Posts by velvetcrane57

Sam White8 said:I’ve been wondering the same thing—where one might actually track down or rent vintage cinema. Does anyone happen to know of a rental shop in Chicago that carries titles like "Nosferatu," or perhaps other gems from the thirties, forties, or fifties?

Where I live, near Brooklyn... just try searching through something like VideoNet.com or maybe even a .net site... there should be plenty of options if you look around.🙄

redowl90 said:🤔
Man, I've really been playing myself for years. Honestly, I might as well just spend my time reading every single review and comment section online for every movie I haven't seen yet—especially the ones I'm actually interested in. That way I can just pre-form an opinion, and watching them won't even matter anymore.
You're not wrong!

Oh, my apologies... Truly. It is entirely my fault for attempting to actually learn something about a movie before seeing it...
And heaven forbid I agree with the people who pointed out that the film was actually bad...
Because according to your logic, no matter how you slice it, if someone reads a review and subsequently likes or dislikes a film, they aren't allowed to express that view. Apparently, once a critique exists, we aren't permitted to have an opinion, lest we be accused of being mindless sheep following the herd—and God forbid we offend someone as intellectually superior as yourself by having a thought of our own. My mistake; we are all simpletons, and you are clearly the lone genius in the room.😂 😂

Jerry Martin19 said:Look, do whatever you want with it, but for me... The Warriors... Pretty miserable movie. Or so they claim... garbage... It’s one of those classics that people swear by when they're younger, but honestly, I never got the hype. The script and directing are just lazy and uninspired, and don't even get me started on the acting—though that's not really why the movie stuck with me in such a bad way. Even if you look past all the technical failures, the whole thing was just incredibly dull. I didn't even know how to stay engaged. The action sequences were poorly executed, too. Maybe that's just how it's supposed to be... garbage... The aesthetics are fine, I guess, but there’s just zero tension in the action scenes for me. Makes the whole thing pretty dull. The only real upside is that vintage vibe they managed to capture, and the plot actually holds some weight, but beyond that... it's definitely a one-and-done kind of movie...

Being a Kubrick fan doesn't mean you're always right when you start talking about him... not that I'm claiming to be, I'm just saying... I don't know... just my two cents.). A Clockwork Orange. Honestly, this was easily the worst Kubrick flick I've sat through... and that’s saying something since I've already checked out these five: The Killing, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining... I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. You only typed "i"... Eyes Wide Shut... I’ve seen enough movies to feel like I know a thing or two about Kubrick... The Killing... i Eyes Wide Shut... Hands down, they're the best on this list...
I'm one of those viewers where the vibe is everything... Eyes Wide Shut... I'm feeling the exact same way. Also, I live for that Polanski-style mystery vibe—and this movie has it in spades. The visuals are killer, especially with those creepy undertones... Kubrick is just built different... vizual-sound It’s the director's job, so that's what you expect from him. Dark streets, endless wandering, searching for answers to questions that weren't even asked... those eerie sounds and that mysterious vibe—that's exactly why this is my favorite Kubrick flick. It gives me way more than that pretentious psychological deep-diving that ultimately leaves you with zero answers. Sorry, but I didn't really get much out of that one. What kept me watching was... A Clockwork Orange. Pure madness... It was all just vibes—visuals, sound design, the story itself—if you don't go digging for some deep meaning. The rest was just pure pretension and Kubrick's typical self-important philosophizing. Gave me nothing but a headache...

The Warriors aren't exactly a cinematic masterpiece... Wait, what am I even saying? Of course they are. Naturally, some folks will love them and others won't. And naturally, I have them sitting right there in my collection at home. And naturally, I'll happily sit down and watch them again whenever the mood strikes, without a hint of boredom...👍

Jerry Martin19 said:Look, do whatever you want with it, but for me... The Warriors... Pretty miserable movie. Or so they claim... garbage... It’s one of those classics that people swear by when they're younger, but honestly, I never got the hype. The script and directing are just lazy and uninspired, and don't even get me started on the acting—though that's not really why the movie stuck with me in such a bad way. Even if you look past all the technical failures, the whole thing was just incredibly dull. I didn't even know how to stay engaged. The action sequences were poorly executed, too. Maybe that's just how it's supposed to be... garbage... The aesthetics are fine, I guess, but there’s just zero tension in the action scenes for me. Makes the whole thing pretty dull. The only real upside is that vintage vibe they managed to capture, and the plot actually holds some weight, but beyond that... it's definitely a one-and-done kind of movie...

