Nice to see you again! We are all a bit confused why the forum disappeared for 7 months and now has reappeared.
Yes the Good Lord has, I hope the same for you. We are in very difficult times and they will get worse but we must keep the Faith and stay with Him.
Yes with Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek and also Warren Oates is in it.
Yes Lucy, all very sound words as far as faith is concerned. He will deliver us!
I will have to look at this film again. For some reason, I have not seen this film since Film school in my college years. Its been quite some time. Malick’s latest film “A Hidden Life” is quite the departure from those early days, still, it would be interesting to watch to see what has changed stylistically.
He will deliver us, yes!
Yes rewatch “Badlands”, I have not seen “A Hidden Life” so I’ll have to watch it.
I have been rewatching some films myself:
“Dirty Harry”
“Three Days of The Condor”
“The French Connection”
“The French Connection II”
“Bullitt”
If you can’t recall “Three Days of The Condor”
All good stuff!
I will have to put “Three Days of The Condor” on the list. Have not seen this one.
Ironically I am watching tonight “The Discovery” in which Redford is in, to which he plays a character that is a scientist who discovers what is in the after life and decides to share with the world thus igniting a spike in suicides. I saw a review of this film yesterday so I am going to check it out.
“Three Days of The Condor” is very good.
I have not seen “The Discovery” so I’ll have to watch it.
Tonight I’m going to rewatch “L’Avventura” which is my favorite Michelangelo Antonioni film, it’s just glorious and very beautiful.
Dune : Directed by Denis Villeneuve. With Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa. Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Base on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert the movie seeks to cover the first half of the book!
One the of the most anticipated movies of the year is the Movie “Dune”
It looks to be an epic adventure with the not so usual cast of actors from Hollywood, although there are some. However a tinge of caution as its predecessors didn’t fare too well in adapting the popular book onto the silver screen which were considered failures. Perhaps choosing David Lynch to direct the last one was not a good choice stylistically speaking of course, so we have to wait and see how this latest incarnation of film making is received. Mum has been the word as this film and any pre-screening of it has been a vastly guarded secret.
My latest film I just watched in the Western Genre staring Tim Blake Nelson, Stephen Dorff, Trace Adkins, Gavin Lewis, and Scott Haze
It seems in the latest trends on online reviews are not always reliable anymore in terms of being honest in giving a review of a movie. It seems most sites are being paid off in favor of free gifts from the Movie studios. I suspect some Chinese slithering reptile in a suit is probably the culprit. That being said, most reviews I have seen are giving this movie 4 stars. Me? I am firm giving it 3 stars only. Why? Its not because this movie is a bad movie, on the contrary, but because well, its not above average in terms of its story telling and unimaginative cinematography. There are some twists and turns, subtle ones at that, as well as pacing and tension is well done, however, we get a sense that the writing and the actual story itself is a bit on the dry side and lacking something that we can not quite identify as the characters seemed a bit staged as well. We don’t get a sense of the era, the year in which this story takes place in a historical sense and therefore its authenticity is a bit questionable leaving the audience on the skeptical side. The cinematography is also lacking, although that could be an intentional decision by the director in order to give viewers a grittier feel. Not that the latter is one I agree with.
Overall, the film is worth seeing but I wouldn’t spend too much overthinking this one, what you see is what you get.
This is the latest film I watched in what can be described as a “burner” of the 3 star variety that is typical in the Bond films franchise of the past. This of course is Craig Patrick’s last James Bond movie, as the story itself suggests his character almost mirrors his real life riding off into the sunset scenario as he is vacationing in retirement when all of a sudden he is called out to save the world once again.
