Great old Movies

Steders · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 8937

I've been ill and what better way to drown your sorrows (and drown out the wifes nagging) than to watch some films
I've watched quite a few old sci-fi/horror films and I think they stand up well.
Here are some of my thoughts on these cinematic gems
(Don't forget these are my views and as such are correct in every way, all other views are wrong)
Thing from another world (1951) Stone cold classic, great dialogue, mostly good acting, fantastic look. If you haven't seen this, you are scum. 9 out of 10
When Worlds Collide (1951) Great effects for its day, slightly annoying 'God thinks you're cunts so he's destroying the world' ism from 1950s America. BUT it does feel like the religious message was tacked on by studio execs at the end. Shame they never made the sequel 6.5 out of 10
This island Earth (1955) The main Alien always reminds me of Robin williams as Mork, but it is still a fun (if daft) movie. 6 out of 10
War of the Worlds (1953) Even if you hate the fact they set it in contemporary America, you have to watch the first ten minutes as they tour round our solar system, it still looks fantastic. Ann Robinson is a poor female lead though and the tacked on religious nuttery is again a pain.
7.5 out of 10
Forbidden Planet (1956) Brilliant, some of the long shots in this film created with matte paintings are incredible, just works of art in their own right. The monster is great fun and the story cracks along. Again, if you haven't seen this (and love it) you are a cunt.
9 out of 10
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majorsoma · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Northern Ireland

Nice selection of movies I'd agree with the scores for them as well.

Dags · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:10 pm Post subject:

Agree with your list Sickly-Goatboy. Forbidden Planet is one of those films that you can watch over and over again and never get bored of but Shichinin no samurai (1954) was the best film of the '50s by a mile.
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Steders · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 8937

Dags · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:25 pm Post subject:

Title says 'Great Old Movies' not 'Great Old Sci-fi and Horror Movies' cuntflap.

Ran and Kagemusha are both superb films - especially compared to what Hollywood was shoving out at the time - but I feel that B&W really suited AK, and he was in his prime when he made them, as opposed to 70+ when Ran was made.
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Steders · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 8937

Rev Nice · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject:

The 50's War of the Worlds is a curious beast.
On the one hand you have the very annoying religious agenda which leads to a rather dubious ending and yet on the other hand it has a terrifying realism in that all the comfortable cliches are gleefully trashed. (Which might be why the execs went for a touch of religion to balance it for certain audiences who might have been tempted to boycott it.)

First big huge thang is ...they fried the priest! He went to them in peace and the word of the Lord (which given the ending, should be a safe bet) and the Martian buggers had him on toast! That's one unhappy 50's bible belt audience rushing home to make up some placards...

Secondly - what stops evil alien would be conquerers from wiping out the human race?

Answer: The human race itself! Yes, we all muddle in together and fight as one (except for one traitor who always gets his just deserts) and before you can say 'pluck' or 'spirit of the Blitz', Johnny Alien finds us too much to stomach and caves in.
Well not here.
There's an awful scene in which everybody's trying to get out of town. Not pretty. Everybody for themselves. Fights break out. People act like cunts. In short, not what you'd necessarily expect in a film like this but what you know would happen in real life. I find it a really dispiriting spectacle.
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Steders · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 8937

I love the image of the war machine towering over the vicar, its almost like 'yeah we'll put the religious message bit at the end but first 'EAT PLASMA GODBOY!!'
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Big River · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 3210 Location: United Kingdom

No Invaders from Mars or Earth vs the Flying Saucers Steders?
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Steders · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 8937

Just what I've watched recently. Invaders I always thought was a bit shit (I know its a tale of commie infiltration and very much of its time) I just never enjoyed it.
EvFS is great, story is rubbish, but the Ray Harrihausen Fx are top notch. I still remember seeing it one Saturday morning and being suprised that the saucers actually DID crash into the buildings! I know they look dated now but I prefer this film over Independance day.
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