The Big Screen

[bendk]

Late last month I had planned to go to our main library downtown to their theater and watch the film A Night to Remember (1958) about the sinking of the Titanic. I remember seeing this as a kid and thought it would be an ideal film to see on the big screen. Some of the shots at the end were quite memorable. Well, that didn't happen. I ended up spending some time in the hospital instead. But I did get some morphine and a surreal ambulance ride on the expressway in the middle of the night, so it wasn't a total loss. Plus, I got to bs with the guys on squad. I was an EMT for a while in my early twenties. By psychological necessity, you tend to develop an unusual sense of humor in that job, so we had a good time yucking it up. When I was in the hospital, hopped up on dope, it got me to thinking of what films I would like to see on the big screen. Also, what notable movies I have seen at the theater. And a few other related viewing experiences.

The movie I have seen the most on the big screen is Taxi Driver. I was too young to see it on its initial release, but it is such a fan favorite that it plays at art house theaters from time to time. I loved this movie in my 20s when I drank. I used to watch it often on video tape after work. When it came to a theater, I would smuggle some beer in and drink. It was a good time. I had one weird episode when I went with my girlfriend to the Canton Palace Theater. The theater is near some mental hospital and they would let the patients out at night. That night they wandered into the theater and started acting crazy. I wasn't worried though, because my girlfriend was a Canton Police officer and she always carried off duty. So, I just kicked back and enjoyed it as part of the show. I've seen the film probably half a dozen times at the theater. The sad thing is, I don't even watch the movie anymore. It is too linked to my drinking days. I had a list of movies that I used to watch, drink, and smoke to after work. Now that I'm sober, I'm no longer interested in seeing them. A few others would be Apocalypse Now, Drugstore Cowboy, and A Clockwork Orange.

There is only one movie that I've seen four times on its initial release. That would be Ex Machina. I have always been fascinated by AI and I was entranced by that movie. And no doubt by Alicia Vikander's portrayal of Ava. Loneliness may have also played a part in that too as I had drifted apart from my girlfriend.

I saw Goodfellas and Zack Snyder's Watchmen three times.

I saw Fargo and Trainspotting twice.

That might be it. I rarely go to see a movie more than once.


Some notable movies that left an impression when I saw them at the theater as a kid or teenager:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Captain Nemo was my hero. Still is.)
Jaws (It was the first Summer blockbuster that I remember. We waited in line for more than an hour. That had never happened before.)
Star Wars
Alien
Close Encounters of the Third Kind


Some other big screen-related anecdotes:

My great aunt, my grandmother's sister on my mother's side of the family, used to play the piano for the silent films in the 1920s. We would go over her house when I was very young and she would play the piano for us.

As a youngster I went to the East Drive-In Theater a few times. I saw a couple of Bruce Lee movies on a double bill, and Urban Cowboy the other time. The drive-in was fun because you could get up and walk around. They had a great concession stand that served burgers and fries as well as candy.



My parents took the family downtown to the Akron Civic Theater twice when we were kids. Once for The Sound of Music (didn't care for it) and The Sting. (loved it). It is still in operation. It hosts movies, plays, concerts etc. It is a large venue. The ceiling is painted dark blue and they somehow have a lighting effect that shows the stars and small clouds rolling by.



What are some movies that you would like to see on the Big Screen?

A few I can think of would be:

King Kong (1933)
The Wizard of OZ
Godzilla
The Wicker Man
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
Curse of the Demon
And some of those old stop-motion Ray Harryhausen films.

(Too many to name, really, so I'll leave it at that.)

[bendk]

I saw three movies at the theater recently:

Barbie. I got all caught up in the Barbenheimer phenomena. It was a decent movie. The sets were fun to look at, and Ryan Gosling has some funny lines. Unfortunately, it went anti-patriarchal for a few minutes. (that seemed like forever). It drained some fun out of it.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter. I like the idea of focusing the story on the passage from Transylvania to England. Beginning with the wrecked ship, abandoned, save that of the captain lashed to the wheel. They then proceed to read the Captain's log. The Nosferatu design was very good. The one slight drawback was, again, the movie suffered from inserting unnecessary woke dialogue. It was brief but irksome.

I saw Howl's Moving Castle in our main library's theater. That was entertaining. I don't think that I've seen manga on the big screen before. I was surprised by the big names of the voice actors for the English version: Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Jean Simmons, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, and Emily Mortimer to name a few.

I read that Coraline's recent theatrical re-release made $5 million in two days. Fathom Events has added future dates. Unfortunately, the closest one to me is in Cleveland, which is too far. I did see it at the theater when it initially came out. I really liked it. It shares similar themes to Ligotti's work. I used to bid on the Subterranean Press edition on eBay years ago, but the bidding got too expensive for me.

[bendk]

I saw two movies at the theater recently: The Nun II. It was decent. But when I go out to the movies, I usually buy a small popcorn and a small Coke or Pepsi. I dropped close to $25. I have to be more discriminating.

I also watched Spirited Away at our main library. It was a good movie and was free. (I did smuggle in a box of Raisinets).


A24 is bringing its best horror list back to the big screen in time for Halloween

MSN

[bendk]

Las Vegas $2.3BN Mega Sphere - YouTube

[bendk]

My main library is showing some very good movies this month at their theater.
I definitely want to see "The Return of Dr. X"
Not a great movie, but Bogart plays a wonderful creepy villain.


