Bill, they used to nominate 10 films back in the 1930s. I watched a documentary on the year 1939 in film on TCM when I learned this. Among the 10 nominated were…
GONE WITH THE WIND, OF MICE AND MEN, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and NINOTCHKA.
Don – yes, the audience certainly changed, but not on their own. The (very bad!) movies came out first and they changed us (most of us). So, I still blame Hollywood. They are, in my opinion, the chicken that hatched the bad eggs!
Regardless of how fans and critics tore it apart, I loved it. Yes, Jar Jar Binks was a major pain in the ass, but not nearly as much as the JEDI Ewoks, in my opinion. MENACE was very politically-motivated in its story, which I liked. I saw it on the screen three times in the summer of 1999. I still have a few unopened action figure packages from the film.
Recession or not, I can’t see the crap coming from Hollywood these days getting any worse!
For those who are interested, there is currently a festival of Depression-Era films at the Film Forum in New York City called “Bread Lines and Champagne”. Some of the featured films include, KING KONG, 42ND STREET, LITTLE CAESAR, SCARFACE and MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN.
I remember in 1976, my dad taking me to see a movie called BUGS BUNNY SUPERSTAR; a documentary on the making of and a bunch of full-length cartoon classics. About ten years ago, I also went to a Bugs Bunny film festival at the Cinema Village theater in NYC. Ah, the old days are gone!
I don’t buy the generation argument, either. Were it valid, then one could say that today’s kids would never listen to the Beatles, Elvis Presley or Motzart, simply because they were “before their time”.
AIAlvarez, I hear what you’re talking about. I am generally disgusted by the way many of today’s filmmakers feel the need to rush the camera with endless jumps and quick editsand shove all of the action down a viewer’s throat to the point of sickness. Whatever happened to a story (even action movies) just taking its time for a moment and giving the viewer a chance to become “acquainted” with what’s going on?
You know, ever since I saw Tony Scott’s remake of MAN ON FIRE (2004), I don’t see his movies anymore because I absolutely detest that kind of ridiculous filmmaking!
AIAlvarez, the only way studios are going to stop churning out and recycling the garbage that ends up on the screen of your local carnival-like multiplex is today’s moviegoing morons simply STOP PAYING to see them! For myself, I have done my best to avoid these movies and try to concentrate more on seemingly original stories (what’s left of them, anyway).
And to be fair, CGI or not, THE DARK KNIGHT was, admitedly, a somewhat intelligent story with outstanding performances and virtually none of the typical campiness you get from other super hero movies. Who knew it could be done?
Jim, I think if you watch the pilot of BUCK ROGERS, Season 1, you’ll pretty much see the movie. You could probably also find a VHS copy on amazon or ebay.
movie534, I was actually amazed to still see that THE DARK KNIGHT was still going strong in movie theaters by October 2008. I can’t remember the last time I saw that kind of theatrical longevity.
METEOR…yes, I forgot about that one; one of the last failed attempts to continuously glorify the 1970’s disaster flicks.
AIAlvarez, regardless of how some critics might have interpretted it, I cannot see how THE CHINA SYNDROME could be considered science fiction in any way. I’d call it a simple thriller before I’d call it that. And yes, what happened a few weeks later was shocking.
I also remember a situation of life imitating art when there was a political incident in Albania and Presidnet Clinton was caught with Monica Lewinsky some time after the movie WAG THE DOG was released.
Raysson, according to Wikipedia, THE BLACK HOLE was released on December 21, 1979, just as I wrote it.
And yes, it seems that some of the better science fiction films in history like STAR TREK: TMP, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, FORBIDDEN PLANET and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) all had “G” ratings.
I own the DVD and watch it every Christmas. Still, every time the 24-hour marathon is on TBS, I can’t help but keep the channel on and watch bits and pieces or just listen to it while I do something else.
I’ve never been one to really celebrate the holidays, but I’ve always loved the TV marathons you can find:
William, I remember what you’re talking about. It was the original VHS tape in the extra large Warner Brothers box with the gatefold front. I suppose that would be a collectible today.
Yes, Peter. I am, of course, aware of what you’re talking about. What I remember as a child might have been exclusively arranged for the theater I saw the movie at. What I was describing would have been before the movie started; something to keep our eyes occupied instead of stupid pre-movie commercials.
I saw SUPERMAN-THE MOVIE shortly after it was released at the Squire Theater in Great Neck (I live there now). Of course, it was nothing short of spectacular! I have this vague memory before the feature starting of repeated images of the Superman ’S' logo and the title logo, “Superman-The Movie” consistently appearing on the screen while we all waited for the feature to start. Does this at all sound familiar to anyone else who saw the film when it was released?
Shade, the Quad on 13th Street doesn’t really have more than a typical commercial awning, without any movie titles on it at all. In fact, if you didn’t look real close, you could easily miss that it’s even a movie theater.
They recently showed (or perhaps are still showing) THE DARK KNIGHT, which completely goes against their usual array of independent and (very often) gay films.
This doesn’t sound a whole lot different than a STAR WARS movie opening on a Wednesday in May with early morning showings. People are responsible for their own choices.
Bill, they used to nominate 10 films back in the 1930s. I watched a documentary on the year 1939 in film on TCM when I learned this. Among the 10 nominated were…
GONE WITH THE WIND, OF MICE AND MEN, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and NINOTCHKA.
