![]() | On 16 November 2013, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Charlie Chaplin, which you created or substantially expanded. The fact was ... that in 1972, Charlie Chaplin received an Honorary Academy Award for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century"? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Charlie Chaplin. You are welcome to check how many hits the article got while on the front page ( here's how, quick check) and it will be added to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page. |
Cas Liber ( talk · contribs) 16:05, 16 November 2013 (UTC)
Hi, sorry for not getting back to you earlier: this message will also be a lot more brief than I would wish. I'm having some personal issues at the moment with uni stress, and that's also why I have been a bit MIA this week. I should have some more time next week though – but unfortunately after that you might have to take most of the responsibility of the peer review until mid-December, I'm sorry :( It's last assignments + exam period here and I'm quite worried about how I am managing my stress levels at the moment. I'm sorry :( TrueHeartSusie3 ( talk) 20:33, 16 November 2013 (UTC)TrueHeartSusie3
Ah, memories of uni, sounds like fun. Nothing like going for a good run to get rid of stress. Always works a treat for me!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:04, 16 November 2013 (UTC)
If you have any time to spare from wrestling with the Chaplin review and all the other aspects that fill your time, I'd be very pleased if you could look at the peer review for Stella Gibbons. She was an English novelist of the previous century, a one-book-wonder in many people's eyes, though I think she was worthy of more than that. It is not too long; anything you can suggest would be more than welcome. Brianboulton ( talk) 22:21, 19 November 2013 (UTC)
Just to advise you that this article, which you commented on at PR, is now at WP:FAC. Brianboulton ( talk) 21:44, 27 November 2013 (UTC)
film actresses
Thank you for quality articles on intelligent performers such as
Katharine Hepburn
Julianne Moore and
Charlie Chaplin to the pleasure of millions of readers, for your love of your subjects (shown in your first username), for reviewing,
clean templates and
diplomacy, - you are an
awesome Wikipedian!
Congrats on TFA!!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:15, 3 December 2013 (UTC)
Hello, this is just to let you know that I have granted you the "autopatrolled" permission. This won't affect your editing, it just automatically marks any page you create as patrolled, benefiting new page patrollers. Please remember:
Haha Holiday (1938 film) is hilarious!!! "If I'd known you were rich I'd have proposed after 2 days rather than 10". "I wait until General Motors makes a decision and I do just the opposite". "One summer I drove a garbage truck" -"admirable" LOL!! Loved Summertime (1955 film) too.♦ Dr. Blofeld 20:39, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
Still no luck with Adam's Rib and Woman of the Year. I'll see Long Day's Journey Into Night tomorrow.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:43, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
I've seen Long Days Journey now. Brilliant in parts, a bit tedious in others! Hobson's Choice coming next, I'm gradually working my way back through Lean's filmography!♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:25, 7 December 2013 (UTC)
I do love John Mills in the more "humble" roles. I think he's brilliant in roles such as that and the limping idiot in Ryan's Daughter. I'm not too keen on Brenda De Banzie though, I find her irritating. Physically I find her disagreeable to look at, I think it's her stern features which reminds me of an imperious old dinner lady! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 10:34, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of Undercurrent? Murderous horse!♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:24, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
I was very impressed with Judgement at Nuremberg, sort of like a 60s Schindler's list in terms of subject/quality. I can't think of anybody who could have played the judge more convincingly than Tracey. Best performance I've ever seen from Lancaster. Lean's Blithe Spirit and Great Expectations coming next..♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:28, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Can you think of anymore for Category:Films set in country houses? I've just found that I tend to enjoy films set in country houses so thought it might be a useful category.♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:22, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Agreed on all, although I thought Garland's performance in A Star us Born was better. Yeah perhaps we'd better be stricter with the country house requirement. Feel free to remove the cat from those you disagree with. I loved Blithe Spirit BTW, wasn't overjoyed with Gosford Park I must say, what did you think of it? Considering the acting talent I thought it lacked depth. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:08, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Yup I've seen Another Woman, Hackman played her lover in it didn't he. She was great in that. Surprisingly I enjoyed Chevalier's performance in Love in the Afternoon (1957 film). I usually find him irritating, but I thought he really good in it and enjoyed it. I love every film of Audrey's though! Watching Moby Dick (1956 film) at the moment. Good atmosphere in it, but Peck's performance isn't exactly top notch acting, he's trying too hard to be a stereotypical sailor. Next I'm going to try to see as many of the films which actors and actresses won Best Actor/Actress for. There's loads I haven't seen, especially the older ones for actresses!! Have you seen Pygmalion (1938 film)? That's one I've been meaning to see. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:08, 14 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of War and Peace (1956 film)? I don't think Fonda was right for the role, he didn't look right on screen in it. I can think of more suited actresses than Audrey to the role too. Have you seen The Electric Horseman? I rather enjoyed it!♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:06, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes, her sister Olivia is still living too at 97! Was watching The Private Life of Henry VIII yesterday and I've just seen The Story of Louis Pasteur and will begin on Captains Courageous shortly. In Old Arizona is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it. Not your typical western of that period. Going through the Best Actor films at the moment.. I've seen quite a lot though already which I'll skip of course. I can't get hold of Disraeli from 1931 though.♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:12, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of Captains Courageous, Boys Town, Watch on the Rhine, A Double Life, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Waste Land? I loved Tracy as the Portuguese fisherman!! I enjoyed all of the films, Baby Jane is most brilliant if painful to watch. I've discovered that I enjoy every film of George Cukor's and have been watching some of his 30s films of late. Trying to see more of Bette Davis's films too... ♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:18, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
I'm having a 1936 film watching spree at the moment! Have you seen Libeled Lady, that's a funny one. BTW, any chance you could give Mughal-e-Azam a read and copyedit for Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Mughal-e-Azam/archive1. The article has changed quite a bit since I last read it and not always in a good way. If not, no worries!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:13, 20 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Porco Rosso? It's really good.♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:59, 21 December 2013 (UTC)
Will try to see it! Yes the Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor one. For me it was the stereotypical Golden Hollywood romance film! I enjoyed it but as you say "shamelessly romantic"!♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:38, 21 December 2013 (UTC)
It might be worth bringing up your plot concerns at WP:FILM and asking to see what the general consensus on the matter is. I can certainly see your point, although my feeling is that if people don't want to learn about the film before watching it then don't read the encyclopedia article LOL! The Unforgiven was rather a disappointment I must say, the worst film of Audrey's I've seen to date. It was OK but for John Huston I can see why he considered it his least satisfying film. Khartoum almost felt like it was one of Lean's, I think Peter O Toole would have been better casting than Charlton Heston for the main role though..♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:29, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
Jeff agreed with you and removed it :-].♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:48, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
Well worth a watch.♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:13, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
As a subscriber to one of The Wikipedia Library's programs, we'd like to hear your thoughts about future donations and project activities in this brief survey. Thanks and cheers, Ocaasi t | c 15:26, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
Hi Loeba, apologies for not getting round to the Chaplin PR: a host of on and off wiki things kept getting in the way, not least was writing up Hattie Jacques for a push to FA shortly. I do promise to make sure I am a full and willing participant in a Chaplin FAC, and I hope that you will be there soon with him: I am sure it will be a successful process for you. All the best - SchroCat ( talk) 17:11, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes be sure to let me know when it's at FAC.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:29, 14 December 2013 (UTC)
First of all, as fan of movies, thumbs up on your work shaping the Charlie Chaplin and Katharine Hepburn biographies. I'm reaching out because I need some help with director Christopher Nolan's biography page. I think its pretty good, but I'm always looking at your stuff for inspiration, so here goes nothing; would you care to take a look at our work? Unfortunately I have limitations with the english language (one of those damn Norwegians:-), but I'm aware that the text need some NPOV cleaning, a clooser look at the images/copyright and a new lead. I also hope to fix any weak prose.
