Your LOVELY Movie Viewing Log

[Vlad]

I watched it yesterday evening. Carolinakid, you were brave, for watching it at 14. It would've made sleeping impossible for me, had I watched it back then too.

The movie itself is great, but also very disturbing...that crucifix scene, yikes. I can understand why people were so shocked by it back in the '70s. My friends recommended the Extended Director's Cut, so that was the one I picked. I was very impressed by Ellen Burstyn (that scene with the "that thing upstairs isn't my daughter" was amazing). I couldn't help but think of that short spoof in Scary Movie 2 during the exorcism scene . I thought that the demon taunting father Karras with visions of his dead mother was so brilliantly done. All in all, a great movie, faithful to an equally great book. Will definitely watch the TV series, too. Mooky, did you enjoy the sequels too? I read the 2nd one was really bad, the 3rd one is better, and the 4th one, meh.

Now, next is The Thorn Birds. I did watch the TV series, and now, I'll read the book.

[Mooky]

I watched it yesterday evening. Carolinakid, you were brave, for watching it at 14. It would've made sleeping impossible for me, had I watched it back then too.

The movie itself is great, but also very disturbing...that crucifix scene, yikes. I can understand why people were so shocked by it back in the '70s. My friends recommended the Extended Director's Cut, so that was the one I picked. I was very impressed by Ellen Burstyn (that scene with the "that thing upstairs isn't my daughter" was amazing). I couldn't help but think of that short spoof in Scary Movie 2 during the exorcism scene . I thought that the demon taunting father Karras with visions of his dead mother was so brilliantly done. All in all, a great movie, faithful to an equally great book. Will definitely watch the TV series, too. Mooky, did you enjoy the sequels too? I read the 2nd one was really bad, the 3rd one is better, and the 4th one, meh.

Now, next is The Thorn Birds. I did watch the TV series, and now, I'll read the book.

Glad you enjoyed the movie! The best horror movies also double as dramas about human experiences, relations and traumas, and The Exorcist is no exception to that rule. It really is a masterpiece. And yes, that Scary Movie 2 scene is difficult to not be reminded of

As for the sequels, they really are a mixed bag, but most of them lean onto the side of mediocre/terrible. Part II (1977) is in equal parts nonsensical and insanely boring, but also unintentionally funny at times. I'll just leave you with this screenshot:



Part III (1990) is a great movie in its own right, very different vibe from the original but very enjoyable nonetheless. It might even be creepier if not scarier than the original. It can also be watched independently from it, as aside from some returning characters there are not that many connections. It was directed by William Peter Blatty, the author of the Exorcist novel, and adapted from his other novel, Legion.

In the case of dueling prequels (2004 and 2005), whichever one you choose you'll regret it It's more or less the same story in both, main lead actor/character, it's only some of the supporting cast that was replaced. Honestly, the story behind how these prequels came to be is more fascinating than either of them.

I wasn't impressed with the latest legacy sequel, so no recommendations there either. So basically, apart from the original movie, The Exorcist III and the TV show are the only other Exorcist-related media I'd recommend seeing.

[Vlad]

Those two screenshots made me lmao. "Oh yeah, I went through a really traumatic experience, but I can laugh about it now."

I'll be sure to check the third one then. I heard that William Friedkin absolutely hated the second one. I was also very surprised to hear that William Peter Blatty wrote a sequel to the novel, but it has no connection to the movie sequel.

[carolinakid]

Vlad, after GWTW, the Thorn Birds is probably my second favorite book. Please tell me what you think of it.
I read it about 10 years after it came out.
I also had seen the miniseries first and had loved it.
I was in college and sick one weekend with a cold. I didn’t feel like studying and wanted just a good fiction book to wallow in. Well, I read the whole thing in like 2 days. I couldn’t put it down.
I hope you will enjoy it.

[Vlad]

I love miniseries, it's brilliant, so I imagine the book is even better. GWTW is also my favorite book, followed closely by Les Misérables, Pride and Prejudice and Eugénie Grandet.

