What was the last movie you saw?

[J-Sun]

Gave Star Wars: The Force Awakens views #3 & #4 after picking it up on used DVD. The first view was on a DVD player and it was glitchy and I noticed a (visually minor) scratch. #4 was on my computer to see if it was just the other player and it played fine. (Maybe a caching problem on the dedicated device.) Maybe I should take it back but I'm leaning towards keeping it.

As far as the movie, the more I see it, the more I have problems with it and the more I love it anyway. I just really hope the second movie is much better.

Spoiler: relatively light spoilage of TFA if you haven't seen it

It just must not recapitulate The Empire Strikes Back and must skip over quite a bit. I want to see Rey and Ren with their New and Improved Kung-Force Grip and do *not* want to see them acquire it. I want to believe that Rey and Poe and Fin have become great buds in the intervening period (because their bonding vs. Han and Luke and Leia's was slightly botched) and I want to see less gratuitous action stuff (like Ren not killing Fin somehow, yet the movie trying to make us think he was dead even though we'd never believe that, even with Rey feeling for a pulse and then crying) and less gratuitous un-science-fiction (yes, spaceships doing dogfight manuevers is silly but we love it; no the FTL destruction of the Republic is not a deal-breaker in this context but yes it does stress things beyond the necessary limit), etc. But still, the music was great, the visuals were great, the new characters in isolation were great, their interactions would have been great with a little more effort, it "homaged" the hell out of the originals but that's good in its way, and it was fun and made me hopeful for the follow-ups. "Better than the prequels."

 

[J Riff]

Well Shaun The Sheep, by the Wallace n Gromit folks - is just as good, recommended for everyone... has great characters, and so does Lego Movie. I want a UniKitty t-shirt ... and fridge magnet,... NEED a uniKItty flashlight... must-have a uniKitty talking figurine..

 

[clovis-man]

the Netflix original movie, The Little Prince. Ostensibly aimed at a juvenile audience (my grandkids loved it), this animated retelling of the 1943 novella by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery is well conceived and full of memorable characters. Well worth anyone's time.

 

[JunkMonkey]

Spaceballs - and it was as unfunny as I remember it. I was reconnoitring the film to see it it was suitable for my kids. I don't think I'll bother them with it.

 

[Overread]

They have to experience Starwars before they can appreciate Spaceballs!

 

[JunkMonkey]

All are familiar with Star Wars - Number One son especially so - but I really don't think it's worth showing them. I decided against showing Number One Daughter Young Frankenstein after she saw Whale's Bride of Frankenstein and fell in love with its camp excesses. The original is funnier.

 

[J Riff]

Spaceballs... yeah.. I do remember 'ludicrous speed' as a good scene. But it dint age well, did it? Neither, particularly, might Strange Magic. Actually it's lovely. Lovely fairies 'n amination, and lots of familiar songs, love songs n' wartnot. I couldn't stay awake but I think it was lovely, the bits I saw..

 

[Overread]

Sometimes I think that things that age poorly are sometimes only aging poorly for those old to them and that sometimes old things can work on newer generations. I'd say its one thing to withhold media upon standards such as language, violence, etc.. until a suitable age is reached but otherwise I'd say the only way to find out is to expose them to it. Sometimes they'll like things you like; sometimes they'll hate things you love and love things you hate.

 

[nixie]

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, I was doubled over with laughter.

 

[JunkMonkey]

Sometimes I think that things that age poorly are sometimes only aging poorly for those old to them and that sometimes old things can work on newer generations. I'd say its one thing to withhold media upon standards such as language, violence, etc.. until a suitable age is reached but otherwise I'd say the only way to find out is to expose them to it. Sometimes they'll like things you like; sometimes they'll hate things you love and love things you hate.

Mmmm. I think I agree with you to a point but I do know my kids and Brooks' films are ageing badly. I watched Blazing Saddles the other week. Were 'rape jokes' ever funny?

My problem is I have so many things I want to share with my kids. There is more to cinema history than Disney and Marvel. There were films before Star Wars screwed up American cinema. Number One Daughter and I watched Kurisawa's Yojimbo and Leone's Fistful of Dollars back to back the other night. Kids of her age (she's 14) get to see all sorts of stuff that was considered 'adult' when I was her age (I'm 56) and what you are allowed to show your kids in this country is bewildering.

Barbarella was an X certificate when it came out in 1968. (It's now a 15.)

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a PG.

Orlando is a PG

So it's all right for my 7 year old son to watch people having their heads shoved into spinning propellers but my gay teenage daughter can't see Jane Fonda's tits - though both of them can see Tilda Swinton's tits and bits in Orlando.

Baffling.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Just saw Suicide Squad a couple of hours ago.

Meh.

It was watchable, but ultimately a disappointment. The idea was exciting; instead of heroes, let's make a movie about the villains. Awesome!

But, of course, Hollywood doesn't have the balls to see something like that through. They were never going to make a movie about villains; they were going to take some villains, make them likable enough that they're basically not bad guys, and make a movie about them saving the world.

It's basically The Avengers, if the Avengers were uglier and had poorer makeup.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[WaylanderToo]

Mmmm. I think I agree with you to a point but I do know my kids and Brooks' films are ageing badly. I watched Blazing Saddles the other week. Were 'rape jokes' ever funny?

