Nope, but I want to see them both, especially Picnic; I would also like to re-watch Witness and Master and Commander. He has a very good chance of eventually landing on my list of favorite directors. For the longest time I had only Frank Capra and Alfred Hitchcock on it, but I'm considering adding Weir, Ridley Scott, Otto Preminger, and Howard Hawks. But I need to watch/re-watch a little more from each to make my decision. Not that I'm complaining.

That's good to hear. Yes, Picnic at Hanging Rock is worth-watching. It's incredibly eerie. Probably the most mysterious movie I've ever seen and because it's open to speculation there are a variety of answers to the mystery and we don't know which one is the truth. There's something great about being able to do that.

Well, the last two nights my family has watched two vary different films.... The Thing From Another World and The Lemon Drop Kid.

The Thing From Another World (1951) Starring: Kenneth Tobey. Directed by: Christian Nyby. Produced by: Howard Hawks.

This is probably one of the most creepy films I've seen. Not that it's full of gore or "jump scenes" (though it has a few really good ones), but the psychological aspect of the implied violence and what could have happened if the Thing had made it out into the world are very eerie. The acting, while not great, is well done for a film of this genre. All the characters are realistic (to an extent) and the dialogue is full of witty, quotable lines. The score by Dimitri Tiomkin is a real treat and helps to add to the paranoid and ominous feel of the film. Really, the only aspect of the film that suffers is the Thing itself. Fortunately, you are never given a really good look at the creature, but the make-up effects are still slightly dated.

Anyway, I highly recommend a viewing (at least once) of this Sci-fi/Horror film. Keep in mind that this is the film that laid the groundwork for all the other "scientists fighting monsters/aliens alone" films to follow. 4 out of 5

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) Starring: Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan. Directed by: Frank Tashlin.

Five words: it's a Bob Hope movie. I think that sums up the film nicely. (JK. JK) One of the few truly classic Hope films (outside of two of the Road films with Bing Crosby), the move revolves around Hope as the "Lemon Drop Kid" who is a full time swindler owing money to a high class gangster character after causing him to loose money on a race horse. The Kid must raise $100 grand by Christmas or he'll be bumped off. I won't ruin anymore of the plot, but The Kid does come up with a way of raising the money that is very..... unique.
It's always hard to review the acting in a comedy, but I believe the acting in this film is fine for the type of screwball comedy it is. Bob Hope is his usual comedic best as The Kid, delivering wise cracks that are always funny. The film was directed by Frank Tashlin who had previously helped direct several Warner Brother's cartoons (he would also direct "Son of Paleface" a few years later). The film in many respects feel's like a live action cartoon, which this time is actually a good thing.
Overall, a very funny holiday film that never gets old, even after multiple viewings. Highly recommended! 4 1/2 out of 5

John Travolta works very well in his disturbing manic role (this was the first movie I've seen him in, and I've had only my parents' general hatred of his body of work to go off of, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect).

John Travolta (or John Revolta, if you're not a fan ) is kind of an acquired taste. He's had some good films and some really bad films (Saturday Night Fever was a dog). I think he his best work was in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, although I'm pretty sure only a few here would have the guts to watch that one (and the heavy use of profanity blows the pants off of most other films I've seen). I know Battlefield Earth gets a bad rap, and it wasn't the greatest film I've seen by a long shot, but I didn't think it was anywhere nearly as bad as a lot of others have claimed. I'll put money down that GB is the only one who will agree with me on this. At any rate Travolta is a decent actor and I think he comes across as a pretty nice guy in real life, which makes me cut the guy a little slack when it comes to his films. Despite this I can never forgive him for Staying Alive, truly an abomination of a film that only Glitter and Super Mario Brothers are capable of surpassing in overall badness.

I'm still not sure there is any technical way you can classify those two as non-musicals, Shadowlander, but if it makes you feel better, I'd say go for it.

Heh...I guess I just don't understand why everyone's singing. When I was a little kid and I wanted to watch a Kung-Fu or Godzilla film on TV and my sister Liz booted me out of the room so she could watch My Fair Lady for the umpteenth time it probably didn't help.

