TV/Movies Megathread

[Savonarola]

Diplomacy (2014)

Set in the final day of the German occupation of Paris General von Choltitz has orders to burn the city down before the allies arrive.  Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling tries to talk him out of it; but defying orders means that von Choltitz's wife and children will be killed or worse.  The film is adapted from a play, and it's obvious.  Even so, and even though everyone knows the ending (I hope) they do manage to bring a good deal of dramatic tension to the story.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Diplomacy (2014)

Set in the final day of the German occupation of Paris General von Choltitz has orders to burn the city down before the allies arrive.  Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling tries to talk him out of it; but defying orders means that von Choltitz's wife and children will be killed or worse.  The film is adapted from a play, and it's obvious.  Even so, and even though everyone knows the ending (I hope) they do manage to bring a good deal of dramatic tension to the story.

Not based on the board game then?

[Josephus]

Diplomacy (2014)

Set in the final day of the German occupation of Paris General von Choltitz has orders to burn the city down before the allies arrive.  Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling tries to talk him out of it; but defying orders means that von Choltitz's wife and children will be killed or worse.  The film is adapted from a play, and it's obvious.  Even so, and even though everyone knows the ending (I hope) they do manage to bring a good deal of dramatic tension to the story.

Not based on the board game then?

That could make a great stage production.

"You asshole! You were supposed to support my fleet in Med."
"Sorry dude, nothing personal, I decided to support Turkey in Aegean."
"But you promised..." breaks down crying. "My whole life has been like this. Nobody loves me."
"Dude, you're Italy. You're not gonna win. Get over it."

[MadBurgerMaker]

Five star review for History Channel's ultra shallow "WW2 From Space" on Netflix:

"Very good documentary.  Even though it had many factual errors, <blahblahblah>"

It seems that what makes a documentary "good" may have changed for some people. 

[Savonarola]

Diplomacy (2014)

Set in the final day of the German occupation of Paris General von Choltitz has orders to burn the city down before the allies arrive.  Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling tries to talk him out of it; but defying orders means that von Choltitz's wife and children will be killed or worse.  The film is adapted from a play, and it's obvious.  Even so, and even though everyone knows the ending (I hope) they do manage to bring a good deal of dramatic tension to the story.

Not based on the board game then?

No, but that sounds like it could be Uwe Boll's masterpiece.  Seven half naked teenagers get together  over a series of years to determine the fate of Europe through a series of underhanded negotiations.

Actually that sounds like it could be an anime.  There would be a dark haired, brooding seventeen year old Napoleon III, an impossibly blonde seventeen year old Otto Von Bismarck with a monocle and a pink haired sixteen year old Queen Victoria in a love triangle.

[viper37]

Un prince (presque) charmant

Successful Paris businessman has an bad luck encouter with a seductive young woman, living of fresh air and whatever she finds on her travels.  Proceeds to fall in love, sell his company for tokens, becomes poor, marries the girl, aggravate France's deficit by paying less taxes every year, doom his only child's future by not being able to provide for her and his grand kid in times of need.

Similar to Pretty Woman, except the girl is not a prostitute, just some artist.

Pretty funny, despite being heavily predictable (as they all are, these types of movies).  The girl was cute though.

[Duque de Bragança]

I bought Kagemusha, Last Temptation of Christ and Heaven's Gate in an earlier sale, when the € was stronger. I'm considering taking The Bridge (Die Brücke).
Or, if you get an interesting voucher, you could take the Cassavetes or Tati boxset.
I don't know what you already have so it's hard to be more specific.

PS: edit for Heaven's Gate, as I thought

Turns out I have about $1400 more than I thought I did in my savings!

So I did what a responsible adult would do, and wound up buying:

Rushmore
All That Heaven Allows
Kagemusha
Last Temptation of Christ
My Darling Clementine
Hunger
Ace in the Hole
Sullivan's Travels
and 12 Angry Men.

I also got non-Criterion stuff, namely Focus, The Searchers, Thelma and Louise, and The Piano.

It may be too late but Gavras' movies might interest you as well for their political leanings and direction:

Shameless DVD Beaver ad
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_67/state_of_siege_blu-ray.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_67/the_confession_blu-ray.htm

I loved the Confession and Z (not available on blu-ray unfortunately). I have not seen the first one, State of Siege. I'll buy Die Brücke and The Confession I believe.

[Savonarola]

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Set at the end of the end of the Edo period; this concerns a petty samurai who works as a book keeper in the overlord's house.  (Samurai accountant would have made a great John Belushi sketch.)  Times are hard, the Samurai's mother is senile, his wife has died and he's left to raise his two daughters.  Things take a turn for the better when a childhood friend divorces her loutish husband and returns home.  The ex-husband samurai gets drunk and threatens her, and it turns out the accountant samurai is a mighty warrior and defeats the ex-husband samurai with just a stick.  (Accountant by day, Samurai warrior by night would make a great premise for a graphic novel.)  Love blooms, sort of, but the chaos of the Meiji restoration intervenes.

[PRC]

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Set at the end of the end of the Edo period; this concerns a petty samurai who works as a book keeper in the overlord's house.  (Samurai accountant would have made a great John Belushi sketch.)  Times are hard, the Samurai's mother is senile, his wife has died and he's left to raise his two daughters.  Things take a turn for the better when a childhood friend divorces her loutish husband and returns home.  The ex-husband samurai gets drunk and threatens her, and it turns out the accountant samurai is a mighty warrior and defeats the ex-husband samurai with just a stick.  (Accountant by day, Samurai warrior by night would make a great premise for a graphic novel.)  Love blooms, sort of, but the chaos of the Meiji restoration intervenes.

Great movie!  If you enjoyed it i'd suggest Yoji Yamada's other films, particularly "the Hidden Blade" and "Love & Honour".

[katmai]

Since when does Sav watch anything post 1930?!?!

[frunk]

Since when does Sav watch anything post 1930?!?!

Since he got his color corrective lenses and hearing aids.

[Savonarola]

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Set at the end of the end of the Edo period; this concerns a petty samurai who works as a book keeper in the overlord's house.  (Samurai accountant would have made a great John Belushi sketch.)  Times are hard, the Samurai's mother is senile, his wife has died and he's left to raise his two daughters.  Things take a turn for the better when a childhood friend divorces her loutish husband and returns home.  The ex-husband samurai gets drunk and threatens her, and it turns out the accountant samurai is a mighty warrior and defeats the ex-husband samurai with just a stick.  (Accountant by day, Samurai warrior by night would make a great premise for a graphic novel.)  Love blooms, sort of, but the chaos of the Meiji restoration intervenes.

Great movie!  If you enjoyed it i'd suggest Yoji Yamada's other films, particularly "the Hidden Blade" and "Love & Honour".

I've seen "The Hidden Blade," that was very good; I'll keep an eye out for "Love and Honor."

[Savonarola]

Since when does Sav watch anything post 1930?!?!

My wife doesn't share my enthusiasm for silent movies; and she gets angry when I tell her the next plot point of "Fat Guys in the Woods" before it happens, so art films have been the best compromise.

[Savonarola]

Since when does Sav watch anything post 1930?!?!

Since he got his color corrective lenses and hearing aids.

[Eddie Teach]

My wife doesn't share my enthusiasm for silent movies; and she gets angry when I tell her the next plot point of "Fat Guys in the Woods" before it happens, so art films have been the best compromise.

You might also consider a second television set.