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I’d never seen it, but now I have.

Due to how easy it is with the advent of the various streaming services I’ve been watching films lately that for one reason or another I didn’t get round to first time, not always ones that are considered classics but sometimes they pop up on Netflix etc and I decide to give them a go. 

Two of these are the following 

The Beach - not sure why I’d never seen it as I’m sure it’s been on tv loads and as a fan of Trainspotting the fact that it’s a Danny Boyle film should’ve drawn me to it. In all honesty I thought it was ok but definitely of its time. 

Empire of the Sun - Gave it a go as I wanted to see what Christian Bale’s acting was like as a kid. Decent film which I wish I’d seen a lot earlier. 

Anyone else find themselves doing this lately?
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Comments

  • I watched Death in Venice for the first time a few years ago and thought it was one of the best films I’ve seen. The reason I’d never seen it before as I thought it was an Agatha Christie (death on the Nile). 
  • I am a confirmed hater of musicals…..both on stage and on film. 

    Saw Cabaret with Liza Minnelli a year or so back and thought it was incredible. 

    Still haven’t seen another musical since mind 😄
  • I always do this, is it unsual?
  • I am a confirmed hater of musicals…..both on stage and on film. 

    Saw Cabaret with Liza Minnelli a year or so back and thought it was incredible. 

    Still haven’t seen another musical since mind 😄
    As I’d never seen any production of Cabaret until I was cast as the EmCee, I wish I’d watched that one and not the Richard Gere one. Blooming awful 😣 
  • never seen any of the Star Wars 'franchise' films .. and I have no urge to see any of them .. love to re=watch a lot of older stuff, all of Kubricks, Godfather Pt1, Maltese Falcon, Cary grant/Hitchcock and plenty of others perhaps too numerous to say from the top of my head a t m
  • I watched Von Ryan's Express on Film 4 a few weeks ago and it was my sort of film. I really enjoyed it. Not sure why I hadn't seen it before.
  • Never seen ET until about 5 years ago.
  • I cannot, cannot be the only person who was so traumatised by Watership Down as a child when the BBC decided it was a good idea to revisit this childhood darkness I downloaded the series and lost count of the times I went to press play and then 'nope, not doing that'

    I did in the end make it most of the way through but whilst they have watered down some of the brutality and bleakness its still horrible. Don't watch it is my advice!
  • Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Cracking film with some brilliant performances. Everyone talks about the Bette Davis, Joan Crawford thing, but I'd advise you to look out for Victor Buono.
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  • Within the last year I've watched It's a Wonderful Life and Back to the Future for the first time, both classic films.

    Not so much from streaming, but more that at Christmas a lot of films are shown on TV, and I invariably record them on my PVR and never get round to watching them until months or years later.
  • I watched Von Ryan's Express on Film 4 a few weeks ago and it was my sort of film. I really enjoyed it. Not sure why I hadn't seen it before.
    Seen it a few times, did Sinatra make the train this time?
  • buckshee said:


    Empire of the Sun - Gave it a go as I wanted to see what Christian Bale’s acting was like as a kid. Decent film which I wish I’d seen a lot earlier. 


    One of my all time favourite films. The end gets me every time.
  • Carter said:
    I cannot, cannot be the only person who was so traumatised by Watership Down as a child when the BBC decided it was a good idea to revisit this childhood darkness I downloaded the series and lost count of the times I went to press play and then 'nope, not doing that'

    I did in the end make it most of the way through but whilst they have watered down some of the brutality and bleakness its still horrible. Don't watch it is my advice!
    We watched the original cartoon in primary school. Don't know why they didn't just stick on the Exorcist and be done with it. Mind you, I was more traumatized when we watched The Snowman, so there's that.

    I only saw the original Top Gun recently. Cack, but could see why everyone other than me had seen it.
  • I hadn’t seen ‘Young Winston’ but saw it was on Film4 the other day, recorded it - decent watch
  • McBobbin said:
    Carter said:
    I cannot, cannot be the only person who was so traumatised by Watership Down as a child when the BBC decided it was a good idea to revisit this childhood darkness I downloaded the series and lost count of the times I went to press play and then 'nope, not doing that'

    I did in the end make it most of the way through but whilst they have watered down some of the brutality and bleakness its still horrible. Don't watch it is my advice!
    We watched the original cartoon in primary school. Don't know why they didn't just stick on the Exorcist and be done with it. Mind you, I was more traumatized when we watched The Snowman, so there's that.

