Still waiting for you to actually show something fresh something interesting, something that hasn't done the rounds everywehere, something engaging like you often used to in the dark distant days before self parody held sway. Did watch My Brother Tom though, even if I can't make up my mind about it.
Hey what can I say there films now are totally crap. I agree with everyone on this forum most of there films now are of sky movies which I also subscribe to so there films are nothing new to me. So the main point is why am I still subscribing to FilmFour? I will cancell my subscription tomorrow not that you would give a sh*t anyway. I hope you crash and burn FilmFour
To be fair, FilmFour have shown some good movies this past year – I was glad to have the chance to see movies like Timecode, Little Otik, Wendigo, Hitch-Hike, , Bully, Day of the Locust, and The Weight of Water (not that they were all good, that’s beside the point.) It was also good to get a second chance to see movies like Manhattan, Along Came A Spider, Harold & Maude and The Score among others. However, I still think the choice of films on offer is below-average. I’m all for showing quality films regardless of whether they are big-budget studio pictures or low-budget indie movies, but I am very dubious about some of the films that are on the schedule. Gladiator and Tim Burton’s Batman are good movies, but most people have seen them surely. I won’t be tuning in to watch A Knight’s Tale, Purely Belter or A Simple Twist of Fate. But worst of al,l there is absolutely no excuse for FilmFour to show films like Patriot Games, Picture Perfect and Police Academy. I seem to remember FilmFour advertising the channel as “great films you know, great films you don’t”. I think that the majority of FilmFour viewers know Patriot Games, Picture Perfect and Police Academy and don’t think that they are in any way “great”.
I agree col.kurtz, i think Film4 have shown some real treats over the past few months. "Bully" was stunning, "L.I.E" was disturbing yet engaging, "Breaking the waves" a mamouth epic watch, stunningly acted superbly directed, "Seul Contre Tous" (i think its spelt) was a hard watch too, yet totally amazing, "All about Lily Chou-Chou" breathtaking. So theres plenty about on the channel.
Some good treats next week on the channel to, such as "Batman" (sat) ok, we all have seen it, or own it on DVD but who can resist Jack! Same with the previous "A fish called wanda" (mon) might give that another viewing... look out for the cameraman in the mirror when Archie is in his office after he gets kissed by Wanda! Any KGB defectors in the neighbourhood!! "the leopard" (weds) simply a classic and "the last of the mohicans" also amazing "lavender hill mob" (thurs) that is also worth a view if you havent already seen it. To end off the week two more classics Gilliams gem "12 monkeys" and my personal Mike Leigh fave "Naked" David Thewlis deserved an oscar! Great film.
So all in all the Channel isnt looking too bad... is it?!?! (please Exclude though, the TOTAL drivvel on Film4 Weekly at 10 next week "Van Wilder:Party Liason" NAFF!)
The ad line "Great films you know, great films you don't" was once upon a time a pretty good description but that was a long time ago. Whilst FF are still showing engaging films, the problem is that most of those have been shown contiuously for over three years now. OK new suscribers (does such a thing exist?) won't have seen them and it's good for the opportunity to exist, but what glaringly few new accquistions have been shown could in many instances have been cheap and shoddy late night filler on any channel and quite frankly had little merit compounded by being yet more American fodder. Hey we see American films all the time some are great, a great amount are garbage by any standards. FF is still a self parody in search of an identity and it will take more than Gladiator to rectify it.
Do you remember a film called "Restless Natives" ? Came out in 1985. Havn't seen it in years. Very good and funny. Will it be on again? or out on video?
Look people FilmFour are simply going bankrupt. I also remember the ad line "Great Films You Know, Great Films You Dont" FilmFour used to be a stunning channel especially when World and Extreme were around I always thought I had the ultimate film package. But how things have changed now there showing films such as Gladiater and Little Nicky.(films which have been broadcasted on sky movies) This is not the channel I fell in love with. So people in my opinion FilmFour are going bust and needs a serious good shaking up to get the channel back to its former glory.
