Oh, boy. My family is very generous. For Christmas, my brothers gave me the 25 by Kurosawa Criterion box set. That'll last my wife and me a while! Beautiful, beautiful presentation, including a nice hardcover booklet. Haven't started the films, though I've seen a few of them already.

Recently watched a triple feature of the "wild west," including the fair Day of the Outlaw, starring the great Robert Ryan; Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller, one of my very favorite movies and certainly one of the greats of the 1970s, and the Maysles Brothers' Gimme Shelter!

McCabe gives me the chills every time I see it. Just a beautiful film.

An obscure thriller, "Don't Bother To Knock," with Richard Widmark as a good guy, Anne Bancroft (her first film) as his has/loses/gets back girl, and Marilyn Monroe as a very damaged young lady who nearly murders a child. Monroe did well; she could act. In 1952, this was news, although the NY Times dismissed her acting as being 'not enough like Bette Davis' in the scene-chewing dep't. MM was of another generation, and never the studied, well-rounded pro that Davis was, but she held the screen and conveyed the part of a confused, psychotic but well-meaning character. An interesting film, worth a visit.

The scene with the killer trying to pry his school tie pin out of the frozen hands of his latest victim is about as black as humor can get, I think.

there's a good bit of british humor lodged among the dead bodies. frenzy heralded hitchcock's return to england (even if it was just for one film) after making movies in america for thirty + years. the commentary on spicing up english cuisine is pretty darn funny...good call, george.

more tasty than the poor detective's wife's dinners, anyway. one of my favorites as well.

I like FRENZY a great deal. The games Hitchcock plays with hero/villain are a lot of fun to watch. A tasty and complex movie.

i saw psycho and frenzy on the big screen on the closing day of the castro's hitchcock festival. the new print of psycho was outstanding, and a marvel to see on that big screen. the print of frenzy had some consistent sound rumble, but it didn't diminish the grittiness of that late effort by the master of suspense.

I went to see The Princess and the Frog as well, and enjoyed it on many levels, especially Randy Newman's music and the New Orleans setting. Also went to go see Invictus, which I suppose I would say I appreciated more than enjoyed, but it certainly had a number of interesting moments.

i like pygmalion a lot - wendy hiller is great in it.

I watched My Fair Lady last night. I've always loved that film, but hadn't seen it in a long time. Crazy about Rex Harrison, I am!

Last night TMC was showing a musical and then showing the original, non-musical version of the same story. After My Fair Lady, they showed the 1938 Leslie Howard/Wendy Hiller version of Pygmalion. I didn't stay up for Silk Stockings followed by Ninotchka, but I need to see both of those again, too.

The Princess and the frog, loved the New Orleans atmosphere and the movie was just OK.
The Tripper (directed by David Arquette) and Shut up and sing...

thanks for your words on the cranes are flying. that is an outstanding film i would recommend to anyone that has a heart, or for folks that might like to know about russian culture. it is indeed an anti war film. that speech at the end expresses a sentiment (of the people) that most americans never see portrayed when viewing americanized images of russians. indeed, people hate war, while governments and authorities who always say they have our best interest in mind, seem to thrive on it.

but more than a political statement, cranes is an unforgettable love story....as veronica's parents say, "love is an incurable illness". but on the other hand, love can fill you with a youthful exhuberance that can make you leap flights of stairs in a matter of seconds (brilliantly captured by kalatozov's astonishing camerawork).

ditto on your favorite scenes...i would include that whole opening sequence, where the director knows he only has five minutes to establish that these two are IN LOVE, a love that drives the rest of the film. and veronica's scene where she races with the train to the bridge (where she finds something that restores her soul)....amazing.

if you enjoyed kalatozov's use of camera in this one, check out i am cuba. absolutely breathtaking, astonishing filmmaking.

what a contrast in experiences this weekend - first seeing 'Avator' on the big screen with my geek friends and then a quiet evening at home alone watching 'The Cranes are Flying'

as was mentioned earlier in this thread, the visuals in Avator are stunning. over the top stunning.