    I only saw the original Top Gun recently. Cack, but could see why everyone other than me had seen it.
    Totally, I had a pretty cool babysitter when I was young, Andrea, she was all green hair, nose ring, DMs. Anyway, Andrea was also part of the babysitter cult who would take babysitting children as an opportunity to watch films with them, films that kids probably shouldn't have watched. Between us we chalked up 

    Nightmare on Elm Street 
    Rococo
    The Terminator 
    Hellraiser 
    Jaws 1 and 2 
    Halloween 
    One of the Evil Dead Films 

    If there was a film a kid shouldn't have watched, me and Andrea watched it. 

    Granted Nightmare on Elm Street shit me up a bit, a lot in fact. Freddie Krueger is a fucking amazing original baddie but none of them stayed with me as long term as watership down did! 

    No film got to me for ages after my whirlwind introduction to bloodshed until I went to the cinema, with a woman, to watch 28 Days Later. I am amazed I didn't shit in my pants watching that, I might as well have done, lost all my dignity jumping out if my skin several times and we were given such a gentle introduction too with the close up of Cillian Murphys uncut penis 
  • Sought out Shane again for the first time in 40 years. Surprised just how 'treacley' it was but Jack Palance's menace as gunman Jack Wilson was there just like I remembered and the force with which 'Stonewall' Torrey's body hit the mud after Wilson shot him was equally powerful. A film of it's time.
  • edited September 2023
    Recently watched Red River which I really enjoyed. Still doesn't make my top 3 westerns though.

    I also recently re-watched an ealing film made during the war called The Halfway House. Not many know of it, but it's better than I remember it.
  • I watched One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest for the first time a few months back which I thoroughly enjoyed.    

    I have to agree about the Godfather films  for me the 2nd one is the best film ever. 
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  • I love films. I watch the odd series but I find them too long winded never know when to end and especially nowadays, they seem to move channels which I don't have due to their success or otherwise. 

    Watched On the waterfront not too long ago for the first time. Belter of a film. Peak Brando. The man was spellbinding in that movie. 

    "You shouda looked after me Charley. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody. Instead of a bum, which is what I am. let's face it, It was you, Charley."


  • edited September 2023
    buckshee said:
    Anyone else find themselves doing this lately?
    Great thread. I've been doing exactly this for the past four months now. I used to ignore old films like those made before the 80's but watched Taxi Driver in May and it sort of opened a new world to me - I've since finished watching the complete filmography of Martin Scorsese's (except a few documentaries) and many classics from the 70's to the 90's by other famous directors. Here are some of the ones worth mentioning as I enjoyed them very much and wish I'd seen them earlier:

    Each and every Scorsese film  :D 
    The Godfather 1-3 (these were rewatches but I just have to list them here as they are simply the best of the best)
    Dog Day Afternoon
    A Bronx Tale - this one was so good I couldn't believe it was Robert De Niro's directorial debut. 
    Apocalypse Now - I always assumed Marlon Brando was the main character so I was surprised that he only appeared for the last 30 minutes or so of the film but nevertheless this was a masterpiece.
    JFK, Platoon - probably the best works by Oliver Stone
    In the Name of the Father - I was shocked to find that Daniel Day Lewis had won three Oscars for Best Leading Actor but having watched this one, My Left Foot, and before those two, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York (which I'd watched many years ago) I finally realised why he was regarded so highly as an actor by so many people.
    Carlito's Way
    ...And Justice for All

    A few slight disappointments/not as great as I thought they'd be:
    Reservoir Dogs
    1900/Novecento
    Once Upon a Time in America
    The Deer Hunter
    Scarface

    But of course those above are still much better than the majority films being made these days. I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather spend 2 hours watching an old classic than waste time on some mediocre new film.