Being a Kubrick fan doesn't mean you're always right when you start talking about him... not that I'm claiming to be, I'm just saying... I don't know... just my two cents.). A Clockwork Orange. Honestly, this was easily the worst Kubrick flick I've sat through... and that’s saying something since I've already checked out these five: The Killing, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining... I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. You only typed "i"... Eyes Wide Shut... I’ve seen enough movies to feel like I know a thing or two about Kubrick... The Killing... i Eyes Wide Shut... Hands down, they're the best on this list...
I'm one of those viewers where the vibe is everything... Eyes Wide Shut... I'm feeling the exact same way. Also, I live for that Polanski-style mystery vibe—and this movie has it in spades. The visuals are killer, especially with those creepy undertones... Kubrick is just built different... vizual-sound It’s the director's job, so that's what you expect from him. Dark streets, endless wandering, searching for answers to questions that weren't even asked... those eerie sounds and that mysterious vibe—that's exactly why this is my favorite Kubrick flick. It gives me way more than that pretentious psychological deep-diving that ultimately leaves you with zero answers. Sorry, but I didn't really get much out of that one. What kept me watching was... A Clockwork Orange. Pure madness... It was all just vibes—visuals, sound design, the story itself—if you don't go digging for some deep meaning. The rest was just pure pretension and Kubrick's typical self-important philosophizing. Gave me nothing but a headache...

You're just not a Kubrick fan, that's all.......
There are plenty of other films with an atmosphere similar to Eyes Wide Shut... Not to mention, if you haven't seen Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket or Paths Of Glory, those are, in my view, his best works alongside Clockwork Orange.
And once again... As someone who considers themselves a huge Kubrick enthusiast, I am telling you, you simply cannot deny that Eyes Wide Shut is his worst film—his absolute decline. I first read that online and couldn't believe he was capable of making a bad movie, but once I actually watched it, I realized everything they said was true. And frankly, the man didn't get the benefit of a graceful pivot like Hitchcock did with Frenzy. I mention him because he and Kubrick are my two favorite directors... Sadly, neither of them are with us anymore.😢

BTW: If anyone is interested, feel free to reach out and grab this phenomenal Kubrick collection... It just hit the shelves here in the States.....😁

Gerald James73 said:Look, I’ve been a massive Spider-Man fan since I was a kid. I grew up reading the comics and watching the old cartoons on VHS back in the day. I've always been a huge comic book guy—mostly into stuff like *Alan Ford* types, you know?

Since I knew the world surrounding this character so incredibly well, I was really hoping the movie would capture that specific "vibe" just once.
As far as the directing goes, I don't have much to complain about, but the pairing of Maguire and Dunst just turned me off instantly. Honestly, before the movie even hit theaters, I already knew I wasn't feeling it. It’s not a bad movie, per se, but it isn't the Spider-Man I was expecting.

Take the X-Men trilogy, for example. They changed quite a bit from the source material—like Wolverine’s suit, which sticks out like a sore thumb—but it actually worked well for the screen. That yellow, blue, and black shredded look probably would have looked pretty ridiculous in live action. Plus, the casting is better, in my opinion.

Bottom line: if I’m in the mood for a comic book adaptation, I’d much rather watch X-Men than Spider-Man.

Personally, I will always opt for a Batman adaptation over any other superhero franchise.😍

northerncrane4 said:Fine—then we'll just end up reading nothing but you on this forum. 😢

Honestly, those who fail to grasp the sheer brilliance of Spider-Man simply lack anything substantive to contribute to the conversation... It’s quite transparent, really.

I honestly feel Ridley Scott doesn't quite belong in this specific conversation... If you look at films like *Gladiator*, *Hannibal*, *Kingdom of Heaven*, or even *American Gangster*, they stand as absolute masterpieces precisely because they are executed with that unmistakable Ridley Scott signature. It’s highly unlikely we will ever see the likes of *Alien* or *Blade Runner* again, so I think it's vital that we don't let ourselves become ungrateful for his legacy.

redowl90 said:And you think that's a good thing? Those "missing drops of blood" just mean a PG rating, which helps the movie pull in more cash here in the States. To me, that's an automatic 🙂

It's the exact same deal with most Disney releases like Pirates of the Caribbean or Narnia.

Frankly, if someone fails to grasp the sheer technical brilliance of *Spider-Man*—and I am not referring to the character itself, but rather the sophisticated manner in which the film is directed—then they really have no business weighing in on cinematic discourse at all.

redowl90 said:Scorsese doesn't make bad movies. It's just that his newer stuff isn't quite hitting the mark like his older work did.

Well, what exactly was the expectation here?
Do you honestly expect a director to maintain the exact same level of brilliance found in *Taxi Driver* or *Raging Bull* for their entire career??

It's a bit absurd, really... *The Departed* and *Gangs of New York* are fantastic films; I find myself revisiting them quite often... much like those first two masterpieces mentioned.

Jose Chase2 said:Seriously—give it a rest! Just thinking about Batman Returns and Sin City... both are easily 150 times better than that Spider-Man trash.🙂

In the grand landscape of superhero cinema, Spider-Man arguably stands as the gold standard for comic book adaptations. I mean, if we aren't counting Batman—which, let’s be honest, operates in its own stratosphere—Spider-Man is the pinnacle. The brilliance lies in Sam Raimi's direction. He managed to tackle such visceral, high-stakes themes while maintaining a certain level of restraint; in those first two films, he delivered incredible tension without needing to resort to gratuitous gore or excessive bloodshed. It was handled with a certain grace. As for the third installment? I think I'll pass. That one was a complete disaster that completely lost its way.

