|
Post by thecolonel93 on Dec 29, 2006 14:20:53 GMT
I watched THE FIENDISH PLOT OF DR. FU MANCHU last night.
|
|
|
Post by yannickthejoker on Dec 29, 2006 16:53:52 GMT
I watched THE FIENDISH PLOT OF DR. FU MANCHU last night. Is it really as bad as they say? I hope to get that video next week.
|
|
|
Post by Clouseau on Dec 29, 2006 23:41:47 GMT
i'd like to see that sometime, too... i finally got to see Being There last night... it was very different from anything else i've seen Sellers do, but i found it to be quite amusing, and it's a very uplifting film... definitely can understand why Sellers had wanted to make it for so long!
|
|
|
Post by thecolonel93 on Dec 30, 2006 17:06:05 GMT
FIENDISH PLOT isn't the worst comedy ever made, but most of it falls flat. There are a few good moments...mainly at the start. Mr. Sellers was far better playing in someone else's universe than trying to fashion his own from scratch. His ailing health and co-writers' relative inexperience hardly helped. There was no strong hand behind the camera to hold things together either. For all his genius, Mr. Sellers could falter when surrounded by yes-men just like anyone else. I would love to have a go at the outtakes if they survived. While I'm pleased Zev Braun has got this released on DVD in Germany, it would be nice if extra features could be located for Region 1 release.
|
|
|
Post by benjaminballon on Jan 3, 2007 10:04:24 GMT
I watched two films recently (one year ago! ): The Leopard, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and...Claudia Cardinale. A very special film, but hard to stand it from the beginning to the end (3 hours), especially the finale (the scene lasts 50 minutes!) and mainly the actors made it worth seeing. Midway, starring such stars as Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, and panther stars Robert Wagner and Robert Webber.Eventhough Wagner is credited before Webber, Wagner had only a small part and often stands behind Fonda who plays an important role, and Webbers part is much bigger. He is also the one who fits better into the whole film; I always liked him, he is a very professional actor. The film was historically interesting and tried to show both sides of the battle of Midway (and isn't that anti-Japanese as many other american war films) but it could have been made better, visually. And of course I don't like the acting of Charlton Heston who has the main role. But the reason for me to watch this film was the musical score by John Williams . But I was surprised to see Webber there.
|
|
|
Post by ben on Jan 3, 2007 11:33:27 GMT
FIENDISH PLOT isn't the worst comedy ever made, but most of it falls flat. There are a few good moments...mainly at the start. Mr. Sellers was far better playing in someone else's universe than trying to fashion his own from scratch. His ailing health and co-writers' relative inexperience hardly helped. There was no strong hand behind the camera to hold things together either. For all his genius, Mr. Sellers could falter when surrounded by yes-men just like anyone else. I would love to have a go at the outtakes if they survived. While I'm pleased Zev Braun has got this released on DVD in Germany, it would be nice if extra features could be located for Region 1 release. Oh nice, I didn't realise it was released on DVD somewhere, even it is unauthorized. I've got a copy of the original on video, but our VCR's broken. I'll have to try to track down the DVD. EDIT: Colonel.. any idea where I can find it? Online stores?
|
|
|
Post by ben on Jan 3, 2007 11:37:36 GMT
i'd like to see that sometime, too... i finally got to see Being There last night... it was very different from anything else i've seen Sellers do, but i found it to be quite amusing, and it's a very uplifting film... definitely can understand why Sellers had wanted to make it for so long! Great movie, I haven't watched it in a while. It's definitely different; it's funny in parts, but its a completely different direction for Sellers, and it is uplifting and rather inspirational, for sure I'm trying to track down some of his older movies, stuff he did with Herbert Lom before the Pink Panther, etc etc etc
|
|
|
Post by ben on Jan 3, 2007 11:43:50 GMT
Other movies I've been watching on and off are older James Bond movies, including Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice which both have small roles by Mr Kwouk, as well as "Murder by Death", "Casino Royale", "Pink Panther Strikes Again", "Curse of the Pink Panther" and "Son of the Pink Panther". Hoping to find some more non PP related movies by Peter, Herbert, David Niven and Burt. Oh actually I saw "Kiss of the Dragon" as well, with Jet Li. I had absolutely no idea Burt was in it, imagine my surprise when he had top billing in it. But its sad how much he's aged, but for the most part he still looks and sounds the same.
