Author Topic: The Essentials: Hamlet/Hand of God/Happy Man/Hard Day's Night
TheBoogieMan  15280 posts
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered: Nov '01
22994_Tarkin
Date Posted: 5/28/06 9:51pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Desk Set; Demoiselles; Desperate Measures; Destination: Moon; Destry Rides Again
Rogue1-and-a-half posted:
Die Another Day (2005) - Lee Tamahora



The worst Bond film ever made.

Simply because the opening sequence is so well done, so promising, that the stark return in the rest of the film to utter, utter action film CGI farce is such an appauling reverse that makes it such a disappointing film. And thus, earns the title, in my mind, of worst Bond film.

 

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Zaz  38639 posts
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered: Oct '98
40038_Jawa
Date Posted: 5/28/06 10:09pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Desk Set; Demoiselles; Desperate Measures; Destination: Moon; Destry Rides Again - Date Edited: 5/28/06 10:11pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Zaz
You have seen "Octupussy", right? grin


Detective Story (1951) - William Wyler

Haven't seen this one, but I would like to.

The Devil’s Advocate (1997) - Taylor Hackford

Haven't seen this one, either, though I usually find Taylor Hackford well named. tongue

Dial M for Murder (1951) - Alfred Hitchcock

Like "The Big Sleep" anyone who can actually follow the plot deserves a cookie. But we get the gist of it. grin

Die Another Day (2005) - Lee Tamahora

Not the best Bond, but not the worst, either.

Die Hard (1988) - John McTiernan

Great fun.

 

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Zombi_2_1979  1483 posts
Registered: Jul '05
6242_2-1B
Date Posted: 5/28/06 10:11pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Detective Story; Devil's Advocate; Dial M for Murder; Die Another Day; Die Hard)
Haven't seen Detective Story either but will soon be acquiring in the year.

 

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TheBoogieMan  15280 posts
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered: Nov '01
22994_Tarkin
Date Posted: 5/28/06 10:23pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Detective Story; Devil's Advocate; Dial M for Murder; Die Another Day; Die Hard)
Zaz posted:
You have seen "Octupussy", right? grin



Haha, I have. Wait till we get to the 'O's - Octopussy will be in there too, I bet you any money. tongue

 

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Forcefire  995 posts
Registered: Jul '00
19942_A New Hope
Date Posted: 5/29/06 7:48am Subject: RE: The Essentials (Detective Story; Devil's Advocate; Dial M for Murder; Die Another Day; Die Hard)
So very behind. Die Hard is an action film achievement that never ceases to impress me. How can you top Bruce Willis for the everyman action hero? Answer: you can't, as we learned from the countless rip-offs.

 

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JediTrilobite  23838 posts
Registered: Nov '99
23788_Clone Trooper
Date Posted: 5/29/06 11:11am Subject: RE: The Essentials (Detective Story; Devil's Advocate; Dial M for Murder; Die Another Day; Die Hard)
Die Another Day? No chance about that one.

 

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Rogue1-and-a-half  22236 posts
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered: Nov '00
16485_Wedge Antilles
Date Posted: 5/30/06 2:26pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Detective Story; Devil's Advocate; Dial M for Murder; Die Another Day; Die Hard)
Octopussy is the best Moore Bond, I can say that without hesitation. tongue

Die Hard 2 (1990) - Renny Harlin

One of the few sequels, perhaps the only pure action sequel, to be every single bit as brilliant as the original. Harlin's eye is more imaginative than McTiernan's, but the energy never flags. The always sadly overlooked Bill Sadler is a fantastic villain and there are scenes here that equal the original for sheer panache (check out the ejector seat bit) and the climax is a masterpiece of 'yes, we're STILL climaxing' filmmaking. Brilliance.

Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) - John McTiernan

It's not as good as either of its predecessors, but the inclusion of Sam Jackson AND Jeremy Irons settles the issue of it being an interesting movie anyway. Loses energy at the climax, but the body of the film is imaginative and funny (dig that geyser!). Laugh out loud action.

Different Lifestyles (1991) - BeBe & CeCe Winans

Soul, R & B, jazz, pop, gospel . . . the adjectives keep coming. A great effort from the brother and sister duo.

Different Seasons (1982) - Stephen King

A book sure to silence the naysayers, this proves King's genius in spades. The Shawshank Redemption novella has the dubious distinction of being rather outclassed by the film version (definitely the only King work one can say that about) but The Body and Apt Pupil are both absolutely brilliant examples of King at his best. Four distinct stories, told by four very different main characters and they all work, though The Breathing Method is hardly flawless. Regardless, a staggering work of genius and insight.

Dilbert (1992 - ?) - Scott Adams

Before The Office there was this brilliant little comic strip, a great satire on corporate America. The clueless boss, the brittle secretary, the sociopathic co-worker, the naive intern, the cold hearted HR director . . . these are more than icons, they're almost archetypes and Adams presents them brilliantly (as he once said about Catbert, the HR director, "It's perfect. Cats don't care if you live or die and neither does HR." That right there ought to settle once and for all his cynical viewpoint). Witty and clever, it hardly ever fails to hit coporate exactly where it hurts.

Availability:

All readily available.

Dilbert has yet, since it's still going on, to see a Complete reprint (ie. Peanuts, Far Side, Calvin and Hobbes), but I have little doubt that it will eventually.

 

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Zaz  38639 posts
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered: Oct '98
40038_Jawa
Date Posted: 5/30/06 7:23pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Die Harder; Die Hard w/ aVengence; Different Lifestyles; Different Seasons; Dilb
Octopussy is the best Moore Bond, I can say that without hesitation.

I'm hoping you're joking. tongue

Die Hard 2 (1990) - Renny Harlin

I didn't much like the second one.

Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) - John McTiernan

Formulaic, yes, but partially because of the chemistry between Willis and Jackson, it worked.

Different Lifestyles (1991) - BeBe & CeCe Winans

Ze list.

Different Seasons (1982) - Stephen King

Nothing he writes is flawless, but he's a master of pulp, no question.

Dilbert (1992 - ?) - Scott Adams

I have to admit I've never paid much attention to Dilbert. Ze list...

 

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JediTrilobite  23838 posts
Registered: Nov '99
23788_Clone Trooper
Date Posted: 5/30/06 8:25pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Die Harder; Die Hard w/ aVengence; Different Lifestyles; Different Seasons; Dilb
Dilbert is brilliant.

 

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TheBoogieMan  15280 posts
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered: Nov '01
22994_Tarkin
Date Posted: 5/30/06 9:18pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Die Harder; Die Hard w/ aVengence; Different Lifestyles; Different Seasons; Dilb
Rogue1-and-a-half posted:
Die Hard 2 (1990) - Renny Harlin



I actually thought it was called 'Die Harder', which is the Stupidest. Name. Ever.

Zaz posted:
Octopussy is the best Moore Bond, I can say that without hesitation.

I'm hoping you're joking. tongue




He's not. He won't even listen to my protests that The Spy Who Loved Me is much, much better!

 

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darth_frared  6394 posts
Registered: Jun '05
48476_Leia Tux
Date Posted: 5/31/06 2:25am Subject: RE: The Essentials (Die Harder; Die Hard w/ aVengence; Different Lifestyles; Different Seasons; Dilb
going back to dances with wolves here. you guys made great points about it, things which i overlooked because it's very long ago when i watched the movie and all i really remembered was that 'i liked it'. i guess overall it's impossible to make a movie that shows both sides of the fence without being partial to any one. i think ang lee took a stab at this when he made 'ride with the devil' and portrayed the civil war. that film works, although, yeah, it doesn't incorporate the natives.

okay, back on topic. happy

 

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Rogue1-and-a-half  22236 posts
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered: Nov '00
16485_Wedge Antilles
Date Posted: 5/31/06 2:08pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Die Harder; Die Hard w/ aVengence; Different Lifestyles; Different Seasons; Dilb
I was using IMDB, which listed the film as Die Hard 2. Subtitle, I think, was Die Harder.

And Spy is almost as good as Octopussy. tongue

Diner (1982) – Barry Levinson

A warm and witty ensemble comedy with great performances from Daniel Stern (the man used to be uber-talented, believe it or not), Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Paul Reiser and even Steve Gutenberg. Low key, the film is at its best when the five friends mentioned above simply set around a table in their local diner and have the kind of nonsensical conversations you really do have when you’re with close friends.

Dinner at Eight (1933) – George Cukor

Another stellar ensemble enlivens this film. Lionel Barrymore is a great sympathetic figure, Billie Burke is great as always and both Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler get big laughs. The winner is John Barrymore as a washed up, alcoholic matinee idol . . . the role he was born to play, if you get my drift. Great film.

The Dinner Party (1977) – Judy Chicago

Chicago, long chafing over the way in which female artists were overlooked in the art world, created this fantastic installation piece, a triangular table, with a place setting for 37 great female artists. Complete with decorations for the ‘dining room.’ Installation art finally reaches greatness.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (1983) – Douglas Adams

For those who love the Hitchhiker series, this is the logical next step. Only two Gently books exist complete and this is the first, introducing the ‘holistic’ detective and his bizarre philosophy of investigating the entire world to find the solution to a small puzzle. Blisteringly funny, convoluted and fascinating, a must read.

The Dirty Dozen (1967) – Robert Aldritch

A blisteringly great action film with (an odd pattern emerging here) a smashing ensemble. To even begin to list the great actors here is to run the risk of forgetting at least three or four of them. The climax, when the group finally goes into combat, is pure brilliance.

Availability:

All readily available.

 

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Heart of mine
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Bugbite 
Registered: Apr '04
14355_Qui-Gon Jinn
Date Posted: 5/31/06 3:48pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Diner; Dinner at Eight; Dinner Party; Dirk Gentley; Dirty Dozen)
Firstly, thanks Rogue for a great thread. It's even inspired me to go back and re-read all my Tintin books. happy

Dirk Gently is a great book, probably my favourite of all of Douglas Adams' novels. It's very funny and clever, with a cryptic ending that makes perfect sense once you've figured out what exactly Dirk did.

The phone call during the apartment break-in is priceless.

"Rule Four - never stand where you can be photographed."

 

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TheBoogieMan  15280 posts
Title: Manager Emeritus
Registered: Nov '01
22994_Tarkin
Date Posted: 5/31/06 9:35pm Subject: RE: The Essentials (Diner; Dinner at Eight; Dinner Party; Dirk Gentley; Dirty Dozen)
Rogue1-and-a-half posted:
And Spy is almost as good as Octopussy. tongue



You mean, it is almost as good as a film where scantily clad women attack mercenaries while Bond flies in on a hot air balloon drenched in the Union Jack? My, that does sound good! tongue

 

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Zaz  38639 posts
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered: Oct '98
40038_Jawa
Date Posted: 6/1/06 6:31am Subject: RE: The Essentials (Diner; Dinner at Eight; Dinner Party; Dirk Gentley; Dirty Dozen) - Date Edited: 6/1/06 7:39am (1 edits total) Edited By: Zaz
"The Dirty Dozen" is one of my favourite bad movies. Full of over-the-top performances by great actors--I think Cassavetes takes the scenery-chewing contest, though Telly Savales gave him a run for his money. tongue

 

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