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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
 Posted - 05/29/2003 : 23:00:49
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Just keeping adding on to this list of underrated great movies, maybe with a few comments. But try to keep them "underrated" so don't include like The Godfather or Taxi Driver or The Seventh Seal or anything. Try to keep them relatively undiscovered, don't use a movie everyone knows like "Meet The Parents" and say it's underrated because some people said it sucked.
1. King of Comedy--just came out on DVD, I've watched it a bunch of times, I think it's one of Scorsese's best, really ahead of its time and the best satire of showbiz (I think its even better than Network).
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 01:20:40
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1. King of Comedy--just came out on DVD, I've watched it a bunch of times, I think it's one of Scorsese's best, really ahead of its time and the best satire of showbiz (I think its even better than Network).
2. Koyaanisqatsi - Even though it seems a bit cliche, I think it's one of the most fantastic films I've seen. Just little segments of nature/technology/humanity with Phillip Glass' perfect soundtrack. Completely devoid of characters, plot, and any real ..substance.
*Me Fail English? That's Unpossible! |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 02:06:20
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1. King of Comedy--just came out on DVD, I've watched it a bunch of times, I think it's one of Scorsese's best, really ahead of its time and the best satire of showbiz (I think its even better than Network).
2. Koyaanisqatsi - Even though it seems a bit cliche, I think it's one of the most fantastic films I've seen. Just little segments of nature/technology/humanity with Phillip Glass' perfect soundtrack. Completely devoid of characters, plot, and any real ..substance
3. Run Lola Run - Cracking German movie, pretty original with the film split up into many parts showing how Lola and her boyfriends fate changes by little things happening to them during the day. If you havgen't seen this film then see it!
I think Godfather 3 deserves a mention as it's a great film that everyone seems to slag off.
War....... Its not fantastic |
Edited by - Stuart on 05/30/2003 02:07:10 |
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Scarla O
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
947 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 03:20:12
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1. Tears Of The Black Tiger - You've got to see this film to believe it! It's filmed in that crazy technicolor that i associate with Elvis Presley films - really saturated colours...it's a black comedy made in Thailand. It's got a great soundtrack too.
2. The Man Who Wasn't There - When asked why they filmed it in black and white, the Coen Brothers remarked that it was just in case anyone wasn't sure of their genius.
3. The Man Who Fell To Earth - Is this the only film where a musician (David Bowie) has turned in a successful film performance? Very seventies and with a glorious soundtrack. |
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velvety
= Cult of Ray =
Portugal
536 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 04:35:45
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Fallen Angels - Chinese film about alienation, Honk Kong and weird relationships, follows two diferent story lines, one about a hitman and the other about a mute guy who breaks into stores at night and passes for the owner, while conducting business as usual. Very impressive visually.
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Edited by - velvety on 05/30/2003 04:41:38 |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 06:46:01
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Stuart, an unrelated question - did Glass do the entire soundtrack for the Truman show or just songs like Raising the Sail?
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 06:51:11
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| Walking and Talking - an awesome movie and I recently learned, a cult hit. Who knew? |
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gracie
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
573 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 07:22:38
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| the wicker man is fantastic. it's probably my favourite film and its got an excellent soundtrack. |
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theonecontender
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
565 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 11:21:41
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| Hardcore Logo - One of my favorites of all time. A film about a punk rock band that reunites for one final cross Canada tour. |
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 11:51:15
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Vulgar - A very black comedy. Great, but not for the squeamish. Kevin Smith produced it (I think- definitely didn't direct) and had an acting part along with a number of Smith film regulars.
Incubus - A very underrated fantasy/mythological film and William Shatner's first starring role in a film. The dialogue was spoken entirely in Esperanto, an artificial "hybrid" language.
301,302 - Strange foreign (Korean, I think?) film involving two women who live in adjacent apartments and whose emotional problems, while stemming from different causes, are tied to food. A very sparse film with a perverse ending.
I could think of more, but currently don't have the time. Walking and Talking is, indeed, an awesome movie. Catherine Keener rules. |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 12:27:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Scarla O
1. Tears Of The Black Tiger - You've got to see this film to believe it! It's filmed in that crazy technicolor that i associate with Elvis Presley films - really saturated colours...it's a black comedy made in Thailand. It's got a great soundtrack too.
