Ever since I watched The Hitcher (1986), I can't look at hitchhikers the same way again. It really changed my perspective. Then there's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), which is one of those movies that just sticks in your head for days, completely shifting how you think about things. It’s in that same heavy category as A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Papillon (1973).
Man, we are all feeling so Nostalgic today. 😢 It seems I’m not the only one stuck in a nostalgic headspace right now, which makes this the perfect topic for my current mood. Since I updated my avatar to match the cast, I feel like I owe everyone an apology—it didn't seem fair to leave them out. I didn't mention them in my first post because I thought we were talking about when I started watching movies in a more "serious" sense, but honestly, it’s just not right to skip over the two guys who made Good Friday and all those other holidays mean something to me growing up. I used to look forward to those days like they were my own birthday, literally counting down the dates on the calendar. Back then, those holidays meant one thing: Bud Spencer & Terence Hill movies were playing on rotation on the major US networks. 😍 They were my childhood icons. While other kids were obsessed with guys like Michael Dudikoff, Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, or Baby & Johnny, for me, it was always Bud Spencer & Terence Hill.
I really miss that anticipation, waiting for certain movies to finally air. Of course, everything is so much easier nowadays when you can just buy or download a movie whenever you feel like watching it—no waiting required. But still, there was something special about it; I’d love to feel that specific kind of excitement again, that little thrill when you finally sit down to watch a film after waiting six months for it to come on. 😍
Ahhh... the nostalgia hit me hard today. I think I'm going to go sit down and watch The Crocodile and His Hippo. 😍
It all started back in 1997 when I caught the Jurassic Park Free TV Premiere on CBS. That was the spark that made me fall in love with movies, though at the time, I didn't really grasp the depth of cinema the way I do now. But once I finally sat down and watched The Godfather, my whole perspective shifted. I stopped seeing film as just some way to kill time when I'm bored and started seeing it as actual art.
Duel is a top-tier movie. It belongs to that rare breed of films that actually seems to get better every single time you sit down to watch it. Honestly, the atmosphere they built here is almost impossible to compare to any other road movie out there.
I have a massive soft spot for movies about the open road, though unfortunately, most of them feel like total flops when held up against this one. I definitely agree that The Hitcher (1986) is fantastic—I’d even go as far as calling it a masterpiece—and Joy Ride is also pretty solid. As for me, Christine (1983) felt pretty dull, Highwaymen (2004) was just terrible, and Road Games (1981) was equally boring. If we're talking about my personal favorites, I’d recommend these lesser-known gems that are actually excellent: -race with The Devil (1975) -The Hitch-Hiker (1953) - The Nature of The Beast (1995)😍
Lisa Davis46 said:Please, let's not spread misinformation. It's true, people most often bring up Huxley's 'Doors of Perception,' but anyone who has actually read the book itself (which undoubtedly influenced not just Jim Morrison, but the rest of the band and the entire culture of the late sixties) knows that it's actually based on one of the most famous quotes from the poet William Blake, from his collection 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' (1790):
'This I shall do, by printing in the infernal method, by corrosives, which in Hell are salutary and medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the infinite which was hid. If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: infinite. (MHH 14).' > link (It's the same passage Huxley 'quotes' in his essays and philosophical approach, though it's widely accepted that he took the title of the book directly from this specific quote).
Regarding the movie, I agree with everyone saying it's only worth watching for the music. Honestly, maybe you shouldn't even watch it—maybe just listen to the soundtrack. Because Stone made a film about everything except The Doors, and specifically, everything except Jim:
'Oliver Stone is the anti-Doors. Oliver Stone’s movie makes Jim Morrison out to be an alcoholic, drunk weirdo; a strange poet totally out of control and you never see the intellectual side of Jim Morrison. You never see the wit, the charm, the elegance. You never get a sense of the real poet. You see a crazed Jim Morrison. Don’t forget the next movie Oliver Stone made, what movie did he make after The Doors?' > link
Morrison was an intelligent man, a creative, a cinematic auteur, and a poet—not some brainless drunk or addict like this film portrays him. Besides the fact that the script is riddled with false information, in my opinion, the film is ruined by Val Kilmer's forced acting and his constant 'mimicking' of a face. One of the biggest issues is the failed attempt to camouflage how little physical resemblance Val Kilmer actually has to one of the most beautiful faces in music history (he was even included in Umberto Eco's 'History of Beauty'). They try to fix it not just with lighting and makeup, but with constant, incredibly annoying lip-biting and unnatural facial expressions from the actor.