and the story is sadly lacking. it is basically 'Dances with Wolves' on another planet.

the more i thought about Cameron's theme of this movie the more it bothered me - and not in the way you might think. that he would use THIS theme - this story - this history bothered me in a way i can't quite put my finger on.

on the other hand - The Cranes are Flying was so beautiful. and it is the visual appeal of THIS movie that will stay with me. for all the advances in technology, for all the improvements in camera and film treatment, i do not think anyone could use a camera any more artistically or effectively then what you see in The Cranes are Flying. and the camera seemed to shoot a clarity that is no longer seen in films. i don't know if there was anything special about the camera used, but every scene seemed so sharp and clean and perfectly framed. so much attention was paid.

a few things that really stand out - without giving away too much for those who haven't seen it are:
- every close up of Veronica's beautiful and expressive face.
- the scene of Veronica threading her way through a street of tanks.
- the contrast of two scenes on stairways - Oscar running up the stairs to Veronica's family apartment, so filled with youthful exuberance and innocence, and Veronica herself running up the same stairs after the air raid and everything has changed
- the superimposed dream-like sequences; the death scene on the battle field and Veronica running up the steps and along the train platform. again, considering how much more technologically savvy film makers are, i can't think of any modern scenes that can compare to the completeness of these scenes. they are masterful.

there was an insert in the D.V.D. case that i read after watching the movie, and it gave a little historical reference. how in 1957, while the cold war was still impacting relations with the west, it was post-Stalin, and the country itself was coming back to life, and freedoms were being restored. i had been wondering about that - how a film lacking a pro military stance had gotten made at that time in the Soviet Union.

knowing this gave me an appreciation and some understanding of the decision that Veronica makes - which seems in keeping with the country itself. how hope and the desires of the heart give way to the realism of the situation, but also how hope and desire can out live even the direst reality.

The Alistair Sim version is by very far my favorite. Nobody comes close to Sim in channeling Scrooge.

The Scott version does have the best Marley's Ghost ever, in the great Frank Finlay. He actually overpowers George C. Scott, not an easy thing to do.

i haven't seen that version since it first came out. maybe it's time to see it again. the original is my favorite...all dark and creepy.

I just caught the George C. Scott version of A Chistmas Carol last night. Most excellent portrayal of Scrooge as a human being and not simply a curmudgeon. Also it avoided much of the overdone good cheer on Christmas Day itself. He gets the turkey, sends it on, and that's it. Of particular interest was the ghostliness of the ghosts, and a certain degree of horror they evoked even as they tried to help him. I don't see that in most of the other productions.

nice! the who put quite a few things in motion. i'll check those out. i saw them a few times in the early 70's - great shows, all.

All Who weekend at Casa Paull. My kids were typically unimpressed, pointing to Pete Townshend and asking, "Hey Dad, who's the old guy?" Later on I checked in the mirror for ear hair.


Exciting integration of interviews, early promos, television clips, and passionate, barefisted live footage of The Who ripping huge chunks out of the scenery, chips on their shoulders, fighting and fucking everything in sight, and trampling everything – their audience, their songs, even themselves – into submission.


Compilation of clips with no discernible rhyme or reason but there's plenty here to recommend, even if it all seems like a desperate trip in the wayback machine to a time when heroes did truly walk among us, before MTV did for rock & roll what the full-length mirror did for Liberace.


