Project Moviewatch: November report
The story so far: While lamenting the state of the fall TV season and simultaneously bemoaning the amount of time I found myself in front of the computer, the idea struck me that I should actually watch some of the movies in my collection, rather than just letting them sit around gathering dust in what is supposed to be my dining room. And so I resolved to watch a DVD on nights when there's nothing on TV, keep track of what I watch and provide my thoughts on a monthly basis.
Thanksgiving cut my movie viewing time short this month. But I did get some quality time in with the DVD player.
Soylent Green
Global warming, the greenhouse effect, overcrowding. Ripped from today's headlines! Except today was 1973 when this film was released. What will we be eating when 20 million people live in Manhattan? The commentary from Leigh Taylor-Young and Richard Fleischer was very interesting. This was the last film role for Edward G. Robinson, who was touching as Sol Roth.
Where Have All The People Gone
(Note: DVD is a double feature; I did not watch Embryo.) Peter Graves and family are in the mountains, and find a cave minutes before a massive solar flare kills everyone who was exposed to it. The family makes its way back to Laguna Beach to find mom, who went back to LA earlier. Another great Movie of the Week by John Llewellyn Moxey.
The Specials
Funny superhero spoof about a dysfunctional group of oddball heroes (the 6th or 7th greatest superhero team in the world) that have to save themselves. The "Specials Edition" DVD has commentaries and other special features.
Noises Off...
Anyone who has ever worked in the theatre will identify with the cast of the play within this film. A disorganized theatre company is taking a British sex farce, Nothing On, on the road before an eventual Broadway opening, and the performances get worse and worse as time goes on. Christopher Reeve and John Ritter are among the cast. Recommended, expecially if you've seen the original play by Michael Frayn.
American Beauty
This is one of my Big 4 favorite movies of all time. When I first saw it, I remarked to a coworker how it resembled "Reggie Perrin on acid". But it's great on so many levels. Its five Academy Awards testify to that. I listened to Sam Mendes' commentary, which contained a lot of interesting technical details about the film. If you haven't seen this masterpiece in a while, you owe it to yourself to watch it.
V for Vendetta
(Watched on November 4 because, well, Heroes is on on Mondays) The comic book series was spruced up for the big screen, with some elements dropped (leading creator Alan Moore to distance himself from the project) and other elements inserted to make the political message more relevant to a 2006 audience. Regardless, the film stands well on its own as an action thriller and political allegory. The double-disc DVD edition has several featurettes.
Fahrenheit 451
This DVD presentation of François Truffault's visually-stunning interpretation of Ray Bradbury's classic novel is pretty good, featurewise. The film could use a little restoration work. Bonus material includes a commentary by co-star Julie Christie and a couple of featuretted. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Bradbury has said that Truffaut "captured the soul and essence of the book," although he disliked the double omission of Faber and the Mechanical Hound. Get ready for the unneeded remake.
Not reviewed: Abducted by the Daleks, quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. Daleks + bad porn. Seek out Outpost Gallifrey's review for all the incredulous details.
Thanksgiving cut my movie viewing time short this month. But I did get some quality time in with the DVD player.
Soylent Green
Global warming, the greenhouse effect, overcrowding. Ripped from today's headlines! Except today was 1973 when this film was released. What will we be eating when 20 million people live in Manhattan? The commentary from Leigh Taylor-Young and Richard Fleischer was very interesting. This was the last film role for Edward G. Robinson, who was touching as Sol Roth.
Where Have All The People Gone
(Note: DVD is a double feature; I did not watch Embryo.) Peter Graves and family are in the mountains, and find a cave minutes before a massive solar flare kills everyone who was exposed to it. The family makes its way back to Laguna Beach to find mom, who went back to LA earlier. Another great Movie of the Week by John Llewellyn Moxey.
The Specials
Funny superhero spoof about a dysfunctional group of oddball heroes (the 6th or 7th greatest superhero team in the world) that have to save themselves. The "Specials Edition" DVD has commentaries and other special features.
Noises Off...
Anyone who has ever worked in the theatre will identify with the cast of the play within this film. A disorganized theatre company is taking a British sex farce, Nothing On, on the road before an eventual Broadway opening, and the performances get worse and worse as time goes on. Christopher Reeve and John Ritter are among the cast. Recommended, expecially if you've seen the original play by Michael Frayn.
American Beauty
This is one of my Big 4 favorite movies of all time. When I first saw it, I remarked to a coworker how it resembled "Reggie Perrin on acid". But it's great on so many levels. Its five Academy Awards testify to that. I listened to Sam Mendes' commentary, which contained a lot of interesting technical details about the film. If you haven't seen this masterpiece in a while, you owe it to yourself to watch it.
V for Vendetta
(Watched on November 4 because, well, Heroes is on on Mondays) The comic book series was spruced up for the big screen, with some elements dropped (leading creator Alan Moore to distance himself from the project) and other elements inserted to make the political message more relevant to a 2006 audience. Regardless, the film stands well on its own as an action thriller and political allegory. The double-disc DVD edition has several featurettes.
Fahrenheit 451
This DVD presentation of François Truffault's visually-stunning interpretation of Ray Bradbury's classic novel is pretty good, featurewise. The film could use a little restoration work. Bonus material includes a commentary by co-star Julie Christie and a couple of featuretted. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Bradbury has said that Truffaut "captured the soul and essence of the book," although he disliked the double omission of Faber and the Mechanical Hound. Get ready for the unneeded remake.
Not reviewed: Abducted by the Daleks, quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. Daleks + bad porn. Seek out Outpost Gallifrey's review for all the incredulous details.