Regarding the discussion of the Back to the Future Trilogy from the previous page, I'm a fan of the entire series personally. To me they all feel like one large film and work really well together. I've always though that Back to the Future Part II was cool and always liked that they went back into the original film from a different perspective but there's a lot of fun elements to Back to the Future Part III too. I'm probably biased because it's been my favorite series of films since I was a kid but I've always liked them all pretty equally.

Sin City...pure joy watching this one.

I don't really have a problem with parts II or III, I enjoy them both, but the stakes in the first movie felt higher, the Lybians felt more dangerous than any other villain types from II or III, and really wasn't about time travel much, but more of a fish-out-of-water story, and the whole relating to your parents aspect. The climaxes of parts II and III have nothing on Doc going up the clocktower, and Marty going back knowing he's failing at trying to save Doc.

I dunno the tunnel chase between Marty/Doc and Biff at the end of Part II is pretty cool. I also liked the revelation at the end with the Western Union guy delivering Marty the letter from 1885. Part III the train sequence is pretty cool and the showdown between Mad Dog Tannen and Marty.

All well done, I'm not denying that, but those felt more stunt-like than anything out of the first movie, or at the very least not as tense. Still fun, but not nearly as effective as the original.

Pirates Pt. IV in 3D.

Bored silly when I first saw this about 25 years ago. Gave it another shot on DVD about 10 years later and was perfectly in sync with it and now I easily rank it among my favorites.
I seem to recall some kvetching about the transfer at the time of release, but it looked pretty stellar to me on a large screen.



Interesting film. Felt like it was channeling Citizen Kane by way of a police procedural. Excellent performance by Ford (one of the best of his I've ever seen actually). Electrifying first act, somewhat awkward mid section due to the flashback structure, and an end that we saw coming all along, but dramatically satisfying when we finally get there- though it's a little hard to buy just how we get there.
The B&W Cinemascope image is pretty good for the most part. The elements aren't perfect, but overall quite a decent presentation that most of the time looks quite nice with a well balanced, attractive grey scale.

Just Like A Woman

Had the Trans Am out yesterday so when we got home I put in...



Sheriff Brandford: The fact that you are a Sheriff is not germane to the situation

Sheriff Justice: The Goddamned Germans got nuthin to do with it!

Still makes me laugh after almost 40 years and hundreds of viewings.

The Road to Predition.

Is that the prequel to Predator?

The Dictator (2012)

Hellboy

Quietly intense, humanistic sci-fi that any movie fan should definitely see at least once. People were right. It was a richer meal than Soderberg's version (which I thought was great). But at the same time, it also contained a lot more fat and gristle.



Amiable, charming two character piece set in the South Pacific during WWII as Marine Mitchum and Nun Kerr find themselves stranded on an atoll and dodging enemy forces. Wonderful performance by Mitchum, who displays effortlessly polished comic timing amidst the heroic beats. This is one of those kinds of movies they just don't make anymore.
If I'd been able to see screencaps or read a review in advance, I may never have ordered this. Lots of color fringing, especially in the first reel, contributes to a frequently ill-resolved, ropey looking image. Plenty of optical dissolves throughout the film don't help either. The last half is better looking than the first, but it still leaves the impression of being one of the visually weakest Twilight Time discs so far.
Had some slight regrets spot checking it, but those vanished after I watched it again. Great, modest film that I'm happy to have in an improved edition...even if it's only slightly improved.

Hellboy 2

All Cheerleaders Die, a new horror comedy coming out next week. Highly recommended as a guilty pleasure.

http://www.doblu.com/2014/07/16/all-...lu-ray-review/

Under The Skin (2013)

Spirited Away - just outstanding AQ/PQ - Joe Hisaish's score in glorious 6.1 sound

Easy to appreciate on a surface level (despite Criterion's use of a compromised master), due to the magnificent costumes, sets, locations and period design. But since enjoyment of the film hinges so little on the mechanics of the plot, I wish I had consumed the extras first to get a better handle on the context of the films period. Not ashamed to admit that a whole lot of the filigree around the edges was lost to me without an understanding of Italian history.
Lancaster, an actor I've long admired and who always prided himself on his physicality, uses that aspect to great advantage here delivering a vivid, dominating performance despite being dubbed.
And Cardinale, despite a smaller role in terms of screen time compared to others in the cast, makes a huge impression as the seductive harbinger of things to come.
Impressively mounted film that I hope to get much more out of in the future.

Mad Men Season 5 - The Other Woman

Saving Mr. Banks. If Travers was half as annoying in real life as in the movie, I would have sent her packing.

Almost Famous. Love that movie.