Shot with six cameras in stunning 35-mm clarity, “Kilburn” is a force of elemental anarchy that deposits the frustration, epic confrontation, and around-the-bend, semi-punk roughhousing squarely in your lap and when Townshend bristles at some unheard taunt from the throng with “There’s a guitar up here if any bigmouth little git wants to take it off me,” you instinctively take one giant step back in the hope you don’t get any blood or grey matter on your clothes. What works onstage often falls flat in one’s living room, but not here.

sweetie is fantastic, glad you got around to that one sam! and drag me to hell wasn't too "lite" for you? i really liked it.

just heading home after seeing 39 steps and north by northwest on the glorious big screen at the castro. what a shame we've convinced ourselves that home viewing is preferable to seeing films on the big screen.

it just isn't Christmas unless you can squeeze a bit of die hard in - imho - yipee kie yay ... ha!

sweetie - wow pretty cool & funny ... bring on bright star

drag me to hell - gosh!

slaughterhouse five - hmm

I just finished watching Playing By Heart. It's honestly one of the best movies I've ever seen, and it's so underrated! Wonderful actors and acting (and Jon Stewart.. :3), brilliant dialogue and a wonderful story. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Also, last night I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic with my sister. It was actually alot better than I thought it'd be.^^

Lori wrote: " Hi Ariadna, I love your pitcure, but i have a question. What do you know about some Videodrome? Your between two of my girls, I have 3, 1980, 82, 84, you were born in 83 when this movie came out. ..."

I totally love Cronenberg and Videodrome is one of my favorite movies in the world, I bet watching it in cinemas was an amazing experience. I agree with Phillip a remake is completely outrageous.

Last watched: Winged Creatures, didn't like it at all, though anything to see Dakota Fanning and Kate Beckinsale.
Zack and Miri make a porno, laughed a lot!!
Midnight Meat Train, I was expecting something worst...

WTF with Brittany Murphy's dead!!!

thanks tom! i'm waiting for the train to take me into SF right now...really looking forward to it.

it's a wonderful life is one i've never grown tired of. i can't find it at the local stores (to purchase), i think i'll look for it online, i can't think of a reason not to own it.

Philip, 30 STEPS and NORTH BY NORTHWEST is the double feature of the year. Enjoy!!

I saw IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE today at the IFC Center, and loved every single solitary second of it. There may not be a Great American Novel, but there is a Great American Film, and this is it. Practically perfect in every way.

Lori wrote: " Hi Ariadna, I love your pitcure, but i have a question. What do you know about some Videodrome? ..."

someone is going to do a remake of videodrome?????


AARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is nothing sacred?

i watched food inc. last night. i've read a lot on the subject so there were no big surprises, other than the way giant food corporations are able to silence just about anyone that wants to tell you how your food is produced. it's really depressing how farmers have been relegated to glorified slaves in the u.s.

i caught vertigo on the big screen on friday. that is one of the strangest films ever made. i've seen it numerous times and it produces a different response every time. great to see it on the big screen. if you've seen the restored version, you will notice how a lot of the photography is darker than the previous versions.

i'm going back today to see 39 steps and north by northwest at the castro's hitchcock fest.

Secret Window with Johnny Depp, Maria Bello. Full of house-lust. Depp's acting not so good. 8/10-for-that-kind-of-film.

I just saw Get Smart. Enjoyed it immensely, especially the dance sequence with the fat girl. A Maxwell Smart who was actually competent, when it counted.

We watched ENCHANTED APRIL last night, and enjoyed it thoroughly. A lovely little movie with as little plot as possible, just some people who get to know each other on holiday. The acting couldn't be better. A real charmer.

Under the Tuscan sun - nice, warming movie.

Well, saw Cameron's Avatar. It's an innocent, gorgeous fairytale for children of all ages. Nothing more, nothing less. I did enjoy it, especially the parts that reminded me of Malick's masterpiece The New World. Pandora is so beautiful.

The script is utterly ridiculous, filled with cliches and provides few surprises but such is the way of fairytales... They lull us into a wonderful three-dimensional sleep where dragons can be ridden and pure love exists.

With a decent script... oh well.

Emily Elizabeth: Coraline is not a Tim Burton movie. It's a Henry Selick one.

My grand-daughter loves Coraline. She just turned 3 in September. We seen it back here in the summer. She watched it like 5 times in one day. I do like it very much, but I hate it when people try to read to much into a kids story. We rented 6 movies the other night because they called for snow, so i'll be back here later.

