Saturday, July 25, 2015

Weekend Open Thread

These posts might be going away, so comment while you still can.

We started doing these Weekend Weigh-ins a few years ago as a way of keeping conversation going on days where we're not posting other content (and a lot of other sites aren't either). Some weeks they catch on and are great; other weeks, they pretty much die. While I consider whether or not to keep these going -- it's difficult to come up with questions every single week -- you guys should use this space to talk about whatever you want. If you have another idea for what these weekend posts can grow into, let's hear it.

Just to be clear, you guys are the best and we so appreciate everyone that chimes in not just on the Weekend Weigh-ins, but on any of the pieces here on the site. There's been a big internet dust-up in the last 48 hours pitting one movie site agains the other and who has the better community and blah blah blah so I want to make sure that no one thinks we take our readership for granted. We love you guys and want to make this site the best it can be. If there's something else we can do on the weekends to improve your movie hangout of choice, we want to do it. We owe you all that much.

In the meantime, talk about whatever! But mostly just Pixels.

119 comments:

  1. Sad to hear that there are inter-movie-site fan wars, but such is the Internet. From my experience perusing community boards on ESPN, IMdB, SA, FB, GameSpot, and so on, the FThisMovie boards are the best combination of manners and content knowledge that I have seen. As always, keep up the good work!

    My wife and I just watched a documentary called Tig on Netflix, and I would highly recommend it. The doc follows standup comedienne Tig Notaro through some devastating stages of her life, and yet her pluckiness and humanity are what really shine through in the film. Netflix that movie if you want to feel good about the human spirit.

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  2. Call me crazy but I like to chat about Movies!
    So I would like to hear what you have all been watching this week thats not been on the site? And a small review
    Ive just watched all four House movies as a marathon, I think it a great fun series of films
    And last night I watched The Orphanage for tge first time on Bluray, a very eerie movie with a jump scare in the middle that was the most I've jumped for ages
    Lastly Arrrow films UK released Maniac cop on Bluray a bit back and I gave that another spin, Love it

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    1. Damn almost forgot, I watched Hoop dreams for the first time because of Erika, an emotional ride that had me in tears many times

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    2. The more documentaries I see, the more I think Hoop Dreams is the best one ever made.

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    3. I really want to see these House films. They look so crazy. WHY ISN'T SCARY MOVIE MONTH HERE YET?

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    4. Hoop dreams had me in tears,
      I wouldn't say the House films are scary but they are lots of fun

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    5. I love Hoop Dreams but let's not gloss over the most important point here: YOU WATCHED HOUSE IV WITHOUT ME. Now, I recognize that it's a truly terrible movie, but between naked Terri Treas (yowza) and Kane Hodder as a pizza monster (not an exaggeration, he literally plays a pizza with a face) I love it to pieces. It's one of very few VHS tapes I've kept (and I no longer have a working VCR) and I hate that it's never been released on DVD or digital in the states. Where's Scream Factory when I need them???

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    6. Oo Dennis another idea. Weekend Weigh ins can also be what we have all been watching. I look forward to these weigh ins personally as even if I don't always chime on; you can see the passion everyone has. And to get to know people more!

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    7. A 'have you seen anything good lately' for eveyone! I like it. But I also just really dig these as they are. I know they're not a hit every week, but I feel like that's ok. When they hit, they're a blast. I'm for keeping them, but I also think Patrick shouldn't be expected to come up with a question everyweek. Having them be open thread more often is fine with me. All you F-Head writers work crazy hard and deserve a break.

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    8. I'll echo Gabby's words. I'm not always vocal on these threads but I'm never not entertained reading through what others have to say. I love this community.

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    9. Sorry JP ;)

      I like a the House movies for different reasons, there all different and and all enjoyable albiet in different ways, we have an Anchor Bay 4 disc box set in the UK though I would love a Scream Factory Bluray boxset,
      I'm liking the comments and a weekly F-Head " Have you seen anything good lately?" Could be fun, a nice chance for the community to grow and connect even more.

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    10. I'll echo Mikko's echo of Gabby's words. I enjoy reading the comments on the weekend threads, even if it is a topic that I can't really contribute to - it's a nice check-in with the FTM community.

      I also like the idea of a general "what we're watching" thread.

      Lastly, I appreciate that we never take each other for granted at this site and I love how upfront, genuine and honest Patrick is - you the man.

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  3. I think I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate what you guys do so much and we don't need to losten to that nonsense as this community isn't simply an internet community. It is a respectful and intelligent loving place that always seems far more then movies but how they work into your lives. A true family of friends and equals.

