What Blu-Ray did you watch last night?

[Graham Ritchie]

I will keep an eye out for that one Ed.

Last night being New Years Eve it was a return to the original 1972 The Poseidon Adventure still one of the best and a great New Year film to watch, After 50 years now I don't think there are many of the original cast still around.

Tonight it was the turn of the blu-ray of "Road To Perdition" its been over 20 years since I ran the 35mm print at the cinema, cant believe how many years have past since. Its a brilliant film one thing I do remember at the cinema was the scene where near the end its nice and quiet, his son is playing with the dog on the beach, Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan is looking out the window, everything is peaceful then....BANG...BANG...he gets shot, now this is the part were at the cinema I would crank up the digital and every time folk downstairs would jump in there seats, "that gave them a jolt" ah! the joys of being a projectionist.

Anyway its a good movie, directed by "Sam Mendes" during the end credits there is a mention of the passing of his Director of Photography "Conrad Hall" in 2003. If you remember another film "Paul Newman" was in back in 1967 was "Cool Hand Luke", well Conrad Hall was also the director of photography in that one as well.

Anyway a couple of screen shots taken last night and a link to the trailer of tonight's screening.

[Ed Gordon]

Hubble 3D Imax

I just finished watching Hubble 3D Imax. It makes you feel as significant as a grain of sand in the Sahara Desert. As one reviewer on IMDB said:

3D Delicious

Most of the 3D movies coming out these days are simply exploits by the film companies to cash in on the present 3D craze. This is NOT one of those films. 3D is everything in this presentation. If you are not able to see it in IMAX 3D I wouldn't bother. The movie is fascinating when it comes to explaining the difficulties in having to repair and upgrade a technological marvel. But,in 3D you are put seemingly inches away from an astronaut who is prepped for the coming mission, and right there as astronauts try to install new equipment into tight-fitting spots on the telescope. But, to me, the real worth of this film is seeing the expanse of the universe in 3D and seeing the incredible beauty of what is out there. You cannot possibly experience this without the 3D. As the telescope zooms through galaxies we see stars fly into the audience and past us as we reach deeper into space. I guarantee that most, after having seen this wonderful film in 3D will admit that they previously had no real concept of the vastness of space, and the endless billions of galactic bodies. Only the 3D experience makes it possible to wrap our brains around at least a small degree of understanding of how big our universe is, and the infinite galaxies which seem exist, let alone the billions and billions of stars(to quote the late Carl Sagen). I rate this 8 out of 10, subtracting 2 stars (no pun intended) because the film left me craving for more scientific explanation about the amazing details of the spacial orbs and expanses we see visually.

If you have a 3D projector this Bluray is a must have!

[Ed Gordon]

I watched The Return (2024). This film takes a closer look at the final chapter of Homer's Odyssey and the return of Odysseus from the Trojan wars ten years after it ended. Odysseus lead Ithaca's army in that war, and returns home having lost every man. He fears he will be hated, and is reluctant to re-assume his role as King.

Ralph Fiennes gives an excellent performance. Hard to believe this opened in theaters only three weeks ago.

[Graham Ritchie]

Well for me its a return to one of the best 1960s ever tonight with "The Italian Job", anyone from that time, the mini cooper was the car to own and I did have one and it went like a little rocket. The Cooper "S" was the ultimate, the one I had was the 998cc Cooper not as fast as the "S" but close. When I watch this film, it does remind me of when I was an apprentice motor mechanic during the late 1960s and the cars of that era, they were good times.

I was very surprised to see the sound track brand new 2014 being sold locally in a store a while back, so just had to have it

[Osi Osgood]

It wasn't the biggest hit when it came out, but we watched again "Cowboys and Aliens" a guilty pleasure.

[Ed Gordon]

Ed this is worth watching

Francis would have the time of his life if he visited Seattle's local treasure, Scarecrow Video. It calls itself "the largest video store in the world" for good reason. As their website says:

Our collection continues to grow by 3,000 – 4,000 every year, and at the start of 2024, we are at 147,000+ unique titles.

I checked, and they have every movie Francis Coppola mentioned in the video. I do own the 6 disc boxed setup of Apocalypse Now - Final Cut from Coppola, but I'll have to visit Scarecrow Video the rent the other films Coppola recommended.

[Graham Ritchie]

Ed this is worth watching

[Graham Ritchie]

And for something totally different and believe me its different. Now I am not a fan of horror movies, but this blu-ray title was sitting on the second hand shelf going real cheap in a store in town a couple of weeks ago. After reading the reviews on the cover, it had me thinking that I might give this one a go. Tonight and using the Panasonic VP I got around to watching it. To start with its a Australian film and its a film that will keep your attention and not fall asleep watching it, Its certainly different and to be honest its not so yuk special effects wise as "Poltergeist" if you know what I mean. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a high rating, but will leave it up to you if you want to watch it, don't forget, I am the one that still covers his eyes at the severed head scene in JAWS and that's after almost 50 years. With "The Badadook" no problem with this one.

[Graham Ritchie]

I think we are ahead time wise of other countries as we have just had Christmas day so its now evening 9.31pm at the moment and have just finished watching the blu-ray of the colourised version of "Its a Wonderful Life", this platinum anniversary edition does include both the black and white and color versions.