Jim and The Doors didn't deserve this, but at least that guy had a strong motivation to set the record straight with the film 'When You're Strange' 🙂
👍 I respect Stone as a director, but I hate him for this movie.
It feels like there’s an increasing number of movies like this lately. It’s especially frustrating when it happens with the ones I was actually looking forward to—the ones where I see a trailer and think, "Okay, I definitely need to watch this." Then, I finally sit down to watch it, and within the first ten minutes, I’m already unimpressed. I end up just turning off the TV or switching the channel entirely.
I don't bother turning off movies when I'm watching them on DVD. If a film isn't grabbing my attention in the moment, I just leave it running. There’s no point in forcing it. I figure there will be another time—a different mood or a better window of opportunity—when that movie actually appeals to me. When that happens, I'll sit down and give it the attention it deserves.
I ended up skipping *Gladiator*, *Batman*, *Sherlock Holmes*, and *Lord of the Rings* when they first hit theaters. Even when *Avatar* was making its big debut on CBS during the Easter weekend, I passed on that one too—even though I had actually promised myself I’d give it a fair shot.
I honestly don't get why this guy wasn't included in the poll... Compared to him, even Clint Eastwood seems almost too sweet at times.
And of course... whenever I think back to his performance in The Hitcher 😱
EDIT: I just remembered another actor who definitely deserved a spot in this survey; Klaus Kinski
As for the actors listed, I’d pick Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. The rest are either way too handsome for my taste (Marlon Brando, Mel Gibson, Al Pacino), or just lack that charm I look for (Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, James Dean), or I don't really view them as heavyweights worth mentioning >
I had such high hopes for this sequel, but honestly, I walked away feeling pretty let down. For me, it’s easily the most boring entry in the Ice Age franchise. Sid and his grandma are absolute gold, but unfortunately, everyone else is the exact opposite. Baby Manny has grown up into a teenager, which turns Manny into that typical, overbearing "girl dad" archetype that’s just exhausting to watch. Then there's Diego, who’s suddenly caught up in a romance, and Eddie & Crash only get a few measly minutes of screen time. Instead of them, we get this crowd of useless, uninteresting pirates—and even then, only a couple of them actually felt like threats. Plus, the Teenage Mammoths 🙄 ... I guess I just miss that classic Ice Age charm; there are way too many characters here, and that signature atmosphere is just gone... 5/10. It’s an average cartoon. If you compare it to the other films, I’d probably rate it even lower, but on its own merits, it deserves a 5/10. At least Sid and his grandma saved the experience for me.
Hannibal (2001)—Look, I know people love it, but The Silence of the Lambs is easily one of my all-time favorites, and I absolutely adore the book. This specific movie about Hannibal Lecter just doesn't work for me. I’ve genuinely tried to get into it a few times, but I just can't. It feels too sickly, and honestly, Harris's attempt to turn Hannibal into some kind of sympathetic figure just didn't land with me at all. Then you have that terrible performance by Julianna Moore, plus an incredibly irritating Ray Liotta... Since I've already read the novel, I already know how it ends anyway 🙄 . Cop Land (1997)—I've attempted this one three or four times now, and every single time I end up giving up. I haven't completely crossed it off my list yet, though; I'll definitely give it another shot eventually... someday 😁 Training Day (2001)—I'm just not a fan of these types of movies, and I wouldn't call myself a huge Denzel Washington fan either, so there's a good chance I'll never even make it to the end of this one.
Angela Alvarez10 said:Oh, what a great idea.😍 Nothing original there, but I love it.😍
Thanks.😍 I am absolutely obsessed with this tattoo. I honestly can't stop staring at it. At this rate, I don't think I'll ever be able to wear long-sleeved shirts again. 😁
My obsession with this movie has officially hit its peak; just a week ago, I went ahead and got a tattoo on my forearm. It’s my absolute favorite quote of all time: "It can't rain all the time," along with a little mini Raven 😍 😍
Horror movies aren't meant for kids, and honestly, I just don't get adults who claim otherwise. I mean, there’s a reason why every movie starts with a rating indicating the recommended age group. To suggest that these films won't impact a child's psychological state is beyond naive. Sure, any reasonably intelligent kid understands that horror is fiction and isn't reality, but thinking they won't be scared? I highly doubt that. The only way a kid wouldn't be spooked is if they simply didn't grasp what was happening on screen, or—sadly—if they were already desensitized by violence at home or through growing up in a conflict zone. In those cases, a horror movie might feel totally normal to them. I personally didn't watch any horror films until I was about sixteen. Of course, I was curious, but thank God my parents wouldn't let me. Looking back, I don't feel like I missed out on anything significant. As a kid, even just a picture of a werewolf was enough to make me terrified and keep me awake all night; I can't imagine what would have happened if I'd actually watched the real thing. 🙄 Nowadays, I find horror movies pretty entertaining, but I still avoid those mindless slashers where people just hack limbs off and pour liters of blood everywhere. That stuff is stupid, pointless, and has zero artistic merit. It shouldn't even be considered entertainment. Actually, if someone considers that kind of gore their idea of fun, they really ought to take a hard look at themselves.