    Maybe there is a way to use the occasional Weekend weigh in for people to suggest things and you pick the ones you like for the next few weeks? Like the open thread there can be some kind of chime in. I think we would all be glad to help you pick things!

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    1. I agree, it's always interesting to when we see an outsider (SWAYZE!) come in guns blazing trying to troll like this was youtube......only to be squashed by a bunch of level-headedness.

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  4. I've been obsessed with the Universal Studios monster movies lately. I've been binging on the films and have watched tons of documentaries on them as well. They're fasinating. I loved these films as a kid, but rarely revisted them as an adult until now. I am blown away by the gothic atmosphere created in these. Dracula especially. The shot of his brides walking among the coffins is one of the most effectively creepy shots I've ever seen.
    I did just watch Son of Frankenstein for the first time. I know it is a drop in quality from the first two masterpieces, but I honestly don't think it's that big of a drop. I love it so much. One of my favorite classic film actors, Basil Rathbone, is spectactular in the film. BUT BELA LUGOSI. He is just the best. What an incredible performance he gives! He's definetly my favorite actor in these classics.
    I've also started listening to Lugosi and Karloff tell spooky stories on radio shows. They're so darn charming.

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    1. If you like spooky radio stories, check out Lights Out with Arch Oboler if you haven't already. Some legitimately scary and atmospheric old-time-radio horror there.

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    2. I just got the blue-ray Universal Monster's box set. Dracula is incredible, every time he is on screen just lights everything up. I also ordered a Frankenstein Legacy box set and a copy of Black Cat. This is going to turn into the year of classic horror for me.

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    3. Awesome! That's how it's been shaping up for me as well. I got the Dracula and Frankenstein legacy collections and I plan on getting the blu ray set too. I've been dying to see The Black Cat. I'll have to get a copy.

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    4. Here's a page of "Horror Stars on the Radio" on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCossGZ7QcZRUWzevYJrsT5A

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    5. That is so great to hear. How pretty is Son Of Frankenstein's cinematography? Something about Universal Monsters makes you want to go through them all! Talking Universal Horror; have you guys seen The Man Who Laughs? If so what about Death Takes a Holiday? Love those!

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    6. No I have not, but thank for the tip, I have already noted it down. Thanks!

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  5. Watching film critics/bloggers/etc. whose work I enjoy sniping at each other like children over Twitter can be very disheartening, but it's also a reminder of how insanely lucky we are to have this family right here. I've made no secret of how much FTM and by extension this community means to me, and at times like these I'm even prouder to be a part of it.

    Also, Patrick, you and everyone else pour so much content into the site all week I can't imagine anyone begrudging you taking the weekends off. I'm a fan of the weekend weigh-in and try to participate every week, but I also completely understand your reasoning for possibly dropping it. At the end of the day, this is your playhouse and you've gotta do what's best for you.

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    1. What's been going on with film critics on twitter?

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    2. Just a lot of petty squabbling. I try to tune it out, mostly, but sometimes it gets overwhelming. One critic writes a thinkpiece about another, the other gets insulted and soon everybody who writes about movies online is in the crossfire as they toss insults back and forth.

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    3. Im sure Patrick rose high above all this stuff, leave um all to it, we dont play them games here

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  6. I love the weekend weigh-in and definitely think it's worth keeping. With the addition of the more frequent free for all's (which is great) topics should be easy to come by. Maybe those of us that comment during the week can throw out suggestions during the week if any come to us during out posts.

    Watched "Before We Go" last night, Chris Evans Directorial debut. Although not the best romantic dramady, I thought it was pretty charming. The direction is nothing special but I like that especially for a debut as it felt somewhat indie and amateurish. He kept it simple and focused on the story more than anything else. Alice Eve was pretty bad in my opinion but makes up for it with her hotness. I love New York movies and this felt more like one than not although didn't reach greatness status. I'm a huge critic of when actors play instruments in movies and I always pay close attention to if they are actually playing or not. Evans was pretty convincing in the brief scenes where we see him play trumpet, although the editing might have covered up a bunch, but at least his fingers coincided with the notes. Sorry, it's a huge distraction and pet peeve for me when it's sloppy. Mo' Better Blues and Whiplash are some of the best examples I've ever seen regarding this.

    I then watched Furious 7 - that movie is F-ing crazy. It's awful in all of it's awesomeness. So over the top (which is what I want and expect) the script and story are woeful and I couldn't tell if Wan was mimicking other directors or just didn't care. It looked like a McG, Ratner or Justin Lin movie, I don't think Wan added a voice to it unless you count the numerous times he used that flipping camera over trick. All in all, it's so bad that it's going to be a cult classic in 20 years. I loved it.