Jerry Martin19 said:The Warriors is generally a solid flick, but honestly, the acting is so abysmal that the whole thing isn't even worth a nickel.

Is it just me, or are you actually taking a massive swipe at The Warriors here??

Jerry Martin19 said:Point one: Eyes are actually shut (that’s the movie title, "Eyes Wide Shut")...
Point two: It's a great flick. Honestly, Kubrick levels of greatness—might even top "A Clockwork Orange" for me. You can really feel that signature Kubrick vibe. For me, it was just a killer experience...
Pro tip—watch it again...

Eyes Wide Shut might actually be his weakest outing. Look, I am a massive devotee of his work, but you simply cannot compare the absolute zenith of Kubrick's career (like ''A Clockwork Orange'') to what I consider to be his decline (''Eyes Wide Shut'').

I tend to stick primarily to buying original copies, though I do own a DVD recorder, which allows me to capture anything actually worth watching when it airs on TV... I currently have about 500 of them in my collection, if I do say so myself.😁 😁

Sunshine is such a breath of fresh air within this genre... an absolutely stellar Film, I’d give it a solid 7.5/10
We really ought to be producing more movies along these lines...👍👍👍

Dogma has officially reached cult status, and honestly, it remains one of the most controversial movies ever made...
It’s the kind of film that pushes every boundary and shatters every preconceived notion you might have. Is it a perfect masterpiece? Perhaps not. But calling it "good" feels like a massive understatement...it's so much more than that.🙏

The first two "rooms" don't really grab me, they're a bit lackluster... but the sequences by Rodriguez and Tarantino? Absolutely top-tier. We’ve all already agreed that Tim Roth is a total genius, no debate there... but when Banderas walks into that room and sees those kids with the booze and cigarettes, the porn playing on the screen, the smoke-filled air, the torn posters, and that dead girl under the mattress 🙏 🙏 🤣 🤣 🤣 ...it’s just incredibly visceral

hollowsailor19 said:Norman Bates—I’d love to sit down and chat with him if I ever found myself visiting him in a US prison. The guy is absolutely unhinged.
There’s nothing quite like being so detached from your own actions that you don't even realize you've wiped everyone out.

I’ve grown quite fond of Darth Vader, though I wouldn't exactly want to meet him in person—not that I'd turn him down if given the chance.
I’d love to meet him, but I wouldn't want to be stuck in a room with him. I'd be sweating bullets the whole time.

hollowsailor19 - People can say whatever they want about me being a buzzkill—even if some critic ranks my takes at number 30 on their list. I’ll just grab a coffee with Travis and try my best not to start an argument.

Tuco—the man is a total legend. He’s just as much of a riot as he is a threat.

Jules Winnfield - let's have ourselves a little chat about Ezekiel 25:17.

I could do with getting to know a female psychopath like Catherine Tramell—not that I’m looking to share a bed with one, though honestly, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 🤣 )

Travis is NOT the villain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you ask me... he's actually the hero. He stepped up to take out child prostitution, and he didn't go around murdering innocent people, did he?

Carol Lewis said:I'm pretty sure you already know that the movie was actually based on the First book... 🙂

Of course🙂

placidlynx23 said:Bambi - a decent enough little flick.

The sequel? Absolute garbage. A total mess.

This one... just a joke.

If you’re going to go around critiquing and trashing entire franchises, the least you could do is actually name the films you're talking about.
So, here is my personal breakdown of the series:

The Silence of the Lambs is an absolute masterpiece; easily one of the greatest ever made. It holds its own in the top 30 on IMDb, and frankly, the cast delivered performances that couldn't have been any better if they'd tried.
Overall, I'd give it a 9/10.

Hannibal's is a bit weaker than its predecessor, but it still stands up quite well within the horror-thriller genre. They swapped out the lead actress, which was a significant disappointment for me personally, but the film itself remains excellent. 7/10.

Red Dragon is my personal favorite. It might not be the "best" objectively, but it's my favorite of the sequels—likely due to Edward Norton's performance and the fascinating way the narrative unfolds. Anthony Hopkins is once again nothing short of genius, and I found the screenplay surprisingly refreshing. A stellar film; 8.5/10.

As for Hannibal Rising, I believe I've already shared my thoughts on that one. My rating: 7/10.

I caught this movie a month or two back... and honestly? It’s fantastic. Now, I know what some people will say—"But there's no Anthony Hopkins!"—but let me tell you, who ever decided he was the only thing keeping this series afloat? If anything, this direction makes the whole Hannibal saga even more compelling. The film itself is top-notch, and this young French actor delivers a performance that is truly stellar. Seriously, if you have any appreciation for the world of Hannibal, you absolutely cannot miss this. Consider it my highly enthusiastic recommendation.😍