Anyway, feel free to pass on this (sorta desperate) request.
All the best Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 13:40, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
Guilty as charged. As you can see in my history I've only worked on his wikipedia page (so far); mostly because I think of him as a gateway into becoming a cineast. As someone who love movies and have an academic background in film, I'm painfully aware of how rare it is to have someone that innovative (other than in VFX) having massive commercial success - particular in today's landscape. While I equally adore, say Wes Anderson's work, I felt Nolan was the perfect guy to start with. I would love to see filmmakers like Haneke, P.T Anderson, Nolan and Malick all have GA/FA quality biographies.
I found your stuff via those old comments and have used your work as inspiration since. Heartwarming to see that old masters like Charlie Chaplin get's the quality treatment they deserve.
Appreciate the kind reply and will happily open it up to a Peer Review. Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 19:25, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
Much appreciated and take all the time you need. Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 21:02, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
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A very happy Christmas and New Year to you! |
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Merry Christmas Loeba! I was watching The Leopard (1963 film) earlier, have you seen it? It's rather good, but not sure it is worth a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Pygmalion was great, but it was like watching a black and white Mr Fair Lady, I hadn't realized the 1964 film was so close! Have you seen Streisand's Funny Girl? Enjoyed that one! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:54, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes I agree, the plot wasn't very gripping, half the film was set in a ballroom LOL. I thought it was very good overall (partly because I love Claudia Cardinale and films set in Italy hehe) but definitely not 100% worthy! I've seen quite a lot of Burt Lancaster films now though and I've concluded that I don't rate him as an actor. His delivery comes across to me as forced, like he's acting being an actor do you know what I mean? Too preachy, like he's rehearsed what he's saying a thousand times looking in a mirror. I agree on Nuremberg and Atlantic City being his best performances, largely because he wasn't forced in his delivery. On American/Italian dubbing I quite like that aspect of it! It makes the production look amusing to me that they've assembled all these different nationality actors into one film. Actually the full length version of Good Bad and the Ugly has a few extra scenes in which Eli Wallach's character is dubbed by a different voice to the rest of the film which is funny!! Funny Girl is a great film and I like that they play on Steisand's looks and make a thing of it in the film. It's quite brilliant in parts I think. ;-)♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:29, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
Lancaster was quite believable in Nuremberg I thought. I've seen La Strada, La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. Fellini's a master of course, too many American /British classics to see at the moment though to concentrate on the French and Italian classics! It's no coincidence that the Criterion Collection and the 1001 films you must see etc tend to have an astounding number of French and Italian movies, Criterion to me seems to have them more than American films!. I agree that the dodgy dubbing cheapens the films though. But for me the dodgy dubbing I suppose is similar to driving a rickety old classic banger. Crap, but has the novelty/character factor! Guys and Dolls is on at 1:50 on BBC2 today. Haven't seen it!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:32, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
That's a good point! I didn't even think that that might be the reason! Just finished watching back to back 1955 films Guys and Dolls and The Night of the Hunter. What a masterpiece the latter is, one of the best films I've seen to date of the 50s and I've seen a lot of 50s movies and counting :-] About to start reading the Chaplin article now...♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:01, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
I don't know how to get those cool Christmas cards, but merry Christmas nonetheless! I hope I can be a bit more active in Wikipedia this coming month – and that I have time to watch some films. Les yeux sans visage was on telly here a couple of weeks ago and my parents very kindly managed to save it for me! TrueHeartSusie3 ( talk) 11:02, 24 December 2013 (UTC)TrueHeartSusie3
You've both done a tremendous job on Chaplin. A joy to read! With pleasure I've given my support with a few minor things brought up. I'd definitely like to see detailed sub articles on each stage of his career though, especially early life as your article has made me thirsty for more!♦ Dr. Blofeld 19:32, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
Merry Christmas! The scene where the girl sings on the dark lake in TNOTH is really atmospheric!! Given how ballsy Shelly Winters was in real life her performance is brilliant acting I thought. I had the 1001 movies book from my sister for Christmas, it's one of the best books ever! I've seen a few hundred of the films, maybe 300-400.It has some strange selections/evasions in part though. I mean it has High Plains Drifter but not The Kid for instance. High Plains is one of my favourite Eastwood movies but it's obviously not comparable to something like The Kid! Currently watching The Red Shoes on BB2 which is in the book of course, I know you recommended it! The original was probably in black and white, I'd guess I'm watching the colourized version. Nope just checked and seems it was in technicolor. Surprising as their skin it in looks a bit paint-like.. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 09:23, 25 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Hugo (film)? What a brilliant film. I enjoyed every single shot of it. It was magical to me and to bring those silent movies to life like that was amazing I thought. I rank this among the best films I've ever seen, it's the last entry in the 1001 book!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:05, 25 December 2013 (UTC)
The one with Harrison Ford on the cover right? I did a check and I've only seen a measly 212, 213 now including Hugo!! 662 is very good! I'm aiming to see all 1001 of course! I'll be ticking more off today, on TV pretty much in succession are The King and I (I only seen bits of it ages ago not the full movie as a film buff) High Society, and Meet me in St Louis! I thought I was watching it before but I watched the Spirit of St Louis LOL! Have you see Black Orpheus? That woman in the film was stunning, such beautiful skin! I have Adam's Rib on DVD now but I was thinking of getting the Hepburn/Tracy set which has ones like Woman of the Year, Pat and Mike and Adam's Rib and reselling the DVD. You remember I said about what the greatest year in film is? The 1001 books intro author seems to think 1940, but I think 1939 (as does Scorsese) first then 1962. If I had to pick a year of particularly groundbreaking or risk taking films though I'd pick 1973. Those years 1972-4 were incredibly important I think in the development of cinema IMO, I think you know what I'm getting at.♦ Dr. Blofeld 10:12, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Thanks for alerting me to that one!! I was going to get [1]! The King and I isn't actually in the book it's on right now, but I'm baffled as to how Brynner won the Oscar in 1956 and James Dean didn't for Giant!!! It's alright, but given that I'm not the biggest fan of Kerr anyway, her singing is a bit irritating.. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:59, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Not surprised you have a vendetta against the film being a remake of Philadelphia! Some films just shouldn't be remade.. Obviously nowhere near as good but I enjoyed it, although the ending was way undercooked. I'd rather have watched that cast in a more Catch a Thief type film rather than that though.♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:53, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Just finished watching Intolerance. Didn't like the way it kept alternating with some weird Babylon story and America. It was bizarre, I didn't have a clue what the Babylon stuff was all about. I gathered parts were about having a baby confiscated and a man to be hanged, but it was rather weird. I can't say I enjoyed it much. Some of the Babylon sets though for the time were rather impressive though, I'll give it that. "The cross-cutting, self-interrupting format is wearisome.... The sheer pretension is a roadblock, " is a very good summary of it. I think if he'd picked say two stories and made the film about 100-120 minutes and not cross cut all the time it could have been an excellent film but too much of the text on the screen was difficult to understand and odd. It's definitely one of those films which the critics rave about and I don't enjoy.♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:39, 27 December 2013 (UTC)
Yeah that's in the 1001 book too and will get around to watching that some time. I shan't be watching another silent for a few days anyway! Les Vampires is like twice the length like 7 or 8 hours. Hahah watching a 7 hr silent movie is the equivalent of like 24 hrs for a modern sound film! 3hrs is gruelling enough! 7 hrs is bleedin' ridiculous!♦ Dr. Blofeld 16:02, 27 December 2013 (UTC)