    Then I finished the night with the unedited, uncut version of Damon Packard's "Reflections of Evil". I loved it although it's way too long. "Foxfur" is an hour long and packs more insanity into an hour than anything of recent memory ( I highly recommend watching both, but like Foxfur better and it's more accessible( ?). "Reflections" is a chore to get through, although I think Packard is an important voice so it's well worth the viewing. Not a smart choice for the last movie of the night - my brain almost exploded as my head hit the pillow.

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    1. I didn't know Evans had his debut yet! I have to see it. And I'm very forgiving of romantic films in New York. What can I say. I also need to wash out 'Playing It Cool' from my brain because that Evans rom-com was a total disaster.

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    2. It's pretty good. I like where the story went. I wasn't always buying the interaction between the characters but I'll tell you this, Chris Evans is a charming ass son of a bitch. Man crush style.

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    3. "Mo' Better Blues and Whiplash are some of the best examples I've ever seen regarding this." Meaning extremely well done, not sloppy.

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    4. Chris Evan's charmingness is the most charming charm in all of charmington.

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    5. Personally speaking, I had a lot of fun with Furious 7. I think James Wan did a really good job by not only making an homage to 70s carsploitation while simultaneously maintaining the look and feel of the past few Justin Lin Fast and Furious pictures. He adapted very well to the slickness of this current crop of big budget studio made exploitation movies that have become the norm today. And that Death Proof homage is aces in my book.

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    6. Hi Mike, oh - I hope I didn't give the impression that I didn't have fun with Fast 7 - I loved it!! I think it's almost just as good as 5 and 6 (which I really liked too). As for Wan though - It felt like a first time music video director made it which had me scratching my head for a moment, then I remembered the age demographic the film is made for. I actually shouldn't have expected anything different but for some reason I did.

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    7. Sorry, Chaybee -- my fault. I realized my error only after I posted my comment.

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  7. I don't want to come across as the clueless moron than I am, but what do other sites/people sniping about their sites have to do with F This Movie? Shame if somebody else's fight become our loss, but whatever. It's Patrick's shack, we're only invited guests.

    It just happens that some local movie houses in New York City are having major retrospectives, mostly showing films I've never seen using quality archival 35mm prints! Film Forum is having a 'True Crime!' series (with 2-for-1 pricing for weekday double features!) while Anthology Film Archives had a One-Film Wonders series (directors who only made one great movie and never made another). Of the 20+ movies I saw the past two weeks 18 were 35mm, and a few that were DCP (Wynn Chamberlain's "Brand X," Elia Kazan's "Boomerang!") looked good-enough. I swear that when I watched a couple of newer movies on Netflix Instant recently I had to switch to a tablet because on my TV they just looked wrong. Watching too much 35mm spoils one's eyes because you expect grain and texture that's just not present on streaming HD files.

    35mm Highlights: Howard Hawk's SCARFACE (much better than De Palma's '83 remake; Paul Muni's the man!), John Milius' DILLINGER (Warren Oates being chased by Ben Johnson while the bodies and bullets pile up), THE ST. VALENTINE DAY'S MASSACRE (Corman with a budget + Jason Robards chewing scenery = winnah!), Anthony Mann's HE WALKED BY NIGHT (Richard Basehart's a ruthless cop killer in a flick that heavily inspired "Dragnet"), Tom Schiller's NOTHING LASTS FOREVER (retro-futuristic fantasy about NYC underground artists with Zach Galligan and Bill Murray; needs to be seen to be believed) and THE PHENIX CITY STORY (tremendous drama about an Alabama town overrun by corruption and the locals who stood up to clean it; for '55 there's stuff here you don't know how the Hays Code allowed it to get through).

    35mm Disappointments: Don Siegel's ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (boring and unsuspenseful, but I appreciate minimalism that Siegel and Clint were going for), Hitchcock's THE WRONG MAN (adhering too close to real-life incident limits Hitch's chances to show off and be fantastic, which is what we come to see his movies for), Timothy Carey's WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER (a dull flick that tries too hard to be provocative for provocation's sake; a lot more vanilla and restrained than you think), Isidore Isou's VENOM AND ETERNITY (young French intellectual artist can't conceive "modern" cinema can evolve past 1950, yells at audience, characters and himself about how he has to destroy cinema to save it, then flips picture and scratches movie; avant-garde pretentious douchery at its most annoying) and, last and certainly least, Umbert Lenzi's CANNIBAL FEROX (the one that's actually everything bad "Cannibal Holocaust" was accused of being: gratuitous, dumb, mean-spirited and long; 93 minutes feel like 4 hrs.

