It's true..

[cloasters]

Isn't she a total knockout? Doesn't "Rosario" sound like a man's name? Good actress, too. "Daredevil," there are lots of tv shows with that title, but the 2015 Netflix example is pretty good. The episodes are about 58 minutes, but the time usually goes by quickly-always a good sign!

Guess I won't bother with "Darkman" again, Netflix has plenty of other "b" grade flicks to chose from.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by cloasters

Isn't she a total knockout? Doesn't "Rosario" sound like a man's name? Good actress, too. "Daredevil," there are lots of tv shows with that title, but the 2015 Netflix example is pretty good. The episodes are about 58 minutes, but the time usually goes by quickly-always a good sign!

Guess I won't bother with "Darkman" again, Netflix has plenty of other "b" grade flicks to chose from.

Rosario is a relatively common name among hispanic women, from what I've seen (I know several ladies with that name).

[cloasters]

Is that a fact? I thought that the final "o" made it masculine. Learn something every day.

Saw "Silent Hill" (2006) certainly has enough scary components as well as disgusting and scary ones. Spoiler Alert: you can't tell if the woman and her child are alive at the end. Good enough for a dreary afternoon.

"Casino Royale" (2006) is recommended but I think imdb's 8.0 might be a bit high. I'm sure you've seen it ages ago. Eva Green from straight on is irresistible.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by cloasters

Is that a fact? I thought that the final "o" made it masculine. Learn something every day.

Normally, that's true, but not always. I'm not sure what the rules are for the exceptions.

[

Originally Posted by cloasters

]
Saw "Silent Hill" (2006) certainly has enough scary components as well as disgusting and scary ones. Spoiler Alert: you can't tell if the woman and her child are alive at the end. Good enough for a dreary afternoon.

Never been a big horror fan, although there are a few exceptions: 'The Exorcist' for example.

Originally Posted by cloasters

"Casino Royale" (2006) is recommended but I think imdb's 8.0 might be a bit high. I'm sure you've seen it ages ago. Eva Green from straight on is irresistible.

The remake with Daniel Craig is definitely worth seeing and the chemistry between him and Eva Green really works well.

TBH, I think Mr. Craig is arguably the 2nd best of the Bonds (after Sean Connery), and the best of the recent ones. Timothy Dalton just lacked the presence to carry the role, IMO, and Pierce Brosnan, well, I don't know what happened there; I certainly expected better than I got. To be fair to Mr. Brosnan, it might have had something to do with the writing. And then there's George Lazenby. Just, yuck.

[cloasters]

Maybe "Rosaria" sounds too much like "rosary?" Just a guess. Whichever, Ms Dawson is absolutely gorgeous.

I'm not a big fan of horror films either, but Netflix's overall selection seems to get narrower by the day. Agreed, "The Exorcist" was especially good. Ellen Burstyn makes my skin crawl in it, maybe because she seems to want to be holier than holy in that movie, but it's great when she isn't in the scene or it's stolen by Linda Blair.

I think Daniel Craig is the second best James Bond too. Sean Connery's Bond performances are so old now that they don't seem to count as much as they did originally. I know, what blasphemy. But "Dr No" was 52 years ago. Mr Craig is a very good actor, and he really loves women too. Yay!

Watched "Bound" (1996) last night. I thought it was a great suspense flick, highly recommended. Gina Gershon certainly has "it," and "it" matters the most, imho.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by cloasters

I think Daniel Craig is the second best James Bond too. Sean Connery's Bond performances are so old now that they don't seem to count as much as they did originally. I know, what blasphemy. But "Dr No" was 52 years ago. Mr Craig is a very good actor, and he really loves women too. Yay!

That's why I qualified my statement with 'the best of the recent ones'. That being said, like it or not Sean Connery is the yardstick for James Bond aficionados, IMO.

Originally Posted by cloasters

Watched "Bound" (1996) last night. I thought it was a great suspense flick, highly recommended. Gina Gershon certainly has "it," and "it" matters the most, imho.

Not familiar with this one; I'll have to check it out.

Watched Interstellar last night. Somehow, I remembered it being a lot more interesting in the theater.

[cloasters]

There can only be one original James Bond, and until Daniel Craig took the moniker no one else came close. Mr Craig is a damn fine "number 2 Bond," imho.

Even though "Interstellar" rates 8.7 from imdb I'm avoiding it. Matthew McConaughey really rubs me the wrong way. If I get bored enough I may watch it, we'll see.