The Movie itself is not extraordinary in terms of actual film making. As we get the usual cars with its trickery gadgets and the “bad guy” verses the “good guy” chase scenes highlighted with the rapid gun fire of Bond’s adversarial foes and breath taking stunts and explosions. So much for that anti gun stuff that the leftists are always harping about huh? Oh but I digress. However having always been a James Bond affectionado of the third kind, I had to watch this movie in order to contrast the many years and the many incarnations that the Bond character has always assumed, and this one is no different. I never was a Craig Patrick fan to begin with, however his movies brings a sort of edge in contrast to the previous romanticism that Bond movies were so accustomed to, so there is that to consider. In this latest adaptation of Ian Flemming’s creation (if you want to call it that) the romantic aspect in this movie has some twists and turns to Bond’s love interest where his drive to sacrifice himself at the alter of the Matriarchy could not be more apparent. (More on this in just a bit) The one liners of the tongue and cheek variety is rather weak limp wristed stuff and is indicative of the substandard writing and lack of wittiness to boot that went into this movie that previous bond movies were known for. One other aspect of this movie to consider before moving on to the most important stuff, is that the creators relied too much on the tech optics in order to drive the main story itself whereas character development is not allowed to organically grow as the movie progresses to its climatic end. This is most evident with the main villain who is played by “Mr Robot” star Rami Malek, where the audience doesn’t get introduced to until halfway through the movie.
What most people will miss and probably the most important aspect of this movie that in a ironic way, and transcends beyond the movie itself, is the symbolism. The first thing I came away with as I meditated after seeing this movie is a message that popped into my head which read “They have been warning us all along, we just don’t get or see it!” The Symbolism of the Mask in the very beginning where eventually its unveiling is rather on more subtler terms than to make direct correlations that ties the movie together is one of irony. What does this mean exactly as you may be confused by what I am implying here? Lets start with the long list of credits at the end of any movie and consider the money, time, and work that goes into producing such a movie then its starts becoming increasing clear that the ones who are responsible for producing such movies are of an elitist circle that have the financial resources that intends to use such films as propaganda pieces, or as a pre-conditioning process if you will in order to normalize a new set of standards to be introduced into the future of societies to which such audiences will be unsuspectingly subjected to. The mask in many ways is probably more unintentional and in reality is probably a creative decision in the film making process, however unknowingly to the decision makers themselves they do by accident reveal an aspect about another world that actually exists but we just have to be able to find a way to remove such masks in order to be able to see it. If you are one of those who are awake then maybe, just maybe you will be able to see such small hints to a larger view.
Lets take the pandemic as one clear example. It was not ironic that the main driver of the movie’s villainous intentions was to introduce an advance virus constructed by a Russian scientist to wipe out the worlds population. The Klauss Schaab and the Great Reset angle as well as the dialogue to in which Ideology comes into play to justify such a design or debate the merits on why someone would want to do such a horrible thing is not by accident either. Key phrases to consider when looking at this on a deeper level is “Its not reversible” when Bond realizes in a seminal moment that he had been infected by the villains poisonous vile in what he termed as an insurance policy in a earlier reference in the movies story line. This suggests referencing the COVID and vaccine issue that we as people in the real world are now facing and dealing with. This also hints at Huxley’s Brave New World dictum of people sacrificing their freedoms in order to get along while being injected with copious amounts of unknown substances into their bodies for better or for worse.
Lastly, as I hinted at earlier about the symbolism of this movie as being something that “they” are either projecting or trying to communicate, is the end of the world hysteria being thrust into the story’s main driver whereas a possible pandemic that no one can ever imagine is what is being conveyed throughout the entire movie in a more innocent, but subtler hint. Without giving away the ending, to suggest that the movie and Craig Patrick’s career as James Bond 007 goes out with bang would be missing the entire point in what the movie is trying to say. In the end its all about the matriarchy surviving that gives new hope to a newer world absent the toxic masculinity that has been blazing across the silver screens since the 1960’s.
