In memory of James Coburn and as a coda to the James Bond blogathon The Younger Son and I watched Our Man Flint tonight. The Younger Son had never seen it and it had been a long time since I saw it last. This James Bond parody also stars Lee J. Cobb. The score is by award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith (Lilies of the Field, Stagecoach, Logan's Run, various Star Trek films, and many more.
Moria has a short review. The New York Times review is here. TCM has an overview.
video of highlights from the film:
and here's another:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
James Coburn
Today is the anniversary of the death in 2002 of James Coburn. Coburn is a particular favorite of mine.
I have blog posts on the following of his films:
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Charade (1963)
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Our Man Flint (1966)
In Like Flint (1967)
The President's Analyst (1967)
FilmReference.com has a page on him where it says,
EW has a print interview here in which Coburn discusses The Magnificent Seven. Roger Ebert interviews him here. There are lots of photos here.
tribute video:
I have blog posts on the following of his films:
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Charade (1963)
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Our Man Flint (1966)
In Like Flint (1967)
The President's Analyst (1967)
FilmReference.com has a page on him where it says,
His versatility has allowed him to resist being typecast as an action hero, and Coburn's career is noteworthy for balancing lead and character parts. The common denominator of his roles is the character's air of confidence, often coupled with sophistication.
EW has a print interview here in which Coburn discusses The Magnificent Seven. Roger Ebert interviews him here. There are lots of photos here.
tribute video:
Man Ray
Today is the anniversary of the death in 1976 of artist and avant-garde filmmaker Man Ray. Artsy.net has resources on him, including a short biography and photos of his works (including works for sale). There is an official Man Ray site. PBS has a page devoted to him as part of their American Masters series. The Getty Museum has a short biography and pictures of some of Ray's paintings. The Tate Museum's exhibition is called Duchamp Man Ray Picabis: The Moment Art Changed Forever.
He did some film work with Marcel Duchamp and Fernand Leger. Ubu.com has some information and videos. FilmReference.com has extensive references and an article which closes by saying
to overlook the impact of May Ray on the cinema is to ignore the influence of one of the early pioneers of cinematic art. It was Man Ray, and many of his Dada and Surrealist contemporaries who first drew attention to a great many of the cinematic techniques widely used today. For this, and for the fascinating efforts at producing a non-narrative cinema, Man Ray's films remain crucial to any understanding of the development of film.The Return to Reason (1923):
The House of Mirth and Movies has a post that confesses to confusion on how to comment on experimental film, saying
it rarely holds much emotional value, and I feel a lot of it does not offer the same kind of insight into form or theme as in other mediums. This is above middle tier for me in this regard
Leave Me Alone (1926):
L’Etoile de Mer (The Starfish), 1928:
The Mysteries of the Chateau of Dice (1929) can be viewed online here.
This is a documentary on his life and work:
and here is another:
The picture at the top of the post is Ray's Le Violon d'Ingres.
The Mysterious Island
The Mysterious Island is a 1929 film starring Lionel Barrymore. It is based on Jules Verne's novel, which can be read online.
TCM has an overview. The New York Times has a review. 1000 Misspent Hours says,
The following clips aren't labeled so I don't know exactly how much of the film is included here, but this is the most of it I could find online:
TCM has an overview. The New York Times has a review. 1000 Misspent Hours says,
Acquiring the film rights to a prestigious story, merely to toss that story away en route to the final cut, is not the only modern-day big-studio behavior of which The Mysterious Island stands as a precocious early example.That site discusses the film being made over a protracted several-years period and then says:
when The Mysterious Island finally limped wearily into theaters late in 1929, it was in the form of a mostly silent film over which sound effects and crowd murmurings had been dubbed with varying degrees of success, interrupted occasionally by painfully awkward scenes of spoken dialogue which play like they were spliced in from some other movie altogether. The final kick in the ass? After all that work and all those travails, The Mysterious Island tanked, and tanked hard.
And yet —incredibly— in spite of all that, The Mysterious Island turned out to be a remarkably effective film.
The following clips aren't labeled so I don't know exactly how much of the film is included here, but this is the most of it I could find online:
Link:
Link:
Link:
Monday, November 17, 2008
Save the Delta Queen
1/27/2009 update
from the Commercial Appeal:
The picture of the Delta Queen is from Wikipedia.
from the Commercial Appeal:
The historic Delta Queen paddle boat, decommissioned as a passenger carrier in October at Memphis, is going to Chattanooga for use as a waterfront boutique hotel.
SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN
This Historic Landmark needs your help!
Find out what you can do, at
www.save-the-delta-queen.org
This Historic Landmark needs your help!