Tears of a black tiger....... I agree, fucking quality, the Thai's answer to a spaghetti western, pure class!
War....... Its not fantastic |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 12:30:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
Stuart, an unrelated question - did Glass do the entire soundtrack for the Truman show or just songs like Raising the Sail?
Cult, you've got your wires crossed my friend.....
War....... Its not fantastic |
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BrendanT
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
907 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 14:00:09
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Twin Town - Set in Wales. Involves brothers who do their best to achieve truth, redemption and trust. A dog named Cantona as well.
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
Buttercup! Bubbles! Let's go! |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 14:04:23
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Good call on The Wicker Man and Koyaaniskatsi.
Here's another:
American Soldier: bizarre film noir Fassbinder movie with the single greatest ending of all time. |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 15:46:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Chris Knight
Incubus - A very underrated fantasy/mythological film and William Shatner's first starring role in a film. The dialogue was spoken entirely in Esperanto, an artificial "hybrid" language.
"Incubus" is fantastic. Lensed by the late, great cinematographer Conrad Hall (shot during the hiatus of the original Outer Limits TV show with most of the same crew), and believed lost for almost 30 years after the original negatives were accidentally destroyed.
"The Wicker Man" as well, is a tremendous piece of cinema, and one of my all time faves.
My recommendations:
"The Woman In The Dunes" - surreal Japanese film which cannot be described, but must be sought out and seen.
"The Abominable Dr. Phibes" - Hilarious and glam seventies shocker starring Vincent Price and Terry Thomas. Brilliant mixture of horror, humor, psychedelia, music, biblical imagery and social commentary.
"Rubin & Ed" - Laugh-till-you-cry buddy movie about two losers, a dead cat, self-help gurus and desert mirages. Satrring "The" Karen Black, Howard Hessman and Crispin "Hellion" Glover.
"Shock Waves" - The best underwater Nazi zombie movie ever!
"Your Friends and Neighbors" - Unsettling drama/black comedy from Neil Labute, which will likely challenge your notions about sexual intimacy and fair play. WITH CATHERINE KEENER.
"The Holy Mountain" - Alejandro Jodorowsky's mid-'70s masterpiece of spiritual allegory and acid visions. One of the most memorable and visually arresting films I've ever seen. One of a kind - not for the squeamish.
"Vernon, Florida" - early documentary feature from Award-winning director Errol Morris, profiling the bizarre residents of a tiny Florida Panhandle town, circa 1980.
"Baby Snakes" - Epic 2 hour and 45 minute concert film documenting a series of Halloween shows Frank Zappa played in NYC in the late 1970s. With Terry Bozzio, Roy Estrada and Adrian Belew, plus the psychedelic stop-motion animation of the inimitable Bruce Bickford.
"Avenging Disco Godfather" - Gritty low-budget late '70s kung-fu, rap, disco, anti-PCP inner city drama starring legendary X-rated comedian Rudy Ray Moore (better known as Dolemite).
Many of these are long out-of-print and difficult to locate. Let me know if you need a copy.
Happy hunting!
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Pioneer
- FB Fan -
213 Posts |
Posted - 05/30/2003 : 18:54:25
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| I don't think enough people saw Cronenberg's "Naked Lunch." I'm not a fan of Burroughs's books, but he did have a way with words, especially conversationally. Cronenberg took concepts from Burroughs's book and life and built a plot that really takes you to a different sort of fantasy world while nailing the workings of a malfunctioning mind, in this case, one flooded with hallucinogens. It was difficult to watch the first time. Peter Weller's fatigued slur brings you down and it's a bit confusing. Not for everyone, I suppose. However, the day after I saw it, I just had to see it again. |
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therewererumours
* Dog in the Sand *
Ireland
1240 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 08:45:02
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The Bicycle Theif - beautiful film, so sad. Fireworks - An amazinig Japanese film by starring Beat Takishi (excuse my spelling, He stared and directed Brother as well a great American/Japanese cross over) he might have directed that as well, cant remember at the mo. Have to think of some more, Does anyone know the name of a seventies film starring Shelly Duvale and a very young Cisey Spacack, they share an apartment together, sort of strange film.