Given the fact that during production of this movie and where it was originally headed in terms of feminizing the Bond character, there was so much back lash during production, which delayed it by several months, that the producers and writers were forced to make changes, which might explain the less emphasis on Bond’s replacement to which a black female is almost relegated to the back ground in the story itself. However its apparent that inserting her in some way had to happen for the sake of diversity thus is a tinge of SJW or politically motivated agendas by the producers in charge wanted to include. This aspect whether you agree or not is not missed on the subtleties of modern day narratives to which is driving viewers away. To be fair its not as in your face as it is obvious with other movies such as gay scenes being inserted in almost every TV show or movie, although there was a hint of "Q’'s sexual orientation coming into question in a brief scene with a hairless cat and a dinner guest that we never get to see, it is done in a way that no one is suppose to notice. The fact in previous representations of “Q” being an older gentleman, with a wry sense of humor is being replaced with a younger nerdier, insecure, lacking humor homosexual is another example of forcing the generational stereotype that takes away from the franchise itself. In essence the producers where a bunch of cucks that caved to whatever pressures they were facing thus had to insert something as a measure of appeasement to bring the movie to the current standards of social justice nonsense.
In parting, “No Time to Die” is almost an average movie that tries to capture past nostalgic Bond Movie aura with resurrected old music scores from previous past productions along with the scenic Italian Romantic getaways. Its almost a fun movie to watch and at times thought provoking for all the wrong reasons and for that I am being generous in giving it three stars. Its one of those movies that is worth seeing but soon forgotten about once the dust settles in the recesses of ones mind. What Bond’s next incarnation will be may be unrecognizable, however it will still be interesting to think about as we wait for the next movie release featuring Tom Hardy who is now officially the next James Bond, and what the next generation of Bond films will be stylistically speaking of course. When we are least expected I am sure, is when Bond returns in his next reincarnation of saving the world yet once again minus the overtures of virtue signaling producers of course!
Cheers!
Famous one liners and this movie is well known for them. 
This is a cool surprise that I found! Unmistakably and probably one of my favorite Eastwood westerns of all time! “High Plains Drifter”
Hadn’t seen this in a while…I watched this last night
Yes this one is a great one, one of the classics that can be watched again and again! Love the song too!
Some of favorites in no particular order are:
Godzilla (original)for laughable special affects
The Maltese Falcon especially for Sydney Greenstreet
Fahrenheit 454
1984 ( original)
Ship of Fools
Caine Mutiny
W.C.Fields (all)
Lifeboat
Das Boot
“Das Boot” was a great movie! The ending was a kick in the gut though. Liked the vintage BMW that they briefly showed towards the end. “1984” with John Hurt who played “Winston” was also pretty interesting. Although I am not sure if you are referring to the 1950’s version (Black and white). “Maltese Falcon” directed by John Huston was indicative of his earlier style, especially prior to WWII breaking out. Interesting fact about him however is he filmed the “Battle of San Pietro” which was a riveting documentary of US soldiers battling the Germans after allies invaded Italy and after that his style completely changed. Not sure what effect the war had on Huston, but his movie making went to more developed heights after that documentary was released in 1945. Overall not a bad list on your part!
Yes, 1 am referring to the 1950s version. I lked most of Bogies movies, but I thought Greenstreet was the movies best actor as the villian . Unfortunately he made only a few American movies before his death. I thought Bogarts best movie was his last one. I also forgot to add In The Heat Of The Night with Rod Steiger ( a great actor).
I have not seen “The Heat of the Night” but its often mentioned as being one the great movies on AFI list. I have yet to put that one on my list to see. I have seen 1984 the 50’s version but that was a very long time ago and only remember bits and pieces of it. The 1970’s version with John Hurt had a bigger impact on me when seeing it for the first time.
Timeless interludes when times were better!
Heat of the Night is a great film. it’s shown on TCM frequently enough and hard not to watch again and again.
I have a brand new film to add to my list of greatest films I saw recently.
Over ten hours long. It’s on Disney+. I saw it for free on the TV app
Can you guess?
Nothing short of spectacular.