Find out what you can do, at
www.save-the-delta-queen.org
The picture of the Delta Queen is from Wikipedia.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday Psalm
Psalm 123
1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.
KJV
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Incredibles
The Incredibles (2004) is a family favorite. We've seen it several times before, but The Husband and I thought it'd be perfect the morning. It's on The Husband's list of 5 fantasy films to have on a desert island and a great feel-good movie for us.
Roger Ebert likes it. The BBC reviewer likes it. Locus Online likes it. The New York Times likes everything but the ending.
trailer:
Roger Ebert likes it. The BBC reviewer likes it. Locus Online likes it. The New York Times likes everything but the ending.
trailer:
Friday, November 14, 2008
Batman is James Bond
Yet another Bond incarnation, with 2 installments for this one.
Dark Royale:
Quantum of Darkness:
Batman Bond has a certain ring to it....
That James Bond Blogathon has a lot to answer for as I actually started looking for this stuff.
Dark Royale:
Quantum of Darkness:
Batman Bond has a certain ring to it....
That James Bond Blogathon has a lot to answer for as I actually started looking for this stuff.
From Russia with Love
From Russia with Love (1963) is another of the Sean Connery Bond films, and it's a fun movie. The women in this particular Bond movie, though, were nothing more than caricatures, and there was little mystery and few surprises. And there were no exploding cars. A helicopter that explodes more than once, but, alas, no exploding cars.
I have to say I thought our celebration of the James Bond Blogathon would last longer than the 3 days they set aside for it, but I'm ready to move on. That said, The Elder Son and The Younger Son are headed to the theater now to see the brand new Quantum of Solace. I plan on waiting for it to come out on DVD. The film we saw tonight is the 2nd in the series and features the 1st Bond. Quantum of Solace is the 22nd and has the 6th Bond. The series began in 1962, and they are already planning the next one to be released in 2011 -a 49 year span. That's a long-lived franchise. I am looking forward to seeing the latest installment, but right now I'm over-dosed on Bond, James Bond.
The BBC review is positive.
trailer:
I have to say I thought our celebration of the James Bond Blogathon would last longer than the 3 days they set aside for it, but I'm ready to move on. That said, The Elder Son and The Younger Son are headed to the theater now to see the brand new Quantum of Solace. I plan on waiting for it to come out on DVD. The film we saw tonight is the 2nd in the series and features the 1st Bond. Quantum of Solace is the 22nd and has the 6th Bond. The series began in 1962, and they are already planning the next one to be released in 2011 -a 49 year span. That's a long-lived franchise. I am looking forward to seeing the latest installment, but right now I'm over-dosed on Bond, James Bond.
The BBC review is positive.
trailer:
Wall-E is James Bond
I guess someday I'll have to watch Wall-E, but since I'm just now getting around to watching old James Bond movies and I don't have young kids it's not surprising I haven't seen it yet. I had no idea James Bond had so many incarnations.
Again I blame the James Bond Blogathon because I never would have watched it except for that.
Again I blame the James Bond Blogathon because I never would have watched it except for that.
Tomorrow Never Dies
This is another one we watched due to the inspiration of the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) is another Pierce Brosnan Bond movie. It is 18th in the film series and the 2nd of the Brosnan efforts. I enjoyed this one, and Brosnan remains #2 on my favorites list after Connery. I liked the women in this one -not a single wimpy, helpless, trouble-maker among them.
We get 4 exploding cars in this one. I didn't count the numbers of other vehicles that exploded.
The BBC review says it's
Roger Ebert says it
EW doesn't like it much.
trailer:
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) is another Pierce Brosnan Bond movie. It is 18th in the film series and the 2nd of the Brosnan efforts. I enjoyed this one, and Brosnan remains #2 on my favorites list after Connery. I liked the women in this one -not a single wimpy, helpless, trouble-maker among them.
We get 4 exploding cars in this one. I didn't count the numbers of other vehicles that exploded.
The BBC review says it's
a strong entry, with Brosnan the comfortable, confident face of the invigorated franchise, reflecting the Connery glory days 30 years earlier.
Roger Ebert says it
gets the job done, sometimes excitingly, often with style....The look of the film is authoritative; the scenes involving warships and airplanes seem sleek and plausible. There's gorgeous photography as a junk sails in a sea filled with peaks, and astonishing action choreography in the rooftop motorcycle chase.
On the basis of this installment, the longest-running movies series seems fit for the 21st century.
EW doesn't like it much.
trailer:
Mr. Incredible is James Bond
As The Incredibles is a favorite of The Husband, I offer this for him:
but I blame the James Bond Blogathon because I never would have watched it except for that.