Beautiful movie 😍 I watched it for the first time last night. It’s not like I wasn't drawn to it, but I just didn't want to sit through a film knowing that Brandon Lee passed away during one of the scenes. Somehow, that knowledge kept me at a distance; I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. But, I finally sat down with it last night and it truly left a beautiful impression. From the cinematography and the atmosphere right down to the soundtrack, everything was perfect. I've seen so many movies, but only this one and The Shawshank Redemption have managed to leave such a powerful impact on me after watching. All day long, scenes from the film keep playing in my head. I'm practically lecturing people who haven't seen it 🙂 , I can't stop thinking about it... A huge recommendation to anyone who hasn't seen it yet—you absolutely have to watch it. This is one of those films you simply must experience.
Nicole Foster71 said:I honestly think he is just gorgeous😁
You aren't the only one who feels that way.😁 As far as I'm concerned, even if it involves just sitting in a chair for the entire movie, I'm still going to watch it—and I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointed.😍
I picked mine up at the Mall of America. There are actually two different versions of Kickboxer out there. One is much more action-heavy with all the fights, while the other leans more into the dialogue. You probably have the first one, which would explain why you're missing those specific conversations. If I remember correctly, the uncut version runs about 97 minutes, whereas the 93 FM or 94 cut is shorter. You should check out http://www.ofdb.de; it lists every single version of the film that’s been released.
I totally get the frustration with edited movies, but honestly, how can you expect to see a film with murder or sexual violence on TV at 8:00 PM? Every movie comes with a rating—like PG-12, PG-16, or R—and that rating dictates the time slot. Since networks have to fill their programming schedules, they have to pick movies that fit those specific windows. I think arguing about it is pretty pointless because that’s just how the system works. Besides, American TV stations weren't even censoring scenes like this until just a few months ago. I remember being genuinely shocked a few times by what they'd broadcast during prime time—you know, the slots before 10:00 PM. Most of those films wouldn't even be allowed on American networks until after midnight.
As for the Kickboxer situation, I don't think you looked hard enough. I actually own the UNCUT R-rated version. I picked it up last year while I was traveling through Denver, and that specific dialogue scene is definitely in there.
silentbear49 said:I actually have a different issue... I've become way too dependent on German dubbing. Because of how they sync everything up over there, the German language has just become so ingrained in my ears that it feels weird watching a movie in its original language (any language, really). I recently watched "Fatherhood," and of course, I watched it in German... which didn't quite fit the vibe, but it was a new experience nonetheless....
It’s the exact same thing for me. Whenever I'm back in the States, I find myself searching specifically for movies with German dubbing, and when I'm actually in Germany, I obviously only watch their versions. I don't know why. There have been plenty of times where I've watched a film in its original language and thought it was much better than the German version—like Kickboxer (that guy who lends his voice to Jean-Claude Van Damme is just terrible)—but I still can't simply bring myself to watch a movie unless it's in German. Even though I know English pretty well, of course, not as well as my German, I still struggle. I think it's just a matter of habit; people who grew up with one specific language and got used to it are going to find it really hard to adjust to another. Don't even get me started on Spanish, Italian, or French; I don't even watch those kinds of films. It really just comes down to habit...
Rebecca Chavez85 said:The Grandma entered someone ELSE'S yard where a dog was tied up while accompanied by her grandchild. Why, then, should the owner or the dog be held liable? If someone were to barge into your apartment without any warning, wouldn't you react accordingly? I am not attempting to justify the attack, but the dog was on its own territory, and shouldn't the Grandma be the one answering for her lack of supervision over the child?
I suppose every single movie in my collection holds its own unique value, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be my Top Gun VHS collection. It honestly warms my heart thinking about how my dad used to pick up every new installment; even though I don't even own a VHS player anymore, there's no way these are ending up lost in a basement alongside all those other old tapes.