[carolinakid]

Yes, much like GWTW, as near perfect as the film is, the book is better.
Same with Thorn Birds.
I envy your reading it for the first time!

I definitely intend to reread it and GWTW before I leave this earth!

[Avaitor]

Been wanting to try this thread out for a while, so here's a couple of movies I've watched recently:

Toys
Probably best known as the movie Robin Williams was upset that Disney outshined attention on for Aladdin, this is a weird one. Part anti-war fable, part practical effects showcase, part Robin Williams showcase and part kids movie, none of these really click into one cohesive work. The set design and effects are neat, but the script and cast largely leave a lot to be desired.

Beauty and the Beast
I think y'all heard of this one. I rewatched a handful of Disney classics last year for the 100th anniversary but didn't get around to this one until just the other day. It looks quite good on Disney+, as I decided to put it on there instead of picking up my Blu. I'll always prefer Aladdin and Lion King in terms of the Big 4, but the artistry of BATB, particularly its writing, cannot be denied.

Inglourious Basterds
This has nothing to do with Disney, but I felt like putting on a Tarantino feature after missing Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood screening in 70mm near me. I don't know if this is my favorite of his, but Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa is one of the most engaging villains in cinema, a brilliant mix of acting and writing developing an unforgettable turn. The rest of the film is quite good, and I love the extended bar scene, but the film shines most when he's on screen.

[Jules]

Dear Sotiris, would be possible to remove the "[Édition 2023]" from the thread title, since it is no longer relevant? I recall that on the old forum software I could edit the thread title even years after it was created, but that no longer seems possible. Thank you!

I haven't watched too many films so far this year.

January

02/01/24 It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Extended Version) [1963 | Blu-ray] ½
03/01/24 Gravity [2013 | Blu-ray]
06/01/24 A Goofy Movie [1995 | Blu-ray]
07/01/24 Summer Days with Coo [2007 | Blu-ray] ½
13/01/24 Strange World [2022 | Blu-ray] ½

February

??/02/24 The Emperor’s New Groove [2000 | Blu-ray] ½

March

26/03/24 A Quiet Place [2018 | Blu-ray] ½

April

09/04/24 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (Unrated) [2004 | Blu-ray] ½
11/04/24 Daylight [1996 | Blu-ray]
12/04/24 Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story [2017 | Blu-ray]
12/04/24 Coraline [2009 | Blu-ray]
18/04/24 ParaNorman [2012 | Blu-ray] ½
18/04/24 The Boy Next Door [2015 | Blu-ray]
19/04/24 Dante’s Peak [1997 | Blu-ray]
20/04/24 Children of Men [2006 | Blu-ray]
20/04/24 Love & Friendship [2016 | Blu-ray] ½
21/04/24 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial [1982 | 4K UHD]
22/04/24 Far from Heaven [2002 | Blu-ray]

May

15/05/24 The Birdcage [1996 | Blu-ray]
16/05/24 The Boxtrolls [2014 | Blu-ray] ½
17/05/24 Fifty Shades of Grey [2015 | Blu-ray]
19/05/24 Fifty Shades Darker (Extended Version) [2017 | Blu-ray] ½

I recently watched The Birdcage, and I loved it! It wasn't particularly funny at first, but OMG the climax of the movie.

Also, I feel bad about this since he died, but all I could think of while watching it was how attractive Robin Williams looked as a, um ... muscular, hairy, very masculine middle-aged man (in spite of the fact his character supposedly wears foundation.) It's funny because never before did I see him that way. In this movie I found him sexy.

Regarding the much-maligned Fifty Shades of Grey, I simply do not understand the critical drubbing it received. I think it is a stylishly-directed and highly interesting film that is very different from most other romances. The screen exchanges between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey are positively electric.

Fifty Shades Darker, on the other hand, deserves its criticism. Everything that was interesting about the first film is gone, including the aforementioned static charge between the two leads. Indeed, these are ordinary performances in an ordinary, empty film.