    Heck, even movies that ended up being mediocre to me (Tony Richardson's NED KELLY, Mervin LeRoy's I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG, Nicholas Ray's THE TRUE STORY OF JESSE JAMES, James Guercio's ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE, etc.) have moments/scenes/performances that were pretty memorable. And there were 35mm screenings that I couldn't attend because of scheduling conflicts or because I was plain tired (Russell Mulcahy's "Razorback" at Nitehawk, John Ford's "3 Godfathers" at AFA, "Superman: The Movie" at IFC Center, etc.). I guess what I'm trying to say is (raises arms like Winston Zeddmore) I LOVE THIS TOWN!!!! :-)

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    1. The two things are separate. The online infighting was simply a reminder that we have a good thing here and it's thanks to the people who visit and comment. I just wanted to remind everyone that I appreciate it. That has nothing to do with the future of the Weekend Weigh-in.

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    2. I also don't know anything about the online fighting and don't really care. Whatever you guys do is aces for me so do what you want and we will follow.

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    3. Me too, I've not heard and im not interested, all the Fthismovie hosts and contributers rock and so do all the F heads, F is for Family, anyone who has a problem with any of the above can F off, sorry I'll stop now, that's about as angry as i get, not very I know

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  8. I watched The Monuments Men last night. A very oddly scripted movie. For instance: a bunch of older dudes are assembled into a special WWII Army unit, and get wildly different ranks. Now, I'm in the actual Navy now, but even so, I have very little idea why who got what rank. Prior service, maybe? Had any of them been in WWI? The movie doesn't say. And the actors are so recognizable and the characters so thinly sketched that you never see them as characters, it's just Clooney and Damon and Co. jaunting around Europe.

    That said, it was a pleasant, low-key watch, and I don't regret its existence, or having seen it. It struck me as a popcorn movie for geezers, much like this year's WWII-themed Woman in Gold, and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

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  9. Weekend weigh-ins are awesome. I exclusively come here for movie conversations because most of the other movie forum places that I used to visit has some pretty toxic comment sections.

    Yesterday I was bored on Netflix and decided to re-watch "School Of Rock". It had been around 12-13 years since I had first watched it. Most of it holds up. I definately had fun while watching it. I cant really explain the problems I had, because moist of them were just strange pacing issues or casting choices. (I'm not a fan of Sarah Silverman in this movie). Overall it was enjoyable, but not as strong as I had remembered.

    I also watched "Wet Hot American Summer" for the first time. I saw that they are making a Netflix series this month that is supposed to be a prequel or something so I gave the original a try. Goodness this movie is a mess. The cast is really good, and it brought back memories of summer camp, but it is not perfect. I did enjoy it nonetheless. There were huge chunks of the movie that fell flat for me, and jokes or bits that felt so out of place. Regardless I laughed a lot, and it fulfilled every expectation of a stupid comedy from the early 2000s.

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    1. Damn im embarrassed, I have not seen WHAS I know, I've heard it mentioned loads on here, I will put it to the top of my list, so many films, so little time, so little money

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    2. It's looking like WHAS is the topic of the next podcast, so I'd check it out soon. It's absolute madness, but quite entertaining!

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    3. It never really made it over here in the UK, I cant even remember ever seeing a Cover for it, I will hunt down or copy or even search youtube

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    4. I just saw it for the first time too, about a week ago. I laughed alot at several parts of it, but it's one of those movies I could only recommend to someone I know really well. Like last year's Wain movie, They Came Together, you can enjoy it fairly well on one level if you just like absurdist comedy. It rewards you alot for recognizing the tropes it's making fun of, but I can understand why it would fall flat even for the biggest cinephiles just because of your tastes. I really enjoyed it, personally.

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  10. Anyone seen Hartley's "Ned Rifle" Henry Fool finale yet? I've seen the first two (and I'm a big Harley fan) but for some reason I'm not that anxious to get to it anytime soon. Any thoughts from anyone?

    Btw - I've been grilling out for lunch today and wanted to revisit Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. I don't think people realize how insanely huge these albums are. Not in sales numbers or popularity but in depth and production. The song "Thriller" is possibly something we will never get again. I mean, a horror themed pop song with Vincent Price narrating? It's unreal how that song exists, John Landis video and all. It's one of the greatest achievements in pop music history. Not only can people recite the lyrics but they can recite Price's narrative. Holy shit. There will never be another song like that, ever. I remember being a kid when they debuted the Thriller video on TV (I think it was 10 pm) and my mom let me stay up to watch. It was a groundbreaking experience.