Excellent!! Got better as it progressed I thought. loved Lilies of the field too. On the infobox front I support them on most articles which have a lot of data like sportspeople, aircraft, boats, buildings, settlements, most types of articles really. But in biographies where the boxes are very short and contain nothing really which isn't said in the intro I really don't see their use other than as decoration. I think a nice big photo looks more presentable personally. The infobox thing is something which really needs to be solved. I'd support a mandatory infobox box thing controlled by wikidata and editors have the option to hide them to their own preference. It causes more trouble than it's worth.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:26, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Lilies of the Field? It really is a lovely little film, the English lessons are a gem!! I love Poitier's films in that period, you can cut the atmosphere in some of his films with a knife, you can really sense the way he represented the path to accepting black men as equals during that period. He's treated like an alien in a lot of his films which I think is half good acting, half reality. I can sense that even some of his co-stars are wary of him being black and a lead actor and it is quite inspiring to see his films evolve and him become like the film poster boy for the revolution in the 1960s.♦ Dr. Blofeld 08:11, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
Very interesting! Yes, I'm sure a lot of the others would say the same thing. Yes, a lot of the actors in the 60s looked uncomfortable around him, and I think it was reflective of what the public were probably thinking at the time. Some of the actresses especially seemed a bit guarded having him look at them, like he was some sort of randy monkey or something. There is definitely a stereotype and I think probably a lot of them had little or no experience working with black actors, a leading, intelligent black actor back in those days was really revolutionary. Blacks in films like Jezebel, Gone with the Wind etc were always portrayed as dumb slaves weren't they. It didn't help though that Poitier rarely seemed to blink, he has these staring, transfixed eyes doesn't he which makes him stand out even more!♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:37, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
I saw American Hustle earlier!! It was a pretty good film but SOO badly copied in part mostly from Casino and films like Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco and American Gangster. I agree that it was a bit of "a sloppy sprawl" at least in the middle as the Variety reviewer says, it lacked the cohesion and believability to quite be a great film on the level of Scorsese's films but I enjoyed the film overall. Compared to a lot of the franchise superhero crap it was a great film though!! Bale is SO obviously impersonating Robert de Niro in Casino. One of his lines "It's a sign of disrespect" is lifted directly from the scene in Casino where one of the "cowboy" visitors to the Casino has his feet on the table and he's taken out the back and beaten up by Joe Pesci! He does a very good job on impersonating him though but De Niro was in the film and I reckon he taught Bale his mannerisms!! Baffled as why De Niro wasn't credited though. Bale's comb over in the film is hilarious!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:58, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
I enjoyed Last Vegas too.. Currently watching 1900 (film), 5 hrs 7 minutes!! Have you seen it?♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:05, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah, him swinging around the child and banging his head against the wall and killing him and the shooting in the rain was a bit extreme, he was certainly rather scary! I thought the film was a masterpiece and I'm definitely much richer for having watched it, but I fully agree with one of the Rotten Tomatoes reviewers who said it's like eating too much of your favourite pasta. It could have easily been cut by an hour. The ending lasted like 50 minutes when it alone could have been cut to 10. I saw Easy A last night which I thought was rather funny in part. I really like Emma Stone, including her 60 year old smoker's voice which while a downside to most women I think it actually makes her more undearing in an odd way. Obviously the film is teeny-bopper oriented but I tend to enjoy high school comedies like American Pie and Drillbit Taylor. They're fun to watch even if I don't take them as serious pieces of cinema. I'm about to watch Touch of Evil.♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:44, 5 January 2014 (UTC) Touch of Evil was enjoyable but in all honesty I didn't think it was brilliant. I mean Heston as a Mexican for a start... Have you seen The Most Boring Film Ever Released? It joins my small batch of super duds.♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:27, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
It is good? Cool. 12 Years a Slave I've also been thinking about going to see. Avoid Greatest Story like the plague!! Read the reviews here! I consider Max Van Sydow to be a very respectable actor but it's almost like they sedated him, took his soul and left him with one expression, he's like a zombie as Jesus. The film had me yawning all the way through and I genuinely had to check myself several times from shutting off for a kip! Never a bright moment, nothing to lift the mood, even the silly cameos in it. It's not that the film, the scenery or whatever is bog standard or dreadful, but its the way the scene are compiled and the lifelessness of the actors in it which make it exceedingly dull and uninspiring to watch. David Lean was apparently an uncredited assistant director on it which I find hard to believe. Uncredited perhaps because of sheer embarrassment with the result. I'm not sure how anything in which Lean so much as touched ended up that dull... I just saw Treasure Island (1972 film). Welles was perfect casting as Long John! Repulsion and Barry Lydon I'm planning on watching tomorrow. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:23, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
I was 14 I think and felt pretty much the same and would now I think if I saw it again. It was her obesity and convincing smug face, the hideous decor on the walls and the pool of blood of her mother and sister's bodies and then the arrangement scene in particular combined which was truly horrendous and surpasses anything I've seen in some of the notoriously scary films. Yes that storage room and attic I think it was with the corpses in chairs in Texas Chain Saw I think rank among the worst rooms in any film, but the fact that the sons were pretty retarded and that monotonous tone of the chainsaw took the film's sting out of it a bit for me. Still, definitely the scariest slasher film I've seen overall, but as you say the elements in it made it far more disturbing and convincing than your typical slasher. Sorry if I implied Repulsion was a slasher film, I am aware it is a psycho horror! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:13, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
I've seen Repulsion just now! Very good, loved the contrast in black and white and the atmosphere of the film but I must admit I didn't find anything in it which really disturbed me. For me Rosemary's Baby had creepier scenes in it. Deneuve and 60s London was too attractive to look at for me! Obviously it's a dark movie though and a sad one. I was a bit disappointed with the way the first guy was murdered so soon after shutting the door. I was hoping for some sexual aggression between them and something more brutal! The corridor scene with the hands though was definitely creepy! The only film I can think of at the moment which really made me feel disturbed/depressed was actually Changeling. The ranch scenes, particularly the children being forced to kill and the bones being dug up and then of course the asylum and the hanging and then after it all her never finding her son. On a brighter note, did you like The Ladykillers? I thought it was great! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:56, 6 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah, I agree the ending was the saddest part! I tell you an actor who's starting to become one of my favourites, Lee J. Cobb. He's been great in everything I've seen him in whether it was On The Waterfront, 12 Angry Men, Man of the West or The Exorcist! His facial expression just screamed "asshole boss" didn't it LOL! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:42, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
I've seen Dallas Buyer's Club now! Very good film, McConaughey was excellent wasn't he, but something will be seriously wrong for me if Leto doesn't win Best Supporting Actor. I thought he was brilliant. I doubt the film will win Best Picture though but it'll definitely get a nomination and a nom for Best Actor for McConaughey I think. BTW I started Hylda Queally, very talented lady herself it seems with an eye for spotting talent!♦ Dr. Blofeld 15:30, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah that's definitely by far the best performance I've seen from him. He is a native Texan anyway but he couldn't have looked more like how you'd envisage a white trash rodeo guy who had AIDS!! Really got the appearance of the real life guy right too [2]. The only downside to the film for me was that I was a bit disappointed with the ending, I wanted to see him win that court case, and I think it would have been more moving if he'd died helping somebody or whatever rather than the note that he died but it is based on a true story after all. I think you're right, Ejiofor at present looks most likely to scoop it.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:48, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
I see you've been reverted at it restored to "her" by an individual who obviously has personal issues with it...♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:29, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
