The Last Valley
in Movies ·
Thanks for the info! Honestly, Robert De Niro absolutely kills it in that movie. 👍 👍
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Posts by casualotter21
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RIP Christopher Reeve
in Movies ·
rapidstag74 said:He shows up in two episodes during season three.
Hilarious.
Conan the Barbarian
in Movies ·
nimblemarlin17 said:Please. You can't tell me you were such a hermit that you didn't have a video store somewhere nearby. 😛
Ah, the early 90s—the golden age of raw capitalism! Those were the days.
We used to rent about six bootleg movies at a time from that sketchy local video shop, Niko. Even then, we’d be lucky to actually get through four tapes if it was a slow day and we actually had the patience for it. With three of those four, nobody could even tell what was happening on screen because the picture was too dark, no matter how much we messed with the TV settings. As for the last one, the video quality was just trashed; lines kept flickering across the screen because back then, we hadn't quite mastered the magic of the little "tracking" button.
So, is it really that strange that I showed zero interest in the movies coming out of the video store back then? Is it so odd that I never actually watched Conan on VHS?
There is a silver lining, though. For instance, I saw Star Wars for the first time during a theatrical re-release in the mid-90s, right before the Phantom Menace kicked off the new trilogy. I caught Conan II on TV for the first time, which I'm actually glad about, because I would have demanded a refund for that one. I eventually discovered Red Sonja on DivX, and I was lucky enough to snag Die Hard 3 from a video store a few years back (though they don't carry it anymore 😢). Ultimately, there's something to be said for watching films late; it allows an old classic to feel like a brand-new discovery rather than just something I've already seen. And when it comes to the bad movies, at least I save the money I would have wasted at the cinema.
Conan the Barbarian
in Movies ·
nimblemarlin17 said:You haven't actually seen much, have you? Not Back to the Future, not Komados, not even Conan. What exactly have you been watching? 😁
Well, back when those films were playing in theaters—which is to say, before World War II—I was still busy studying the concept of recording words on paper using symbols.
Conan the Barbarian
in Movies ·
Walter Fisher said:Brothers in arms, barbarians!!!!!!!
LOL!!
Who on earth are these people...😁 👍
Good grief, what movie is this? 😕
Conan the Barbarian
in Movies ·
Daaaaaaaa! Here we go again—another classic I haven't had the pleasure of seeing yet. The joy! The Merriment! Does anyone happen to know the exact date? I know it's scheduled for November, but the specific timing still eludes me.
In just 7 days...
in Movies ·
ruggedmarlin53 said:...passed away:
Rodney Dangerfield
Janet Leigh
Christopher Reeve
RIP
Rodney Dangerfield died? ?!!!! 11 Goddamn! I had no idea.
RIP Christopher Reeve
in Movies ·
Richard Hernandez13 said:Yep.
A friend of mine was drafting a satirical piece about the New Year's Eve programming—which naturally included the inevitable appearance of Superman.
Even I found myself feeling skeptical, yet he assured me that is what was actually aired.
Look, I'm a die-hard follower of TV schedules during the Christmas holiday and New Year's Day because there's always a decent selection of films, but I don't recall seeing Superman. I don't know, maybe I just missed it.
The last time I caught a screening of Superman was a few years back on CBS. Naturally, I didn't stick around to finish it. Still, I’d love to catch it on some local American network one of these days.
I really want to see Lex Luthor played by Gene Hackman again! Now that is what I call a fun villain!
RIP Christopher Reeve
in Movies ·
Richard Hernandez13 said:Are you seriously telling me you haven't caught them in ABC's New Year's specials anytime in the last 15 or 20 years?😁
The last time I actually saw Superman on TV was back when I was still in elementary school. Has Superman even been featured on NPR in the last decade? I highly doubt it.
RIP Christopher Reeve
in Movies ·
Bill Gates said:😢 PBS should probably just air Superman movies all day now.
Hmm, that actually sounds like something I'd enjoy watching.
The Last Valley
in Movies ·
I stumbled upon this movie by pure chance on Saturday afternoon. It's a historical drama set during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). The story takes place in a tiny, secluded valley somewhere in Germany that has managed to dodge the war for about twenty years thanks to a mix of sheer luck and some pretty terrible roads. Everything changes when a mercenary unit led by a German Captain (Michael Caine—who is absolutely impressive) happens upon the valley. However, a philosopher and refugee named Vogel (Omar Sharif) tries to convince the Captain that he and his men should just spend the winter in the village instead of looting, raping the women, and murdering the locals.
The film was good enough that, the moment I saw Michael Caine (who—with that German accent, neat hair, and armor—is one of the best "lawful evil" villains I've ever seen on screen), I decided to record it on video.
You have Protestant and Catholic fanaticism on one side and extreme calculation and cynicism on the other. War, love, betrayal... the movie has it all. Plus, it’s eerily realistic and cynical regarding human nature, regardless of what someone believes in.
The reason I’m starting this thread isn't just to see if anyone else has watched it, but rather to ask: how does it end? I had to leave the house, and my tape ran out of space right during the final few minutes: The Captain heads off on a military campaign. The villagers no longer want Vogel in the settlement, but a beautiful local girl refuses to leave him alone, despite his warnings that she'd be safer staying put. The two of them flee together over the mountains, trying to evade the villagers who have set an ambush for any soldiers who might stumble back into the valley. Just as Vogel and the woman think they’re about to be caught, the Captain appears at the top of the hill through the fog. Unaware of anything, he rides along the forest path while the villagers close in on him, and then— THERE IS NO MORE TAPE LEFT! SOMEONE PLEASE PUT A NEW ONE IN!