Sorry Stoned - you have got it the wrong way round. FilmFour were going bust - and then they discovered that by showing mainstream films and repeating them to death, they could make more money and retain more subscribers. Art went out the door as soon as the Accountants arrived. Fact is, they are on sounder ground financially now than they were a couple of years ago.
I guess your right roger. Maybe filmfour might be ok financially but this goes to show they have no consideration for there subscribers and ex subscribers. I agree with you 100% roger the great old filmfour died as soon as the accountants came onto the scene. I miss World and Extreme
I have been subscribing to Film 4 for about 6 months now. I must be very naive because the way it was advertised I was expecting several different channels including one channel dedicated to Film 4 Extreme. I love the Shooting Gallery, is there a reason that this is not played during the day as well? Also instead of repeats why not do screening of new directors and low budget Indie films?
Maybe some documentaries would be good as well as trying to avoid screening films which are simultaneously shown on network/other movie channels...
I am going to give it another couple of months but it's a bit of a price for so many repeats and no screening during the day. Not keen on the magic hour either (however I was expecting an Extreme Channel so no suprise there!)
Many thanks for your post. It is great you enjoy the Shooting Gallery - most of the shorts in that zone are not playable during the daytime due to their certifications, unfortunately.
Documentaries are very much part of our mix - as well as our very recent screening of Capturing The Friedmans we have some other great ones to look forward to. These include Spellbound, A Decade Under The Influence, Touching The Void, Supersize Me, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster and End of The Century, the much-acclaimed Ramones documentary.
Extreme films have a continuous presence on the channel, with their own zone at midnight every night of the week. Do let us know if there are any specific films you would like to see in that slot, or generally.
Thanks for replying! I would love to see some Jorodowski. I enjoyed Capturing the Friedmans very much. Maybe the daytime slots could be filled with something else, maybe an amateur film competition/documentary sponsored partly by Film 4?
quote:Originally posted by FilmFour Channel: We would love to know what you've been watching on FilmFour recently - we look forward to hearing from you.
I would love to see Cronos by Del Toro, Heaven by Tykwer, The Dekalog series by Kieslowski, The Fog of War documentary, A Season of Almodovar films.
Also more original films e.g. Solaris, Insomnia.
These are the films I've enjoyed on Film Four recently Capturing the Friedmanns, Russian Ark, Trainspotting, Very Bad Things, If, Deer Hunter, La Regle de Jeu, Ghost World, Scarecrow, Bringing Up Baby, Kind Hearts and Coronets.
Many thanks for your post and suggestions - they are all titles we would be interested in, but we can certainly say that we will be showing a season of Almodovar films next year, including some of his earlier work. Please let us know if there are other films you would like to see on the channel.
Just got finished watching SCARECROW (1973) which is the reason why I subscribed to FILMFOUR. Great film I'd never heard of before.
But like other subscribers, I don't feel the need to watch RUSH HOUR 2 seven days a week. Please bring back the WORLD and EXTREME channels. I would pay double the sub fee.
I am looking forward to WAGES OF FEAR tomorrow. Any chance of a future screening of the remake SORCERER? Might make an interesting double bill.
I am among those who originally subscribed to FF on account of their world cinema provision and I too am among those who have seriously considered cancelling my subscription after 'the change'. I would, however, like to take this opportunity to say THANKS to the channel for the current FASSBINDER season being shown. I have to admit, however reluctantly, that I am glad I did not cancel my subscription. Let's just hope the trend continues...
Many thanks for your post. We are very glad you enjoyed the Fassbinder season, and would always be happy to hear any other suggestions for films or directors you would like to see on FilmFour. Although the full range of world cinema films for next year is not yet finalised, the first quarter of the year brings short seasons from directors as diverse as Carl Dreyer and Pedro Almodovar. Following our screening of Casanova and, hopefully, 1900, there will be further titles from Fellini and Bertolucci, to name but two. We will keep you updated when we have further news.
