What!? Is this gonna be one of those western epic epics?

Huh… no, under two hours.

The titles are over after eight minutes… they’re really going for that epic epic feeling, at least, even if the movie’s not that long.

Pollack? He’s done a whole bunch of very mainstream comedy/drama things, right?

Ah, right. Oscar bait stuff.

I like this movie. And I like Redford’s beard. It’s very 1972.

*gasp*

He shaved!

I think I understand now why they did the overture and the very, very slow start — it’s to say to people “calm the fuck down”. Because this isn’t your normal western movie. It’s … kinda tranquil? Lots of amusing bits, though, and some action here and there.

I think this was just about perfect until the “third act”. (I hate the three act structure Hollywood pictures use soooo muuuuuch.) But even that didn’t make the movie suck…

It’s a pretty unique movie, so:

Jeremiah Johnson. Sydney Pollack. 1972. ⚄

Yes! I’m watching a Carry On movie.

Because I’ve never seen any of these, and they’re kinda legendary in British film. I mean, as a touchstone of the worst you can make.

So I googled “what’s the best (or least worst) carry on movie”, and people generally seem to agree that this is the one to watch.

How horrible can it be!?!

This is hilarious! Could this be the best British movie ever?

This is so silly! There’s nary a single line without a couple of double entendres. It’s like watching… a slightly more pervy version of Mad magazine.

And these actors!

The actual jokes, though, are kinda lame? Surely they could come up with something with more zing than this? But the editing is so on point. Zip zip zip from scene to scene; not a second to consider anything.

I guess you’d call this “bawdy humour”? I can sympathise with every British person thinking that the existence of these movies is beyond embarrassing, but… it’s so cute!

And I want that red/white/black blanket.

I do wish people would shout less.

Aaahh.

It’s so silly.

But this is really the most dismal camping site ever. Did it rain the entire time they were shooting this movie? Was this filmed in like February? They all look so cold! Give them more clothes to wear!

It’s a rave!

I’m really, really drunk, but I thought that was funny. I had expected, like, a German semi-porn thing with awkward pauses and stuff, but it zipped along, knocking down all the entendres in every line, and wasn’t much embarassing at all. But I’m not British; I could well see that Brits would want to dissociate themselves from the entire phenomenon.

On the other hand, I don’t think I’m gonna watch the entire series, either.

Carry On Camping. Gerald Thomas. 1969. ⚃

That’s not Burt Lancaster… is it?

Oh! This isn’t the John Huston movie from 1960 — it’s the Clint Eastwood movie from 1992!

(I bought a box set of western movies.)

I’m enjoying this — it’s quite odd? The plot is just weird. I mean, it’s probably just me: I wasn’t totally paying attention at the start so I didn’t quite catch while the … sheriff? (Gene Hackman) didn’t flog that knifing guy… which led to the hookers putting out a bounty on him.

Heh heh. Morgan Freeman and Eastwood’s got really good buddy chemistry going on.

I admit it, I was going to put this movie on and do some computer admin stuff here while this was running in the background, but … I can’t take my eyes off of the movie.

This is good stuff — the cinematography is nice, the actors are really having fun… it’s sad that Eastwood is totally deranged these days, but this is… shockingly good.

OK, now it sucks. This scene is all deep and stuff, and it’s risible. This movie only works when it’s slapstick.

Well! Eastwood nailed the ending. I expected every shot to end in the obvious “ironic” thing, and it didn’t.

So you’ve gotta give him some props for that. On the other hand, there were scenes that just didn’t work well… it’s… it’s a mixed movie? It’s a very strong ⚃? Let’s go with that.

Unforgiven. Clint Eastwood. 1992. ⚃