Seems a bit quiet around here so...

Last night, having recorded it during the week,  i started watching Caddyshack for the first time in years.

Well over the top, but just wonderful. Now that i study these things more closely, I am particularly impressed with the crisp characters, even in a slapstick. They all stand out and create the opportunities to have the humour play off them.

So...

What old favourite film do you remember stumbling across?

I remember watching Empire of the Sun a good 5 or so years ago (before I actually cared about writing/who made the film) and thinking how much I enjoyed it.

Recently, I watched it again and just the whole feel was a lot different. Actually acknowledging that the writer wrote these powerful scenes and then the swift directing by Spielberg.

It's hard for me to say. I make it a habit to revisit a lot of my old favorites every so often. The last time I remember REALLY rediscovering a film was in 7th grade with Superman.

Since then, I suppose a lot of Spielberg's are on the list. 1941 might qualify. Great cast, fun story, fun gags. I love all the scenes with Slim Pickens. All the Jaws throwbacks are fun, too, from the opening scene w/ Susan Blacklinie and Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton in the cast.

The number one flick I discovered while working in a video store was this one...
The Ninth Configuration. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081237/

Here's the scene that explains the title...



After the success of The Exorcist, Blatty was determined to film his novel.
It was released in 1980 and promptly disappeared into obscurity.

However, a 1986 theatrical re-release resulted in a home video debut.
And that's when I saw it. The film definitely influenced this teenager.

It never ceases to amaze me, no matter when I see it.
And I catch new things almost every time I watch it.
It's one of those films you want to share with friends.
Watch how they react to this provocative tale.
I hope one day it's remastered for BluRay.

And speaking of BluRay, I caught with two all-time faves of mine recently.

A stellar Criterion BluRay of this eternal classic was a great re-visit...



I have to agree with Harold...
Life just isn't worth it without the Maudes of the world.

Regards,
E.D.

I absolutely love Harold and Maude - it's always on my list of favourite films.  

Some other film I love that I've re-watched recently.  

Picnic at Hanging Rock.  If ever there was a film that captures mysticism this is the one.  



And another South Australian film which kind of defies any attempt at classification but at the same time is a fantastic film is Bad Boy Bubby .  

It's not so much a film I've rediscovered yet, but more of a film I want to rediscover. Bugsy Malone was an early childhood favourite of mine. I'm curious to see if I'd still enjoy it today :)

Can't say they're rediscovered classics but I've always had a soft spot for the old Jackie Chan movies. They were cheesy and the dubbing is hilarious but I loved them when I was growing up, especially:

Wheels on Meals.



And Police Story.



How about rediscovered films which you thought were great once but upon watching them again are actually horrendous and you can't believe you ever liked them.

80's classic "Maximum Overdrive" comes to mind for me.



I watched this a few weeks back for first time in many, many years and I couldn't believe how bad it really was and that's with the awesome AC/DC soundtrack and Stephen King writing and directing. It's great for a laugh if you're feeling blue though. ;D

Well, I'm defo on board for Bad Boy Bubby.
"Being There" if it was directed by David Lynch?
I'm there! ;D

I caught this Aussie actioner not too long ago again.
And while it's not a Trenchard-Smith classic, it's got some teeth still! ;D

I remember when I was still in the single digits being up with my father at around three in the morning and watching the Princess Bride.  At the time we both loved it but had no idea what the name of the movie was.  Found it around eight years later and enjoyed it just the same.  Something about movies in your childhood just brings you back to a certain place in time.

Could we talk about the opposite in this thread? In other words, films you thought were amazing back in the day but turned out to be absolute s hit?

Ernest Scared Stupid comes to mind. The fact that I ever found Ernest even remotely entertaining is embarrassing. I wanted to die in a ditch while I was watching it.

I hope Jim Varney is rotting in hell. Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh.

Here are some of mine - had them on my Staff Favourites shelf when I worked at a video store in my late teens/early twenties:

The Untouchables
In The Mouth of Madness
Shallow Grave
A Life Less Ordinary
Braveheart
Flash Gordon
Highlander
Event Horizon
The Relic

I think that was it. Some are better than others, but all hold special places in my heart for various reasons.

Stew

I am the sort that rarely revists a film once I have seen it, but sometimes I will sit down with the older kid and turn him on to a film I really liked when younger.

Like Albino, I find most of my fond memories kind of suck for a 19-year-old today. He ain't shy about letting me know, either. But I am redeemed by three oldies that still rated a "kick-ass" from a tough audience:  

The Wall (blew him away; he bought the disc)
Yellow Submarine (not as good as I remembered it, though)
Heavy Metal (the original, not the dreadful sequel)

All are required viewing for any male approaching the age of 20.

Quoted from mcornetto And another South Australian film which kind of defies any attempt at classification but at the same time is a fantastic film is Bad Boy Bubby .

Hey Cornetto!

I did wrangle myself a copy of Bubby on Bluray to watch.
It's a very difficult film to watch... but also fascinating! ;D

Love the premise and the execution is staggering for the most part.
But the bit with the cat, kinda put me into skim mode, I must admit.

Didn't hate Bubby for what he did, obviously he doesn't understand death.
But it was a tad too real for me.
Once Bubby starts exploring, I tuned back in and loved the bar concert!

Thanks for the recommend!

Regards,
E.D.

I watched 'Westworld' last night. Then I remembered about this thread.

Quoted from B.C. I watched 'Westworld' last night. Then I remembered about this thread.

I watched Future World a few months ago...WestWorld was much better.  I remember seeing both of these at the theater, back in the day.

You know, I've never seen Future World, will hunt that down. Westworld is still really impressive. Crichton kind of recycled the story when he did Jurassic Park, to a certain extent. I like the 'rides eat the customers at the theme park' ideas.

I saw Futureworld streaming on Netflix awhile back.

It's funny how "70's" it comes off and feels, but then again, I guess it should, as it was released in 1976.

Definitely not great viewing, but it's nice to take a look back every now and then.

I'm with Danbotha on Bugsy Malone. I still love it and made my kids watch it as well as The Goonies.

One I also can't leave out would be Willow - awesome movie!

Bump my own thread with...

The Day of the Jackal ( the original)


Saw this with a different approach to movies than when I last saw it, but still wonderful.

It wouldn't be made this way now. For example, the detective going after he jackal is not introduced until late on and given little back story, amongst many other variations from today, yet it has a delightful tension to it. Real cat and mouse, what will  happen next. What is modern, in terms of format adherence, is that  the characters are tested, but this is mostly the villain.

Enjoyable to watch.

Revisited "the Untouchables". That scene with the baby carriage in the end -- I realize now how awesome that scene is after learning all these screenwriting rules. That's just just amazing stuff there.

Here's a couple of my favourite TV movies that I've rewatched recently.  They still mostly hold up.

One is Satan's Triangle.




And the other is The Horror at 37000 Feet.



Both are lots of fun.  Enjoy!

Well I learned a harsh lesson in parenting tonight...

I thought I would treat my girls to a movie, one I was brought up on... Watership Down..

After the opening scene with the massacre of rabbits, then one rabbit ripping the fur of another,  a hawk swooping down and grabbing one, another getting caught in a trap with blood pouring from his mouth and another getting shot in the leg... they had enough... Tears streaming from their eyes, they decided to pay their own rabbit a visit, to make sure it was ok.

... and I never even got to Art Garfunkel  singing "Bright eyes" http://www.youtube.com/watchv=zkirtbpz5h4

Father of the year award

:D

Mark

its all about Young Guns!