    By the way, if you like The Godfather trilogy, I'd like to recommend this sublime performance of the soundtrack. It's one of the best things I've seen on YouTube. If you can't watch it at work, please add it to your YouTube Library and watch it when you're home, with your headphones or speakers. I was moved to tears the first time I watched it. It really is a must-see video for every Godfather fan.
    https://youtu.be/X-jdl9hcCeg?si=B5x15wKPU6bm-rT9
  • agree with most what you have written Jessie but for me though the Bronx tale was rather lightweight. Whereas Once Upon a Time in America is one of my favourite films. Even though its a bit long. Reservoir dogs was also very good purely for the script. 
  • Jessie said:
    buckshee said:
    Anyone else find themselves doing this lately?
    Great thread. I've been doing exactly this for the past four months now. I used to ignore old films like those made before the 80's but watched Taxi Driver in May and it sort of opened a new world to me - I've since finished watching the complete filmography of Martin Scorsese's (except a few documentaries) and many classics from the 70's to the 90's by other famous directors. Here are some of the ones worth mentioning as I enjoyed them very much and wish I'd seen them earlier:

    Each and every Scorsese film  :D 
    The Godfather 1-3 (these were rewatches but I just have to list them here as they are simply the best of the best)
    Dog Day Afternoon
    A Bronx Tale - this one was so good I couldn't believe it was Robert De Niro's directorial debut. 
    Apocalypse Now - I always assumed Marlon Brando was the main character so I was surprised that he only appeared for the last 30 minutes or so of the film but nevertheless this was a masterpiece.
    JFK, Platoon - probably the best works by Oliver Stone
    In the Name of the Father - I was shocked to find that Daniel Day Lewis had won three Oscars for Best Leading Actor but having watched this one, My Left Foot, and before those two, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York (which I'd watched many years ago) I finally realised why he was regarded so highly as an actor by so many people.
    Carlito's Way
    ...And Justice for All

    A few slight disappointments/not as great as I thought they'd be:
    Reservoir Dogs
    1900/Novecento
    Once Upon a Time in America
    The Deer Hunter
    Scarface

    But of course those above are still much better than the majority films being made these days. I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather spend 2 hours watching an old classic than waste time on some mediocre new film.

    By the way, if you like The Godfather trilogy, I'd like to recommend this sublime performance of the soundtrack. It's one of the best things I've seen on YouTube.
    https://youtu.be/X-jdl9hcCeg?si=B5x15wKPU6bm-rT9
    I went to see the Godfather with the orchestra sat behind the screen playing the live while you watch the film
  • agree with most what you have written Jessie but for me though the Bronx tale was rather lightweight. Whereas Once Upon a Time in America is one of my favourite films. Even though its a bit long. Reservoir dogs was also very good purely for the script. 
    I think I'm probably just not a fan of Quentin Tarantino's style. I don't like nonstop (seemingly) useless dialogues and almost every film of his that I've seen has this 'issue'... 

    I really wanted to like Once Upon a Time in America - I don't mind long films at all. Just the adult characters' part of it was a bit disappointing. And the rape scene between De Niro and McGovern was a big shock and very uncomfortable to watch...

    I'm sure most people loved the films that I mentioned as disappointments because they are all highly rated films. I'd give each of them 4/5 instead of 5/5. ;)
  • Jessie said:
    buckshee said:
    Anyone else find themselves doing this lately?
    Great thread. I've been doing exactly this for the past four months now. I used to ignore old films like those made before the 80's but watched Taxi Driver in May and it sort of opened a new world to me - I've since finished watching the complete filmography of Martin Scorsese's (except a few documentaries) and many classics from the 70's to the 90's by other famous directors. Here are some of the ones worth mentioning as I enjoyed them very much and wish I'd seen them earlier:

    Each and every Scorsese film  :D 
    The Godfather 1-3 (these were rewatches but I just have to list them here as they are simply the best of the best)
    Dog Day Afternoon
    A Bronx Tale - this one was so good I couldn't believe it was Robert De Niro's directorial debut. 
    Apocalypse Now - I always assumed Marlon Brando was the main character so I was surprised that he only appeared for the last 30 minutes or so of the film but nevertheless this was a masterpiece.
    JFK, Platoon - probably the best works by Oliver Stone
    In the Name of the Father - I was shocked to find that Daniel Day Lewis had won three Oscars for Best Leading Actor but having watched this one, My Left Foot, and before those two, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York (which I'd watched many years ago) I finally realised why he was regarded so highly as an actor by so many people.
    Carlito's Way
    ...And Justice for All

    A few slight disappointments/not as great as I thought they'd be:
    Reservoir Dogs
    1900/Novecento
    Once Upon a Time in America
    The Deer Hunter
    Scarface

    But of course those above are still much better than the majority films being made these days. I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather spend 2 hours watching an old classic than waste time on some mediocre new film.

    By the way, if you like The Godfather trilogy, I'd like to recommend this sublime performance of the soundtrack. It's one of the best things I've seen on YouTube.
    https://youtu.be/X-jdl9hcCeg?si=B5x15wKPU6bm-rT9
    I went to see the Godfather with the orchestra sat behind the screen playing the live while you watch the film
    That must have been an amazing experience.
  • Carter said:
    Heat, never seen it the whole way through watched that recently. Banger 

    The Harry Potter films, watched the first one or two when they came on TV years ago, watched them all back to back and loved them. Thats something that doesn't need a reboot, beautifully done 

    Ben Hur and Spartacus they always seemed to be on TV on a Sunday, chalked both of these off and Lawrence of Arabia in the last 12 months 

    The first Blade film, went to watch the second and third ones at the cinema but never saw the first one, which is probably the best one Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristoferson or however you spell his surname were brilliant 

    Still haven't seen the Godfather films, but love casino and goodfellas

    Good thread 
    As bobmunro said, you really need to. Just that they're very different to Goodfellas and Casino. I recently read a book about Scorsese. In the book, one of the writers of his breakout film Mean Streets said ''At the time (early 70's), The Godfather was a book. To us (him and Scorsese), it was bullshit. It didn't seem to be about the gangsters we knew, the petty ones you see around.'' The remarks sound arrogant but I can understand why they didn't like the Godfather book. You feel a staggering difference between Scorsese's gangster films and Coppola's Godfather if you watch them back to back. Goodfellas, Casino etc. contain a huge lot of violence and they don't glorify these people. Scorsese depicts them extremely realistically. The Godfather is more about the family I think. Both directors of course are true masters of cinema and are in fact friends.

    I watched Heat recently, too, for the second time. I first watched it back in the early 2000's. It still looks so great today.
  • edited September 2023
    The Godfather book by Mario Puzo was a huge success at the time. best seller and all that. He helped to co write the trilogy of films. 
    I to my discredit have never read the godfather but Scorsese obliviously had. Bloke is a genius of a director as is Francis Ford Coppola, but for Martin as you say didn't see it true to life, or at least one he knew and grew up with, more street like as in Mean streets (awesome film btw).
    Great thing about the Godfather films is that it became more a piece on family and loyalty rather than a straight up gangster film. Had heart and you could relate to the characters. Coppola can master that and so much more. Apocalypse Now and the Conversation prove that. 
  • edited September 2023
    I ran into Happy Valley on a cable service recently. Once I got going I binge watched all three seasons in about two weeks, and I'm starting the first season again now. I can only say I can see where all those awards it keeps hoovering up went - utterly gripping.

    As for films, I never watched the Green Mile or Shawshank Redemption as I was a Stephen King fan as a youth and read everything he wrote for years. But I've seen them both in the last few months and they are brilliantly done for the big screen (something a lot of King's books never achieved).

    And yeah, Nightmare on Elm Street. I saw it at the cinema when it was new, and then tried to watch it alone at night a few years ago. Slunk off to bed after about half an hour as I was losing it badly.
  • agree with most what you have written Jessie but for me though the Bronx tale was rather lightweight. Whereas Once Upon a Time in America is one of my favourite films. Even though it’s a bit long. Reservoir dogs was also very good purely for the script. 
    Same for me  
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