"I meet a man with no little toe and a real big head" |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 12:01:23
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El Topo and the holy mountain by Alejandro Joddorowsky.Great director and great person too.I met him two days ago and though he's a cult hero was down to earth.He even signed me the el topo dvd,a book and the first episode of the Incal without doing bored faces.An underestimated genious as long as cinema is concerned 'cause with comics is pretty famous...
p.s: Naked Lunch sucks...What is this film about anyway?
www.munchienandalusia.too.it |
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Pioneer
- FB Fan -
213 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 17:54:34
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quote:
Originally posted by mun chien andalusia
p.s: Naked Lunch sucks...What is this film about anyway?
Ugh...
See, the Peter Weller character, William Lee, mirrors Burroughs. Like Burroughs in real life, Lee performs a "William Tell routine" on his wife and accidentally shoots her fatally in the head. Lee dodges imprisonment, similar to how Burroughs did, takes to druggin' it, and hallucinates. He constructs a pseudo-life in which he's an agent for a mysterious organization, trying to penetrate an enemy group. At the insistence of his typewriter, which repeatedly morphs into a charming and quotable insect, he writes status "reports" on his mission. Most of what he writes in these reports can be found in Burrough's book "Naked Lunch," so this mirrors Burroughs's writing career. Anyway, Lee is writing and constructing an elaborate fantasy of espionage and mugwumps to distance himself from the fact that he killed his wife. But he can't escape. In his fantasy construct, his typewriter orders him to seduce Joan Frost. Of course, she looks identical to Joan Lee, the wife he killed. At the end, when he's driving into Anexia, the border guards ask him to prove he's a writer by writing something. He responds by performing the "William Tell routine" on Joan Frost, killing his wife all over again.
Personally, I love the dialogue: the typewriter instructing Lee not to "fall asleep like a freckle-faced boy on a fishing raft"; Tom Frost gasping, "It's my mujahadeen!" when his arabic typewriter smashes in pieces at his feet; Lee declaring, "Exterminate all rational thought--that is the conclusion I have come to." Also, my head has malfunctioned a few times over the years due to health problems, and I've noticed how far the brain will go to connect dots and make sense out of the absurd. In Naked Lunch, Cronenberg shows an understanding of this phenomenon. I could relate to the "rhythm" of Lee's mind somehow.
Anyway, you probably didn't want a longwinded explanation, mun chien, and it won't change your mind, but that's my ten cents (feeling generous today). Cheers. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 18:14:29
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| Stuart - nope, I'm pretty sure there's at least one track on the Truman Show soundtrack from Glass. Not that he 'did' it per se, but I thought they might have used his music exclusively. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 18:59:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Scarla O
2. The Man Who Wasn't There - When asked why they filmed it in black and white, the Coen Brothers remarked that it was just in case anyone wasn't sure of their genius.
they actually didn't film it in black and white. they filmed it in color and then digitally tweaked it.
i read that the reason they did that was because the foreign investors who put up the money for the film insisted that they shoot their film in color, even though they wanted to do b+w. so, they did end up "shooting" it in color, fulfilling their end of the contract.
pretty sneaky eh?
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Edited by - floop on 06/01/2003 19:04:31 |
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 19:34:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
Stuart - nope, I'm pretty sure there's at least one track on the Truman Show soundtrack from Glass. Not that he 'did' it per se, but I thought they might have used his music exclusively.
Obfuscate By Will was the one who mentioned Phil Glass, not Stu.
Interesting tidbit, Tony. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 19:41:16
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some great films mentioned here though.. word to velvety on FALLEN ANGELS.. that's one of my absolute favorite films. wong kar-wai and christopher doyle (cinematographer) can do no wrong together.. i heard they were considering doing AQUA MAN for a while there. can you imagine that?