Hehe if transexual is offensive these days what would sort of response would "tranny" get! Have you seen In a Lonely Place? I quite enjoyed it, great noir atmsophere, although the ending again was rather disappointing! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:42, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
Blonde Cobra is definitely the most bizarre film I've ever seen. It is a sicko decision to include it in the book too! It's rather repulsive and obviously intended to shock. The article was missing. It's a half decent start on it anyway. I can quite safely say though that it is definitely not a film anybody must see! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:48, 9 January 2014 (UTC)
How any decent person could call Blonde Cobra a comic movie and a classic beats me. It's a piece of crap!! There's little shocking graphically about the film but the content really isn't funny. And to think that the authors included it at the expense of ones like Lilies of the Field and Charade for 1963 beats me! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:16, 10 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah AH tries too hard to be a Scorsese like classic doesn't it and comes across as false in doing so. Enjoyable and a good film nonetheless. I've seen 12 Years a Slave now! Strongly recommend it, it's a great film! It's sure to win Oscars and I wouldn't be surprised if it won multiple ones. For me though the strongest performances were by Fassbender and Lupito Nyong'o. I had thought Jared Leto's performance would easily win Best Supporting Actor but I was very impressed with Fassbender who really made the film what it was in my opinion. It was a great film but I did think it was lacking something a bit in terms of plot, I'd hoped to have seen more of a twist and filming of the court proceedings at the end of the film but it ended pretty abruptly and he was then reunited and then messages came up on what happened before it finished. I also didn't like Brad Pitt's role in the film. To me it makes him look very egotistical (him being producer and cherry picking such a role), him being the one who essentially freed the slave. It'll still go down as a classic though for sure. I loved the look of the film, it really felt like the 1840s or whatever it was, and the plantation looked really genuine, I believe it was actually shot at Magnolia in Louisiana which was actually one and it really felt like it.♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:50, 11 January 2014 (UTC)
Watched Lord of the Rings trilogy through entirely earlier (haven't been feeling too well was in bed). I've had them on DVD since they came out, extended versions too but I don't think I've watched them in nearly 10 years. I doubt you'd agree but I really do have to consider it the greatest film I've ever seen by a mile if you consider the three together as one and actually look at what is created within the film. It really has a balance of everything and takes you into a different world. I was viewing it through completely different eyes than I did 10 years ago, I found it hard going in the cinema, especally the 3 hr 30 Return of the King but I'm well adjusted to film watching marathons now! Virtually every scene was not just enjoyable but a marvel to watch and there are very few films I can really say that about. Just the combination of the stunning scenery, the characters, tasteful and stunning CGI work and the nailing of what are clearly extremely difficult aspects to get right like Gollum etc, the beautiful Celtic music and feel of the film all combined for me it far surpasses anything I've ever seen. I think of all the historical epics/epics which are obviously among the best made and the sheer body of work of the trilogy I think it easily surpasses them all. I mean to even begin to envisage making a film on a book as complex and long as LOR is mind boggling but to actually produce it so wonderfully. Funny thing is I don't rate the recent Hobbit films, they're good but unlike the LOR films feel like they're being dragged out just to make money. But I was watching LOR trying to find flaws in the way it was shot and to figure out how they shot certain scenes and it still boggles my mind how they managed to pull it off and make it look convincing!♦ Dr. Blofeld 23:01, 13 January 2014 (UTC)
Agreed, The Hobbit is a disappointment and was clearly made for making money. The second one was even worse as you say than the first which I said the same thing about to you a while back. The artistry of it has been ruined by the dragging it out to make money. Obviously they're still well done but as you say 2 films max it should have been. I mean three films for the Hobbit (probably even shorter than one of the three books) and three films for LOR says it all. Obviously there's classic films which have stronger character/emotional interaction/or a more gripping/intense action/comedy etc but as one work I honestly haven't seen any movie which even comes close to being on such an epic scale and cinematic grandeur. Yeah I last saw it through in about 2004 I think, once on my DVDs after seeing all in the cinema of course and I found it hard going back then and too much for me to really fully enjoy. I've seen tons of films since and the film for me now is far better than it was when released, breathtaking to watch. The only minor thing for me was that it was missing Tom Bombadil, probably the most awesome character in the book, and the ending wasn't really quite as strong as it could be. What did you think of Avatar? I thought it technically a groundbreaking film, yes, and obviously visually spectacular in parts, but definitely was not a great film IMO because of the rather weak/unoriginal plot. It sort of felt like Dances with Wolves/Aliens/Apocalypse Now with tall blue people. Those films of course were all great, but Avatar I think was hugely overhyped and nowhere near as good as it could have been using that sort of technology. I hope in the sequels Cameron tries to think more about pushing boundaries with the subject matter. Give me Titanic any day!!♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:59, 14 January 2014 (UTC)
In thinking about it Fatal Attraction is pretty scary!♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:25, 18 January 2014 (UTC)
@ Dr. Blofeld: I've been helping out a bit with the Christopher Nolan article, and I think it's probably good enough for GA now. If I advised the primary editor to nominate it, would you be interested in doing the review? -- Loeba (talk) 18:41, 18 January 2014 (UTC)
Since you were involved in a similar discussion at Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Actors_and_Filmmakers#Should_.22award.22_articles_be_comprehensive.3F I thought you might want to comment on the propriety of including Film Critic Societies at Critic top 10 lists in film articles at Talk:In_a_World...#Request_for_Comment.-- TonyTheTiger ( T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 19:07, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
I have noticed your marvellously thorough contributions to the peer review of Stella Gibbons, and as I now have her contemporary colleague Hugh Walpole up for peer review I'd be most glad of your thoughts, if you have time and disposition to look in. Quite understand if not, naturally. – Tim riley ( talk) 16:39, 31 December 2013 (UTC)
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The Tireless Contributor Barnstar | |
For your tireless contributions. Span ( talk) 15:02, 3 January 2014 (UTC) |
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![]() | On 16 November 2013, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Charlie Chaplin, which you created or substantially expanded. The fact was ... that in 1972, Charlie Chaplin received an Honorary Academy Award for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century"? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Charlie Chaplin. You are welcome to check how many hits the article got while on the front page ( here's how, quick check) and it will be added to DYKSTATS if it got over 5,000. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page. |
Cas Liber ( talk · contribs) 16:05, 16 November 2013 (UTC)
Hi, sorry for not getting back to you earlier: this message will also be a lot more brief than I would wish. I'm having some personal issues at the moment with uni stress, and that's also why I have been a bit MIA this week. I should have some more time next week though – but unfortunately after that you might have to take most of the responsibility of the peer review until mid-December, I'm sorry :( It's last assignments + exam period here and I'm quite worried about how I am managing my stress levels at the moment. I'm sorry :( TrueHeartSusie3 ( talk) 20:33, 16 November 2013 (UTC)TrueHeartSusie3
Ah, memories of uni, sounds like fun. Nothing like going for a good run to get rid of stress. Always works a treat for me!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:04, 16 November 2013 (UTC)
If you have any time to spare from wrestling with the Chaplin review and all the other aspects that fill your time, I'd be very pleased if you could look at the peer review for Stella Gibbons. She was an English novelist of the previous century, a one-book-wonder in many people's eyes, though I think she was worthy of more than that. It is not too long; anything you can suggest would be more than welcome. Brianboulton ( talk) 22:21, 19 November 2013 (UTC)
Just to advise you that this article, which you commented on at PR, is now at WP:FAC. Brianboulton ( talk) 21:44, 27 November 2013 (UTC)
film actresses
Thank you for quality articles on intelligent performers such as
Katharine Hepburn
Julianne Moore and
Charlie Chaplin to the pleasure of millions of readers, for your love of your subjects (shown in your first username), for reviewing,
clean templates and
diplomacy, - you are an
awesome Wikipedian!