Projected on the Panasonic VP the level of detail and the look of the colourised version is very impressive, it really looks great

[Ed Gordon]

Ed that clip that Scottish accent doesn't sound quite right mmmm I think its been altered or something, in saying that this one is more accurate. I still remember to this day when I worked in Paisley back in 1972-73, an apprentice said to me that quote...."me an my bud are going oot tonight"....meaning both him and his girlfriend were going out that night. Paisley incidentally is where Gerald Butler grew up. In the 50 years I have been in NZ, I have not come across many Scottish people. The last one, was when I was having an operation in the public hospital. I arrived early in the morning the surgeon came in to see us. He was from South Africa, told me he does month about with another surgeon from South Africa, a month private, one month public. I had to really listen to understand what he was taking about regarding the surgery, he did say I was first on the list, and would see me upstairs in half an hour. Before leaving he introduced to me his anaesthetist, when he starting talking, my reaction was "wow" somebody who talks just like me, had same first name and came from Glasgow and I could understand every word

Anyway later when I arrived upstairs a nurse did say to me, is there anything you don't like Mr Ritchie? before I had a chance to answer I remember the face of the anaesthetist looking down on me and said LOUDLY.... THE ENGLISH....ha ha . I then gave him the thumbs and that was me out for the count for the next few hours. The surgery I should add went really well and within a few days the hospital kicked me out. I did have to have follow up radiation a couple of years ago at the public... wiping the bench they said. To date everything is just fine, been very fortunate, the people at public hospital have been great.

Anyway this is more accurate, also see how you get on with this one from my old school great to see the teaching has changed from when I was there....

Graham, it's not that the language is unintelligible, it is the speed at which it is spoken and the slang phrases that trips up the listener. Even Siri and Alexa gets tripped up!

Then again, Siri has problem with understanding English as well.

I will study Gerard Butler's tutorial on Scottish slang to improve my listening skills

We better get back on topic or start a new one on "Unintelligible dialogue in movies I have watched"

[Ed Gordon]

Major Dundee a decent Sam Peckinpah western although flawed either by Sam falling into the bottle or the Studio hacks cutting and recutting .Least this time I chose the original soundtrack not the vomit inducing dull alternative soundtrack.

When I think back to the 400ft digest who ever did the edit did a half decent job.

I think there is an audience for digests, be they on film or digital. There are so many older movies that no longer stand on their own, but have enough material to entertain those of use who saw movie back in the day. With the tools we have today the editing is relatively easy, but selecting what to keep, and what to toss can be difficult. That is a lot of work to do, just for yourself. After all, you can fast forward past the parts you know don't hold up. If you make your own digest, you could post it online, but at what point does it become a copyright violation? Twenty minutes? Ten Minutes?

[Graham Ritchie]

My old school, how times have changed

[Graham Ritchie]

Ed that clip that Scottish accent doesn't sound quite right mmmm I think its been altered or something, in saying that this one is more accurate. I still remember to this day when I worked in Paisley back in 1972-73, an apprentice said to me that quote...."me an my bud are going oot tonight"....meaning both him and his girlfriend were going out that night. Paisley incidentally is where Gerald Butler grew up. In the 50 years I have been in NZ, I have not come across many Scottish people. The last one, was when I was having an operation in the public hospital. I arrived early in the morning the surgeon came in to see us. He was from South Africa, told me he does month about with another surgeon from South Africa, a month private, one month public. I had to really listen to understand what he was taking about regarding the surgery, he did say I was first on the list, and would see me upstairs in half an hour. Before leaving he introduced to me his anaesthetist, when he starting talking, my reaction was "wow" somebody who talks just like me, had same first name and came from Glasgow and I could understand every word

Anyway later when I arrived upstairs a nurse did say to me, is there anything you don't like Mr Ritchie? before I had a chance to answer I remember the face of the anaesthetist looking down on me and said LOUDLY.... THE ENGLISH....ha ha . I then gave him the thumbs and that was me out for the count for the next few hours. The surgery I should add went really well and within a few days the hospital kicked me out. I did have to have follow up radiation a couple of years ago at the public... wiping the bench they said. To date everything is just fine, been very fortunate, the people at public hospital have been great.

Anyway this is more accurate, also see how you get on with this one from my old school great to see the teaching has changed from when I was there.

PS. Watched the blu-ray of "ET" last night, this time with the Epson VP, the image did look good, but some of the special effects eg, over the moon scene did not look anywhere as good as the 35mm print. I was getting lazy hence the blu-ray instead of the film print, next time its film .

[Mike Newell]

Major Dundee a decent Sam Peckinpah western although flawed either by Sam falling into the bottle or the Studio hacks cutting and recutting .Least this time I chose the original soundtrack not the vomit inducing dull alternative soundtrack.

When I think back to the 400ft digest who ever did the edit did a half decent job.

[Ed Gordon]

Thanks Ed regarding Gerald Butler way back in 2005 not to sure exactly, but we went to a art house cinema in town they were running a 35mm print of "Dear Frankie", this is a far cry for the action packed films like Plane and another good one "Hunter Killer" plus a few more on blu-ray. Also starring is Emily Mortimer who I had watched just lately in The Ghost and the Darkness.

Back to "Dear Frankie", its a Scottish film, filmed in Greenock over looking the Clyde and also filmed in Glasgow. Its very good and did very well at Film Festivals. I have the 35mm trailer and thankfully the voice over is a Scottish youngster. The trailer on you-tube is done by a youngster trying to do a Scottish accent noooooo sorry it does not work, but I guess it was added for the American and English market, who have trouble understanding Scottish, sad eh! ....

Graham, I had never heard of this one. I looked it up on IMDB and it has a 7.7 rating there. I'll add that to my watch list. Butler is always good, even in films with mundane scripts. I first noticed Emily Mortimer in a TV series, The Newsroom (2012). She was excellent in that one. Thanks for tip!

Apparently some folks have trouble understanding anyone with a significant Scottish accent:

I was born in the US, and even I can understand him! Sure, I had to listen to him three times but...