Disqus - Latest Comments for Tom_B

Re: TFT 96 – Where the Wild Things Are / 5 Ways to Make Your Film Better / Let’s Get Lost

Tom_B — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:45:00 -0000

I'm just glad I'm a paid up member - Telford's warehouse in Chester where Juan is playing is only 30mins away!!

Re: Escapism Preview #2: Dr Strangelove, Superman, The Black Hole, Planet of the Apes

Tom_B — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:21:03 -0000

The Black Hole was an early one for me too. I'll wait and see what you guys have to say about it, but I may have to track down a copy.

Re: Escapism Festival Preview #1: The Last Unicorn

Tom_B — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:18:40 -0000

Recently re-watched BMX Bandits, and I hate to shatter some good memories but it was pretty dreadful - lots of unintentional laughs though.

Also saw Explorers, that forgotten Joe Dante film of the 80s. The Jerry Goldsmith score kept reminding me of Innerspace, which came later. Only of interest to me to see a 10 year old Ethan Hawk and spot the mannerisms so familiar to me in Before Sunrise/Sunset.

Re: Escapism Film Festival Next Weekend

Tom_B — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:03:07 -0000

Oh boy guys, how I'd love to be there with you. Many of the films on your list are childhood favourites of mine too. You'll have to let us know which ones have stood the test of time.

I have been known to use the film club that I run for my pupils as an excuse to delve into my cinematic past (which is not to say that the kids don't have fun too!) This week we watched Superman 2. It was the first time I must have seen it in 20 years. Whilst the effects didn't hold up well, the performances did. Reeve was so good, especially as Clark and Terrance Stamp hams it up beautifully. Happy memories.

Re: The Movie of the Year 2009

Tom_B — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:33:56 -0000

How about 'The Class' in which a young, optimistic teacher DOESN"T manage to miraculously change the hearts and minds of the troubled teenagers in his charge? So much for dead poets and mona lisa..

Re: The Film Talk Needs Your Support

Tom_B — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:20:29 -0000

Hey, I'm with bookscount on the whole kids issue! Please keep talking guys. How many of us makes 10%?

Re: The Film Talk – Part 89 – Extract / 9 / Gamer

Tom_B — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:22:53 -0000

An interesting coincidence that you should reference Revolutionary Road during the episode, since I'd just seen the film and re-listened to your review. Whilst listening to the Revolutionary / Wrestler show you mention the DVD commentary competition. Sooooo...what happened to the winning A.I. commentary? Did you get round to it? You did say you'd make it available for everyone. Hey, I'd pay for it!

Re: The Film Talk – Part 85 – District 9 / Avatar / Slashfilmcast Interviewed

Tom_B — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:46:33 -0000

Whilst I don't think James Cameron has ever needed or wanted any sympathy, I have always thought that his cry of 'I'm the king of the world!' at the Oscars was misunderstood. I took it as a shout of joy, rather like Leo's character in Titanic than a boast.

Anyway - at the moment Avatar looks like The Abyss meets Aliens, so we'll see if Cameron has anything new to offer.

Re: Latest Podcast: An Interview with Elliott Gould on Natalie Wood and the Films of the ’70’s

Tom_B — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:46:59 -0000

Great interview, made me want to go and rent Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice.

Re: Films of the Millennium. (Or Not)

Tom_B — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:24:55 -0000

Absolutely Gareth, I've always thought that a ten year or even five year rule for any polls likes these (inc music which suffers in the same way) would give a much better reflection of quality rather than what's popular at a particular moment.

I've always rather like Pulp Fiction, my favourite QT film by a long way. I suspect it would come very high on a Greatest Films of the 90s Poll.

Re: The Film Talk – Part 81 – The Hurt Locker / Funny People

Tom_B — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:30:04 -0000

I'm looking forward to both of these, Hurt Locker in particular - although I'm wondering if it'll be widely distributed here in the UK (or at least in the rural areas where I'm located). Moon still has reached Shropshire yet!!

Was interested about what GH said regarding films that you have enjoyed despite everyone else seeming to disagree with you. You DO start wondering if you got it wrong. I found that with Quantum of Solace, which practically everyone I spoke to hated it when I'd been really impressed. I'm still looking forward to seeing it again to try and figure out who was right!

Re: John Hugheses I Have Known

Tom_B — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:26:41 -0000

I must be just that little bit older than you, Gareth, because I clearly remember the day I saw Ferris Bueller at the cinema. It had a 15 cert, but I think I was younger. It made such an impression on my friend and I that we walked home in the sunshine repeating all our favourite lines.

Perhaps I'm too old now to judge, but I don't think that the movies made for teens now hold a candle to Hughes' films. So sad he's gone.

Re: Today’s Podcast: Francis Ford Coppola Interviewed

Tom_B — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:18:18 -0000

Wow! How amazing to get such a film making legend on the show. Very interesting. You used to joke about having such folk on - who's next?