Congrats on TFA!!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:15, 3 December 2013 (UTC)
Hello, this is just to let you know that I have granted you the "autopatrolled" permission. This won't affect your editing, it just automatically marks any page you create as patrolled, benefiting new page patrollers. Please remember:
Haha Holiday (1938 film) is hilarious!!! "If I'd known you were rich I'd have proposed after 2 days rather than 10". "I wait until General Motors makes a decision and I do just the opposite". "One summer I drove a garbage truck" -"admirable" LOL!! Loved Summertime (1955 film) too.♦ Dr. Blofeld 20:39, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
Still no luck with Adam's Rib and Woman of the Year. I'll see Long Day's Journey Into Night tomorrow.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:43, 5 December 2013 (UTC)
I've seen Long Days Journey now. Brilliant in parts, a bit tedious in others! Hobson's Choice coming next, I'm gradually working my way back through Lean's filmography!♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:25, 7 December 2013 (UTC)
I do love John Mills in the more "humble" roles. I think he's brilliant in roles such as that and the limping idiot in Ryan's Daughter. I'm not too keen on Brenda De Banzie though, I find her irritating. Physically I find her disagreeable to look at, I think it's her stern features which reminds me of an imperious old dinner lady! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 10:34, 8 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of Undercurrent? Murderous horse!♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:24, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
I was very impressed with Judgement at Nuremberg, sort of like a 60s Schindler's list in terms of subject/quality. I can't think of anybody who could have played the judge more convincingly than Tracey. Best performance I've ever seen from Lancaster. Lean's Blithe Spirit and Great Expectations coming next..♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:28, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Can you think of anymore for Category:Films set in country houses? I've just found that I tend to enjoy films set in country houses so thought it might be a useful category.♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:22, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Agreed on all, although I thought Garland's performance in A Star us Born was better. Yeah perhaps we'd better be stricter with the country house requirement. Feel free to remove the cat from those you disagree with. I loved Blithe Spirit BTW, wasn't overjoyed with Gosford Park I must say, what did you think of it? Considering the acting talent I thought it lacked depth. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:08, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
Yup I've seen Another Woman, Hackman played her lover in it didn't he. She was great in that. Surprisingly I enjoyed Chevalier's performance in Love in the Afternoon (1957 film). I usually find him irritating, but I thought he really good in it and enjoyed it. I love every film of Audrey's though! Watching Moby Dick (1956 film) at the moment. Good atmosphere in it, but Peck's performance isn't exactly top notch acting, he's trying too hard to be a stereotypical sailor. Next I'm going to try to see as many of the films which actors and actresses won Best Actor/Actress for. There's loads I haven't seen, especially the older ones for actresses!! Have you seen Pygmalion (1938 film)? That's one I've been meaning to see. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:08, 14 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of War and Peace (1956 film)? I don't think Fonda was right for the role, he didn't look right on screen in it. I can think of more suited actresses than Audrey to the role too. Have you seen The Electric Horseman? I rather enjoyed it!♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:06, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes, her sister Olivia is still living too at 97! Was watching The Private Life of Henry VIII yesterday and I've just seen The Story of Louis Pasteur and will begin on Captains Courageous shortly. In Old Arizona is well worth a watch if you haven't seen it. Not your typical western of that period. Going through the Best Actor films at the moment.. I've seen quite a lot though already which I'll skip of course. I can't get hold of Disraeli from 1931 though.♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:12, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
What did you think of Captains Courageous, Boys Town, Watch on the Rhine, A Double Life, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Waste Land? I loved Tracy as the Portuguese fisherman!! I enjoyed all of the films, Baby Jane is most brilliant if painful to watch. I've discovered that I enjoy every film of George Cukor's and have been watching some of his 30s films of late. Trying to see more of Bette Davis's films too... ♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:18, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
I'm having a 1936 film watching spree at the moment! Have you seen Libeled Lady, that's a funny one. BTW, any chance you could give Mughal-e-Azam a read and copyedit for Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Mughal-e-Azam/archive1. The article has changed quite a bit since I last read it and not always in a good way. If not, no worries!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:13, 20 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Porco Rosso? It's really good.♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:59, 21 December 2013 (UTC)
Will try to see it! Yes the Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor one. For me it was the stereotypical Golden Hollywood romance film! I enjoyed it but as you say "shamelessly romantic"!♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:38, 21 December 2013 (UTC)
It might be worth bringing up your plot concerns at WP:FILM and asking to see what the general consensus on the matter is. I can certainly see your point, although my feeling is that if people don't want to learn about the film before watching it then don't read the encyclopedia article LOL! The Unforgiven was rather a disappointment I must say, the worst film of Audrey's I've seen to date. It was OK but for John Huston I can see why he considered it his least satisfying film. Khartoum almost felt like it was one of Lean's, I think Peter O Toole would have been better casting than Charlton Heston for the main role though..♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:29, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
Jeff agreed with you and removed it :-].♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:48, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
Well worth a watch.♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:13, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
As a subscriber to one of The Wikipedia Library's programs, we'd like to hear your thoughts about future donations and project activities in this brief survey. Thanks and cheers, Ocaasi t | c 15:26, 9 December 2013 (UTC)
Hi Loeba, apologies for not getting round to the Chaplin PR: a host of on and off wiki things kept getting in the way, not least was writing up Hattie Jacques for a push to FA shortly. I do promise to make sure I am a full and willing participant in a Chaplin FAC, and I hope that you will be there soon with him: I am sure it will be a successful process for you. All the best - SchroCat ( talk) 17:11, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes be sure to let me know when it's at FAC.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:29, 14 December 2013 (UTC)
First of all, as fan of movies, thumbs up on your work shaping the Charlie Chaplin and Katharine Hepburn biographies. I'm reaching out because I need some help with director Christopher Nolan's biography page. I think its pretty good, but I'm always looking at your stuff for inspiration, so here goes nothing; would you care to take a look at our work? Unfortunately I have limitations with the english language (one of those damn Norwegians:-), but I'm aware that the text need some NPOV cleaning, a clooser look at the images/copyright and a new lead. I also hope to fix any weak prose.
