Now Screening - What Are You Watching Right Now?

[Marco]

inclined to feel that way with most myself as you have to concentrate too much on reading them and they are often difficult to read. but ive seen a few films i enjoyed with the titles. In fact i have the English and German versions of Das Boot and i used to prefer the German

Yup, but it's not better because of the subtitles; it's better because it's the original film, which subtitles are a part of!

I get why some 'classics' with subtitles are good films, but for me if a film becomes too much 'hard work' (a chore), and that can be due to subtitles, an overly complex plot, too much boring dialogue, or whatever, it's no longer entertainment and so stops being fun. Then I'm bored and just switch off.

As I've said before, I watch films to be ENTERTAINED, where minimal concentration levels are required, and which is why I like the sorts of 'disposable froth' (action films full of special effects, others here might sneer at and consider as crap), but which I enjoy because they're 'effectively simple', and FUN!

Marco.

[struth]

Yup, but it's not better because of the subtitles; it's better because it's the original film, which subtitles are a part of!

I get why some 'classics' with subtitles are good films, but for me if a film becomes too much 'hard work' (a chore), and that can be due to subtitles, an overly complex plot, too much boring dialogue, or whatever, it's no longer entertainment and so stops being fun. Then I'm bored and just switch off.

As I've said before, I watch films to be ENTERTAINED, where minimal concentration levels are required, and which is why I like the sorts of 'disposable froth' (action films full of special effects, others here might sneer at and consider as crap), but which I enjoy because they're 'effectively simple', and FUN!

Marco.

i agree you need to concentrate more, and as ive aged ive found that either harder or im just less willing. Im not big on the horror genre tbh but there are a few i really like as they are usually very good films as well. not just slashers

[Marco]

Yup, I get that, mate. I don't want to have to 'concentrate' on a film; I just like to sit back, let it 'wash over' me, and simply indulge in some harmless escapism. That's the way I've always been, so it's not an age thing.

If it requires too much thinking, or becomes an intellectual exercise in 'arty-fartyness', I'm out!

Marco.

[struth]

Geronimo, an American Legend. 1993. stars Jason Patric, Matt Damon, Wes Studi, Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman.



Directed by Walter Hill.


Film didnt do well, in fact it lost a fortune. White folk didnt like it and most thought it boring. Indians appreciated the way the were portrayed tho. Also Philip French of London's Observer called it one of the greatest Westerns of all time, and the film was also admired by Quentin Tarantino.

Cost about $35m and only returned about $18m.... The film was not maybe meant to be made and attempts to not make it were abound.Also the studio wanted a white man to play Geronimo. Hill stood firm... A tv movie of Geronimo came out at same time and this didnt help its salability

[struth]

Something more sinister now, Dead Of Night, 1945. Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Robert Hamer and Basil Dearden(1 part each). Stars Michael Redgrave, Mervyn Johns, Frederick Valk and Roland Culver among many. Made by Ealing Studios.





Dead of Night stands out from British films of the 1940s, when few horror films were being produced there (horror films had been banned from production in Britain during the war). It had an influence on subsequent British films in the genre. Both of John Baines' stories were recycled for later films and the possessed ventriloquist dummy episode was adapted into the pilot episode of the long-running CBS radio series Escape.

While primarily in the horror genre, there are shades of the comedy that would make the studio's name.

[walpurgis]

Something more sinister now, Dead Of Night, 1945.

Properly creepy, nobody forgets seeing Hugo.

[Barry]

Fair enough, for me they're an annoying distraction, but dubbing is even worse!

Marco.

Having watched foreign films for so long, I'm quite used to sub-titles, and can read them without distraction. What I really dislike is dubbing - even if the translation is as long in time as the original language, the lack of lip synch annoys me greatly.

[Pigmy Pony]

'Night Of The Demon' just starting on Horror Channel.

Best ever horror film.

Bloody hell, missed it again! Next time it comes on Martin, can you scream louder, give me a heads-up?

[Pigmy Pony]

There's just a few bits in it that are really good, like you say, the 'atmospheric' scenes like the windstorm. But they're so good they make the film.

Originally the demon was not going to be shown, it could just be smoke or mist, and so the whole story would be more ambiguous. But the producers insisted on a monster so they has to add in the crap effects. Although I think there is a version without the close ups of the demon, which are the worst parts.

I reckon making a really good horror must be the hardest of them all. I don't count those slasher pics as horror. A proper horror has to have atmosphere and some psychological aspect.

'Alien' and 'Jacob's Ladder for example, but there's not many.

Definitely agree about 'Jacob's Ladder'. First time I saw it, had some 'hairs standing up' moments. But I had a bit more hair back then. Required viewing for any horror fan I'd say. I have recommended it before.

Directed by Adrian Lynne and music by Maurice Jarre iirc.

[Pigmy Pony]

Having watched foreign films for so long, I'm quite used to sub-titles, and can read them without distraction. What I really dislike is dubbing - even if the translation is as long in time as the original language, the lack of lip synch annoys me greatly.

Completely agree - subtitles I find mildly distracting initially, but after a few minutes I get into my stride with reading, and it's all good from there. Probably helps if you read quite a lot anyway. Overdubs are the absolute pits - obviously there are synching issues, but also the (non existent) acoustic of the overdubs never match the scene being shown and the characters just sound like really bad actors