The WHF Film Club

[richardw42]

I've just rewatched The City of Lost Children. The first time was in dubbed English and I thought it was ok. But just watched in French with subtitles. Transformed it for me into a very good film. And no multi tasking, I watched just the film.

Ive not really got time to post now, but the clour red has some significance.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Watched Avengers Assemble last night, and I can't quite see what the fuss is about.

Just another run of the mill action film.

 

[Frank Harvey]

It's actually quite good in comparison to the average level of most Marvel films, and other super hero films.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

It's actually quite good in comparison to the average level of most Marvel films, and other super hero films.

I thought the first Iron Man was great, really enjoyable, with a good comic touch. I didn't hate Avengers, it just wasn't what I was expecting from all the reviews.

I did enjoy turning the system up nice and loud though.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've now ordered my copy of Requiem.

I'll be proposing 4 films for the vote at the end of this month, including one film I've proposed before.

 

[Frank Harvey]

The Iron Man trilogy has been fine, and Hulk was pretty good, but Thor was just boring, and Captain America was passable. Of the non Marvel universe, the less said about the recent incarnations of Superman and Spider-Man the better, and the Green Lantern was pretty awful. Nolan's Batman trilogy - whilst not perfect - has been the best example of a decent super hero movie, and I don't think he's going to have much to worry about with Zach Schneider's upcoming effort...

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've now ordered my copy of Requiem.

I'll be proposing 4 films for the vote at the end of this month, including one film I've proposed before.

I think I'm set on my 4 films.

I'm considering proposing a slight change to the voting system.

What do you all think to 1st - 6 pts / 2nd - 4pts / 3rd - 3 pts / 4th - 1pt ?

 

[BenLaw]

Thanks Ben. Some of the details you have mentioned I just can not remember seeing, some of this is down to drifting off a couple of times whilst watching the film, but a lot of it is down to my inabilty to absorb details, and recall them at a later date. It really frustrates me.

Anyway, I think I will have to watch the film again at some point.

This is why I make some notes about the film on my phone as I watch. I'd recommend doing similar. I guess you have other distractions like me and probably also watch a number of other films between the film club choice and posting about it, so it's easy for details (or major plot points!) to disappear. Acutally, I think I might write out my thoughts immediately after and just post these when we get he green light.

F me, this site is slow, it took about a minute from clicking quote to the page being ready for me actually to click in the comment box.

 

[BenLaw]

I also finally watched The Pervert's Guide to Ideology the other day. Interest stuff but I think you need to be a bit more knowledgeable than I am about some of his academic arguments to be clear whether his arguments had much depth. The fillms he used to illustrate points were interesting but it wasn't really a film-based thesis so did end up feeling a little contrived.

I agree.

Zizek doesn't always offer the most structured arguments, and he darts somewhat among subjects, which can be distracting.

If there's an overarching thesis on offer, Zizek might also make this more explicit; but he's far smarter than I am, so who I am to issue critique. He's also pretty enthusiastic/excitable (pick your adjective). In one sense this is invigorating, though keeping pace can be fatiguing.

I think Zizek's arguing that, although we're destined to fail, we must always strive to decode (and thereby stand outside of) any ideological construction. Our inevitable failure makes our efforts no less imperative. Seems reasonable to me.

Have to say, I didn't get that last paragraph out of what he was saying (I ended up not getting much of an overarching thesis, partly a lack of clarity on his part and partly I'm sure my failings), but if he was saying then I agree it's very reasonable.

His enthusiasm coupled with his slight speech impediment does make it a little tiring to follow. It was a long film for the genre; I could have coped with about half an hour less.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

F me, this site is slow, it took about a minute from clicking quote to the page being ready for me actually to click in the comment box.

I have BTs fasted broadband, and this site is still painfully slow.

 

[BenLaw]

I've just rewatched The City of Lost Children. The first time was in dubbed English and I thought it was ok. But just watched in French with subtitles. Transformed it for me into a very good film. And no multi tasking, I watched just the film.

Ive not really got time to post now, but the clour red has some significance.

And. . . ?!

 

[BenLaw]

It's actually quite good in comparison to the average level of most Marvel films, and other super hero films.

Anyone seen Guardians of the Galaxy yet? I don't really go in for comic book films (although I have the Nolan Batman boxset) but this one sounds like it might have a bit more about it.

 

[BenLaw]

I think I'm set on my 4 films.

I'm considering proposing a slight change to the voting system.

What do you all think to 1st - 6 pts / 2nd - 4pts / 3rd - 3 pts / 4th - 1pt ?

Not sure, what's your rationale for that?

Can you remind me of the new rules for nominations? I think I'm next after you.

 

[BenLaw]

F me, this site is slow, it took about a minute from clicking quote to the page being ready for me actually to click in the comment box.

I have BTs fasted broadband, and this site is still painfully slow.

My broadband's not great but this site is 10 times worse than any other I use. It's massively slower than when the site first changed and than it is on my iphone.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

This is why I make some notes about the film on my phone as I watch. I'd recommend doing similar. I guess you have other distractions like me and probably also watch a number of other films between the film club choice and posting about it, so it's easy for details (or major plot points!) to disappear. Acutally, I think I might write out my thoughts immediately after and just post these when we get he green light.

If I did that, I'd end up missing some of the film. Anyway, I kind of know, infact, I definitely know the reason for my sieve like brain. Enough said.