RUBIN AND ED is one of the weirdest films i've seen, in a good way. chrispen glover at his best. KOYAANISKATSI put me to sleep, literally. VERNON, FL is genius (as is everything by errol morris)
if i may be so anal for a second, i think there's a difference between "underrated" and "obscure" . some films might be both.. but let's try and make it films that were critical and/or financial failures, but that you personally think are great. (for instance, FALLEN ANGELS is definitely obscure, but it was hailed by critics.. therefore not technically "underrated." is that anal enough?)..
anyway, here are a few recent underrated films:
ONE HOUR PHOTO - one of the creepiest films i've seen in a loooong time. and robin williams is actually really good. it's very kubrick-esque, with references to hitchcock sprinkled throughout. i think it was just too disturbing for people (horray for disturbing!)
PANIC - i don't even know if this film got a theatrical release but it stars william h. macy and neve campbell. it's got a similarities with ANALYZE THIS and SOPRANOS, with a mobster going to a therapist etc.. but it's a pretty good little film. rent it if you can find it.
TIMECODE - mike figgis' experimental split-screen film, shot with four digital cameras simulaneously, with no cuts.. though it's not a perfect film at all, i thought it was pretty exciting.. it's nice to see someone trying to push the envelope a bit. at the very least, salma hayek has a steamy sex scene in it. which is worth the rental price alone.
ZOOLANDER - yeah, some of it is really really dumb.. and it's far from a perfect movie, but it's soooo fucking funny. i love how they weren't afraid to throw some really weird, dark humor in there too. and Will Farrell is genius.
i'll think of some more.. |
Edited by - floop on 06/01/2003 20:24:55 |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 20:11:52
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quote:
Originally posted by therewererumours
Does anyone know the name of a seventies film starring Shelly Duvale and a very young Cisey Spacack, they share an apartment together, sort of strange film.
You're probably thinking of "Sisters."
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2003 : 20:13:46
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quote:
Originally posted by mun chien andalusia
El Topo and the holy mountain by Alejandro Joddorowsky.Great director and great person too.I met him two days ago and though he's a cult hero was down to earth.He even signed me the el topo dvd,a book and the first episode of the Incal without doing bored faces.An underestimated genious as long as cinema is concerned 'cause with comics is pretty famous...
www.munchienandalusia.too.it
Do tell us more about your meeting with this moderately insane and brilliant artist! How did it come about? He's known for being a real asshole, but you say he was pleasant?
All the details, please!
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7442 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 02:27:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
3. Run Lola Run - Cracking German movie, pretty original with the film split up into many parts showing how Lola and her boyfriends fate changes by little things happening to them during the day. If you havgen't seen this film then see it!
This movie is awful.
Denis |
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therewererumours
* Dog in the Sand *
Ireland
1240 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 04:27:21
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quote:
Originally posted by peter radiator
quote:
Originally posted by therewererumours
Does anyone know the name of a seventies film starring Shelly Duvale and a very young Cisey Spacack, they share an apartment together, sort of strange film.
You're probably thinking of "Sisters."
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder
Thanks Mister Radiator, I have to check it out again.
"I meet a man with no little toe and a real big head" |
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 08:24:41
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quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
quote:
Originally posted by Stuart
3. Run Lola Run
This movie is awful.
Denis
Agreed.
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One Hour Photo has been mentioned.
Denis' quote applies to that movie, also.
*Me Fail English? That's Unpossible! |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 09:52:34
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Do tell us more about your meeting with this moderately insane and brilliant artist! How did it come about? He's known for being a real asshole, but you say he was pleasant?
All the details, please!
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder
[/quote]
Well he is in italy promoting his last book so he passed from Siena 'cause his translator is from here.Actually more than a writer he presents himself as a healer!?He is promoting this theory of his that is using art as a method to heal depression,stress and so on.He held this conference talking mostly about religion and interpretation of the holy scripts and how this affects your life.The arguments were kind of weird but pretty interesting i think (i mention only this one:Catholics are complessed because they cannot accept the idea of woman being superior to man,thing reflected on the catholic church tradition).
As long as the person is concerned he was pleasant ,joking with the pubblic(40 people actually),he made a couple of blasphemous comments(i don't think Joseph was gay)and responded at questions at the end.Then he offered to sign books.I went to have my el topo dvd,a book and a comic signed and these were the highlights of our dialogue more or less:
-ME:Are you going to make another film?