I misplaced my disc of "Gone Girl," we'll see if the Netflix copy works. Fingers are crossed.

[cloasters]

"Ginger Snaps" is a "B" grade movie from Canada that's worth watching if you have time on your hands. Guess I had time on my hands, and I like the title. Earnestly done but it falls short of "good" "good."

However "Gone Girl" is definitely worthwhile and recommended. Ben Affleck slowly improves (luv that name, not) but Rosamund Pike is becoming a great actress. Not to mention that she's amazingly beautiful. Mama mia that's a spicy woman! It's too easy to give away the plot, so I'll say it rates 8.2 from imdb and a solid 8 from me.

[cloasters]

Saw "Constantine" (2005) last weekend after renting it in instant vid from Amazon. Amazingly unusually the disc from Netflix made too much noise for comfort in my PC's DVD drive. At this rate I'll drop Netflix's disc delivery service soon. Far too many bad discs.

It wasn't bad, yet Rachael Weisz (per director's orders)couldn't overcome too much wooden Keanu Reeves. I can't recommend it.

Otoh, "Moonrise Kingdom" (2012) is a charming tale about the universal fantasy of running away with your beloved when you're 12 or so. Two unknown (?) but good young actors as the leads, well known good 'uns as the adults. $2.99 from Amazon rental. Highly recommended.

[cloasters]

"Novocaine" (2001) rates a lowly 5.8 from imdb but I liked it much more than that. Steve Martin delivers a great performance as a straight man, a dentist who falls for a hot patient (I didn't know that Helena Bonham Carter was a yummy young lady). She's a fine actor and delivers a flawless American in this role. Natch, she's a crook who causes his drug inventory to disappear, causing him serious grief. Recommended.

"The Homesman" (2014) requires a bit of patience yet I found it quite worthwhile in the long run. Hilary Swank always bugs me, she's a good actress, so I don't really know why. Tommy Lee Jones saves the show (and himself). Imdb says 6.6, I liked it more than that. While winter still hangs around (it does in Seattle) it's a good 82 minutes.

"The Big Empty" (2003) stars Jon Favreau and a good supporting cast. I guess you could call it a mystery/drama/sci-fi movie. Rachel Leigh Cook is absolutely irresistibly attractive. Recommended, but not a must-see or die trying flick.

[TrevorS]

Originally Posted by cloasters

Is that a fact? I thought that the final "o" made it masculine. Learn something every day.

Saw "Silent Hill" (2006) certainly has enough scary components as well as disgusting and scary ones. Spoiler Alert: you can't tell if the woman and her child are alive at the end. Good enough for a dreary afternoon.

"Casino Royale" (2006) is recommended but I think imdb's 8.0 might be a bit high. I'm sure you've seen it ages ago. Eva Green from straight on is irresistible.

Yeah, the "Silent Hill" ending drives me crazy, just can't figure out the intent! She can hear and see him, but not the reverse (purgatory?) They apparently ended up in parallel universes. but what one is she and the child in? For that matter, most of the "living" existence of the town (including the entry bridge) seems to be in a parallel universe (purgatory again?) I find it very clever and imaginative! (No, not a great film like "The Exorcist", but a good film. Especially good being video game derived and the challenging visuals!)

My only objection to "Casino Royale" is the sinking Venicean house at the end. Just comes across as too contrived to me, prefer the book version, but that clearly wouldn't have had the same scenic/action value! Vesper going out of her way to drown herself also seemed a bit much! However, I agree the new Bond is good, something of a return to original form.

I actually think "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" to be one of the more interesting/provocative of the series. I think Lazenby did well in the role (of course, I'm also a Dianna Rigg fan.) A change in typical Bond pace. FWIW or isn't, "The Living Daylights" is one of my favorites, Pierce worked for me.

PS. The thing to keep in mind with "The Name Of The Rose" is it's first and foremost from beginning to end a mystery! It just happens to be set in a remarkable period of history when the Roman Catholic Church was out to destroy all signs and symbols of "heresy" and like challenges to its "divine" power. The single most powerful organ in the "civilized" world was the Inquisition and it explained all things that were even slightly mysterious as being "of the Devil"! The film combines a brilliant script, brilliant set, brilliant photography, and brilliant acting to layout a colossal conflict of the time between reasoned intelligence and the superstition, hatred, and hypocrisy embodied by the Inquisition. A truly amazing film!