Hmm...what if you could fuse a Kung-Fu flick into a musical? *Thinks*....the gears are turning...

Hero, singing in tenor: "I will defeat you with my praying mantis styyyyyle"
Villain, singing in baritone: "My Shaolin drop-kick will hit you in the eeeeeeye"

Ok, maybe a bad idea.

You rang Shadow?

Indeed Battlefield Earth is NOT the worst movie of all time (though not particularly good either ). I've always given Worst Film prize to Yor: Hunter From the Future. But Battlefield Earth has a few redeeming moments that make it entertaining to see once or twice. I think it's worse offense is the ugliness of the designs and art direction. The story is decent and the acting is average.

Wait, did Kung Fu Panda have any musical numbers , or am I just remembering that "Kung Fu Fighting" song which all goofy Kung Fu flicks use . Anyway, Kung Fu+Musical=BAAAAAAD in my book .

I actually have a kind of love/hate relationship with Musicals. I love a lot of old Musicals up through the early 1970s: The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Music Man, Evita, JC Superstar, Camelot, Wizard of Oz, all the old Disney stuff etc.

I can't stand most attempts to revive them since then though. The old ones have great songs, good choreography, and manage to convincingly blend drama and dialogue into the singing and dancing. They are like watching theatrical productions or operas but with film production values.

The newer ones have boring music, lacklustre dancing, and a terrible track record for convincing drama. They seem to try and shoehorn the theatrical pomp into realistic films, and that doesn't work. What makes a realistic film work is the REALISM, and it's just not realistic for people to burst into choreographed song and dance routines and sing their dialogue every 5 minutes. It takes one right out of the story (try imagining Alien: The Musical ).

For example, I have seen some suggestions for turning The Hobbit into a Musical, ala Wizard of Oz. NO THANKS . If you want a Theatrical Musical Production, you can wait until after I get my Realistic Hobbit .

GB

here are some of my favorite movies to watch:

PC
LWW
Inkheart
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (Brendan Fraser)
City Of Ember
Pilgrim's Progress: Journey To Heaven
Nim's Island
The Water Horse
The Fellowship Of The Ring
The Two Towers
The Return Of The King
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
It's A Wonderful Life
Fireproof
Facing The Giants
Flywheel
Saving Shiloh
.....ect......

Flywheel and Facing the Giants? Oh goodness.

Gandalf's Beard, Kung-Fu Panda wasn't a musical. It was more akin to an old kung-fu movie (all the cliches) but done with animals acting like humans and a whole lot of heart.

What makes a realistic film work is the REALISM, and it's just not realistic for people to burst into choreographed song and dance routines and sing their dialogue every 5 minutes. It takes one right out of the story (try imagining Alien: The Musical ).

Funny you should mention this. A few years ago I stumbled across the weirdest musical of all time. This thing is actually playing at any given time somewhere in the US! Silence of the Lambs: The Musical.

I heard a clip of some of the musical numbers in it, including one that had me laughing so hard I almost wrecked my truck.

Jame Gumm, singing to the girl in the well - "Put the (censored) lotion in the baaaaaskeeeeeeeet" The whole thing had me crying...I mean how absurd to make a musical out of that particular movie! I think they must have meant it as a comedy or something.

Here are some great musicals, especially for those familiar with the originals.

24: Season 2: The Musical (PG-13? - some language)
http://www.jonandal.com/24.html
- just songs, no visuals

A Very Potter Musical (PG-13? - some language, thematic material)
http://www.teamstarkid.com/verypottermusical.html
- visuals and songs

Enjoy, if you're 13 or over.

Oh my, what have I done by bringing up musicals...

Oh my, what have I done by bringing up musicals...

Can of worms...opened...

Mwahahahaha!!!

Worms. Yum. Anyone remember this book? Apparently it's now a movie.

Is it a Musical ?

Actually I do remember the book . Do you know when it's coming out? Or should I just google it.

GB

It came out in 2006. The book came out in the early 1970's (I think?)
No, it's not a musical. But wouldn't that be hilarious if it were?

The book was better than the movie. I was so excited that there was a movie of How to Eat Fried Worms and then it was kind of... er... well. You know. It just wasn't charming.