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    1. Watch Chris Tucker's new Netflix standup special. A large portion of it is devoted to Tucker remembering (and making fun of in a non-abusive way) his interactions and hanging out with MJ before his death. It's just what a guy going through MJ appreciation withdrawal is looking for. :-)

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    2. Thanks for the recommendation, JM!

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  11. Not wanting Junesploitation to end, I started my own #SlasherJuly and decided to watch every Halloween, Friday and Elm Street film in release order. So far I've watched 16 of the 26 films, so it's time for a progress report.

    I started the project strong but my speed on watching these has waned some. I'm not gonna pretend there's absolutely no fatigue, but mostly it's because of my work schedule. I'll pick it up again.

    The definite favorites (so far) are the first and fourth Halloween, first and third Elm Street and the fourth Friday. Then of course there's the bonkers ones, like Halloween III: Season of the Witch and Jason Takes Manhattan, which are so bad they're extremely entertaining. So far I've managed to find something to like in each movie and haven't wanted to stop. I will power through these.

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    1. Awesome, Mikko. Your assessment so far validates the majority of fans regarding these series.

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    2. I so wish Junesploitation™ hadn't ended. It just hasn't been the same since we went out on a high... and this coming from the guy that just saw a bunch of 35mm flicks! :'(

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    3. Junesploitation never ends for me :)

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    4. I love Jason takes Manhattan. It is ridiculous. Before every kill, you see Jason's hands move slowly towards the murder weapon and grab it. It makes me laugh everytime.

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    5. Junesplotation ends when Scary movie month starts

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    6. Just heard news that Vinegar Syndrome is launching a Exploitation.tv in August. First Shudder, now this?! Good things to come I hope!

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  12. So I just got finished watching a documentary on Netflix called The Smoking Gun, a real short 85 minute piece that looks and sounds like it was produced for the History Channel that is about the JFK assassination. And besides some moderate production values, and awful reenactments, I found it fully enthralling. I've always found the best documentaries, to be the ones concerned only with the facts, and using them to find the truth (which is why I can't watch any Michael Moore film). The problem I've always had with anything surrounding JFK is it always seems like people drew their conclusion first, then picked out the evidence that supported it and discarded the evidence that didn't.

    The Smoking Gun is basically one man's 25 year exhaustive search through all the evidence, and the conclusion he paints considers every single piece of evidence he has found; ballistic, forensic, eyewitness, etc. The conclusion the film finds is the most convincing theory I have found, and has a plausible explanation for every aspect of evidence, and doesn't have nearly as many holes as even the most well-regarded theories (and, you know, isn't silly like JFK.)

    If you have the time and inclination, I highly recommend it. I found it fascinating.

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    1. I'll have to check this out. Sounds like you and I have the same taste in documentaries. I'm so tired of a filmmaker trying to tell me something, when I'd rather just here experts who really know their stuff working through it and maybe even debating it. It's especially great if it's something like the Kennedy assasination which has been theorized to death by people who've not researched it extensively. (a.k.a. people like me who are too lazy) I'd like to see something like this for food/farming documentaries.

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  13. I re-watched Shaun of the Dead. As much as I love this movie and Edgar Wright, Zombies still scare the living bajeebees out of me. Though the record scene might be one of my favourites in movies. And a documentary on Netflix with my boyfriend, rampage killers, which wasn't very good.

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  14. Here's my suggestion for the Weekend Weigh-ins... My favorite podcast each year is the Overrated/Underrated/Ugly podcast with Patrick and JB. Each weekend, pick a year, let the F-heads pick their overrated/underrated/uglies. Should spur lots of interesting conversations.

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  15. So I decided to go see MR. HOLMES today, not thinking about the fact that I am NOT the demographic for that movie, get there, and for some reason I'm really surprised when I'm the youngest person in the theater by 4 decades. I don;t know why that surprised me but still, it was pretty funny when I walked in. The movie itself I thought was pretty good. It's sort of just a fluff piece about emotions and age and stuff, but there was also some really powerful stuff about loneliness and redemption that resonated with me. Ian McKellan is also just really good. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Anyone else seen it yet?

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    1. The trailer I saw made the movie look really dour. I like Condon well enough and I adore Ian McKellan (although Vicious is pushing it..). Overall, I'm still on the fence on whether to see Mr Holmes. I'm also interested whether anyone else here has seen it yet and their accompanying thoughts.

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    2. It's actually mostly optimistic and pleasant, if that was your main concern.

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    3. Thanks Tim, might go check it out.