Saturday, September 30, 2:30 pm: "Drag Me to Hell" (2009)
When bank loan manager Christine (Alison Lohman) crosses paths with an old woman (Lorna Raver) who is getting foreclosed, there is hell to pay … literally. Director Sam Raimi delivers shocks galore, as Christine finds herself on the losing end of a curse, PG-13, 99 min.

October 5, 6:30 pm: "The Petrified Forest" (1936)
Bogart’s first big film role as a gangster who invades a desert diner and holds its inhabitants hostage. With Leslie Howard and Bette Davis, 82 min.

October 12, 6:30 pm: "In a Lonely Place" (1950)
Adapted from the novel by Dorothy B. Hughes, Bogart plays a screenwriter suspected of murder who befriends Gloria Grahame. Moody and evocative, this is film noir at its best. Directed by Nicholas Ray, with Frank Lovejoy and Jeff Donnell, 94 min.

October 19, 6:30 pm: "They Drive By Night" (1940)
Bogart teams up with George Raft as brothers struggling to make a living as truck drivers. Complications ensue as they fight toward independence, and encounter romance and violence. Directed by Raoul Walsh, with Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, and Alan Hale, 95 min.

October 26, 6:30 pm: "The Return of Doctor X" (1939)
For Halloween, Bogart’s rare foray into the horror genre, as the mysterious blood expert who may be tied to series of murders. Vincent Sherman’s directorial debut, with Rosemary Lane, Wayne Morris, and Dennis Morgan, 62 min.

October 29, 2:00 PM: "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988)
Our resident horror film expert, Zach Butcher, selected this crazy tale of aliens terrorizing a small town. And, of course they look like clowns! With Grant Cramer and John Vernon, PG-13, 88 min.

[Metaphysical Mutant]

Quote Originally Posted by bendk

October 29, 2:00 PM: "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988) Our resident horror film expert, Zach Butcher, selected this crazy tale of aliens terrorizing a small town. And, of course they look like clowns! With Grant Cramer and John Vernon, PG-13, 88 min.

A fun movie, now also a video game:

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game - Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer | gamescom 2023 - YouTube

[bendk]

Quote Originally Posted by bendk

Las Vegas $2.3BN Mega Sphere - YouTube

Darren Aronofsky on His Sphere Film, ‘Postcard From Earth'

MSN

[bendk]

I just got home from watching Killer Klowns From Outer Space on the big screen at the library. It was a good time. The movie was funnier than I remembered. It was sponsored by a group called "The Horror Hounds". They passed out buttons prior to the film. I, of course, snagged one.



This past month I also watched all of the Bogart films. Well, except one. They goofed and played Doctor X (1932) with Lionel Atwell and Fay Wray instead of The Return of Doctor X (1939) with Humphrey Bogart and Rosemary Lane. I was a little disappointed, but I would have gone to see it anyway.

I also went to the theater and saw The Creator. It was a good movie.

I haven't been to the theater this many times in one month in years.

KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE | What Are You Going to Do With Those Pies, Boys? | MGM Studios - YouTube

[xylokopos]

Quote Originally Posted by bendk

October 12, 6:30 pm: "In a Lonely Place" (1950) Adapted from the novel by Dorothy B. Hughes, Bogart plays a screenwriter suspected of murder who befriends Gloria Grahame. Moody and evocative, this is film noir at its best. Directed by Nicholas Ray, with Frank Lovejoy and Jeff Donnell, 94 min.

This is a great film. I can't remember the last time I watched it, but I remember thinking, what a triumph of a film meant for actual adult human beings! I also remember thinking that the cultural atmosphere, indeed the entire world necessary to create such a film has gone extinct.

It helps if you are torn between romantic notions and nihilistic tendencies.

Bogie is cutting up a grapefruit, Gloria Grahame is leaning against the door at the kitchen entrance.

Look at us, Bogie says, anyone could take a look and immediately tell we are in love.

I feel an urgent need to rewatch it now.

[bendk]

I've seen four films at the theater this past month.

Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Saltburn
Anatomy of a Fall

I enjoyed all of the films. I would rate them at 7/10, except for Flower Moon which I would give and 8/10. I saw the first three at Regal Cinemas. I had to go to a small arthouse theater for Anatomy of a Fall. This won the 2023 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The theater is The Nightlight in downtown Akron. They show good films, but the theater is too small. I haven't been down there for years. The last time I went was for The Babadook.

Napoleon. Having read a few biographies of Napoleon in my 20s, I was looking for key scenes in the movie. They covered all of them except two. The attempted coup, and the dog on the battlefield. They could have also touched on his attitude of promoting officers for their accomplishments and not for their political connections or bloodlines.

Flower Moon was as violent as any of Scorsese's past films. Not as much levity though. I would say this is probably my favorite film of the year thus far. But Cillian Murphy will probably will win the Best Actor Oscar for Oppenheimer, and deservedly so.

Saltburn was pretty decadent. A love or hate film, it seems. The story has been told before: an ambitious and intellectually gifted individual from the common folk being invited into the world of wealth and privilege. Keep an eye on Barry Keoghan. He is a fine actor, and equally important, picks good projects.

Anatomy of a Fall was a slow burn with a lot of dialogue. I don't think this would make much money in the U.S. in wide release. The feelings expressed seem intricate and not likely to translate well or tolerated for such length.