I watched two movies last night
1. The Other Boleyn Girl- King Henry VIII was a pig. It makes me furious to think of a man who calls for his wife's head roll because he is bored with her and moving on to the next wife.
2. Coraline- It was interesting. I love Tim Burton's animation style; its hirlarious and fabulous. The storyline was strange. It was very good but not a movie I will watch again and again. I do love the scrawny black cat, though.

Hi Ariadna, I love your pitcure, but i have a question. What do you know about some Videodrome? Your between two of my girls, I have 3, 1980, 82, 84, you were born in 83 when this movie came out. LOL I still remember when i first seen it. My husband (now ex) and I went to the theater to see it. We were the only people in the whole place. We really didn't know much about the movie except it had James Woods, & Blondie's lead singer Deborah Harry in it, which we liked both of them. So when it started to get all bloody, weird, & fing scary (in 83 this was scary) I wanted to leave, but we didn't. I'm glad we stayed as it turned out to be a pretty good flick, And I got a cool story out of it. LOL It's set to be remade some time in 2010.


I watched 2 good movies yesterday, one a few years old, & a new one.
1) Kingdom Come, I had forgotten how funny, and moving this movie is. A great cast, music, everything about it is awesome, a must see.

2)Hangover, I didn't pick this one, but it was very funny. I didn't recognize any of the actors. But it didn't matter this flick is funny. The soon to be brother-in-law is so stupidly funny. Not just a man movie, check it out.

Avatar, not my type of movie I prefer Terminator or Aliens

Last friday i watched Public Enemy Number One, long, boring, and really not that good.
On saturday night we watched My Sister's Keeper, it was awesome. You'll find yourself crying off and on, and laughing at times as well.

Film Noir, I went with no expectations, hoping to see something better than Waltz with Bashir and it didn't disappoint me, it was OK.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982). It was at least entertaining! 7/10

Seen some wonderful movies lately, some of them re-watched. Primer, Fermat's Room, Cube (an all-time favorite). God, I love those films!

Also, watched Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno again, with commentary by SBC and the director. Loved that, too. Then I saw Hangover and that was not as good as the ones mentioned above, but still hilarious. Especially loved the scene of the teacher leaving the school... :D

so there is a newer version of sybil??? man, EVERYTHING is being spun into a remake these days.

It was definitely based on actual events, but there is some controversy. The book is apparently heavily fictionalized, and the movie even more so. You can find out more online.

Phillip wrote: "Tom wrote: "I read SYBIL years ago, don't remember it clearly. I've heard/read that there's a good deal of controversy about whether the story is true or not, apparently doubts have been cast on t..."

There is an older version with Sally Field as Sybil, yes.

I've been wondering if it is a true true story or not, thanks for letting me know I wasn't the only one thinking it.

i had the evening free last night and watched a nice double feature: pulp fiction and the ice storm, which is my favorite ang lee film. really powerful stuff. and early tarantino remains his best work, imo.

Tom wrote: "I read SYBIL years ago, don't remember it clearly. I've heard/read that there's a good deal of controversy about whether the story is true or not, apparently doubts have been cast on the doctor's ..."


wasn't there a film with sally field? i barely remember it...i think i saw it on tv as a teenager.

Ariadna wrote: "Fritz Lang's M, I haven't seen it before!! Liked it"


M is outstanding! my favorite lang film.

I read SYBIL years ago, don't remember it clearly. I've heard/read that there's a good deal of controversy about whether the story is true or not, apparently doubts have been cast on the doctor's diagnosis.

Just decided to see Arsenic and Old Lace again, still terrific. I always thought that Boris Karloff played a character who looked like Boris Karloff, but I guess that was the play. In the movie it was Raymond Massey.

Charge!!!

Fritz Lang's M, I haven't seen it before!! Liked it

A couple weeks ago, I saw the TV movie Sybil on Lifetime. I rarely watch the channel, but I was bored and needed something to watch. It was definitely something different. Now I'm interested in reading the book by Flora Rheta Schreiber. Has anyone ever read it?