What are your most-watched movies?

[9thdoctor]

As a collector of artifacts myself, in terms of politics, Rene Belloq, for instance, would be our guy, the profiteer rescuing artifacts for private collectors, while Indiana Jones has a "higher" motive. Bah, humbug.

Our guy? Please adopt the policy of speaking only for yourself, you very often don’t even remotely speak for me. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Belloq is the character who robs Indiana Jones at gunpoint, and later teams up with Nazis to deliver them an ultimate weapon. Presumably for lucre. He’s right out of Atlas Shrugged, indeed.

FWIW, Jonathan acknowledges National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code as guilty pleasures, so he probably doesn’t need their shortcomings pointed out. Even the exceedingly toothsome Audrey Tatou (see Amélie) couldn’t rescue the latter IMO, but… chacun à son goût!

[Philip Coates]

> [to Mike M] Please adopt the policy of speaking only for yourself, you very often don’t even remotely speak for me.

Wow! Weren't you the guy who was criticizing me for being too smug or too patronizing or school teacher-ish? Guess it's okay when -you- do it, right ND?

(Watch him tapdance now and pretend this is different.)

[syrakusos]

As a collector of artifacts myself, in terms of politics, Rene Belloq, for instance, would be our guy, the profiteer rescuing artifacts for private collectors, while Indiana Jones has a "higher" motive. Bah, humbug.

Our guy? Please adopt the policy of speaking only for yourself, you very often don’t even remotely speak for me. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Belloq is the character who robs Indiana Jones at gunpoint, and later teams up with Nazis to deliver them an ultimate weapon. Presumably for lucre. He’s right out of Atlas Shrugged, indeed.

Exactly to the point, Doctor. That is Hollywood's view. All I meant was what I said. And in fact, Indiana Jones does make sure that he, too, will be paid for the artifact, but that goes by quickly, while Belloq's commercialism comes up repeatedly. As I said, Belloq would be our guy. The word "would" you know indicates a conditional. Did I move too fast for you? Would you like to see it again?

Moreover, I, too had good things to say about National Treasure in contrast to Indiana Jones. I allowed that while I did not get much from DaVinci, he was free to enjoy it -- and I'm sure he did not need my permission for that.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Michael E. Marotta

[9thdoctor]

Wow! Weren't you the guy who was criticizing me for being too smug or too patronizing or school teacher-ish? Guess it's okay when -you- do it, right ND?

(Watch him tapdance now and pretend this is different.)

I do heartily suggest that in future you attempt to emulate the critique I gave MM’s post. You’ll get much more respectful replies, though, I suppose on the downside, you won’t be the center of attention nearly as much. Weigh your values and make your choice.

Exactly to the point, Doctor. That is Hollywood's view. All I meant was what I said.

I don’t believe I misread your original post, however, as modified/clarified, I do concur.

[Philip Coates]

"the critique I gave MM’s post" -- was patronizing and pedantic: "Our guy? Please adopt the policy of speaking only for yourself"

Oh, and isn't it 'schoolmarmish'? And then you did it again with me: "suggest that in future you attempt to emulate the critique". So I guess -I- am the one adopting a superior, patronizing, pedantic tone?

Couldn't actually be you?

ND: "[you wont' be] the center of attention"

And that's psychologizing about my motives being trying to get attention. Here's a tip for you, pal: that's much more offensive (as well as irrational) than being condescending.

I guess you're going to stop being 'schoolmarmish' about that, too, right? ...Double standard, much?

Edited June 4, 2010 by Philip Coates

[9thdoctor]

Oh, and isn't it 'schoolmarmish'? And then you did it again with me: "suggest that in future you attempt to emulate the critique". So I guess -I- am the one adopting a superior, patronizing, pedantic tone?

Not at all. It was above all, brief and to the point.

I don’t see any use to belabouring any point I could make in reply. It’s clear to me that you are simply tone deaf as to where and when the adjectives/adverbs patronizing, pedantic, psychologizing, and schoolmarmish apply. Teacher, teach yourself. You have an available data set of years of online reactions to your crap. The same reactions, from a lot of the same people. Look up Einstein’s definition of insanity, see if it applies.