 

[BenLaw]

An unusually early heads up of an upcoming film from me. Wadjda is on Film4 at 9pm on Thursday. I haven't seen it, but it's meant to be one of the best foreign films of recent years.

 

[BenLaw]

This is why I make some notes about the film on my phone as I watch. I'd recommend doing similar. I guess you have other distractions like me and probably also watch a number of other films between the film club choice and posting about it, so it's easy for details (or major plot points!) to disappear. Acutally, I think I might write out my thoughts immediately after and just post these when we get he green light.

If I did that, I'd end up missing some of the film. Anyway, I kind of know, infact, I definitely know the reason for my sieve like brain. Enough said.

I'm not sure if that's current or historic drug abuse or current or historic alcohol abuse!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I think I'm set on my 4 films.

I'm considering proposing a slight change to the voting system.

What do you all think to 1st - 6 pts / 2nd - 4pts / 3rd - 3 pts / 4th - 1pt ?

Not sure, what's your rationale for that?

Can you remind me of the new rules for nominations? I think I'm next after you.

New rules, that I think we all agreed on, was four films to be nominated, which can include one of the films that you previously nominated.

I'm not sure, but I was just thinking that the films we were watching were our 2nd choices, rather than our favourites. I'm probably wrong, but it was just an idea to make sure the most popular film won the vote.

 

[BenLaw]

Have seen a few good films lately.

Behind the Candelabra is rather uncomfortable watching at times but is an interestingly disturbing story of power and control in a relationship and features a quite amazing performance from Michael Douglas. Is very hard to fathom it's the same actor from Falling Down and Basic Instinct!

If anyone likes prison / crime dramas then there can be few better than A Prophet. I rather thought I'd grown out of this kind of film, driven as it is almost entirely by plot progression, but I was soon gripped and involved.

Best of all was Bigger than Life. Directed by Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) and the only film produced by James Mason, I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the portrayal of mental illness or in subversive critique of the American dream. It begins looking like simple Technicolour family drama but turns into a quietly complex little film with a brilliant performance from Mason at its heart. Definitely one of the best 1950s film I've seen.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'm not sure if that's current or historic drug abuse or current or historic alcohol abuse!

Purely recreational, and totally in the distant past.

Sorry, what was the question again? *biggrin*

 

[BenLaw]

New rules, that I think we all agreed on, was four films to be nominated, which can include one of the films that you previously nominated.

Was there also a rule about a film being knocked out if others had seen it?

I'm not sure, but I was just thinking that the films we were watching were our 2nd choices, rather than our favourites. I'm probably wrong, but it was just an idea to make sure the most popular film won the vote.

I get where you're coming from, although I suppose if a film gets a number of top votes but isn't selected it also means other members must have voted it last. Also, not sure your proposed points achieves what you want. 1, 2, 4, 6 might do it better (that way 1st and 4th outweighs 2nd and 3rd). Maybe getting too complicated? What do other members think?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Have seen a few good films lately.

Behind the Candelabra is rather uncomfortable watching at times but is an interestingly disturbing story of power and control in a relationship and features a quite amazing performance from Michael Douglas. Is very hard to fathom it's the same actor from Falling Down and Basic Instinct!

If anyone likes prison / crime dramas then there can be few better than A Prophet. I rather thought I'd grown out of this kind of film, driven as it is almost entirely by plot progression, but I was soon gripped and involved.

Best of all was Bigger than Life. Directed by Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) and the only film produced by James Mason, I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the portrayal of mental illness or in subversive critique of the American dream. It begins looking like simple Technicolour family drama but turns into a quietly complex little film with a brilliant performance from Mason at its heart. Definitely one of the best 1950s film I've seen.

Not seen any of those.

 

[BenLaw]

I'm not sure if that's current or historic drug abuse or current or historic alcohol abuse!

Purely recreational, and totally in the distant past.

Sorry, what was the question again? *biggrin*

Nah, it was well weak in the 60s when you were smoking it *blum3*

 

[BenLaw]

Have seen a few good films lately.

Behind the Candelabra is rather uncomfortable watching at times but is an interestingly disturbing story of power and control in a relationship and features a quite amazing performance from Michael Douglas. Is very hard to fathom it's the same actor from Falling Down and Basic Instinct!

If anyone likes prison / crime dramas then there can be few better than A Prophet. I rather thought I'd grown out of this kind of film, driven as it is almost entirely by plot progression, but I was soon gripped and involved.

Best of all was Bigger than Life. Directed by Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) and the only film produced by James Mason, I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the portrayal of mental illness or in subversive critique of the American dream. It begins looking like simple Technicolour family drama but turns into a quietly complex little film with a brilliant performance from Mason at its heart. Definitely one of the best 1950s film I've seen.

Not seen any of those.

Didn't particular expect that anyone would, just throwing out a few ideas for anyone who's interested. I think you'd like A Prophet and would recommend anyone check out Bigger than Life. It is also especially easy to follow! Even Clodagh stayed awake and followed what was going on!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Anyone seen Guardians of the Galaxy yet? I don't really go in for comic book films (although I have the Nolan Batman boxset) but this one sounds like it might have a bit more about it.

I wanted to until I watched Avengers Assemble, and now I'm thinking it might be more of the same.

Going to the cinema this week, so it's either Inbetweeners 2 or GOTG.