HELP MEEEEEE! 😲
"The Last Valley"
The film was good enough that, the moment I saw Michael Caine (who—with that German accent, neat hair, and armor—is one of the best "lawful evil" villains I've ever seen on screen), I decided to record it on video.
You have Protestant and Catholic fanaticism on one side and extreme calculation and cynicism on the other. War, love, betrayal... the movie has it all. Plus, it’s eerily realistic and cynical regarding human nature, regardless of what someone believes in.
The reason I’m starting this thread isn't just to see if anyone else has watched it, but rather to ask: how does it end? I had to leave the house, and my tape ran out of space right during the final few minutes: The Captain heads off on a military campaign. The villagers no longer want Vogel in the settlement, but a beautiful local girl refuses to leave him alone, despite his warnings that she'd be safer staying put. The two of them flee together over the mountains, trying to evade the villagers who have set an ambush for any soldiers who might stumble back into the valley. Just as Vogel and the woman think they’re about to be caught, the Captain appears at the top of the hill through the fog. Unaware of anything, he rides along the forest path while the villagers close in on him, and then— THERE IS NO MORE TAPE LEFT! SOMEONE PLEASE PUT A NEW ONE IN!
HELP MEEEEEE! 😲
"The Last Valley"
RIP Christopher Reeve
in Movies ·
In a moment of tribute on Winamp, I find myself listening to the Superman theme song.
Lower your guard just a touch. 😢
Lower your guard just a touch. 😢
13th Annual War Games
in Movies ·
Jose Chase2 said:Haha, hey Douglas Barnes13, they've clearly hired you as my PR agent, because every time I try to say something slightly off-kilter, you're right there to polish it up for me.👍
You'll be soooooo-ryyyyyyyy! 😬
King Arthur
in Movies ·
Sean Nguyen4 said:Wait, where was AT&T giving away tickets? I ended up having to pay.
Err... on something like AT&T Day. October 1st, when Big Brother Telecom was handing out free passes to every cinema, theater, and gallery in town.
I suppose I should admit I'm feeling a bit regretful that we didn't take advantage of it for an all-day excursion through the city, hitting every single museum and gallery we could find. 😢
13th Annual War Games
in Movies ·
I found the film to be excellent as well. I particularly appreciated the cinematography; that intentional graininess and the moody, dark lighting. It’s a bit jarring until you adjust to it, but once I saw that visual style at the very start, my immediate thought was, "Alright, this is definitely set somewhere in the dark ages." Among the many scenes I enjoyed, I loved the moment where McTiernan shows how Banderas' character mastered the local tongue, or when Banderas asks the blacksmith to forge him a scimitar from a simple blade.
The way he portrayed that primitive tribe was also superb, crafted in such a way that you can truly grasp why people of that era would believe they were being attacked by monsters.
I’m actually quite eager to read Crichton's novel "Eaters of the Dead," which served as the basis for the film. Knowing his style, the book is bound to be filled with fascinating historical and archaeological speculation regarding medieval life. It sounds like a genuinely compelling read.
The way he portrayed that primitive tribe was also superb, crafted in such a way that you can truly grasp why people of that era would believe they were being attacked by monsters.
I’m actually quite eager to read Crichton's novel "Eaters of the Dead," which served as the basis for the film. Knowing his style, the book is bound to be filled with fascinating historical and archaeological speculation regarding medieval life. It sounds like a genuinely compelling read.
WTF?
in Movies ·
The movie seemed so profoundly intellectual that I was genuinely concerned my DVD player might short-circuit from the sheer brilliance. To be safe, I preemptively ejected the disc and decided to browse Reddit instead.
King Arthur
in Movies ·
Jason Cook5 said:So, how is Arthur in bed?
It’s rated PG-13. Honestly, we’re talking about a movie produced by Jerry Bruckheimer; the man once produced a film about a strip club where the women don't even take their clothes off. Besides, I highly doubt Keiro's parents would ever let him strip for cash. He probably needs to graduate high school first.
King Arthur
in Movies ·
frozenhound34 said:Precisely. The movie holds up just fine. And for those of you lacking even a basic grasp of history: the ancient Greeks invented the crossbow, so please refrain from lecturing me on historical accuracy when you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
Aaaaaaaaaaaah! So, we were dealing with Greek warriors in the film instead of Saxons! Figures.
King Arthur
in Movies ·
Jeremy Flores10 said:I seem to recall watching some movie about Arthur back in the mid-80s, where he was portrayed as this pathetic sort of servant or slave, only becoming someone significant once he pulled that sword out.
Does anyone else remember that specific film? It felt much more grounded than what we're seeing today.
I'm inclined to agree. "Mac in the Stone" had a certain realism that this current version lacks. 😁
King Arthur
in Movies ·
Kate Diaz said:And what kind of wizard is this Merlin guy anyway?
Mer... who? MERLIN, the legendary icon who basically defines what a wizard even is! And then, of course, the guy barely shows up for four whole scenes. His performance is just incredibly convincing:
Merlin: "Arthur, Arthur, you have to help us!"
Arthur: "No."
Merlin: "You're our last hope! Winter is almost over, and the lakes could swallow an entire army of Vikings marching across them!"
Arthur: "STFU!"
Merlin: "You have to save your people. The American people. You come from us."
Arthur: "Actually, now that you mention my parents..."
Arthur: "... and then your people turned my old man into ground beef and burned my mother alive."
Merlin: "Oh. Errrr...."
Keira: "Well, if you fight for us, I'll help. Did I mention I'm wearing even less clothing than I am right now? It's currently 14 degrees out and I've just got this thin dress on with nothing underneath..."
Arthur: "I'll... stay with you guys! TO HELP YOU IN THE WAR, that is!"