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by TrevorS

to layout a colossal conflict of the time between reasoned intelligence and the superstition, hatred, and hypocrisy embodied by the Inquisition.

So....kinda like now, then?

[cloasters]

"Casino Royale #1" was so terrible that I can forgive the sinking of the Venetian house in "CR #2." But I agree that the drowning (supposedly) of the The Babe was a bit over the top. I HATE seeing beautiful (or ordinary) women injured, much less expiring.

I was a Diana Rigg fan before she became terminally toff-ified and ossified. I read the book but haven't seen "OHMSS," so I can't judge it. Pierce Brosnan did a good job in "November Man" (2014) which I saw this weekend. I recommend it.

First and foremost my eternal hatred of the Catholic church prevents me from seeing any good at all in its presence or history. The movie was good, but I shouldn't have rented it, viz former sentence.

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by cloasters

Saw "Constantine" (2005) last weekend after renting it in instant vid from Amazon.....It wasn't bad, yet Rachael Weisz (per director's orders)couldn't overcome too much wooden Keanu Reeves. I can't recommend it.

I wasn't aware she was under director's orders to scale back on her own character. That explains a great deal, as I thought her performance in that movie was well below her capabilities. I enjoyed the movie, though.

[cloasters]

Gizmo, you couldn't have pegged it more accurately!
"So....kinda like now, then?"
The mot juste, indeed!

[Gizmo]

Originally Posted by TrevorS

FWIW or isn't, "The Living Daylights" is one of my favorites, Pierce worked for me.

I thought "The Living Daylights" was a decent movie. Pierce certainly didn't turn in a bad performance, but I just felt like he wasn't really 'comfortable' with the role.

[cloasters]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

I wasn't aware she was under director's orders to scale back on her own character. That explains a great deal, as I thought her performance in that movie was well below her capabilities. I enjoyed the movie, though.

I don't know that for a fact, but it seems very obvious. "You will out-wood Keanu!" Upstaging "the star" isn't permitted.

[TrevorS]

On the Roman Catholic Church question, I'm something of a history junky and I've never liked theirs. However, I'm very much a fan of the current Pope! A clear progressive, shaking up the Vatican and the Church in general! Unfortunately, worldwide, there's an awful lot of Church to shake up!

Just watched "Divergent"(2014) and although I'm not recommending it, I found it engaging. It tickles my idealistic side, my individualistic side, romantic side, and various other sides. It's been heavily slammed, but the lack of digging into its issues is something my own imagination makes non-critical. Is this an example of modern day reaction to radio drama Vs full-blown no-imagination required (presuming that exists) cinema drama? Don't know, but I can say I'll be watching it again.

[cloasters]

I have to agree that the current Pope (Francis?) is parsecs above the usual, and especially that Nazi phuck that usurped the throne right before him. He's not perfect, but then he wouldn't be Catholic, would he?

I was put in the un-tender hands of a Catholic boarding school in Massachusetts for two years as a lad, and I never had one friend there. Followed by one year in a parochial school in Manhattan. The Sacred Brothers of the Stinking Moldy Heart of Jesus in North Andover loved beating upon the lads to prove their Christian zeal. The slightest infraction was "forgiven" with weals upon the young offender's person. If you really pissed them off it's possible that they might have killed you. They sure as sheeit would never call a doctor for you. Seriously. The nuns in NYC were far less dangerous, but very nasty all the same.

So my hatred for the institution is eternal and burns strong. Even as an oldster I can't forgive or forget. Yes, this doesn't help me live well, but there it is, as we said in Viet-Nam.

Hope I haven't laid out the reasons behind my beef with all things Catholic before, if so, please pardon me.

Back on track with Cinema, where life is always easier. Yaaay!
"Divergent" is worth watching, imho. And I've seen it more than once. It's uneven and really drags shortly before Ms Woodley's character decides that it's had enough of Nazi training camp. Ashley Judd's character really saves the movie, and explains what's really going on when it comes in mighty handy for the audience. Two and a half hours is too long, but I'm not in the production team so what do I know? I give it 2.75 stars out of four.
Shailene Woodley will be a very good actor after more experience.
There are allegedly three more pre or post Divergents in the works.

[Gizmo]

I enjoyed Divergent, and have seen Insurgent as well. I thought Divergent was a bit better. That said, I want to see Allegiant when it comes out (I hear it's another "take the final book in the trilogy and milk it for all it's worth" though, so I may change my mind on that), and I've thought about reading the series.