Movies

[Herlock Sholmes]

I’m certainly not what I’d call a film buff but I thought a thread about movies in general might be worth it. I do want to add a question though.

Has anyone seen Nosferatu? I love the silent one and liked the Klaus Kinski one so I’m looking forward to seeing the new one at some point.

[C. F. Leon]

I’m certainly not what I’d call a film buff but I thought a thread about movies in general might be worth it. I do want to add a question though.

Has anyone seen Nosferatu? I love the silent one and liked the Klaus Kinski one so I’m looking forward to seeing the new one at some point.

I saw the trailer last night on YouTube (that and the Live-Action Snow White are hard to miss), but I'll probably be giving it a miss. TOO many remakes nowadays. And almost invariably, the original is sooo much better (Andromeda Strain, Pelham 123),* and I burned out on vampires years ago. (The whole "Sparkle-pire" meme killed vampires for me. ) I do remember watching the original (1922) Nosferatu MANY years ago (early '70s) at a Halloween event at a local revival theater on a double bill with Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages).

A friend of mine that tries to catch as many genre movies as he can, saw the new Captain America movie the other day and liked it. ((But Peter likes pretty much everything.)

Cost is a major factor also. The Economy Hour prices are now more expensive than the prices that I would go to the Economy showings to avoid. (Damn, $20 nowadays?)

* To be honest, in talking with younger folks, I'm leaning towards the theory that when dealing with remakes/reboots, whichever version you saw FIRST is usually the one you end up preferring. Or maybe it's that people's taste has degenerated to "There's not enough shootings/car chases!!!" (Some people actually prefer Jackson's King Kong, rather than the original.)

- CFL

[Herlock Sholmes]

I saw the trailer last night on YouTube (that and the Live-Action Snow White are hard to miss), but I'll probably be giving it a miss. TOO many remakes nowadays. And almost invariably, the original is sooo much better (Andromeda Strain, Pelham 123),* and I burned out on vampires years ago. (The whole "Sparkle-pire" meme killed vampires for me. ) I do remember watching the original (1922) Nosferatu MANY years ago (early '70s) at a Halloween event at a local revival theater on a double bill with Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages).

A friend of mine that tries to catch as many genre movies as he can, saw the new Captain America movie the other day and liked it. ((But Peter likes pretty much everything.)

Cost is a major factor also. The Economy Hour prices are now more expensive than the prices that I would go to the Economy showings to avoid. (Damn, $20 nowadays?)

* To be honest, in talking with younger folks, I'm leaning towards the theory that when dealing with remakes/reboots, whichever version you saw FIRST is usually the one you end up preferring. Or maybe it's that people's taste has degenerated to "There's not enough shootings/car chases!!!" (Some people actually prefer Jackson's King Kong, rather than the original.)

- CFL

I’m not usually a fan of remakes either CF although I haven’t watched many. I hated the remake of True Grit and, much as I like Steve Martin, I hated his Bilko and Clouseau remakes. Two of my favourite movies have been remade too but I just can’t bring myself to watch them, Twelve Angry Men and Rear Window. I’ll give Nosferatu a watch at some point although I don’t watch many movies.

[Tani]

I must admit I always loved The Mummy with Brendan Fraser and have never seen the original. Should try it someday. I don't dislike remakes per se but then I was born in 1995 and didn't see any of the classics on release. I'd like to see a darker Wizard of Oz that takes more from the (very weird) book/s, and a remake of A Clockwork Orange would be interesting; I found Kubrick's a bit too kitsch.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I must admit I always loved The Mummy with Brendan Fraser and have never seen the original. Should try it someday. I don't dislike remakes per se but then I was born in 1995 and didn't see any of the classics on release. I'd like to see a darker Wizard of Oz that takes more from the (very weird) book/s, and a remake of A Clockwork Orange would be interesting; I found Kubrick's a bit too kitsch.

I love the original Mummy Tani but I do prefer Dracula and Frankenstein. Though, as we’re talking about remakes, I did like the Christopher Lee Dracula and Frankenstein remakes.

It’s perhaps surprising that no one has remade The Wizard Of Oz but maybe no one’s brave enough to tackle such an iconic movie? A remake of A Clockwork Orange might be interesting too.

With the preponderance of todays tough guy movies I’m only surprised that they haven’t remade the Dirty Harry movies?

[Tani]

I love the original Mummy Tani but I do prefer Dracula and Frankenstein. Though, as we’re talking about remakes, I did like the Christopher Lee Dracula and Frankenstein remakes.