Anyway, feel free to pass on this (sorta desperate) request.
All the best Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 13:40, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
Guilty as charged. As you can see in my history I've only worked on his wikipedia page (so far); mostly because I think of him as a gateway into becoming a cineast. As someone who love movies and have an academic background in film, I'm painfully aware of how rare it is to have someone that innovative (other than in VFX) having massive commercial success - particular in today's landscape. While I equally adore, say Wes Anderson's work, I felt Nolan was the perfect guy to start with. I would love to see filmmakers like Haneke, P.T Anderson, Nolan and Malick all have GA/FA quality biographies.
I found your stuff via those old comments and have used your work as inspiration since. Heartwarming to see that old masters like Charlie Chaplin get's the quality treatment they deserve.
Appreciate the kind reply and will happily open it up to a Peer Review. Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 19:25, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
Much appreciated and take all the time you need. Sammyjankis88 ( talk) 21:02, 19 December 2013 (UTC)
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A very happy Christmas and New Year to you! |
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Merry Christmas Loeba! I was watching The Leopard (1963 film) earlier, have you seen it? It's rather good, but not sure it is worth a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Pygmalion was great, but it was like watching a black and white Mr Fair Lady, I hadn't realized the 1964 film was so close! Have you seen Streisand's Funny Girl? Enjoyed that one! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:54, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes I agree, the plot wasn't very gripping, half the film was set in a ballroom LOL. I thought it was very good overall (partly because I love Claudia Cardinale and films set in Italy hehe) but definitely not 100% worthy! I've seen quite a lot of Burt Lancaster films now though and I've concluded that I don't rate him as an actor. His delivery comes across to me as forced, like he's acting being an actor do you know what I mean? Too preachy, like he's rehearsed what he's saying a thousand times looking in a mirror. I agree on Nuremberg and Atlantic City being his best performances, largely because he wasn't forced in his delivery. On American/Italian dubbing I quite like that aspect of it! It makes the production look amusing to me that they've assembled all these different nationality actors into one film. Actually the full length version of Good Bad and the Ugly has a few extra scenes in which Eli Wallach's character is dubbed by a different voice to the rest of the film which is funny!! Funny Girl is a great film and I like that they play on Steisand's looks and make a thing of it in the film. It's quite brilliant in parts I think. ;-)♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:29, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
Lancaster was quite believable in Nuremberg I thought. I've seen La Strada, La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. Fellini's a master of course, too many American /British classics to see at the moment though to concentrate on the French and Italian classics! It's no coincidence that the Criterion Collection and the 1001 films you must see etc tend to have an astounding number of French and Italian movies, Criterion to me seems to have them more than American films!. I agree that the dodgy dubbing cheapens the films though. But for me the dodgy dubbing I suppose is similar to driving a rickety old classic banger. Crap, but has the novelty/character factor! Guys and Dolls is on at 1:50 on BBC2 today. Haven't seen it!♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:32, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
That's a good point! I didn't even think that that might be the reason! Just finished watching back to back 1955 films Guys and Dolls and The Night of the Hunter. What a masterpiece the latter is, one of the best films I've seen to date of the 50s and I've seen a lot of 50s movies and counting :-] About to start reading the Chaplin article now...♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:01, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
I don't know how to get those cool Christmas cards, but merry Christmas nonetheless! I hope I can be a bit more active in Wikipedia this coming month – and that I have time to watch some films. Les yeux sans visage was on telly here a couple of weeks ago and my parents very kindly managed to save it for me! TrueHeartSusie3 ( talk) 11:02, 24 December 2013 (UTC)TrueHeartSusie3
You've both done a tremendous job on Chaplin. A joy to read! With pleasure I've given my support with a few minor things brought up. I'd definitely like to see detailed sub articles on each stage of his career though, especially early life as your article has made me thirsty for more!♦ Dr. Blofeld 19:32, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
Merry Christmas! The scene where the girl sings on the dark lake in TNOTH is really atmospheric!! Given how ballsy Shelly Winters was in real life her performance is brilliant acting I thought. I had the 1001 movies book from my sister for Christmas, it's one of the best books ever! I've seen a few hundred of the films, maybe 300-400.It has some strange selections/evasions in part though. I mean it has High Plains Drifter but not The Kid for instance. High Plains is one of my favourite Eastwood movies but it's obviously not comparable to something like The Kid! Currently watching The Red Shoes on BB2 which is in the book of course, I know you recommended it! The original was probably in black and white, I'd guess I'm watching the colourized version. Nope just checked and seems it was in technicolor. Surprising as their skin it in looks a bit paint-like.. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 09:23, 25 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Hugo (film)? What a brilliant film. I enjoyed every single shot of it. It was magical to me and to bring those silent movies to life like that was amazing I thought. I rank this among the best films I've ever seen, it's the last entry in the 1001 book!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:05, 25 December 2013 (UTC)
The one with Harrison Ford on the cover right? I did a check and I've only seen a measly 212, 213 now including Hugo!! 662 is very good! I'm aiming to see all 1001 of course! I'll be ticking more off today, on TV pretty much in succession are The King and I (I only seen bits of it ages ago not the full movie as a film buff) High Society, and Meet me in St Louis! I thought I was watching it before but I watched the Spirit of St Louis LOL! Have you see Black Orpheus? That woman in the film was stunning, such beautiful skin! I have Adam's Rib on DVD now but I was thinking of getting the Hepburn/Tracy set which has ones like Woman of the Year, Pat and Mike and Adam's Rib and reselling the DVD. You remember I said about what the greatest year in film is? The 1001 books intro author seems to think 1940, but I think 1939 (as does Scorsese) first then 1962. If I had to pick a year of particularly groundbreaking or risk taking films though I'd pick 1973. Those years 1972-4 were incredibly important I think in the development of cinema IMO, I think you know what I'm getting at.♦ Dr. Blofeld 10:12, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Thanks for alerting me to that one!! I was going to get [1]! The King and I isn't actually in the book it's on right now, but I'm baffled as to how Brynner won the Oscar in 1956 and James Dean didn't for Giant!!! It's alright, but given that I'm not the biggest fan of Kerr anyway, her singing is a bit irritating.. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:59, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Not surprised you have a vendetta against the film being a remake of Philadelphia! Some films just shouldn't be remade.. Obviously nowhere near as good but I enjoyed it, although the ending was way undercooked. I'd rather have watched that cast in a more Catch a Thief type film rather than that though.♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:53, 26 December 2013 (UTC)
Just finished watching Intolerance. Didn't like the way it kept alternating with some weird Babylon story and America. It was bizarre, I didn't have a clue what the Babylon stuff was all about. I gathered parts were about having a baby confiscated and a man to be hanged, but it was rather weird. I can't say I enjoyed it much. Some of the Babylon sets though for the time were rather impressive though, I'll give it that. "The cross-cutting, self-interrupting format is wearisome.... The sheer pretension is a roadblock, " is a very good summary of it. I think if he'd picked say two stories and made the film about 100-120 minutes and not cross cut all the time it could have been an excellent film but too much of the text on the screen was difficult to understand and odd. It's definitely one of those films which the critics rave about and I don't enjoy.♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:39, 27 December 2013 (UTC)