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    4. I really want to see Mr. Holmes, not just to support septuagenarian English actors named Ian, but because it seems like an interesting (new) take on Sherlock, a character that is getting beaten into the ground these days. It didn't open here in my town when it opened nation-wide last week, but it looks like it's at a couple of theaters here now. I need to get to one of them, because the movie looks like it's right up my alley.

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  16. Like everyone else here, I love the weekend weigh-in, and would love if you guys kept it going. If you're looking to shake things up, perhaps you could change it from a weekly question to a more open-ended, "Have You Seen Anything Good Lately?"

    You guys already ask that question of each other on the podcast each week, why not open that question to the listeners as well, and have us chime in with what we saw this week and what we thought? Could lead to more lively discussions week to week!

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  17. This is my favorite film site and far and away the best community for film lovers anywhere on the net I've ever seen.

    It's a truly special place, and I feel honored to be a part of it, even on the fringes. Much love for each and every one of you.

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  18. Pardon my english, it´s very crude. I think this open topic threads really boost the insightful conversation among readers of the site, for example JP´s recomenadation about a radio show called Lights Out with Arch Oboler couldn't be more fortunate and I just having a blast with those stories.

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  19. It does seem that film criticism has reached the point where critics can no longer simply talk about their opinion of a movie but instead have to take other critics to task for their opinions of films. It has all become very "meta" and quite frankly distracting. I suppose it's a product of film criticism shifting to the internet, where people can easily copy, paste, and plaster a snippet of someone else's idea (in 140 characters or less) on giant social media forums for others to further modify and plaster. Much of the nuance, depth, and appreciation has been removed from the conversation about movies as certain 'critics' battle for clicks, likes, and outrageous headlines. I think we, as a society, are still trying to define what online film criticism and online interaction in general should be.

    I'm not the first one to say this, but film should be a subjective art form, not an all or nothing contest. People should be free to read their own experiences and feeling into a movie without some 3 minute Youtube 'reviewer' telling them that their view is invalid. I know it's cliche and sappy but every film and true film fan is like an individual snowflake (are you weeping yet?) that make the world a more colorful place (although all snowflakes are white, so my metaphor kind of breaks down, but you get the idea.)

    F This Movie!, in my opinion, does create a place where we each can have unique and vastly different views that are, for the most part, respected and appreciated. And from what I have seen, this site focuses much more on the movies themselves than on the entertainment industry behind them or other critic's reviews. So let's continue talking about the films that we love with the people who love them.

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  20. Don't you dare get rid of the weekend weigh ins Mr Bromley sir, while I'm all of the idea of taking it easy on the saturdays and sundays I definitely want to keep the weekend chats going even if its a bit lesser of a talk during that time. One topic I have wanted to throw out was "Have you ever done a movie at the theatres solo?" aka went to the movies got a ticket and happened to be the only dude or lady in the place?

    As for regular week to week stuff I wouldnt mind seeing TV thrown in every once in a while get represented (the sadly recently cancelled Hannibal is the best and totally worth a podcast).

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    1. Sadly I saw Lady in the Water by myself in a completely empty theater. I laid across three seats at once. Halfway through I got up, wandered around, and tried sitting in different locations in the theater. Being solo is a very good time to reevaluate your normal theater seating arrangement. I also distinctly remember laughing very loudly (which I could finally do) at Freddy Rodriguez (doing a stunning John Leguizamo impression) working out only the right half of his body. It was a truly surreal experience, for many reasons. The next day I thought "Did that really happen?" To which I concluded "Does it really matter?"

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    2. I saw My Super Ex-Girlfriend alone in a theater. Actually, I might be the only one to see it in a theater.

      I remember buying the ticket at the last minute and when I walked into the theater, I saw the projectionist setting up the movie with an annoyed look on his face. I guess he thought he didn't have to play it but I ruined it for him at the last minute.

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    3. My favorite is seeing a film with a friend and you're the only ones there. I saw Grudge Match when a friend and I were totally alone. About half-way through we realized we both thought the movie was total garbage and we just started goofing off. We ran around. We climbed on things we shouldn't have climbed on. We sat on things we shouldn't have sat on. We talked way too loud. It was a blast. I also saw Captain America 2 with another friend all alone. It was both of our fourth time seeing it so we talked the whole time. Also a blast.

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    4. The first movie I remember sitting alone in the theater was the gorgeous looking 70mm 6 track Dolby Stereo version of the sadly very lame espionage love story "Shining through" in 1992, starring Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith. Since then I could add a few more.
      Although I prefer to go with my best buddy, I often go alone because of time constraints regarding both our jobs. And I simply have to see as much movies as possible on the big screen.
      Sometimes it´s a little strange sitting alone there, but the upside is often: no talking, no eating, no texting from others.