It’s perhaps surprising that no one has remade The Wizard Of Oz but maybe no one’s brave enough to tackle such an iconic movie? A remake of A Clockwork Orange might be interesting too.

With the preponderance of todays tough guy movies I’m only surprised that they haven’t remade the Dirty Harry movies?

Another interesting bunch of movies are all the variants on A Christmas Carol going all the way back to the silent era; some very interesting takes going on there. Many are (or were) on YouTube. First one is from 1901! Basically Victorian. There as some 30s ones which are worth checking out.

[c.d.]

I am a big fan of Film Noir from the 1940s.

c.d.

[C. F. Leon]

I’m not usually a fan of remakes either CF although I haven’t watched many. I hated the remake of True Grit and, much as I like Steve Martin, I hated his Bilko and Clouseau remakes. Two of my favourite movies have been remade too but I just can’t bring myself to watch them, Twelve Angry Men and Rear Window. I’ll give Nosferatu a watch at some point although I don’t watch many movies.

Very FEW can match Peter Sellers and SM is NOT one of them, but even if Sellers' versions didn't exist, Martin's effort would be mediocre at best. (But I'm NOT a Steve Martin fan. I HATED The Jerk, but Roxanne and Three Amigos are watchable.)

I HIGHLY recommend the 1997 Twelve Angry Men (with Jack Lemmon & George C. Scott) and the remake of Rear Window with Christopher Reeve. In my opinion, neither is as great as their original versions but both are quite good on their own merits. I do think that the 12 Angry Men remake errors in showing us the lead-up to the Jury Room. The purpose is so the audience knows what instructions the judge gives the jury, rather than being told second hand by the jury as in the original (it was a one scene stage play as is the original movie) but makes a major mistake in showing the defendant on-screen, which gives a personal face to the deliberations. The Rear Window remake ingeniously utilizes Reeve's disability to its advantage.

[C. F. Leon]

I love the original Mummy Tani but I do prefer Dracula and Frankenstein. Though, as we’re talking about remakes, I did like the Christopher Lee Dracula and Frankenstein remakes.

It’s perhaps surprising that no one has remade The Wizard Of Oz but maybe no one’s brave enough to tackle such an iconic movie? A remake of A Clockwork Orange might be interesting too.

With the preponderance of todays tough guy movies I’m only surprised that they haven’t remade the Dirty Harry movies?

Eastwood is probably asking a country's defense budget for the rights.

I assume that by "the original" you mean the 1932 Karloff film, easily the best of the lot. Universal's series with Lon Chaney Jr in the 1940s were what we would call nowadays a "reboot" with different characters. Hammer also did a (largely forgotten) remake with Christopher Lee.

A Christmas Carol is one of those perennial movies that it seems like EVERY other director tries their hand on. The Alice stories, Tarzan and Sherlock Holmes (Hound of the Baskervilles in particular) are others. Personally, I do enjoy the 1970 musical with Albert Finney (perhaps the one that deviates MOST from Dickens' original) but the best is probably the Alistair Sims or the George C. Scott versions.

[C. F. Leon]

Concerning remakes, two of my favorite British series are the Granada Sherlock Holmes (with Jeremy Brett) and the Poirot series with David Suchet (especially the earlier ones). However, in my opinion, the most popular episodes for both (Hound of the Baskervilles & Murder on the Orient Express) are sub-par. The 1974 Orient Express with Albert Finney is a classic.

I am split on which is the best Hound version (that I've seen), but the 1972 version with Stewart Grainger and William Shatner is probably the worst (although Bernard Fox is a good Watson).

[Herlock Sholmes]

Another interesting bunch of movies are all the variants on A Christmas Carol going all the way back to the silent era; some very interesting takes going on there. Many are (or were) on YouTube. First one is from 1901! Basically Victorian. There as some 30s ones which are worth checking out.

Thanks Tani.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Very FEW can match Peter Sellers and SM is NOT one of them, but even if Sellers' versions didn't exist, Martin's effort would be mediocre at best. (But I'm NOT a Steve Martin fan. I HATED The Jerk, but Roxanne and Three Amigos are watchable.)

I HIGHLY recommend the 1997 Twelve Angry Men (with Jack Lemmon & George C. Scott) and the remake of Rear Window with Christopher Reeve. In my opinion, neither is as great as their original versions but both are quite good on their own merits. I do think that the 12 Angry Men remake errors in showing us the lead-up to the Jury Room. The purpose is so the audience knows what instructions the judge gives the jury, rather than being told second hand by the jury as in the original (it was a one scene stage play as is the original movie) but makes a major mistake in showing the defendant on-screen, which gives a personal face to the deliberations. The Rear Window remake ingeniously utilizes Reeve's disability to its advantage.

