Music & Film

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:51:10 GMT

Trollhunter. Funky pseudo documentary in the style of Blair Witch Project or Cloverfield. Norwegian film, subtitled in English, really a delightful surprise.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

stotty1111 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:34:56 GMT

How to kill your neighbours dog on DVD 2000 Kewnneth Branagh, Robin wright Penn, Lynn Redgrave - so so funny!

Tony

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:03:29 GMT

Duh, Steampunk not cyberpunk...

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:07:51 GMT

Don't think Starbow was Asimov, though I can't remember enough to be sure. Didn't have the feel of his writing. I too loved Foundation, but it's obvious Asimov wrote it before the mathematical work in chaotic systems (aka chaos theory).

The last Colossus book was interesting, they overthrew and destroyed Colossus, and it's final words were an explanation and warning. It was built to protect people from war as a defense computer, and it had sensed/discovered an impending alien threat that would require the whole human race to be unified and working towards defense, and the only way it could do that was by taking over. It's last words were to the effect of you're on your own now guys.

As to movies, I just watched "Priest" - pretty good mindless action flick, very visually interesting, based on a Korean comic I think. Better was "Stone of Destiny" - based on a true story about a bunch of Scottish college kids in the 50's who stole back the Stone of Scone from the English. Pretty good movie, strong nationalist sentiment expressed without bloody violence, which was a nice change.

I also watched a very innovative, creative vampire movie called "Perfect Creature." Very cyberpunk alternate timeline kind of film, vampires are all members of The Brotherhood, all male, a genetic accident, who view themselves as caretakers for humanity. People give blood voluntarily at the chapels, as a form of tithing, and the vampires care for and try to help humans. Until one of them goes off the deep end, lots of interesting visuals and set design, intriguingly different take on vampires.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

elephant — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:46:27 GMT

Jeff:
enjoyed the Colossus books.

And the spin-off movie: "The Forbin Project"

Jeff:
The Light At Starbows End or something like that

I think that was an Asimov ? Always liked the premise of the Foundation series, a sufficiently complex statistical formula, and a sufficiently large population, and one can predict the future ... until The Mule was born :-)

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:13:55 GMT

I've read both of those, great books. I particularly enjoyed When Harley Was One, also enjoyed the Colossus books.

I remember a story, I think it was The Light At Starbows End or something like that, where they evolved these people into supermen. The line was, be very careful if you set out to creat a superman. Superman may not view the world, or you, the same way you do.

Caprica was a follow-on to the new Battlestar Galactica, it dealt with how the Cylons were created, and how they adopted their murderous version of monotheism. Very intelligent show, but sadly not enough marching shiny robots to keep the masses entertained, so it got canceled. Ah well.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

elephant — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:58:00 GMT

Jeff:
I've always found intelligent films and books about man made creations, from computers to replicants, fascinating. The series "Caprica" died too early a death, it was really intelligent. The best artificial intelligence book I ever read was "The Adolesence of P1" which was actually written by an IBM mainframe architect back in the day. Best AI novel I ever read.

Never heard of either of them and I used to read lots of SciFi !

Others in that theme I remember are "When Harlie was one" and "The Moon is a harsh mistress"; the latter I remember more of - the concept that networked computers might reach a critical mass and achieve self awareness, and that great acronym: TANSTAAFL.

BYW I sent you an email to your PM, thank you !

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:18:40 GMT

elephant:

Jeff:
ad to choose one favorite film (almost impossible)

for me it is impossible to pick !

But I agree Blade Runner is high on the list.

Equally high wouid be 2001.

And there we have the two extremes - Distopia and Hope (or perhaps Ambition).

Sorry to take so long to get back to this, but you make an interesting observation. I'm very impressed by 2001, by most of Kubrick's work actually (Dr. Strangelove is a favorite black comedy). Interesting in that both of these films, Blade Runner and 2001, the subject of man dealing with his attempts at creating life and intelligence are explored. In 2001, the artificial intelligence HAL, who creepily turns out to sound like a true personality, albeit that of a child, begging not to be turned off and fearful, and the replicants in Blade Runner coming to grips with what it is to be human and have emotions. I've often thought of Roy Batty in BR as a kind of Nietschien Christ figure, he kills "god", aka Tyrell, yet forgives Deckard/mankind in the end.

I've always found intelligent films and books about man made creations, from computers to replicants, fascinating. The series "Caprica" died too early a death, it was really intelligent. The best artificial intelligence book I ever read was "The Adolesence of P1" which was actually written by an IBM mainframe architect back in the day. Best AI novel I ever read.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Chris — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:49:41 GMT

I must admit the Sherlock film has got better after a few viewings.

This is the last film i really enjoyed and continue to do so..Great story, acting and landscapes. Very moving.

http://theway-themovie.com/

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

elephant — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:21:46 GMT

Saw the latest (non-Swedish) Daniel Craig version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - others have commented on the number of B&O devices in the movie ... but I only spotted the BeoLab 5s -- yes they are rather outstanding

But the reason for this post, is the INCREDIBLE title sequence based on a cover of Led Zepplin's Immigrant Song ... if you have not seen the movie yet, take a look at this clip ... but crank up the volume and turn out the lights first

"Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Title Sequence by Blur from Motionographer on Vimeo.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

iPoditiv — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:58:43 GMT

Intouchables (German version: Eine ziemlich beste Freundschaft)

A french movie about a very rich man in Paris suffering a tetraplegia and his personal assistant, a petty criminal out of the banlieu who didn't want to apply for this job, but by luck and cheek and having no pity with his boss (who suffered of too much pity by everybody).

At the end of this movie you'll see another "couple", a man in his wheelchair and his assistant. They are the original people who were living this story and gave the script to this movie ...

If you want to have quite a few gasps and more laughter, run to the next cinema.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

elephant — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:52:52 GMT

Jeff:
ad to choose one favorite film (almost impossible)

for me it is impossible to pick !

But I agree Blade Runner is high on the list.

Equally high wouid be 2001.

And there we have the two extremes - Distopia and Hope (or perhaps Ambition).

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

Jeff — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:28:42 GMT

Re Sherlock Holmes, it was pretty good, I always enjoy Robert Downey Jr. My favorite Holmes is the one done by Jeremy Brett for the British TV, he is IMO the ultimate Holmes.

For Robert Downey Jr films, my favorite is Restoration, an amazingly good film about a young, silly, weak doctor who eventually grows up into a responsible man during the plague in England. In a way kind of mirrors the actors life trajectory. Also starred Polly Walker and Sam Neil as the king's mistress and the king respectively.

I think all in all if I had to choose one favorite film (almost impossible) I'd pick Blade Runner, the directors/final cut not the idiotic happy ending original release.

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

elephant — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:01:07 GMT

Looking forward to the new/next Sherlock Holmes.

I know it is pure nonsense and nothing like the real thing, but I really enjoyed the first one !

Last week we have been renting via iTunes:

X-Men First Class - good
Moa's Last Dabcer - interesting ... but was on free-to-air two nighst later ! (but with ads)

Re: What was the last film you watched & said "I really enjoyed that"

fellascarpet — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:20:06 GMT

I watch the movie last time pirates of the caribbean 4 i really enjoyed dear.