HT: /film
but I blame the James Bond Blogathon because I never would have watched it except for that.
HT: /film
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Goldeneye
This is another DVD we watched due to the inspiration of the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon.
Goldeneye (1995) is the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film and the 17th in the series. Yes! I think Brosnan is a worthy successor to Sean Connery. Brosnan doesn't indulge in the comedy, though he does have wit. He's physical, serious without being stiff and seems to have a healthy appreciation for women. And he's got a hairy chest. Brosnan gets to be 2nd after Connery on my favorites list of Bonds I've watched for this blogathon. And this was such a fun film.
The women are varied. We get mindless assassins and mindless, easily seduced "evaluators", but we also get intelligent women with power and brave women who step up. A good mix.
And we get explosions. This makes up for another lack in the Roger Moore film we saw earlier. There are 3 exploding cars (as best as we could count), an exploding tank, a train that explodes twice... The number of vehicle explosions does not disappoint.
The BBC has a positive review here. Moria also has a review. Roger Ebert reviews it here. The New York Times didn't like it. The Washington Post has a mixed review.
trailer:
Goldeneye (1995) is the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film and the 17th in the series. Yes! I think Brosnan is a worthy successor to Sean Connery. Brosnan doesn't indulge in the comedy, though he does have wit. He's physical, serious without being stiff and seems to have a healthy appreciation for women. And he's got a hairy chest. Brosnan gets to be 2nd after Connery on my favorites list of Bonds I've watched for this blogathon. And this was such a fun film.
The women are varied. We get mindless assassins and mindless, easily seduced "evaluators", but we also get intelligent women with power and brave women who step up. A good mix.
And we get explosions. This makes up for another lack in the Roger Moore film we saw earlier. There are 3 exploding cars (as best as we could count), an exploding tank, a train that explodes twice... The number of vehicle explosions does not disappoint.
The BBC has a positive review here. Moria also has a review. Roger Ebert reviews it here. The New York Times didn't like it. The Washington Post has a mixed review.
trailer:
The Man with the Golden Gun
This is another DVD watched because I was inspired by the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon.
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) is Roger Moore's 2nd entry in the James Bond film series. Christopher Lee co-stars, and he is the best thing about this movie. Not exactly filled with excitement, this one.
Sean Connery is still my favorite Bond, and Lazenby is still my 2nd favorite in the films watched for this blogathon. That puts Roger Moore third of 3. There are several reasons for my preferences. The treatment of the women is one factor. I get the impression that Connery's Bond really likes women -all of them- and enjoys their company. I think of Lazenby's Bond as tolerating women and making use of them as he needs them, which is more in line with what I remember from reading the 1st book. I'm not sure Moore's Bond really likes women, perhaps is not even attracted to them, and only responds to their advances when he can't avoid it. Why they advance is puzzling. The last scene felt obligatory.
I've mentioned Connery's charm; Moore has no charm. He's stiff but without gravitas or seriousness. I guess I might say he lacks the best of both Connery and Lazenby but has no redeeming strength to attract me. I remember liking Moore in The Saint, but that was so long ago. I wonder how I would feel about those shows now.
Another reason for my preference is that, although I enjoy Connery's light touch and humor, Moore seems too light. Too much comedy, almost slapstick. How he can be too stiff on the one hand and too comedic on the other is something I'm still trying to figure out.
I am looking at how the women come across, thinking I would see a difference through time, and I do see a difference. If anything, the women seem more passive and less competent the more recent the movie. In this one we get Miss Goodnight, who is sent along to keep an eye on Bond but whose sole purpose seems to be to mess things up, flirt with Bond and pout. (sigh)
We don't even get a single exploding car -a flying car and an exploding sea plane, but it's just not the same.
NPR has an audio interview with Moore in which he discusses his new book on his experiences with James Bond.
The BBC review calls it "An ugly, cold-hearted, and occasionally ridiculous film which is plausibly the worst of the franchise. "
The New York Times review closes by advising us that "if you enjoyed the early Bond films as much as I did, you'd better skip this one."
Moria reviewed this film, calling it "surprisingly dull".
trailer:
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) is Roger Moore's 2nd entry in the James Bond film series. Christopher Lee co-stars, and he is the best thing about this movie. Not exactly filled with excitement, this one.
Sean Connery is still my favorite Bond, and Lazenby is still my 2nd favorite in the films watched for this blogathon. That puts Roger Moore third of 3. There are several reasons for my preferences. The treatment of the women is one factor. I get the impression that Connery's Bond really likes women -all of them- and enjoys their company. I think of Lazenby's Bond as tolerating women and making use of them as he needs them, which is more in line with what I remember from reading the 1st book. I'm not sure Moore's Bond really likes women, perhaps is not even attracted to them, and only responds to their advances when he can't avoid it. Why they advance is puzzling. The last scene felt obligatory.