Don – yes, the audience certainly changed, but not on their own. The (very bad!) movies came out first and they changed us (most of us). So, I still blame Hollywood. They are, in my opinion, the chicken that hatched the bad eggs!
Jon, I blame the CELL PHONE for much of the downfall of pleasureable moviegoing (as well as very unsafe driving)!
Looks like some of my less than profane words were changed here. Good to see that even mild censorship is still alive and well in the good ‘ol USA.
Regardless of how fans and critics tore it apart, I loved it. Yes, Jar Jar Binks was a major pain in the ass, but not nearly as much as the JEDI Ewoks, in my opinion. MENACE was very politically-motivated in its story, which I liked. I saw it on the screen three times in the summer of 1999. I still have a few unopened action figure packages from the film.
Recession or not, I can’t see the crap coming from Hollywood these days getting any worse!
For those who are interested, there is currently a festival of Depression-Era films at the Film Forum in New York City called “Bread Lines and Champagne”. Some of the featured films include, KING KONG, 42ND STREET, LITTLE CAESAR, SCARFACE and MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN.
I remember in 1976, my dad taking me to see a movie called BUGS BUNNY SUPERSTAR; a documentary on the making of and a bunch of full-length cartoon classics. About ten years ago, I also went to a Bugs Bunny film festival at the Cinema Village theater in NYC. Ah, the old days are gone!
By the way, one of my favorite non-sci-fi movies of 1979 was BREAKING AWAY. It won the Oscar for best original screenplay. I still love that movie!
I don’t buy the generation argument, either. Were it valid, then one could say that today’s kids would never listen to the Beatles, Elvis Presley or Motzart, simply because they were “before their time”.
You know, maybe I should change my name to
LOVE OLDER MOVIES, HATE GOING TO NEW ONES!
Ha, ha, ha!
AIAlvarez, I hear what you’re talking about. I am generally disgusted by the way many of today’s filmmakers feel the need to rush the camera with endless jumps and quick editsand shove all of the action down a viewer’s throat to the point of sickness. Whatever happened to a story (even action movies) just taking its time for a moment and giving the viewer a chance to become “acquainted” with what’s going on?
You know, ever since I saw Tony Scott’s remake of MAN ON FIRE (2004), I don’t see his movies anymore because I absolutely detest that kind of ridiculous filmmaking!
AIAlvarez, the only way studios are going to stop churning out and recycling the garbage that ends up on the screen of your local carnival-like multiplex is today’s moviegoing morons simply STOP PAYING to see them! For myself, I have done my best to avoid these movies and try to concentrate more on seemingly original stories (what’s left of them, anyway).
And to be fair, CGI or not, THE DARK KNIGHT was, admitedly, a somewhat intelligent story with outstanding performances and virtually none of the typical campiness you get from other super hero movies. Who knew it could be done?
Jim, I think if you watch the pilot of BUCK ROGERS, Season 1, you’ll pretty much see the movie. You could probably also find a VHS copy on amazon or ebay.
movie534, I was actually amazed to still see that THE DARK KNIGHT was still going strong in movie theaters by October 2008. I can’t remember the last time I saw that kind of theatrical longevity.
METEOR…yes, I forgot about that one; one of the last failed attempts to continuously glorify the 1970’s disaster flicks.
AIAlvarez, regardless of how some critics might have interpretted it, I cannot see how THE CHINA SYNDROME could be considered science fiction in any way. I’d call it a simple thriller before I’d call it that. And yes, what happened a few weeks later was shocking.
I also remember a situation of life imitating art when there was a political incident in Albania and Presidnet Clinton was caught with Monica Lewinsky some time after the movie WAG THE DOG was released.
Raysson, according to Wikipedia, THE BLACK HOLE was released on December 21, 1979, just as I wrote it.
And yes, it seems that some of the better science fiction films in history like STAR TREK: TMP, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, FORBIDDEN PLANET and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) all had “G” ratings.
I own the DVD and watch it every Christmas. Still, every time the 24-hour marathon is on TBS, I can’t help but keep the channel on and watch bits and pieces or just listen to it while I do something else.
I’ve never been one to really celebrate the holidays, but I’ve always loved the TV marathons you can find:
William, I remember what you’re talking about. It was the original VHS tape in the extra large Warner Brothers box with the gatefold front. I suppose that would be a collectible today.
Yes, Peter. I am, of course, aware of what you’re talking about. What I remember as a child might have been exclusively arranged for the theater I saw the movie at. What I was describing would have been before the movie started; something to keep our eyes occupied instead of stupid pre-movie commercials.
I saw SUPERMAN-THE MOVIE shortly after it was released at the Squire Theater in Great Neck (I live there now). Of course, it was nothing short of spectacular! I have this vague memory before the feature starting of repeated images of the Superman ’S' logo and the title logo, “Superman-The Movie” consistently appearing on the screen while we all waited for the feature to start. Does this at all sound familiar to anyone else who saw the film when it was released?
What a waste of good porn!
Shade, the Quad on 13th Street doesn’t really have more than a typical commercial awning, without any movie titles on it at all. In fact, if you didn’t look real close, you could easily miss that it’s even a movie theater.
They recently showed (or perhaps are still showing) THE DARK KNIGHT, which completely goes against their usual array of independent and (very often) gay films.
Cinema Village on 12th Street.
I wish there had been a major 30th anniversary theatrical re-release of this movie. I’ve never seen it on screen.
This doesn’t sound a whole lot different than a STAR WARS movie opening on a Wednesday in May with early morning showings. People are responsible for their own choices.