[Philip Coates]

What's "clear to me" [you](and to others who use the same uncivil or psychologizing or ad hominem approach) is that you are unwilling to admit that pretending you know someone's motives as being 'seeking attention' is an inappropriate psychological speculation -and- that you will reserve to yourself the right to make personal attacks ... as opposed to just dealing with the ideas.

[RightJungle]

Sometimes it isn't so much about my favorite movies as my favorite movie moments:

Captain Jack Sparrow complaining that his compass doesn't work and the beautiful voodoo priestess explains that the compass won't work because he doesn't know what he truly wants.

John Wayne's "How I feel when I hear the word Republic" speech in "Alamo" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epkwz7YM40A&feature=related

The moment when John Nash realizes that his closest friends never change and that is how he knows that they aren't real.

Woody Allen as a sperm cell.

The downhill plunge in "The Man from Snowy River" (On the way out of the theatre I said to my date, "Boy, do you think there is still scenery like that in the world?" I lived in Houston at the time.)

The boy's first ride on the Black Stallion. (a book brought perfectly to the screen)

The second that you understand how the old man is going to put the bad guys behind bars in "Grand Torino".

Woody Allen using a cello in a marching band.

"It's springtime for Hitler and Germany" in "The Producers"

Paul M'audib's first face-to-face with a Sand Worm in "Dune" (I think of Frank Herbert's Dune series every once in while when the news is about Jihad)

"Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?" in "Indiana Jones"

Nicholas Cage in "National Treasure" explaining that the constitution made it possible for men to live together without fear of other men.

John Belushi, torn and tattered by the mountain lion, "How was your day?" (Continental Divide)

"What knockers!"

"Thank you." (Young Frankenstein)

"Testament" - the movie about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, when the mother carries her last child to the burning center and then goes down on her knees demanding to know, "Who did this to us?"

The scene in "A Thousand Clowns" when Jason Robards has decided to join the working class, or rat race, and is running in his suit and tie with his briefcase to catch a bus.

Anthony Quinn in "Zorba" - "Am I not a man? Is a man not a fool?"

"Blazing Saddles" - when the new black sheriff takes himself hostage. Oh, and the saloon scene when she sings "I'm tired" and gets a rousing round of applause.

George C. Scott describing how he loves to watch those B52s coming in for a landing in "Dr. Stangelove"

Peter O'Toole in "My Favorite Year" - "I'm not an actor! I'm a movie star!"

Peter O'Toole in "Beckett" - "I'm surrounded by fools!"

Cleopatra's (Elizabeth Taylor) entrance into Rome.

Tim Allen's triumphant roll, rise and shoot the alien (after the ship has landed back at the theatre). Galaxy Quest.

Gregory Peck in "Mirage": "If your're not willing to committ, you're just taking up space."

The final scene in "Seven Pounds".

[George H. Smith]

I think it would be interesting to look into films recommended by Objectivists that you don’t like, and the inverse, films panned by Objectivists that you do like, with reasons why. I used a clip from Midnight Cowboy recently, and GHS pointed out that it was condemned in The Objectivist, I don’t recall the article but I’m sure his memory is sound. I know 2001: A Space Odyssey was also criticized harshly. More recently, I remember Pulp Fiction getting slammed, I think by Binswanger. Peikoff damned Titanic and highly praised Chocolat, I like them but don’t get too excited about either. Kelley wrote a piece praising The Incredibles, and Hudgins is quite the Star Wars buff.

These big lists raise questions of omission, for example Dan lists Koyaanisqatsi but not Baraka, which I feel is superior (BTW, a sequel is in the works called Samsara). Zardoz but not Excalibur. My Best Fiend but none of the actual Kinski/Herzog films (now that is strange).

I’m just going to list 10 favourite British TV series, I don’t want to put so much mileage on the fingers:

A Bit of Fry and Laurie

Blackadder

Dr. Who (esp.2005 season, duh!)

Fawlty Towers

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I, Claudius

Jeeves and Wooster

Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett)

The Office (Ricky Gervais)

Yes, Minister

D’Oh! Oh well, call it a baker’s ten.