I've mentioned Connery's charm; Moore has no charm. He's stiff but without gravitas or seriousness. I guess I might say he lacks the best of both Connery and Lazenby but has no redeeming strength to attract me. I remember liking Moore in The Saint, but that was so long ago. I wonder how I would feel about those shows now.
Another reason for my preference is that, although I enjoy Connery's light touch and humor, Moore seems too light. Too much comedy, almost slapstick. How he can be too stiff on the one hand and too comedic on the other is something I'm still trying to figure out.
I am looking at how the women come across, thinking I would see a difference through time, and I do see a difference. If anything, the women seem more passive and less competent the more recent the movie. In this one we get Miss Goodnight, who is sent along to keep an eye on Bond but whose sole purpose seems to be to mess things up, flirt with Bond and pout. (sigh)
We don't even get a single exploding car -a flying car and an exploding sea plane, but it's just not the same.
NPR has an audio interview with Moore in which he discusses his new book on his experiences with James Bond.
The BBC review calls it "An ugly, cold-hearted, and occasionally ridiculous film which is plausibly the worst of the franchise. "
The New York Times review closes by advising us that "if you enjoyed the early Bond films as much as I did, you'd better skip this one."
Moria reviewed this film, calling it "surprisingly dull".
trailer:
Tom Hanks is James Bond
Well, not really, but what if....
I would never have paid the slightest attention to this video if not for the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon. I blame them.
I would never have paid the slightest attention to this video if not for the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon. I blame them.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
I was inspired to watch this by the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) is the sole George Lazenby entry in the world of James Bond. I've read several sites that claim this film is acknowledged as one of the best in the series, but I found it slow and Lazenby unengaging. Sean Connery is so charming; Lazenby doesn't appeal to me in the same way. [Interesting note: this new article on the franchise doesn't even mention Lazenby.]
By the time the Diana Rigg character showed back up later in the film I had forgotten all about her. It certainly seemed like Bond had. The skiing scenes went on forever. I found Moneypenny's teary scene at Bond's wedding pathetic. (Get hold of yourself, woman!) The whole thing just went on too long, and then poof! it was over.
We do, on the other hand, get one exploding car. That's one in each film so far.
The BBC review concludes by saying, "By no means the premium Bond, but an intriguing one."
Salon.com says it is "the only Bond film that gets beyond the dirty boy's-book spirit of the series to a core of real emotion."
trailer:
11/14/2008:
Tom the Dog defends this Bond film as part of the blogathon.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) is the sole George Lazenby entry in the world of James Bond. I've read several sites that claim this film is acknowledged as one of the best in the series, but I found it slow and Lazenby unengaging. Sean Connery is so charming; Lazenby doesn't appeal to me in the same way. [Interesting note: this new article on the franchise doesn't even mention Lazenby.]
By the time the Diana Rigg character showed back up later in the film I had forgotten all about her. It certainly seemed like Bond had. The skiing scenes went on forever. I found Moneypenny's teary scene at Bond's wedding pathetic. (Get hold of yourself, woman!) The whole thing just went on too long, and then poof! it was over.
We do, on the other hand, get one exploding car. That's one in each film so far.
The BBC review concludes by saying, "By no means the premium Bond, but an intriguing one."
Salon.com says it is "the only Bond film that gets beyond the dirty boy's-book spirit of the series to a core of real emotion."
trailer:
11/14/2008:
Tom the Dog defends this Bond film as part of the blogathon.
Goldfinger
I was inspired to watch this by the James Bond blogathon -Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon.
Goldfinger (1964) is the 3rd in the James Bond film series, and is based on Ian Fleming's novel with the same name. Sean Connery stars. (I still think of him when the name of James Bond comes up.) The Younger Son suggested I watch this one next since it is one of the most popular of all the Bond films. I have seen it more than once, but it has been a long time since I saw it last. I'm struck by how quickly women fall in bed with 007. Even if they start off indifferent or actively fighting him off they soon -quite soon- are responding with passion and kissing him madly. Products of their time, I'm sure, and it'll be interesting to see how (if?) this changes as we work through selected films in chronological order.
This film has 1 exploding car -that's one exploding car in each of the two Bond films we've watched so far as part of this fun blogathon.
The BBC review notes that Goldfinger is "consistently voted the most popular Bond film among users of the IMDB" and says, "there's never a dull moment and the film flies by".
