TV/Movies Megathread

[Ideologue]

Yeah, but most people go to the movies like six times a year or something.

[Syt]

Apparently ABC is producing a fantasy themed reality/elimination show in and around castle Kreuzenstein in Lower Austria, around the corner from here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39tJTLnoqeQ

[Savonarola]

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

It's surprising to me how many musicals are set with a backdrop of tragic circumstances; the squalor of 19th century Paris in "Les Miserables," the war in the Pacific in "South Pacific," Dicken's London in "Oliver!" and the end of the silent era in "Singin' in the Rain."   



This is another one of MGM's "Raid the music catalog" musicals of the 1950s; similar to "An American in Paris."  All the numbers are in previous MGM movies except "Moses Supposes" and "Make them Laugh" (which is an obvious rip-off of Cole Porter's "Be a Clown.")

The film is a send up of the transition from silent era to the early sound era.  There's a number of inside jokes in it; the Jean Hagen character is an exaggerated Clara Bow, Cyd Charisse has a Louisa M. Brooks hair-do, Gene Kelley's excessively florid lines in "The Dueling Cavalier" are a take off on the lines that were written for John Gilbert.  As I watched the film I found myself thinking of the Steely Dan lines:

Show-business kids making movies of themselves
You know they don't give a fuck about anybody else

The singing and dancing is phenomenal.  Both Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Conner complained about Gene Kelley being a tyrant, but his perfectionism paid off here.

I don't care for the ballet scene.  That wasn't uncommon in the 1950s; they do similar things in "An American in Paris" and "Oklahoma."  I think that distracts from the plot and doesn't add anything to the movie.  Otherwise it's a great film and a great deal of fun.

Knowing the story of Debbie Reynolds it's hard to accept the happy ending.  I found myself thinking that Gene was going to cheat on her repeatedly and then write multiple tell-all books about what a bitch she was.  Plus their daughter was going to do disturbing amounts of cocaine.   

[Valmy]

Apparently ABC is producing a fantasy themed reality/elimination show in and around castle Kreuzenstein in Lower Austria, around the corner from here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39tJTLnoqeQ

A show featuring a big Larp?  Man they will try anything these days.

[Duque de Bragança]

For anyone (Sav) that may be interested, the biannual Criterion sale is on.  I'm trying to get two a week, as funds permit, or until I run out of crap I want.

I almost bought Cronenberg's Scanners but then discovered there was a big Internet shit storm over the transfer new colours so I am hesitating.
There are other tempting offers such as Franju's movies (a French release has a whole scene removed due to some mistake not censorship it seems).

[CountDeMoney]

Debbie Reynolds isnt in my Top Ten of Ass for the era, but I still would've fucked her blue in that flick.

[Scipio]

Debbie Reynolds isnt in my Top Ten of Ass for the era, but I still would've fucked her blue in that flick.

Debbie Reynolds is in Scanners?

[Savonarola]

For anyone (Sav) that may be interested, the biannual Criterion sale is on.  I'm trying to get two a week, as funds permit, or until I run out of crap I want.

Presently I have gifted myself with The Life Aquatic and Design For Living.  DFL comes with practically a whole second movie--a BBC recording of the original Coward play--which is awesome.  (The idea is awesome, that is; I assume the play itself is, but do not know.)  I wish they had a blu-ray for Lubitsch's Trouble In Paradise, which is supposed to be even better and funnier, though I somehow doubt it. But I think it has Miriam Hopkins in a state of more advanced undress, which is a very real selling point.

"Trouble in Paradise" is the most Lubitsch film that Lubitsch ever made; and that's saying something.   

Of the Lubitsch films that I've seen "Trouble in Paradise" is my favorite.  "Ninotchka" benefits from having bigger stars (and better actors); but "Trouble in Paradise" benefits for having been made before the Production Code was enforced.

[viper37]

For anyone (Sav) that may be interested, the biannual Criterion sale is on.  I'm trying to get two a week, as funds permit, or until I run out of crap I want.

I almost bought Cronenberg's Scanners but then discovered there was a big Internet shit storm over the transfer new colours so I am hesitating.

I never saw the first one, only 2&3.  Is it just as horrible?

[CountDeMoney]

It has Michael Fucking Ironside in it.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Debbie Reynolds isnt in my Top Ten of Ass for the era, but I still would've fucked her blue in that flick.

Debbie Reynolds is in Scanners?

Shit.  I'll have to re-watch it.

[celedhring]

I know I'm late to the party here (wink wink) but just watched The Hangover.

It's very fun, and the three leads are great, but somehow I was expecting more given the hype. It's great to see that Heather Graham is still pretty damn hot, though. The Community unhinged Asian chap playing an unhinged Asian chap is pretty great too.

[Admiral Yi]

Avoid the sequels at all costs.

[celedhring]

That's what I heard. Definitely not enjoyable, then?

[garbon]

That's what I heard. Definitely not enjoyable, then?

I only saw part 2 and it just seemed like weaker re-hashing of original.