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    5. Movies I've seen alone off the top of my head: Her, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (saw it late in the run, I guess) and the second half of Top Five. There was one middle aged couple in the theater with me for the first half. The man laughed alot. The woman didn't. They left hastily.

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  21. Three of the top six movies OF ALL TIME were released this year, and none are considered especially good. Is this a comment on mass audiences, studio blockbusters, or just statistics playing out?

    Coincidentally, both Mad Max: Fury Road and Ex Machina are playing at my local discount theater. Best $2 activity when the mid-afternoon temperature hits 98°F.

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    1. Are you saying 3 of the 6 highest grossing movies? If so, we still have MI5, SWVII, and Hunger Games 3 pt.2. coming, and I could see at least one of those (Star Wars) cracking the top 5 easy.

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    2. Oh yeah, and SPECTRE will be out this year, too. Skyfall is #12 on the list, so that could be top 10. To answer your question, Ivan, I think it is mostly the combo of studios making their products as widely accessible as possible and all the extras people now pay (3d, IMAX, that Regal X or whatever) to see a movie. Looking at the top 10, I feel that all are visual spectacles first (except for maybe Titanic), with plot a distant second. But that could also just be me generalizing.

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    3. Seems it's all Franchises and Kids movies with the exception of the first 2 (Avatar is now a franchise though). How that movie made so much money is a mystery to me. Perfect release timing I guess?

      Here's your top ten all time:
      Avatar
      Titanic
      Jurassic World
      The Avengers
      Furious 7
      The Avengers: Age of Ultron
      Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
      Frozen
      Iron Man 3
      The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

      Kind of depressing. The franchise thing is going to be with us for a LONG time.

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    4. Jon, I agree Star Wars VII has big potential; not as confident about the others.

      This year the three top movies each grossed $1.5B worldwide. Last year only one movie broke $1B, but there were quite a few in the $700M range. Maybe the lack of good movies this year is driving mainstream audiences to a few well-known franchises.

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  22. So today Stanley Kubrick would have turned 87. Do you guys think he would have made another film after Eyes Wide Shut if he were still alive today?

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    2. Kubrick wrote a screenplay for a movie about the life of Napoleon. Unfortunately the production costs were too high and the failure of the 1970 Napoleon movie Waterloo doomed the project. It was announced in 2013, however, that Spielberg is trying to turn Kubrick's screenplay into a miniseries. I'm curious to see how it will do without the direction of Kubrick.

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    3. I'm still curious whether he would have continued tinkering with Eyes Wide Shut's editing if he had lived a bit longer. Considering the last-minute change he made to the end of The Shining, I wouldn't have been surprised if he had delayed the release to adjust it a bit more.

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  23. I just signed up for Shudder. Any recommendations of what to check out? I'm having a lazy Sunday.

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    1. I love Shudder! I got to see Carnival of Souls and Sleepaway Camp! One is much better than the other... but I enjoyed both. But of course you've seen those.

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    2. What kind of mood are you looking for? Too many good choices.

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    3. You've seen a lot of the stuff I might otherwise recommend. Deadgirl and Grace are both good, but not fun (ESPECIALLY GRACE). Excision is trying.

      OOOH. I got it. Murder Party. 100%.

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    4. I was about to say - for fun - watch "Murder Party". "I am a Ghost" was my favorite Horror movie of 2012. It's a super stylish, no budget and ambitious film. Not without faults, but I love love love that film. Glad to see it on Shudder. It's needs more exposure. "Lovely Molly" and "Absentia" are really good too.

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    5. Regarding Shudder - I REALLY hope this service works out and they are able to expand their library. As an avid Horror fanatic, I have seen a large percentage of what is available now, but I'm so happy to see a Horror only streaming service that I really want this to succeed. As soon as it hits Chromecast I'm going to subscribe just to support the effort if nothing else.

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    6. I tried watching 5 minutes of Faces of Death and realized I can't unsee what I just saw. Thus, I asked for the recommendations. Thanks everyone!

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    7. Haha! Just remember it's 99% fake.

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    8. I'm trying to steel myself for Cannibal Holocaust and the Green Inferno.

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    9. I just watched Dead and Buried. I've been meaning to for awhile and just found it on Shudder. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't something as smart and interesting as what it was. It also had very effective jump scares! How often can you say that? I like it AND respect it!

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    10. Dead and Buried was one of my favorites from either last year (or the year before's) Scary Movie Month. It's just my kind of horror.

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    11. Doesn't a lazy Sunday require The Chronicles of Narnia?