-AJ:No Actually i am concentrated on this healing theory
-ME:How was working with Moebius and if they are to collaborate in the future
-AJ:It was interesting but a thing that belongs to the past,on the comic front i am going to continue only the Megalex saga
Well that's about it,as i said he was kind and willing to talk but i had to cut short because there were other people waiting for autographs.
P.S:During the conference there was a photo reporter making photos one after another(pretty annoying really)so AJ stoped talking and started posing commenting:well i hope this way finishes his thing faster and better.That's why i made only a couple of photos that i will put on my site sooner or later...
www.munchienandalusia.too.it |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 10:13:25
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| Therewererumors, it's actually a Robert Altman film called "3 Women". Sisters had Margot Kidder, although maybe it was that you were thinking about. 3 Women was a very bizarre underrated and obscure Altman classic. Sissy Spacek is inexplicably drawn to Shelley Duvall (who's a self-righteous idiot) right? And only after Sissy Spacek attempts suicide do their rolls suddenly change. Very interesting movie. |
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greg
- FB Fan -
Canada
159 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 14:13:29
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Just one from me and its not even that obscure.
I really liked Dancer in the Dark. This movie was great!
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2003 : 18:06:14
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quote:
Originally posted by greg
Just one from me and its not even that obscure.
I really liked Dancer in the Dark. This movie was great!
I was describing 'Dancer In The Dark' to a co-worker this morning.
She asked me, "Why would anyone want to see a movie as seemingly miserable as that?"
Then she suggested I rent "Super Troopers"
*Me Fail English? That's Unpossible! |
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =
France
2010 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2003 : 02:35:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Pioneer
I don't think enough people saw Cronenberg's "Naked Lunch."
Yes. One of Cronenberg's best film with eXistenZ.
But Cronenberg is also responsible for one of the most boring film ever made!
-> Spider.
quote:
Fireworks - An amazinig Japanese film by starring Beat Takishi
It's Takeshi Kitano and go see his last film "Dolls".
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"Mission to Mars" is not that a catastrophy, though it's not an excellent film either!
Ok, the script is awful but once again it's a film about kids who've dreamed about going in space for their whole life.
And the part in space between earth and Mars is brilliantly directed.
I don't know if "Stand By Me" is underrated but I've seen it recently and it's a brilliant film.
Probably one of the best, if not the best, film about youth. (once again, cinema and youth are closely tied together!)
"X-Men" wasn't that bad. Not very good either, just OK but since everybody bashed it. |
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therewererumours
* Dog in the Sand *
Ireland
1240 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2003 : 06:39:15
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[/quote]
It's Takeshi Kitano and go see his last film "Dolls".
[/quote]
Cheers Holiday Son, Itchload, have to check those out, had'nt heard about that new Takeshi film. In Japan he was(and is?) a famous comedian before he stared playing his serious roles, and he called himself Beat Takeshi if my memory serves me right?
"I meet a man with no little toe and a real big head" |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2003 : 06:51:16
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quote:
Originally posted by therewererumours
It's Takeshi Kitano and go see his last film "Dolls".
[/quote]
Cheers Holiday Son, Itchload, have to check those out, had'nt heard about that new Takeshi film. In Japan he was(and is?) a famous comedian before he stared playing his serious roles, and he called himself Beat Takeshi if my memory serves me right?
"I meet a man with no little toe and a real big head"
[/quote]
if you haven't seen it, VIOLENT COP (also directed by and starring Beat Takeshi) is pretty crazy. total insane, excessive violence.. Dirty Harry in Asia, only more insane.
it's pretty funny. |
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Pioneer
- FB Fan -
213 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2003 : 15:36:42
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quote:
Originally posted by The Holiday Son
quote:
Originally posted by Pioneer
I don't think enough people saw Cronenberg's "Naked Lunch."
Yes. One of Cronenberg's best film with eXistenZ.
But Cronenberg is also responsible for one of the most boring film ever made!
-> Spider.
Oh, no! I was looking forward to seeing Spider. Thanks for forewarning me. |
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