What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[gasteropod]

M (1931) - 4/5

Very impressive in how influential and ahead of its time it was - the editing alternating between two different conversations, dissolves, tracking shot that goes through a closed window, etc. but the lack of music let the film down in my opinion. I also didn't like it when the frame rate increased at various points in the film, but that's a minor niggle.

[Markgway]

Crossing Over (2008-USA) ***

If you liked Crash (which was about racism) then this is Crash for immigration. A good movie, somewhat overlooked, with a strong cast, and a balanced viewpoint.

[grim_tales]

Which Drive was it Sam - the 2011 one? I assume its that

yeah of course, the Mark Dacusaus Version was full of graphic viloence in it's 2nd half.do the math instead of being a smart ass

How is asking a question being a smart-ass?

[saltysam]

Which Drive was it Sam - the 2011 one? I assume its that

yeah of course, the Mark Dacusaus Version was full of graphic viloence in it's 2nd half.do the math instead of being a smart ass

How is asking a question being a smart-ass?

i'm winding you up

[grim_tales]

It's OK

[Markgway]

It's Sam's time of the month.

[gasteropod]

[Markgway]

Red State (2011-USA) **

Kevin Smith goes back to indie for this jumbled misfire.

[bradavon]

Drive 3/5 Well made lean thriller but imo a tad overrated,the film's 2nd half orgy of violence much less interesting than the first hour or so.

I think it's a bit overrated too but still thought it was very good. I loved the B-Movie mixed in with European arthouse feel. The elevator scene and music alone are worth the price of admission.

M (1931) - 4/5

What's the BD quality like? For some reason I thought this was a silent movie, like Metropolis. Which I saw the other day. It lost it's way a bit in the second half but otherwise excellent. The imagery 85 years on is still striking.

[gasteropod]

What's the BD quality like? For some reason I thought this was a silent movie, like Metropolis. Which I saw the other day. It lost it's way a bit in the second half but otherwise excellent. The imagery 85 years on is still striking.

Very good, but the German Blu-ray is from a newer, better restoration. Even though 'M' isn't a silent film, it's actually more silent in some ways because there's no music, and some sequences are absolutely silent (no foley, no sound effects, nothing).

[bradavon]

Thanks. I'd get the UK BD because like you I feel MOC are something to collect and it's bound to be cheaper. I've got the Eureka (prior to MOC) 2 Disc M SE.

[saltysam]

The elevator scene and music alone are worth the price of admission..

Agreed that sequence & the music were excellent.the film just didn't reach the heights i'd expected,however i do think subsequent viewings will bring reward.

[Markgway]

Catfish (2010-USA) ***

I'm giving this doc a qualified recommendation.

It's interesting and the 'catfish' is treated more sympathetically than expected, but feels somewhat calculated in its approach, with the filmmakers coming off as a touch glib and immature (but not so bad as to make them obnoxious).

[luckystars]

Going The Distance 5.5/10
Flawed rom-com about long distance relationships. Just falls short of one I'd recommend, though I did sit through the whole thing. 'a bit better than mediocre'

[grim_tales]

What's the BD quality like? For some reason I thought this was a silent movie, like Metropolis. Which I saw the other day. It lost it's way a bit in the second half but otherwise excellent. The imagery 85 years on is still striking.

Very good, but the German Blu-ray is from a newer, better restoration. Even though 'M' isn't a silent film, it's actually more silent in some ways because there's no music, and some sequences are absolutely silent (no foley, no sound effects, nothing).

Isn't the German BD not totally English friendly?
I agree even though M was Lang's first sound film it still feels like a silent film in some ways (as you say, some parts are totally silent) - in the 60's a version was made with added music. I found M quite incredible in some ways actually, the use of images and subject that makes you think.

[saltysam]

The Protector 2/5 After Battlecreek Brawl failed to kickstart Jackie Chan's American bid for stardom he returned with this harder,more violent police action flick from the director of the Exterminator.Watchable enough but very generic & predictable.However there are a couple of ok action sequences and the film clips along at a decent pace.Nice to see Bill Wallace in a villianous role,he should have made more movies.

Rolling Thunder 3/5 Legendary 70's genre flick starring the excellent William Devane as a vietnam veteran who returns home to his wife & child,only for tragedy to strike at the hands of hoodlums. Devane then tools up and goes on a revenge mission aided by a young looking Tommy Lee Jones. Very understated and quite slow moving,the action scenes are quite sparse until the Taxi-Driver/Wild Bunch type climax.Amazed to see this get a uk BD release as over in the states it's only had a dvd-r release

[Markgway]

Been wanting to see Rolling Thunder for a while... apparently one of Tarantino's favourite films.

Nice to see Bill Wallace in a villianous role,he should have made more movies.

Also remember him from Chuck Norris vehicle A Force of One. Yes, he played the bad guy. He was pissed off that they dubbed his voice in The Protector.

[Markgway]

Pretty Little Devils aka Legacy (2007-USA) *

Appalling black comedy leaves a nasty taste.

Doubt (2008-USA) ***

Interesting, ambiguous drama; superbly acted.

[Killer Meteor]

DRACULA, PRISONER OF FRANKENSTEIN (1972)

Atmospheric but vague mishmash, helmed by Eurotrash auteur Jess Franco. There is precious little dialogue, Dennis Price as Frankenstein looks lost (and drunk, as usual), the monster is pathetically cheap looking, and Howard Vernon's mute and endlessly gurning Dracula is both hilarious and unsettling. An excellent score by Bruno Nicolai (some of it recycled from his music for COUNT DRACULA) makes this very watchable, but this is definetly Franco at his most obscurely obtuse.

5/10

[saltysam]

Been wanting to see Rolling Thunder for a while... apparently one of Tarantino's favourite films.

it's not great but it's well worth catching up with.

Also remember him from Chuck Norris vehicle A Force of One. Yes, he played the bad guy. He was pissed off that they dubbed his voice in The Protector.

yeah,remember him in Force Of One. i've seen recent pics of him on facebook and he still looks like he could kick ass.Could've made for a decent baddie.

[Markgway]

The Mummy's Shroud (1966-UK) **

Bog standard 'mummy' movie from Hammer Films.

[Killer Meteor]

I think it's a really good one! Beats the hell out of their two "Mummy's Tomb" flicks.

[Markgway]

I think it's a really good one! Beats the hell out of their two "Mummy's Tomb" flicks.

That's not saying much.

Secret Window (2004-USA) **

Disappointing psychological thriller started out life as a Stephen King short story... and should have stayed that way.

[grim_tales]

Groundhog Day: 5/5

Superb comedy with one of Bill Murray's finest performances, hilarious and touching moments, even a poignant message, and a fine soundtrack. A modern classic

[saltysam]

Groundhog Day: 5/5

Superb comedy with one of Bill Murray's finest performances,

Stripes,Ghostbuster movies,Groundhog Day...Murray essentially plays himself in all of them.