Latest Movie That You Watched!

[Gerald]

I love Logan's Run. I think it's great. With all its little quirks, I still love it. Saw it in the theater when it first came out and I was a kid. So, sentimental I may be.

The colours look beautiful on the blu-ray. Was it particularly, notably colourful when it was first released? Of course you notice the colours more because they have meaning within the story, although I'm not sure that is explained in the film itself.

Details about the ritual at the start of the movie, called 'carousel', where contestants float in the air above a big rotating platform remain vague. It's like a kind of game where you get a chance at a prolonged life, but no one ever seems to win. It is never fully explained. If no one ever wins, what was the use of having it?
It makes for a spectacular start of the film of course.

Carousel

Carousel is a ritual observed in the film Logan's Run, and also in the television series. On a person's Last Day, instead of reporting to a sleep shop like in the book, the person goes to die within a public ritual called Carousel. In this ritual, participants are flown into the air and...

logans-run.fandom.com

 

[Notaro]

View attachment 33796

 

[Dana Jean]

The colours look beautiful on the blu-ray. Was it particularly, notably colourful when it was first released? Of course you notice the colours more because they have meaning within the story, although I'm not sure that is explained in the film itself.

Details about the ritual at the start of the movie, called 'carousel', where contestants float in the air above a big rotating platform remain vague. It's like a kind of game where you get a chance at a prolonged life, but no one ever seems to win. It is never fully explained. If no one ever wins, what was the use of having it?
It makes for a spectacular start of the film of course.

Carousel

Carousel is a ritual observed in the film Logan's Run, and also in the television series. On a person's Last Day, instead of reporting to a sleep shop like in the book, the person goes to die within a public ritual called Carousel. In this ritual, participants are flown into the air and...

logans-run.fandom.com

That was the point. No one really wins. That's why people became runners. They knew these people were just being killed, while telling the masses that they were being renewed. The city couldn't sustain a growing population, they could just maintain what they had give or take a few dozen.

And I remember it being very big and vibrant on the screen, but I bet the the blu ray has improved on those colors. I bet it's a fantastic wash of colors!

 

[Dana Jean]

to add to that, it's like religion. They counted on the population to be sheep and just believe. Faith is thrown around a lot when you question, but it's just a word to shame and control.

 

[Notaro]

Yes it's a beautiful print on the blu ray, colours look really vibrant, picked up Outland with Sean Connery along with it, that was a good double bill that evening.

 

[Gerald]

That was the point. No one really wins. That's why people became runners. They knew these people were just being killed, while telling the masses that they were being renewed. The city couldn't sustain a growing population, they could just maintain what they had give or take a few dozen.

And I remember it being very big and vibrant on the screen, but I bet the the blu ray has improved on those colors. I bet it's a fantastic wash of colors!

The blu-ray isn't overly colourful. There are much more colourful films nowadays. It looks very good often, but it is only at certain moments that it's truly fully colourful.

It's strange that the ritual seems portrayed as a kind of game, with people cheering the participants on. It gives a kind of wrong idea about what's happening. There is a 'chance' to be renewed, which implies it's a game. But you can't tell who is and who isn't renewed.

 

[Dana Jean]

The blu-ray isn't overly colourful. There are much more colourful films nowadays. It looks very good often, but it is only at certain moments that it's truly fully colourful.

It's strange that the ritual seems portrayed as a kind of game, with people cheering the participants on. It gives a kind of wrong idea about what's happening. There is a 'chance' to be renewed, which implies it's a game. But you can't tell who is and who isn't renewed.

Was it worded as a "chance?' I never looked at it as a game of chance. I always felt it was like going to church and the crowds frothy with the holy spirit, sort of whipped into a frenzy to be "reborn."

 

[Grandpa]

Watched Logan's Run (1976) which I have always loved, but hadn't seen in ages. It's very much old school sci-fi, even when it came out only a year prior to Star Wars.
At times it reminds me of later sci-fi films like Total Recall or Escape from New York. It's also a super sexy film, with the gorgeous Jenny Agutter in rather revealing costumes. The costumes' colours have meaning within the story, as each age group has different coloured costumes. Storywise it's also a bit like a sci-fi version of Children of the Corn, with a society where people aren't allowed an old age.
Also the story clearly has elements from the first Planet of the Apes.

The miniatures of the futuristic domed city where the story starts look nice, but clearly like models. The matte paintings of an overgrown, dilapidated Washington however look really good.
A lot was also filmed in a mall in Texas, when malls where just fairly new and not so known to the public at large. It was done to reduce costs, as they couldn't build such big sets in the studio anyway.
The audiocommentary by the director, star Michael York and costume designer is very interesting and informative. It isn't the most original of films and clearly is influenced by other films (especially the original Planet of the Apes in a visual sense for the world outside the domed city), but as a sexy sci-fi it's way better and more intelligent than Barbarella.
It's also pretty action packed and a lot happens, it only slows down after the escape from the city and in the scenes with Peter Ustinov (who Michael York says is an unapologetic thief who steals every scene he's in), who lives with his multitude of cats. There even is a reference to T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939), just as the maligned musical version is in cinemas now!

Sometimes films you haven't seen for ages hold up so very nicely and this one certainly does.

