I got a hold of Platoon on Bluray, last time I saw it may have been 15 or more years ago. In the “YouTube” era there’s so much extra analysis to go along with films these days. I think I learned of Oliver Stone through IMDB back in the day. Never saw Platoon until I rented it myself as an adult, but that poster image is one that’s hard to forget once you saw it on VHS store shelves.
Platoon goes for realism concerning a very dramatic time and place. I can see why it was a “sleeper hit”. The audiences were in for a film with a lot of substance and a big impact even if it was a low budget film with (at the time) unknown actors.
To me the idea of a war in Vietnam is increasingly bizarre as time goes on, given that Vietnam is now a tropical tourist destination that manufactures electronics, and their food is popular in the west. But then Eisenhower did warn about the dangers of a “military industrial complex”. Sad that the Australian government sent troops over there…
A chance encounter between a down-and-out music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter, new to Manhattan, turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.
A really good movie about music, family, parentship, and managing talent in New York City.
1. the book, Pimp: The Story of My Life, is a magnitude better.
2. which is the only reason i watched the whole movie.
3. essentially, it is a bunch of people talking about IS.
Return of the Hero. (Le retour du héros)
French with subtitles.
A delightful light rom-com. Dujardin is in his swashbuckling prime and Laurent shines with sparkling intelligence.
“Comedic French period piece set in 1809 France about an accidentally over-praised soldier, starring Oscar winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds).”
Kung Fu Hustle
This came around on a late night movie.
Perhaps the finest Kung Fu comedy movie of all time.
If you even sorta like Kung Fu movies, this is a must see.
I may have mentioned before. But it’s worth seeking out.
All the Best,
Jeff
1984: I saw that and thought it was well done, but it depressed me for days. John Hurt was one of the best actors ever. Wasn’t that Richard Burton’s final film appearance?
Watched Bohemian Rhapsody yesterday on TV. The film was so-so (sad ending) but loved the music.
Did you know that Adam Lambert (new frontman of Queen) appeared briefly in a scene where Mercury, played by Rami Malek, is at a truck stop on the band’s first North American tour. While making a call to his fiancée, Mary Austin (played by Lucy Boynton), Mercury notices the bearded trucker heading into the men’s room, suggesting they are about to hook up. That moment in the film is the first that implies Mercury, who died of AIDS at the age of 45, was interested in men. (thx Yahoo)
Starship Troopers. I last saw it the 90s most likely and although it went over my head to some degree at the time I liked it.
Holds up really well today, I didn’t realise how well executed a film this is. Great to see it on Bluray rather than VHS. I did also read the book by Robert Heinlein back in the 90s but it is a different although nonetheless worthy read from what I remember.
