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Herr Lorre was a magnificent actor. His performance in "M" is still top notch. But when he later immigrated to Hollywood he was mostly abused for minor and ridiculous roles (although his act as mad wizard in the "Raven" is pretty adorable). Hollywood was just not ready for deep stories (like "M").
post dedicated to Moira - who is a big Peter Lorre fan
I am a great fan of Nick Parker’s work and all the Wallace & Gromit shorts - their last movie is simply brilliant: charming, wonderful humor, hardly any violence, hardly any sex at all (it’s a British movie - remember) and lovely characters. In essence really entertainment for the whole family.
And I have two new favorite characters: Phillip the bad guys dog and you rabbits. Couldn’t find any good pictures - sorry. So if you are looking for a great comedy watch the movie or rent the DVD. Highly recommended.
A great director, a great movie and an even greater historical figure behind this story. Ah, they don’t make movies like that anymore (and don’t you dare to recommend that ‘300′ violence porn to me).
More? YouTube - Trailer, Arena Fight scene and Battle scene.
Click image for even more madness.
The final scene of Sunset Boulevard [watch it on YouTube] always sends shivers down my spine. Although this movie is already half a century old it’s still fantastic and has lost nothing of it’s impact, madness and magic [here is the old trailer]. Not many old Hollywood productions age so gracefully. Thank you Billy Wilder, William Holden and most of all Gloria Swanson.
William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Nancy Olson, Erich von Stroheim - who was a great director himself.
Maestro Mancini is one of the greatest composers of the last century. His music scores and themes are beautiful and everybody knows and loves them. What? You don’t know him? Sure you do! Pink Panther? Peter Gunn? Breakfast at Tiffany’s? The ‘Baby Elephant Walk’ from Hatari? I am pretty sure you will know many of his great melodies and themes when you hear them. Browse his stuff on Amazon.com and the Pink Panther soundtrack is actually a very nice album.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s - Moonriver
Hatari - Baby Elephant Walk
Want to watch something unusual? Apparently the book was very popular - the movie flopped a bit. I am just happy that Elija Wood is getting proper roles instead of being the eternal Hobbit. Trailer is here and I like the music a lot.
One of my childhood heroes. Just loved his funny movies. I am not sure if many people outside France really know him - but here in Germany his movies were very popular. Especially loved his Gendarme / Inspector of St. Tropez and Fantomas series.
So very different from Peter Sellers version of a french policemen.
Some videos to watch: Herr Müller, Fantomas trailer and a typical case of Louis madness.
More? Offical site
This is a very unique movie - there is hardly anything out there that comes close to it. It has some elements of a comedy to it, but most of all I would consider it a brilliant essay on modern life. Every time I watched this masterpiece I felt strange, but also amused and well educated. This is certainly not a movie if you want to be entertained by gunfire or hot chicks - it’s more like looking into a magic mirror and discover your own world from a new perspective. It also has it’s own speed and melody.
Here are some scenes on YouTube: overall videos, Trailer and Tati arrives at Corporation.
More? Roger Ebert Review, excellent review of the DVD at the DVD-Beaver and the Wikipedia entry on Jacques Tati
Yummm! Somehow these old school ladies pack so much mystery and coolness … no modern silicon chick can compete with that!
Image: the great Veronica Lake
I would love this job: playing a monster in a rubber suit and smashing up a whole miniature city. Never mind the bruises or toy trains stuck in your behind - think of the sheer fun!
One of my great heroes: John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester - who is perfectly portrait by Johnny Depp in the movie ‘The Libertine‘ (watch the trailer here).
He was a witty pornocrat - a man of total pleasure and a very sharp mind.
His great poems are hard to top in their eloquent realism and sarcasm - like the famous ‘A Sartyre against Reason and Mankind‘. It’s certainly not a form of poetry you would encounter in school.
So I highly recommend this horny gentleman to you as well as the movie about his troubled life. It will not be an enjoyable experience, but certainly an intense one. Don’t be afraid of obsessions - life itself is one. Enjoy yours …
According to Wikipedia and some other sources a Tron 2.0 movie is in the making. Since I am from the original generation Tron I find this rather disturbing! Hands of my childhood dreams. Hollywood has already made too many terrible sequels already.
I just recently watched Tron and it’s pretty boring and lame (storywise) - but the visuals were totally breathtaking back then. Today any cell phone has better 3d graphics, but 1982 it was a very different story …
“Hell is in Hello”
Oh boy, I didn’t like the movie “Paint your Wagon” that much, but this song is superb.
Peter Sellers will always be one of my greatest heroe’s as well as greatest tragic figures of comedy. His cooperation with Blake Edwards produced some of the greatest movies of all time - like ‘The Party‘.
You find some hilerious scenes from that movie after the fold … ah, I love Hrundi V. Bakshi!
I am a big fan of symphonic soundtracks - they are the next best thing to classical music. The Godzilla soundtrack is pretty cool, has some great cheesy themes and moods. Just turn on that soundtrack and imagine yourself destroying Tokyo or Osaka.
Or watch this super cool old Godzilla trailer. Or watch this original Japanese Trailer for Godzilla vs Gigan. Ah, the joy of destruction!
More? Godzilla @Wikipedia or a gazillion video on YouTube
Screw Brangelina - I want Cathaburn! From all these artificial romantic dream teams this one was one of the funniest, most charming and intelligent - almost all these qualities have been dumped for pure sex these days.
One of the oddest crossover art collaborations ever.
Disney did a lot of experimental work and many educational short movies after the war. Destino was in it’s early stages when it was cancelled - but Disney’s nephew resurected the project 1999. It seems like that a DVD is coming soon?
I hope we’ll get more of this stuff and Disney is brave enough to create some more arty and ‘deeper’ stuff.