Logan's Run is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. The actual sci-fi element was pretty much on top of its game in terms of effects - I mean, there was only so much you could do, and they did what they could. It was the stylized Disco Era sci-fi with elements of "thoughtful" (i.e., low-budget) sci-fi writing of the '60s and '70s.

I liked Michael York and Jenny Agutter. The Farrah Fawcett sequence was weird... okay, it was ALL kinda weird. And yeah, I crushed just a bit on Jenny Agutter too (remember An American Werewolf in London?).

Anyway, yeah, I can watch that again, with all the silliness and everything.

 

[Dana Jean]

Was it worded as a "chance?' I never looked at it as a game of chance. I always felt it was like going to church and the crowds frothy with the holy spirit, sort of whipped into a frenzy to be "reborn."

frothy, not forthy. dammit. fixed that.

 

[Gerald]

Was it worded as a "chance?' I never looked at it as a game of chance. I always felt it was like going to church and the crowds frothy with the holy spirit, sort of whipped into a frenzy to be "reborn."

The goal seems to be to reach the top of the carousel contraption, but everyone gets shot down before they reach it. Things are said like: 'If only I reach the top of carousel,' and 'Try like hell for renewal'.
It is presented as a game, but no one ever reaches the top. It's also different from the book, so probably not worked out too well. It has to work in a visual sense, which it does, but besides not much thought is put into it likely.

 

[Gerald]

The actual sci-fi element was pretty much on top of its game in terms of effects - I mean, there was only so much you could do, and they did what they could.

But already eight years before there had been Kubrick's 2001, which is way ahead of every sci-fi film made at that point. It's amazing that came out in the same year as Planet of the Apes and Barbarella.
Apparently it took a long time before anyone else was able to reach the standard of the look of 2001. Star Wars seems to have been the first one that was able to do it.

 

[Dana Jean]

The goal seems to be to reach the top of the carousel contraption, but everyone gets shot down before they reach it. Things are said like: 'If only I reach the top of carousel,' and 'Try like hell for renewal'.
It is presented as a game, but no one ever reaches the top. It's also different from the book, so probably not worked out too well. It has to work in a visual sense, which it does, but besides not much thought is put into it likely.

Okay, now see, I took it that everyone that explodes, renews. The crowd cheers every single time someone explodes. And every single person explodes. Everyone does. So, in all the years of carousel, and everyone coming to rejoice in the renewals, if all they saw was everyone dying, they would rebel. But, they have been taught, explode = renew. When the people see every single person explode every single time, every single carousel -- they are seeing that as the moment of renewal.

If they really thought people were dying and not renewing, no one would try to renew, they would all run. But, they believe. Their faith in carousel is strong.

It's not a game, it's a mandatory, daily gathering. You reach a certain age, you blink, you go to carousel and renew. Even the sandman says, "why do they run, when they can renew?" But, there is the underground group that know no renewal is happening, it's death.

I need to read the book to maybe understand where you are coming from.

I am not seeing what you are seeing. But interesting nonetheless.

 

[kingricefan]

Cloverfield (2008)- Very fun, very unique take on the Kaiju genre. While it has the faults to be expected from a found footage film, it mostly makes up for it with a constant, high octane pace as you watch a giant alien absolutely trash New York City as well as some really good performances. A lot of the characters make stupid choices, but most of them are acknowledged and make sense with the character's goals. A few good scares too. As for big faults, it definitely is a "Why are they still recording" movie, and although the camera holder is made out to be kinda stupid, the degree to which he keeps it on is a little strange sometimes. The cgi on the statue of liberty and some of the little monsters is a little iffy, but it can be ignored. Not a flawless movie, but still a very fun and original thrill ride that goes by pretty quickly. 7/10

Trivia time: the monster in the movie at the end (when we finally get to see it) is a baby according to the producers so watch out for when Mom & Dad show up!!!!

 

[kingricefan]

I love Logan's Run. I think it's great. With all its little quirks, I still love it. Saw it in the theater when it first came out and I was a kid. So, sentimental I may be.

Okay, Yoda.

 

[Dana Jean]

Okay, Yoda.

 

[kingricefan]

Watched The Pineapple Express over the weekend. I needed me some comedy and this definately made me laugh out loud quite a few times. Funny funny funny. James Franco has some serious comedy chops- his timing is impeccable. His facial expressions alone made me laugh.

 

[Out of Order]

Trivia time: the monster in the movie at the end (when we finally get to see it) is a baby according to the producers so watch out for when Mom & Dad show up!!!!

They ripped off Gorgo!

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

Trivia time: the monster in the movie at the end (when we finally get to see it) is a baby according to the producers so watch out for when Mom & Dad show up!!!!

I’ve heard Paradox isn’t very good and while I’ve heard 10 Cloverfield Lane is great it only vaguely has to do with the first one.

Spoiler

Did you notice the satellite falling into the sea at the end? Poor Clover got a rude awakening

 

[kingricefan]

I’ve heard Paradox isn’t very good and while I’ve heard 10 Cloverfield Lane is great it only vaguely has to do the first one.

Spoiler

Did you notice the satellite falling into the sea at the end? Poor Clover got a rude awakening

It's been years since I saw Cloverfield so I don't remember the satellite falling. I'd watch it again but I just can't handle those movies where the camera is all jerky and moves around too much.

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

It's been years since I saw Cloverfield so I don't remember the satellite falling. I'd watch it again but I just can't handle those movies where the camera is all jerky and moves around too much.