") just doesn't work.With all the other apes presumably speaking i think the expected sequel will be very dreadful indeed.

I didn't like Tim Butons film much either but at least the ape characters (Tim Roth etc) worked quite well.I think Andy Serkis should maybe stick to just playing Gollum in the hobbit films.

[cigar joe]

RIO CONCHOS 6/10.... Richard Boone is one of a few bright spots in a film that is frustrating because it has bright spots but overall wasn't done properly. at certain points u think this has great potential, but then some of the plot elements just seem absurd; some of the comedic bits with the half-breed are real funny, but then at times they are ovedone. i loved the final set (ie. the half-built mansion). i think that if this film is re-made properly, with good casting and fixing some of the writing, it has potential to really be a good film.

I upped it for Richard Boone, it does have its flaws, Boone was a sorely underused actor in films, sadly, Hombre, is great also check it out if you haven't.  There are quite a few "Have Gun Will Travel" episodes that are brilliant for  a TV Western, you should check out that series sometime they are on Netflix.

[stanton]

re: my previous post about RIO CONCHOS: I just wanted to add that I rented the movie from iTunes, cuz it was unavailable from Netflix. and unfortunately, it was a pan and scan version. the film was shot in cinemascope, which i believe uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio; my math isn't the greatest, but off the top of my head, when you pan and scan a 2.35:1  film to 4:3, you lose something like 40% of the width of the picture, right? needless to say, that was pretty awful. on some shots which had two people, they show half of each person's face, rather than just cutting out one person completely. so it was awful.... and it is doubly pathetic cuz they show the widescreen version for the opening credits (cuz otherwise they wuld have to cut out some of the words), and then switch to the pan and scan starting with the first cut after the credits; then revert back to widescreen for the closng credits.... anyway, i don't think i have to convince anyone here about the evils of pan and scan; just expressing my frustration at how awful this was (though i doubt it would have changed my mind much about a film that was not very well-written

You shouldn't have watched it until you get a widescrenn version. I watch pan&scan only if films are not available elsewhere, and that goes mostly only for some very rare films.

I think that Rio Conchos is a pretty good film with a fine Clair Huffaker script and it is well directed. The best film of Gordon Douglas (at least of the ones I have seen). 8/10

[Groggy]

I upped it for Richard Boone, it does have its flaws, Boone was a sorely underused actor in films, sadly, Hombre, is great also check it out if you haven't.  

Don't forget The Kremlin Letter.

[drinkanddestroy]

yeah i have seen him in HOMBRE, as well as BIG JAKE. also in THE RAID with Van Heflin and Lee Marvin