Roger Ebert says,
trailer:
Goldfinger (1964) is the 3rd in the James Bond film series, and is based on Ian Fleming's novel with the same name. Sean Connery stars. (I still think of him when the name of James Bond comes up.) The Younger Son suggested I watch this one next since it is one of the most popular of all the Bond films. I have seen it more than once, but it has been a long time since I saw it last. I'm struck by how quickly women fall in bed with 007. Even if they start off indifferent or actively fighting him off they soon -quite soon- are responding with passion and kissing him madly. Products of their time, I'm sure, and it'll be interesting to see how (if?) this changes as we work through selected films in chronological order.
This film has 1 exploding car -that's one exploding car in each of the two Bond films we've watched so far as part of this fun blogathon.
The BBC review notes that Goldfinger is "consistently voted the most popular Bond film among users of the IMDB" and says, "there's never a dull moment and the film flies by".
Roger Ebert says,
Of all the Bonds, "Goldfinger" (1964) is the best, and can stand as a surrogate for the others. If it is not a great film, it is a great entertainment, and contains all the elements of the Bond formula that would work again and again.
trailer:
Dr. No
I was inspired to watch this by the James Bond blogathon -Liscensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon. They are hosting it to mark the release of Daniel Craig's 2nd Bond film.
Dr. No is the first of the James Bond movie series. This film is based on the 6th book in Ian Fleming's series of novels. It stars Sean Connery -the best of the Bonds, in my opinion, though I was surprised to discover I liked Daniel Craig just fine in the role. It was such fun to see this again. I guess the last time I saw it I would have watched it on TV when I was in high school.
This movie contains 1 exploding car.
The BBC review says,
The New York Times begins their review saying,
trailer:
11/17/2008:
Ferdy on Films has an article.
Dr. No is the first of the James Bond movie series. This film is based on the 6th book in Ian Fleming's series of novels. It stars Sean Connery -the best of the Bonds, in my opinion, though I was surprised to discover I liked Daniel Craig just fine in the role. It was such fun to see this again. I guess the last time I saw it I would have watched it on TV when I was in high school.
This movie contains 1 exploding car.
The BBC review says,
It is a fine start to a series which has provided the moviegoing public with some cinematic gems.
The New York Times begins their review saying,
IF you haven't yet made the acquaintance of Ian Fleming's suave detective, James Bond, in the author's fertile series of mystery thrillers akin to the yarns of Mickey Spillane, here's your chance to correct that misfortune in one quick and painless stroke. It's by seeing this first motion picture made from a Fleming novel, "Dr. No."
trailer:
11/17/2008:
Ferdy on Films has an article.
James Bond Blogathon
Today is the first day of Lazy Eye Theatre's Licensed To Blog: The James Blog-A-Thon. It officially goes through 11/14, but we plan on watching Bond films until we've had our fill of them. Since it's been years since I saw any of them besides the 1st Craig movie that may take a bit more than the 3 days included in the blogathon proper.
Films watched for the event:
Dr. No (1962, Sean Connery)
From Russia with Love (1963, Sean Connery)
Goldfinger (1964, Sean Connery)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969, George Lazenby)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974, Roger Moore)
Goldeneye (1995, Pierce Brosnan)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997, Pierce Brosnan)
exploding car total so far: 10
I've found some bizarre James Bonds out there:
Tom Hanks
Mr. Incredible
Wall-E
Batman
Our Man Flint is a James Bond parody.
There is a video documentary with composers John Barry and David Arnold here.
This video has all those gun barrel film openings (and the one opening that's different) through 2006:
Here are all the posters:
Cinematical has an annotated list of their favorite Bond films. They name these 7:
1. Goldfinger
2. Thunderball
3. From Russia With Love
4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
5. GoldenEye
6. The Spy Who Loved Me
7. Casino Royale
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Light Fantastic
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett is 2nd in the Discworld series. I read The Color of Magic, the 1st in the series, years ago but didn't follow up with the others. The Younger Son has been enjoying them, though, and so I borrowed the next one from him. I think this is better than the original. I was laughing out loud and reading sections of it to The Husband as he tried to sleep. I'm looking forward to the third one.
One SFSignal review gives it 3 out of 5 stars, saying,
There is a section of the author's site devoted to the series. The wiki devoted to Pratchett in general and Discworld in particular has lots of information.
One SFSignal review gives it 3 out of 5 stars, saying,
The Light Fantastic is a true novel-length story. Sadly, that story does not take a whole novel to tell. The result is a fair number of times when the book seemed to plod along too slowly despite the humor.while a different reviewer at that site gives it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars calling it "a very strong Discworld novel".
There is a section of the author's site devoted to the series. The wiki devoted to Pratchett in general and Discworld in particular has lots of information.
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