My problem is I have so many things I want to share with my kids. There is more to cinema history than Disney and Marvel. There were films before Star Wars screwed up American cinema. Number One Daughter and I watched Kurisawa's Yojimbo and Leone's Fistful of Dollars back to back the other night. Kids of her age (she's 14) get to see all sorts of stuff that was considered 'adult' when I was her age (I'm 56) and what you are allowed to show your kids in this country is bewildering.

Barbarella was an X certificate when it came out in 1968. (It's now a 15.)

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a PG.

Orlando is a PG

So it's all right for my 7 year old son to watch people having their heads shoved into spinning propellers but my gay teenage daughter can't see Jane Fonda's tits - though both of them can see Tilda Swinton's tits and bits in Orlando.

Baffling.

Interesting view-point - I do agree WRT Fonda's tits (it is weird that violence is more acceptable than the naked form) but I also suspect that the version of Raiders you see on TV these days has been trimmed a little?

WRT to Blazing Saddles - I watched it again a few months ago and still love it

 

[JunkMonkey]

Interesting view-point - I do agree WRT Fonda's tits (it is weird that violence is more acceptable than the naked form) but I also suspect that the version of Raiders you see on TV these days has been trimmed a little?

Nope. According to the BBFC's website all versions of this film are uncut*.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK | British Board of Film Classification



*Though, given that some of the dialogue is in Hebrew, I'm not sure the same can be said of the cast.

 

[Dulahan]

"Bone Tomahawk" Kurt Russel, Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Conjuring), and a barely recognizable Richard Jenkins (Stepbrothers). A cameo by horror b-film legend Sid Haig as well. I really enjoyed it, a Horror Western about a Sheriff and small posse who set out to rescue townsfolk abducted by cave-dwelling-cannibal American Indians. It started well but had a very long stretching middle that was very casual dialogue heavy. The ending was good fun though. I would recommend it if you like westerns with touch of gore and horror.

 

[Dulahan]

As for all this talk about Mel Brooks, I think people are becoming far to sensitive now-a-days to enjoy anything.

Any iota of 'blue humor' is like walking on eggshells and people need to dark their eyes around to see if anyone was offended before letting loose a chuckle. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Lenny Bruce are rolling in their graves.

 

[WaylanderToo]

As for all this talk about Mel Brooks, I think people are becoming far to sensitive now-a-days to enjoy anything.

Any iota of 'blue humor' is like walking on eggshells and people need to dark their eyes around to see if anyone was offended before letting loose a chuckle. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Lenny Bruce are rolling in their graves.

that being said ISTR that this caused some controversy at the time...

 

[Dulahan]

Right @WaylanderToo, Brooks has always enjoyed the shock humor of Nazis. The Producers and all that.

 

[JunkMonkey]

As for all this talk about Mel Brooks, I think people are becoming far to sensitive now-a-days to enjoy anything.

Any iota of 'blue humor' is like walking on eggshells and people need to dark their eyes around to see if anyone was offended before letting loose a chuckle. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Lenny Bruce are rolling in their graves.

Oh Whoa! I'm not against 'Blue humour'; I've written enough smutty jokes in my time. (I still relish the moment I got a gag about a Mongolian Porn star called 'Attila the Hung' into a family show - and the glorious moment on the third performance when the actress who said it finally understood the joke as she was delivering the line.)

What I find hard to find funny about Mel Brooks' stuff these days is that what was once shocking isn't any longer. Strip away the shock factor and the jokes that are left behind are often pretty thin, hamfisted, or clumsy and then sometimes laboured to death.

The films are also full of dated references which would mean nothing to a younger audience - like the whole "It's not Hedy, it's Hedley. Hedley Lamarr." thing in Blazing Saddles.

And sorry. But was this ever funny:

Taggart: We'll work up a Number 6 on 'em.
Hedley Lamarr: [frowns] "Number 6"? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that one.
Taggart: Well, that's where we go a-ridin' into town, a-whompin' and a-whumpin' every livin' thing that moves within an inch of its life. Except the women folks, of course.
Hedley Lamarr: You spare the women?
Taggart: Naw, we rape the sh*t out of them at the Number Six Dance later on.
Hedley Lamarr: Marvelous!

Ho ho ho.

Brooks was of his time. His work pushed the boundaries as did Bruce, Pryor, Max Miller, Marty Feldman and Barry Took with their Round the Horne Julian and Sandy scripts - and loads of other 'edgy' comedians and writers. A lot of the laughs they mined were because they were pushing at the boundaries of acceptable taste. They shocked. Trouble is people keep pushing boundaries. They keep on getting pushed further and further and what was once shocking is no longer shocking because the the targets have been left behind and become irrelevant.

Humour dates. Just look at the 'jokes' in Shakespeare. Cutting edge at the time. unimaginably unfunny to the layperson these days.

 

[Bick]

Spaceballs - and it was as unfunny as I remember it. I was reconnoitring the film to see it it was suitable for my kids. I don't think I'll bother them with it.

I always loved that movie.

 

[Dulahan]

@JunkMonkey "Blue Humor" is far more than simply risque or smutty. Evidently your sensitivities are offended by jokes about sex or race? If that is the case then your not exactly a fan of "Blue Humor" just the dirty verity. Attilla the Hung is funny though -- perhaps he could be played by Dong Johnson. (but I question the actress's cognitive ability in taking so long to pick up on a GLARING pun)

I still find Brooks funny and I am sure that many would put him as one of the all-time screen writers. Humor and Art, however, is entirely subjective and we all like what we like.