Yeah that's in the 1001 book too and will get around to watching that some time. I shan't be watching another silent for a few days anyway! Les Vampires is like twice the length like 7 or 8 hours. Hahah watching a 7 hr silent movie is the equivalent of like 24 hrs for a modern sound film! 3hrs is gruelling enough! 7 hrs is bleedin' ridiculous!♦ Dr. Blofeld 16:02, 27 December 2013 (UTC)
Excellent!! Got better as it progressed I thought. loved Lilies of the field too. On the infobox front I support them on most articles which have a lot of data like sportspeople, aircraft, boats, buildings, settlements, most types of articles really. But in biographies where the boxes are very short and contain nothing really which isn't said in the intro I really don't see their use other than as decoration. I think a nice big photo looks more presentable personally. The infobox thing is something which really needs to be solved. I'd support a mandatory infobox box thing controlled by wikidata and editors have the option to hide them to their own preference. It causes more trouble than it's worth.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:26, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
Have you seen Lilies of the Field? It really is a lovely little film, the English lessons are a gem!! I love Poitier's films in that period, you can cut the atmosphere in some of his films with a knife, you can really sense the way he represented the path to accepting black men as equals during that period. He's treated like an alien in a lot of his films which I think is half good acting, half reality. I can sense that even some of his co-stars are wary of him being black and a lead actor and it is quite inspiring to see his films evolve and him become like the film poster boy for the revolution in the 1960s.♦ Dr. Blofeld 08:11, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
Very interesting! Yes, I'm sure a lot of the others would say the same thing. Yes, a lot of the actors in the 60s looked uncomfortable around him, and I think it was reflective of what the public were probably thinking at the time. Some of the actresses especially seemed a bit guarded having him look at them, like he was some sort of randy monkey or something. There is definitely a stereotype and I think probably a lot of them had little or no experience working with black actors, a leading, intelligent black actor back in those days was really revolutionary. Blacks in films like Jezebel, Gone with the Wind etc were always portrayed as dumb slaves weren't they. It didn't help though that Poitier rarely seemed to blink, he has these staring, transfixed eyes doesn't he which makes him stand out even more!♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:37, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
I saw American Hustle earlier!! It was a pretty good film but SOO badly copied in part mostly from Casino and films like Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco and American Gangster. I agree that it was a bit of "a sloppy sprawl" at least in the middle as the Variety reviewer says, it lacked the cohesion and believability to quite be a great film on the level of Scorsese's films but I enjoyed the film overall. Compared to a lot of the franchise superhero crap it was a great film though!! Bale is SO obviously impersonating Robert de Niro in Casino. One of his lines "It's a sign of disrespect" is lifted directly from the scene in Casino where one of the "cowboy" visitors to the Casino has his feet on the table and he's taken out the back and beaten up by Joe Pesci! He does a very good job on impersonating him though but De Niro was in the film and I reckon he taught Bale his mannerisms!! Baffled as why De Niro wasn't credited though. Bale's comb over in the film is hilarious!♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:58, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
I enjoyed Last Vegas too.. Currently watching 1900 (film), 5 hrs 7 minutes!! Have you seen it?♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:05, 4 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah, him swinging around the child and banging his head against the wall and killing him and the shooting in the rain was a bit extreme, he was certainly rather scary! I thought the film was a masterpiece and I'm definitely much richer for having watched it, but I fully agree with one of the Rotten Tomatoes reviewers who said it's like eating too much of your favourite pasta. It could have easily been cut by an hour. The ending lasted like 50 minutes when it alone could have been cut to 10. I saw Easy A last night which I thought was rather funny in part. I really like Emma Stone, including her 60 year old smoker's voice which while a downside to most women I think it actually makes her more undearing in an odd way. Obviously the film is teeny-bopper oriented but I tend to enjoy high school comedies like American Pie and Drillbit Taylor. They're fun to watch even if I don't take them as serious pieces of cinema. I'm about to watch Touch of Evil.♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:44, 5 January 2014 (UTC) Touch of Evil was enjoyable but in all honesty I didn't think it was brilliant. I mean Heston as a Mexican for a start... Have you seen The Most Boring Film Ever Released? It joins my small batch of super duds.♦ Dr. Blofeld 17:27, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
It is good? Cool. 12 Years a Slave I've also been thinking about going to see. Avoid Greatest Story like the plague!! Read the reviews here! I consider Max Van Sydow to be a very respectable actor but it's almost like they sedated him, took his soul and left him with one expression, he's like a zombie as Jesus. The film had me yawning all the way through and I genuinely had to check myself several times from shutting off for a kip! Never a bright moment, nothing to lift the mood, even the silly cameos in it. It's not that the film, the scenery or whatever is bog standard or dreadful, but its the way the scene are compiled and the lifelessness of the actors in it which make it exceedingly dull and uninspiring to watch. David Lean was apparently an uncredited assistant director on it which I find hard to believe. Uncredited perhaps because of sheer embarrassment with the result. I'm not sure how anything in which Lean so much as touched ended up that dull... I just saw Treasure Island (1972 film). Welles was perfect casting as Long John! Repulsion and Barry Lydon I'm planning on watching tomorrow. ♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:23, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
I was 14 I think and felt pretty much the same and would now I think if I saw it again. It was her obesity and convincing smug face, the hideous decor on the walls and the pool of blood of her mother and sister's bodies and then the arrangement scene in particular combined which was truly horrendous and surpasses anything I've seen in some of the notoriously scary films. Yes that storage room and attic I think it was with the corpses in chairs in Texas Chain Saw I think rank among the worst rooms in any film, but the fact that the sons were pretty retarded and that monotonous tone of the chainsaw took the film's sting out of it a bit for me. Still, definitely the scariest slasher film I've seen overall, but as you say the elements in it made it far more disturbing and convincing than your typical slasher. Sorry if I implied Repulsion was a slasher film, I am aware it is a psycho horror! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:13, 5 January 2014 (UTC)
I've seen Repulsion just now! Very good, loved the contrast in black and white and the atmosphere of the film but I must admit I didn't find anything in it which really disturbed me. For me Rosemary's Baby had creepier scenes in it. Deneuve and 60s London was too attractive to look at for me! Obviously it's a dark movie though and a sad one. I was a bit disappointed with the way the first guy was murdered so soon after shutting the door. I was hoping for some sexual aggression between them and something more brutal! The corridor scene with the hands though was definitely creepy! The only film I can think of at the moment which really made me feel disturbed/depressed was actually Changeling. The ranch scenes, particularly the children being forced to kill and the bones being dug up and then of course the asylum and the hanging and then after it all her never finding her son. On a brighter note, did you like The Ladykillers? I thought it was great! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:56, 6 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah, I agree the ending was the saddest part! I tell you an actor who's starting to become one of my favourites, Lee J. Cobb. He's been great in everything I've seen him in whether it was On The Waterfront, 12 Angry Men, Man of the West or The Exorcist! His facial expression just screamed "asshole boss" didn't it LOL! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 11:42, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