I might give them a go then CF. To be honest I didn’t realise that Lemmon and Scott were in the movie. Great actors of course. When I said that I like Steve Martin I was basically talking about the only two of his that I’ve seen Planes, Trains and Automobiles and The Man With Two Brains.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Eastwood is probably asking a country's defense budget for the rights.

I assume that by "the original" you mean the 1932 Karloff film, easily the best of the lot. Universal's series with Lon Chaney Jr in the 1940s were what we would call nowadays a "reboot" with different characters. Hammer also did a (largely forgotten) remake with Christopher Lee.

A Christmas Carol is one of those perennial movies that it seems like EVERY other director tries their hand on. The Alice stories, Tarzan and Sherlock Holmes (Hound of the Baskervilles in particular) are others. Personally, I do enjoy the 1970 musical with Albert Finney (perhaps the one that deviates MOST from Dickens' original) but the best is probably the Alistair Sims or the George C. Scott versions.

I do mean the Karloff one. As a big Holmes fan I have all of the versions of The Hound and although Brett is my favourite Holmes I don’t think that the Rathbone version has been bettered.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Concerning remakes, two of my favorite British series are the Granada Sherlock Holmes (with Jeremy Brett) and the Poirot series with David Suchet (especially the earlier ones). However, in my opinion, the most popular episodes for both (Hound of the Baskervilles & Murder on the Orient Express) are sub-par. The 1974 Orient Express with Albert Finney is a classic.

I am split on which is the best Hound version (that I've seen), but the 1972 version with Stewart Grainger and William Shatner is probably the worst (although Bernard Fox is a good Watson).

I missed this post when I posted my last one. Grainger’s was about as poor as it gets. He wasn’t absolutely the worst Holmes ever though. The award imo goes to Patrick Macnee. It has to be seen to be believed. I’ve seen it twice! Four hours that I’ll never get back. Watch it if you ever become more bored than any other human has ever been.

Totally agree on Brett and Suchet. Brett’s Hound wasn’t well done. I do love the Hammer version with Peter Cushing though. Cushing is the only man to play Holmes in 2 versions of The Hound.

[C. F. Leon]

I missed this post when I posted my last one. Grainger’s was about as poor as it gets. He wasn’t absolutely the worst Holmes ever though. The award imo goes to Patrick Macnee. It has to be seen to be believed. I’ve seen it twice! Four hours that I’ll never get back. Watch it if you ever become more bored than any other human has ever been.

Totally agree on Brett and Suchet. Brett’s Hound wasn’t well done. I do love the Hammer version with Peter Cushing though. Cushing is the only man to play Holmes in 2 versions of The Hound.

My comments concerning the movies does not necessarily reflect my opinion as to the best Holmes. Of the ones that I have seen- on Mondays I prefer Wontner, Tuesdays I go with Cushing, Wednesdays Robert Stevens, Thursday is Williamson, Friday Christopher Plummer, Saturday is Rathbone and Sunday is reserved for Brett. (There's a random 10-minute span here and there when I like Tom Baker.) I regret that I have never seen the German version with Christopher Lee.

My favorite Holmes film is probably The Seven-per-cent Solution (Nichol Williamson as Holmes), followed closely by Murder by Decree (Plummer). Most of the reboots, pastiches, etc. are forgettable, but I do like They Might Be Giants (George C. Scott) and SH's Smarter Brother has absolutely fantastic casting (Marty Feldman, Madelyn Kahn, Leo Kern, etc.). However, Young SH is typical Spielberg drivel (Why in Hell did they make that waste of celluloid??).

Rathbone's Hound has its ups and Downs. Rathbone for the most part is as good of Holmes as there is, and even Bruce as Watson isn't as much of a buffoon as the later Universal series had him. But it does a weak ending. (What is it with the gratuitous "Watson, the needle?")* I actually prefer The Adventures of SH (with George Zucco as Moriarty) as a movie.

* The 1939 Hound has some bizarre moments. In particular, there are a couple of scenes that give Lionel Atwill (as Dr. Mortimer) a sinister/ dark manner. (He lies about his dog, and notice the way that the looks that the coachman gives him.) This was probably intended by the scriptwriters to make him a viable (red herring) suspect. It's probably not related, but that does remind me of some comments that Bering-Gould makes about Mortimer in The Annotated SH.