I never saw the first one, but was staying up , half asleep when this came on, spanish film-I have never seen anything like it, unbeleivable. Torrente 2, mission in marbella. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257231/ Never before, in any film, has such a pack of miscreant circus freaks, rip off merchants and sociopathic half wits (and thats just the main characters) blazed a trail of sexist, absurdist and egotistical incompetentcy from start to finish-this is a strange, and funny film. Regardless of the stunts and idiocy, its very much character driven-characters out of a roald dahl story or something. Highly recommended for an oddly dark comedy, that doesn't take itself to seriously.
Ok so I went out yesterday and bought the newly released DVD âSALOâ 1975 (Italian). Well it is actually a re-release, since it was out on DVD 10 years ago. This is (or was) the Holy Grail of DVDs. Next to impossible to find, used copies were selling on EBay for a few hundred dollars, with factory sealed copies going for as much as $500 and up. I saw one or two going for over $1100.00. Criterion made only a limited number, and then lost the rights to the film. Prices started to climb higher and higher after that. Of course all those people that were coughing up a weeks pay for a DVD, probably never figured that Criterion might one day get the rights back and re-release it. But I did. And its exactly what happened. This new DVD comes in a 2 Disk special Edition, which includes 3 short documentaries on the making of the film and a booklet. It has a much better picture quality than prior releases, due to high definition transfer. I got mine from Books & Borders (or was it Barnes & Noble) either wayâ¦. It goes for $40 â¦. Not cheap for a DVD, but I have been itching to see what all the hoopla was about with this film. I doubt you will be able to see this DVD for sale in other retailersâ¦. (maybe Circuit City). OKâ¦. I was kidding when I said this was a family film. This film has been regarded as the most shocking, controversial film ever made. It has been called every name in the bookâ¦.. And it also has been called a master work of art . This was Pier Pasoliniâs last film. An artist and director, Pasolini directed about 26 films, including âThe Canterbury Talesâ 1972, and âArabian Nightsâ 1974. This is a brief synopsis from IMDBâ¦â¦.. âSet in the Nazi-controlled, northern Italian state of Salo in 1944, four dignitaries round up sixteen perfect specimens of youth and take them together with guards, servants and studs to a palace near Marzabotto. In addition, there are four middle-aged women: three of whom recount arousing stories whilst the fourth accompanies on the piano. The story is largely taken up with their recounting the stories of Dante and De Sade: the Circle of Manias, the Circle of Shit and the Circle of Blood.ââ¦.. thatâs as far as I want to go. This is an anti-fascist art film, so the scenes are all metaphors for the politics of the day. So heated in controversy at the time, the director was murdered shortly after its release. Still banned in some countries, while only a few years ago its ban was lifted in UK. I will not describe the story line, my point for this review was to see if this film lives up to all the hype. The 1970s was an odd decade for films. Very bizarre and disturbing films were released in the 70s⦠not just from Hollywood, but from others countries as well. A lot of the films made during this period could not be made today. SOOOoooooooo how does Salo stand up to all the hype???? Is it as notorious as all the film websites say it is?? My opinion, no. Donât bother with this one. I think a film like this could still very well be made todayâ¦.even with all the graphic nudityâ¦â¦ So it does not live up to all the hype. As far as critique ⦠to be honest most of it went over my headâ¦. Too much art and metaphorsâ¦. Even at the end, when you see the torture scenes, you donât really feel for the victims, because their characters were never built up. I give this film a D. here is a clip (clean) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o2ul-UwOvU
Okay: Low-brow, juvenile, slapstick, Ben Stiller, etc... But I have to admit I laughed out loud - and often - at "Tropic Thunder". Funniest freaking movie I've seen in ages.
Silent movie star Page dies at 98 Veteran actress Anita Page, whose career dated back to the silent movie era, has died aged 98 in Los Angeles. Page counted Buster Keaton, Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford among her co-stars during an 84-year career which saw her start out as an extra in 1924. Her big break came in 1928 when she starred alongside Crawford in Our Dancing Daughters. More recently, she had completed a cameo role in forthcoming horror movie Frankenstein Rising. Page died in her sleep at home on Saturday morning, friend Randal Malone told the Associated Press news agency. Her daughter, Linda Sterne, said her mother had been good friends with Marion Davies and Jean Harlow, and for a period in the 1930s had lived as a guest in a California castle owned by newspaper magnate William Hearst. "She was the best mother I could have," Sterne said. "She was wonderful." Page starred alongside Chaney in 1928's While The City Sleeps, while the following years she co-starred in musical The Broadway Melody, the first talkie to win a best picture Oscar. Her other work included two of Keaton's sound films: Free and Easy in 1930, and the following year's Sidewalks of New York. She also starred alongside Walter Huston in 1932's Night Court, and The Easiest Way, in which Clark Gable had a small role. But Page stopped acting when she fell in love with US Navy aviator Herschel House. The couple married in 1936, six weeks after they met, and she settled down to life as an officer's wife, hosting many parties at their home in San Diego Bay. After House died in 1991, Page returned to acting, starring in suspense thriller Sunset After Dark in 1994. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/7602714.stm Published: 2008/09/07 10:33:57 GMT © BBC MMVIII
thanks hughb , very good post and informative. in a few years, there most likely will not be any more silent film stars left.
Anyone here a fan of Shirley Maclaine? Believe it or not, this lady has been lighting up the screen continuously for over 63 years now! Iâve seen and have a lot of her movies. Every one is aware of her Oscar winning role in âTerms of Endearmentâ 1983, but she did some other films were she was excellent also. A few that come to mind is âThe Childrenâs Hourâ 1961, were she co stared with Audrey Hepburn. A story about two boarding school teachers of accused of being lesbians. Fascinating to watch how Hollywood dealt with the subject back thenâ¦â¦ where so much restrictions were placed on films due to the Hays Codeâ¦.. And how the film dances around itâ¦.. really pushed the envelope at the timeâ¦. Still excellent todayâ¦. sends moral messages in different levels, top notch acting, I recommend!! Here is a clipâ¦. Sorry it has a music remix but its very clear and shows how beautiful both Audrey and Shirley are. The film is drops a few tiny hints⦠but still has two surprising plot twists at the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDheO55z9VM&feature=related The other film is âThe Apartmentâ 1960, of course this won the Oscar for Best Pictureâ¦.. Wonderful wonderful film!!! Sophisticated comedy co staring Jack Lemon. Folks, If you are not afraid of black and white filmsâ¦. You cant go wrong with this pic. Trust me on this! A story about a man (Lemon) who lets his bosses use his apartment to spend time with their mistresses, in return they give him promotion after promotionâ¦â¦. until all sorts of complications arise. Another favorite of mine, which again co stars Jack Lemon is âIrma la Douceâ 1963, a comedy in which MacLaine plays a French prostitute, and Jack Lemon the naïve cop who falls in love with her. Although not in the caliber of the other two films I mentioned above, this is still an extremely well made film and very very entertaining. I must say, Maclaine shows more skin in this film than in any other. Good feel of French culture. Well I hope some enjoyed these tidbitsâ¦.. Will bring you more stuffâ¦â¦ let me know what you guys think of this thread so farâ¦.. What changes if any should we make to the direction of the discussionâ¦. Thanks.
There is a little known movie that I saw recently and was thrilled with. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koyaanisqatsi Muting the sound and playing Richard Wagner over it made it spectacular to behold.