I've seen Dallas Buyer's Club now! Very good film, McConaughey was excellent wasn't he, but something will be seriously wrong for me if Leto doesn't win Best Supporting Actor. I thought he was brilliant. I doubt the film will win Best Picture though but it'll definitely get a nomination and a nom for Best Actor for McConaughey I think. BTW I started Hylda Queally, very talented lady herself it seems with an eye for spotting talent!♦ Dr. Blofeld 15:30, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah that's definitely by far the best performance I've seen from him. He is a native Texan anyway but he couldn't have looked more like how you'd envisage a white trash rodeo guy who had AIDS!! Really got the appearance of the real life guy right too [2]. The only downside to the film for me was that I was a bit disappointed with the ending, I wanted to see him win that court case, and I think it would have been more moving if he'd died helping somebody or whatever rather than the note that he died but it is based on a true story after all. I think you're right, Ejiofor at present looks most likely to scoop it.♦ Dr. Blofeld 21:48, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
I see you've been reverted at it restored to "her" by an individual who obviously has personal issues with it...♦ Dr. Blofeld 12:29, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
Hehe if transexual is offensive these days what would sort of response would "tranny" get! Have you seen In a Lonely Place? I quite enjoyed it, great noir atmsophere, although the ending again was rather disappointing! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:42, 8 January 2014 (UTC)
Blonde Cobra is definitely the most bizarre film I've ever seen. It is a sicko decision to include it in the book too! It's rather repulsive and obviously intended to shock. The article was missing. It's a half decent start on it anyway. I can quite safely say though that it is definitely not a film anybody must see! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:48, 9 January 2014 (UTC)
How any decent person could call Blonde Cobra a comic movie and a classic beats me. It's a piece of crap!! There's little shocking graphically about the film but the content really isn't funny. And to think that the authors included it at the expense of ones like Lilies of the Field and Charade for 1963 beats me! ♦ Dr. Blofeld 18:16, 10 January 2014 (UTC)
Yeah AH tries too hard to be a Scorsese like classic doesn't it and comes across as false in doing so. Enjoyable and a good film nonetheless. I've seen 12 Years a Slave now! Strongly recommend it, it's a great film! It's sure to win Oscars and I wouldn't be surprised if it won multiple ones. For me though the strongest performances were by Fassbender and Lupito Nyong'o. I had thought Jared Leto's performance would easily win Best Supporting Actor but I was very impressed with Fassbender who really made the film what it was in my opinion. It was a great film but I did think it was lacking something a bit in terms of plot, I'd hoped to have seen more of a twist and filming of the court proceedings at the end of the film but it ended pretty abruptly and he was then reunited and then messages came up on what happened before it finished. I also didn't like Brad Pitt's role in the film. To me it makes him look very egotistical (him being producer and cherry picking such a role), him being the one who essentially freed the slave. It'll still go down as a classic though for sure. I loved the look of the film, it really felt like the 1840s or whatever it was, and the plantation looked really genuine, I believe it was actually shot at Magnolia in Louisiana which was actually one and it really felt like it.♦ Dr. Blofeld 14:50, 11 January 2014 (UTC)
Watched Lord of the Rings trilogy through entirely earlier (haven't been feeling too well was in bed). I've had them on DVD since they came out, extended versions too but I don't think I've watched them in nearly 10 years. I doubt you'd agree but I really do have to consider it the greatest film I've ever seen by a mile if you consider the three together as one and actually look at what is created within the film. It really has a balance of everything and takes you into a different world. I was viewing it through completely different eyes than I did 10 years ago, I found it hard going in the cinema, especally the 3 hr 30 Return of the King but I'm well adjusted to film watching marathons now! Virtually every scene was not just enjoyable but a marvel to watch and there are very few films I can really say that about. Just the combination of the stunning scenery, the characters, tasteful and stunning CGI work and the nailing of what are clearly extremely difficult aspects to get right like Gollum etc, the beautiful Celtic music and feel of the film all combined for me it far surpasses anything I've ever seen. I think of all the historical epics/epics which are obviously among the best made and the sheer body of work of the trilogy I think it easily surpasses them all. I mean to even begin to envisage making a film on a book as complex and long as LOR is mind boggling but to actually produce it so wonderfully. Funny thing is I don't rate the recent Hobbit films, they're good but unlike the LOR films feel like they're being dragged out just to make money. But I was watching LOR trying to find flaws in the way it was shot and to figure out how they shot certain scenes and it still boggles my mind how they managed to pull it off and make it look convincing!♦ Dr. Blofeld 23:01, 13 January 2014 (UTC)
Agreed, The Hobbit is a disappointment and was clearly made for making money. The second one was even worse as you say than the first which I said the same thing about to you a while back. The artistry of it has been ruined by the dragging it out to make money. Obviously they're still well done but as you say 2 films max it should have been. I mean three films for the Hobbit (probably even shorter than one of the three books) and three films for LOR says it all. Obviously there's classic films which have stronger character/emotional interaction/or a more gripping/intense action/comedy etc but as one work I honestly haven't seen any movie which even comes close to being on such an epic scale and cinematic grandeur. Yeah I last saw it through in about 2004 I think, once on my DVDs after seeing all in the cinema of course and I found it hard going back then and too much for me to really fully enjoy. I've seen tons of films since and the film for me now is far better than it was when released, breathtaking to watch. The only minor thing for me was that it was missing Tom Bombadil, probably the most awesome character in the book, and the ending wasn't really quite as strong as it could be. What did you think of Avatar? I thought it technically a groundbreaking film, yes, and obviously visually spectacular in parts, but definitely was not a great film IMO because of the rather weak/unoriginal plot. It sort of felt like Dances with Wolves/Aliens/Apocalypse Now with tall blue people. Those films of course were all great, but Avatar I think was hugely overhyped and nowhere near as good as it could have been using that sort of technology. I hope in the sequels Cameron tries to think more about pushing boundaries with the subject matter. Give me Titanic any day!!♦ Dr. Blofeld 22:59, 14 January 2014 (UTC)
In thinking about it Fatal Attraction is pretty scary!♦ Dr. Blofeld 13:25, 18 January 2014 (UTC)
@ Dr. Blofeld: I've been helping out a bit with the Christopher Nolan article, and I think it's probably good enough for GA now. If I advised the primary editor to nominate it, would you be interested in doing the review? -- Loeba (talk) 18:41, 18 January 2014 (UTC)
Since you were involved in a similar discussion at Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Actors_and_Filmmakers#Should_.22award.22_articles_be_comprehensive.3F I thought you might want to comment on the propriety of including Film Critic Societies at Critic top 10 lists in film articles at Talk:In_a_World...#Request_for_Comment.-- TonyTheTiger ( T / C / WP:FOUR / WP:CHICAGO / WP:WAWARD) 19:07, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
I have noticed your marvellously thorough contributions to the peer review of Stella Gibbons, and as I now have her contemporary colleague Hugh Walpole up for peer review I'd be most glad of your thoughts, if you have time and disposition to look in. Quite understand if not, naturally. – Tim riley ( talk) 16:39, 31 December 2013 (UTC)
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