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*Originally posted by Alessan *
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Agreed on both points, but I think you have to add in Empire Records to get the Liv Tyler Trifecta. Admittedly, not that Liv was that great in it, but Rory Cochrane rules my world.
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Since Sean Astin (Sam) is my favorite actor ever, I just thought I would chime in. If you want good, go and rent Harrison Bergeron. I think it was originally on Showtime or HBO. It’s based on a short story by Kurt Vonnegut. Next to The Goonies (my all-time favorite) and Rudy, it’s my favorite Sean Astin film.
In addition to those listed in other posts:
He had a bit part (less than 5 minutes of screen time) in Courage Under Fire.
He was in a halfway decent movie called Deterrence, which stars Kevin Pollack as the president of the U.S.
He was in Memphis Belle, which from comments I’ve heard over the years, is a movie you either love or hate. I love it.
He was in a pretty-bad-but-sort-of-funny-in-a-bad-way movie called Icebreaker, which also stars Bruce Campbell. It’s sort of “Die Hard on a mountain.” No, I am not kidding.
He’s also had some stinkers. Don’t see Dish Dogs. The only redeeming quality is that Shannon Elizabeth takes off her shirt (I personally didn’t care but my husband did pointed that out). The Low Life was slightly better, but I still don’t think I would watch it again. I also have one on tape called Boy Meets Girl. I think it would be a cute romantic comedy if any of it made any sense.
Elijah Wood is a more than competent actor.
But Ian McKellen? The man is so skillful he could play the lead role in The Autobiography of Whoopi Goldberg without makeup, and deliver a convincing performance.
John Rhys-Davies wasn’t in I, Claudius, was he? I suspect you’re confusing him with Brian Blessed, who played Augustus.
As far as Ian McKellen movies go, you should definitely see Richard III, in which he’s positively brilliant. Also, Ian Holm has a supporting role in Henry V, which is a movie everyone should see. 
Nope, I’m dead certain. He played Macro, Caligula’s military aide/bodyguard.
I think Inventing the Abotts was pretty good.
Ebert gave Heavy 3.5 stars.
Ian Holm is in the new Jack the Ripper movie, From Hell
Heck just go to http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebertser.html
and search on the actor.
I dont always agree with Ebert, but I can tell from his reviews that he has read SF, and so I respect his SF reviews more.
Brian
OPer checking in.
I would like to thank everyone for their input. I was actually able to knock off two of the actors on my “never seen” list this weekend: Hugo Weaving in Matrix and Ian McKellan in X-Men. Matrix was about what I expected, an ok SF story heavy on the special effects. I will have to look into those Matrix-bashing threads Jeremy’s Evil Twin mentioned. Weaving was a great bad guy, thoroughly slimy and repellent. I hope he is as good as a good guy (Elrond).
I have to say I agree on all counts, I liked X-Men much more than I thought I would…I think Ooner recommended it as well. Very entertaining, and you didn’t need to be familiar with the comic book. McKellan plays a fairly sympathetic bad guy, and I am looking forward to his interpretation of Gandalf.
I would like to see Mortensen (Aragon) next. I am leaning towards “The Perfect Murder” with Michael Douglas…I remember wanting to see that when it came out.
Right on, Poly! The man is a genius, and doesn’t get nearly enough credit. His name should be known to even the purely mainstream, pop-culture crowd, like Gielgud & Olivier, even if people have never seen their work.
When I read Apt Pupil, I was disappointed to think that it would never be made into a film due to the subject matter (I thought the same thing about A Time to Kill). When I heard that it was being made after all, and with Ian McKellen, I was so excited!
Attention Dopers! As previously ordered, go rent Henry V if you haven’t seen it- the Branaugh version, please. Not only is it great entertainment, it is a who’s-who of great actors, including Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi and dozens of others. If you thought that the battle scenes in Braveheart were groundbreaking, come see where they got the idea!