Re: The Film Talk – Part 77 – Tetro / Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Tom_B — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:03:04 -0000

Ok, so I've not heard the review yet, but - are you stepping into Marley territory again?

Re: Roger Ebert on Digital Distribution and the Future of Movies

Tom_B — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:09:17 -0000

Maybe I'm being a little too British and reserved about this, but I often feel that the audiences in cinemas often detract from my enjoyment. Chatting, rustling food wrapper, more interested in texting friends. I'm beginning to think people have forgotten how to watch patiently.

Additionally there are times that the quality of projection isn't a lot better than what I can get at home. More often I'm going for the large sound, that I can't reproduce at home without making myself extremely unpopular with the neighbours.

Tickets are too expensive, but I would be sad to no longer have the option to go to the cinema.

Re: The Film Talk – Part 76 – Moon

Tom_B — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:49:13 -0000

Very excited about this film after hearing yours and a number of other positive reviews. Problem is, being a small film in a sea of summer blockbusters, I'm wondering when it'll be playing near me. Knowing my luck it'll play as a one off special I can't make!

Re: Jett’s Biggest Adventure Yet

Tom_B — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:26:24 -0000

The very best wishes to you and your beautiful lady Jett - may you have a long and happy life together.

And as Phil said, thanks to both you and Gareth for the hard work on the show, long may it live.

Re: I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up – AKA “Take One ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and Call Me in the Morning”

Tom_B — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:49:33 -0000

I have promised myself that I will not be suckered into seeing this as I did the first.

I think Brit reviewer Mark Kermode feels much the same way Jett, his review is terrific - there's no doubt what his opinion is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g__bQ-Y7D8Q

All hail and praise be for Indy - do you know there's whisper of a 5th?

Re: Are Bad Films of Any Value?

Tom_B — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:04:22 -0000

Are bad films of any value? Well, they often seem to generate more discussion than average ones!

Re: The Film Talk - Part 68 - Terminator Salvation

Tom_B — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:55:04 -0000

No - I don't want my money back. Considering I've listened to all 60 odd shows you've done for free so far I'd consider that very good value for money!

And don't be discouraged, I was just thinking perhaps you should prepare a little more for the + shows.

You keep mentioning the credit situation and getting me worried - is there a real possibility you won't be able to carry on with TFT? Heaven forbid!

Re: The Film Talk - Part 68 - Terminator Salvation

Tom_B — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:10:11 -0000

TFT+ Not saying I want my $1 back guys, but..focus! Might I suggest that you use the TFT+ shows to do some retrospective film reviews, something you've dicsussed doing in the past?

Still enjoyed your ramblings though.

Oh and what's the news with the AI commentary?

Re: The Film Talk - Part 69 - Up / Anvil! / The Hangover

Tom_B — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:09:27 -0000

Ah yes! Your point about the Die Hard score makes perfect sense, think I always picked up essence of Aliens at that moment.

Actually Kamen's DH score is great, I love his use of Beethoven's 9th in the film. Did you notice how his use of sleigh bells is also employed in his other Christmas movie - Brazil? It's such a shame he's gone, I really liked his stuff.

Re: The Film Talk - Part 69 - Up / Anvil! / The Hangover

Tom_B — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:04:14 -0000

I'm sure I've sung the praises of Horner's Khan score before, which lends the film an epic quality when the scale of the film seems quite modest by today's standards.

Agree with the comment about a lack of really great scores from recent years. Was listening to Williams' Potter score the other day and came to the conclusion that it's a big disappointment from the man who gave us Raiders et al.

Did enjoy the Lord of the Rings scores, but realise I might be being controversial there.

Re: Are Bad Films of Any Value?

Tom_B — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:39:22 -0000

Generally I agree with Jett and Gareth's reviews but... I really enjoyed Terminator 4.

Sure, I agree with some of the criticism; too much growly voiced grandstanding by Mr Bale (why do the Batman voice again?) and the human friendly Skynet control centre made no sense. However I thought the tone was in keeping with the previous films and the action sequences were very well put together, not unfinished at all - it was refreshing to see set pieces that were not edited so rapidly that you couldn't tell what was going on (something even Star Trek was guilty of in places).

Of course it's not high art, but a great example of a good summer blockbuster.

Oh, and to hark back to Gareth's dislike of conflict being solved with violence, surely a war against machines would be the only time that blowing your enemy up would be acceptable? I don't think Skynet was up for treaty signing.

Re: Angels and Demons: Some further thoughts

Tom_B — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:15:46 -0000

Think there's a great deal of discussion to be had about the violence that is being passed in PG-13 (or in the UK 12A) cert films. Perhaps enough to fill a whole show?

'This Film Is Not Yet Rated' had some interesting points to make about how ridiculous the American rating system is (the UK's is only slightly better), but focused too much on tracking down the identities of the ratings board.

I agree with Jett's view on how unbalanced it all seems when graphic violence is so often on show but sex (and that's healthy, normal sex between two loving people) is absolutley taboo. European cinema seems to get the balance right.