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    12. That mention of Faces of Death reminds me how sick the trailer for American Guinea Pig made me, and how I'm going to try to avoid it at all costs. I can't remember how long it's been since a horror film's trailer disturbed me enough that it put me off wanting to see it. It also made me severely nauseous and I almost threw up. That doesn't usually happen to me. Having said that, I am waiting on pins and needles to finally be able to see The Green Inferno and Knock Knock. Like I said, I hardly ever feel the way the trailer for American Guinea Pig made me feel.

      Oh, and Dead & Buried is classic.

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    13. Go for it Riske, Cannibal holocaust in the house, I would love your first time watching review? Its very unique and tough viewing, you gotta see the uncut version too, only once i admit but if you dont see it all wouldn't you always wonder what you missed? The film that almost sent Deodato to prison

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    14. If your repulsed you can blame me ;)

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    15. If anything, Knock Knock is going to introduce the world to all of the greatness that is Ana de Armas!

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  24. I went to the drive-in theater this weekend and saw a double feature that included "Minions" followed by "Inside Out."

    One of the movies was creative, original, thoughtful, and an overall joy. I would recommend it to any adult or child alike.

    The other made me miss the presence of Steve Carell, which is a forgotten feeling I hadn't experienced since Michael Scott left The Office, and surely will never happen again.

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  25. How's everyone doing? Since Ant-Man, there's nothing new theatrically that strikes my fancy until next week, so I've been pulling from my collection and from Netflix. And, of course, adding to the collection. Bought 3 Days to Kill, the 40th anniversary special edition of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Spring, It Follows, a TCM four film set of Jimmy Stewart movies, the remake/sequel of The Town That Dreaded Sundown, X-Men Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, Deliver Us From Evil, and Scream Factory's Howling II. Right now I'm waiting on the new Blu ray of Vanilla Sky and Scream Factory's I, Madman to come in the mail, hopefully this week. I watched an episode of Masters of Horror I hadn't seen before, We All Scream For Ice Cream, and enjoyed it a whole hell of a lot. I saw Creep, and thought it was fine, nothing incredible. It wasn't tetrible, so I guess, in the realm of found footage movies, that's saying something. The Taking of Deborah Logan is still my favorite found footage movie of recent times, probably next to Paranormal Activity The Marked Ones and the first two VHS films. Today was pretty rainy, so I spent the day watching McCabe & Mrs. Miller. And I just got done watching Meatballs now. The excitement over the new Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice trailer propelled me to research influence of the Superman comic to Man of Steel. That's a little bit of what I've been up to this past week as it pertains to movies. I need to watch Voices from Beyond sometime soon.

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  26. How could I forget... I saw Why Don't You Play in Hell? too and loved it.

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    1. Still haven't got to that. Really want to though!

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  27. All the press revolving around The Revenant is making me want to pop in Jeremiah Johnson.

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  28. Somebody, please help! I tried two copies of the new Vanilla Sky Blu ray on my player. Neither will load. I'm assuming it's a firmware issue, and it would be a first for me. I've had this player since my very first Blu ray purchase, Book of Eli, the week Book of Eli was released. So does this mean no Paramount release will ever play in this player again until I get am upgrade, or could it just be an isolated issue with how this disc was pressed/authored?

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    1. This is weird. I got the firmware update, and yet the disc still won't load. Any ideas, anybody?

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    2. Sorry Mike G. I tried to search for you but found no mention of this problem. Quite the contrary I found someone posted "My Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide." I doubt that would be a problem unless somehow there is a setting on your player affecting this. (that would be a first).

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    3. Thank you for checking, Chaybee. I appreciate it. I don't get it at all. If it wasn't so perplexing it would actually be funny. I went to a buddy's house to get the firmware update. I got the update, it still doesn't play. We both have Sony players, and his Sony plays the disc just fine. I just don't get it.

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    4. No problem. Knowing that you have a Sony player, I read that people were having issues with the Kingsman Blu as well. You might want to check some threads. Good luck.

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    5. Thank you. No, Kingsman worked fine. My player has weird taste. It plays 3,320 movies on dvd and blu fine, but it's turning up its nose on Vanilla Sky on blu.

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    6. It prefers "Open Your Eyes" :)

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    7. I don't own the original yet. That could be it's problem. After all this, I find out my player's an Alejandro Amenabar fan.

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    8. Or it hates Cameron Diaz which makes more sense.

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    9. If it were anything she's been in in recen years I would agree, but she wasn't bad in Vanilla Sky. Now, I can see it being pissed off at Cameron Crowe, and not wanting to play any discs pressed after the release of Elizabethtown.

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    10. I hope it'll let me play Pearl Jam Twenty.

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