I was familiar with all of these series except Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett, which is available on streaming video from Netflix. I have watched the first four shows (out of 13) and found them very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ghs

[BaalChatzaf]

I was familiar with all of these series except Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett, which is available on streaming video from Netflix. I have watched the first four shows (out of 13) and found them very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ghs

I thought Brett's Holmes was better than Basil Rathbone's. I love that "I smell horseshit on Baker Street" look that Brett gives the Holmes character.

Ba'al Chatzaf

[9thdoctor]

I was familiar with all of these series except Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett, which is available on streaming video from Netflix. I have watched the first four shows (out of 13) and found them very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.

There’s much more than 13 episodes, I take it you’re watching the 1st series (Adventures of…). The first episode should have been A Scandal in Bohemia, I really like the reveal and introductory dialogue for Brett’s Holmes, it starts 4 ½ minutes in.

I saw the new incarnation with Robert Downey Jr., its not without virtues but overall I didn't care for it.

[Rich Engle]

I've been watching films a great deal lately, even more than normal. In fact, I am working on making one, but I can't drop names.

Anyway, there are so many great films out there. I have, and continue to work in the indie world (currently doing one for "he who cannot be spoken of."

We're going to CA on that one.

I thought, for instance, the Sherlock Holmes film was excellent. You know, there were so many nice historical things in there (which is common now but still)... The martial arts sequences were extremely accurate.

But I'm a sucker, because I like Robert Downey Jr. and J. Depp. I thought, for instance, the film "Chaplin" was brilliant; mostly because it did a pretty good job of paralleling the auto-bio (which is pretty sexy, if you ever have seen the HC version). It made me cry.

rde

You shoulda seen the Gulf, today, it was blue and warm.

[George H. Smith]

I was familiar with all of these series except Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett, which is available on streaming video from Netflix. I have watched the first four shows (out of 13) and found them very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.

There’s much more than 13 episodes, I take it you’re watching the 1st series (Adventures of…). The first episode should have been A Scandal in Bohemia, I really like the reveal and introductory dialogue for Brett’s Holmes, it starts 4 ½ minutes in.

Yeah, those are the 13 episodes I was referring to. I'm glad you posted the remarks that Holmes makes about his drug use. That part caught my attention as well -- it is an exceptionally well-written monologue -- and I was thinking about posting it myself. "My mind rebels at stagnation."

Ghs

[Rich Engle]

"My mind rebels at stagnation."

And that is why the post-industrialists started coming out with really good cleaning products. Essentially, it is a hygiene issue, although, sometimes you can just have a nice cup of tea. That is what all the old people do.

rde

Geriatrics, Schmeriatrics.

[anonrobt]

I was familiar with all of these series except Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett, which is available on streaming video from Netflix. I have watched the first four shows (out of 13) and found them very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.

There’s much more than 13 episodes, I take it you’re watching the 1st series (Adventures of…). The first episode should have been A Scandal in Bohemia, I really like the reveal and introductory dialogue for Brett’s Holmes, it starts 4 ½ minutes in.

Yeah, those are the 13 episodes I was referring to. I'm glad you posted the remarks that Holmes makes about his drug use. That part caught my attention as well -- it is an exceptionally well-written monologue -- and I was thinking about posting it myself. "My mind rebels at stagnation."

Ghs

Brett managed to get 44 of the Holmes saga in before he died [there are 60 total], the most of any actor in the role - and general consideration is that he is the best personification of Holmes of any over the years...

[BaalChatzaf]

Movies, at least 40 times for each — Casablanca, Yentl

Definitely Casablanca. The best line of the movie (imho): Welcome back to the fight Mr. Blaine. Now I know our side shall win.

Best scene: When they play the Marsiallies in Rick's Cafe. Even Babbette the chippie who sleeps with Germans, remembers that she is French.

Of this movie I can say: This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Ba'al Chatzaf

Edited July 10, 2010 by BaalChatzaf

[Peter]

'Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny' Released 42 years after the very first film, 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees Harrison Ford return to his famous role for another treasure-hunting, tomb-raiding, wise-cracking adventure . . . .

I watched it on Netflix for $5,99. It was money well spent.