And I know it sounds lame but I kept waiting for him to pick up the phone and say "Inspector Clouseau's residence" lol
Hey just while I'm here, one more quick question, apart from "the Lady Killers" which has Peter & Herbert, "Murder by Death" with Peter and David, and "Casino Royale" with Peter, David, and Burt, are there any other non Pink Panther movies which feature any combination of the above actors? I'd like to see more of Peter's older movies, and David's work, and Burt, but are there any other movies which feature any of these guys together? Or if anyone can recommend any movies by David Niven in particular? I know Burt's got his Doctor Who stuff and a few other roles which I can't recall, and Herbert has Phantom of the Opera, Dead Zone and some others..
|
|
|
Post by yannickthejoker on Jan 3, 2007 12:23:05 GMT
FIENDISH PLOT isn't the worst comedy ever made, but most of it falls flat. There are a few good moments...mainly at the start. Mr. Sellers was far better playing in someone else's universe than trying to fashion his own from scratch. His ailing health and co-writers' relative inexperience hardly helped. There was no strong hand behind the camera to hold things together either. For all his genius, Mr. Sellers could falter when surrounded by yes-men just like anyone else. I would love to have a go at the outtakes if they survived. While I'm pleased Zev Braun has got this released on DVD in Germany, it would be nice if extra features could be located for Region 1 release. Oh nice, I didn't realise it was released on DVD somewhere, even it is unauthorized. I've got a copy of the original on video, but our VCR's broken. I'll have to try to track down the DVD. EDIT: Colonel.. any idea where I can find it? Online stores? I just saw it on amazon.de. Search for 'Das Boshafte Spiel des Fu Man Chu'. Unfortunatly I don't have a credit card so I can't buy it.
|
|
|
Post by thecolonel93 on Jan 3, 2007 13:47:53 GMT
It was on eBay USA. It is the Region 2 DVD Warner Bros. just released in Germany. It is an authorized release but you have to make sure your player is multi-region. Widescreen, remastered transfer with English and German audio tracks and subtitles. No trailer or extra's.
|
|
|
Post by yannickthejoker on Jan 3, 2007 19:09:16 GMT
It was on eBay USA. It is the Region 2 DVD Warner Bros. just released in Germany. It is an authorized release but you have to make sure your player is multi-region. Widescreen, remastered transfer with English and German audio tracks and subtitles. No trailer or extra's. I live in Europe so the region code isn't a problem. The only way for me to get it is to go to Germany, but that is not going to happen.
|
|
|
Post by Clouseau on Jan 3, 2007 21:08:31 GMT
think i'll hold off for a while before i give in and go after the R2 copy... i have a few movies on R2, but i'll just keep my fingers crossed for a little while that it'll hit R1, because that's less of a hassle for me...
anyway, i watched The Pink Panther (2006) on New Year's Eve... the critics may hate it, but i still love that film! ;D
|
|
|
Post by ben on Jan 3, 2007 21:46:52 GMT
I can't find it on ebay, but I did find it on that amazon.de thanks for the translation yannickthejoker. I've got a credit/debit card, I will try to order it through there if I can find my way through. But thanks all of you for your help also. Here is a direct link to the page on amazon.de for anyone who wants to see www.amazon.de/Das-boshafte-Spiel-Dr-Man/dp/B000HEZ9KK/sr=11-1/qid=1167860895/ref=sr_11_1/028-9545962-0582921Price - EUR 13,98 It's about $23AU that's not bad at all. And then there's about roughly $10 postage or something EDIT: Ok I've just gone through and managed to place an order. As long as you have a basic understanding of the check out procedure with amazon, you'll be able to pick out what buttons to select etc etc
|
|
|
Post by yannickthejoker on Jan 8, 2007 12:45:14 GMT
Well, I got hold of The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu yesterday and watched it. It's not as bad as some say it is but still not a good last movie for Sellers. The fact that this was the last one also causes to have a morbid air over the movie, especially when Fu (Fred) tries to survive through electricity. But the fact that this was the last one he ever made, does give it a special feeling.
I also watched What's New Pussycat yesterday. Really hilarious from the start and Ursula Andress never looked better. I wanted her to wind up with Peter's character, Dr. Fritz Fassbender. I think it was the only time Sellers and Woody Allen ever acted together. Had a better time watching this movie than Fu Manchu.
|
|
|
Post by Clouseau on Jan 9, 2007 1:38:23 GMT
well Sellers and Allen were both in Casino Royale, too, but you're probably right in saying this was the only time they acted together, since they didn't have any scenes together in CR, given the way Sellers dropped out early...
i've never seen What's New Pussycat, though... it's on my list of eventualies, along with Thw World of Henry Orient, but i don't know when i'll ever get around to it... i was hoping to catch it when it aired on Turner Classic Movies recently, but i came to the sad realization that the cable company in the new area i've moved to doesn't include TCM in its basic package, whereas it was included where i previously lived... very disappointing...
i'm not in such a hurry for Fu Manchu, but it is also on mylist of eventualies, so we'll see... i have other fish to fry right now, though... ;D
|
|