Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 247

mousepod · 09-15-2007, 09:56 PM

I agree with €uro - very enjoyable.

As a Beatles fan and a frequent apologist for the musical genre (even when it doesn't deserve it), I think that Taymor used the Beatles music perfectly (see my rant elsewhere on CdS's Love to see when it's not used right), and the characters, as portrayed by a mostly unknown (by me) cast were sympathetic. While the structure is similar to something like RENT, I found this much more appealing.

I'd gladly see it again.

lashbear · 09-16-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

Anybody wanna see 'Dead Silence' with me? (for FREE!)

Yes, please !!!

I just saw (pardon the pun) the poster for it (it's coming out on DVD here on October 3) and a quick search on Youtube proves that it's going to be a good fun film (for me, that is.... Stoat might have to watch through his fingers)

I believe they're putting in a maze based on the movie this year at HHN - I wish I could go. Tell them to start doing it in Sydney as well !!!

I know.... They could open Universal Studios Sydney just for the purpose.

Snowflake · 09-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Alan Rickman has the sexiest voice in the English-speaking world, followed closely by Jeremy Irons. (Why yes, I am horribly disappointed that there may be a new Spaceship Earth narrator. So much for my air-conditioned fantasy ride. Unless Alan Rickman does the new narration, in which case I'm buying an AP. No matter where I end up living.)

I have an AP now, neener neener neener neener.....

Snowflake · 09-17-2007, 04:14 PM

Across the Universe is currently playing at one (1) ONE!!!!! venue in SF. Is the film only in limited release? Sheesh.....it's not even at the Kabuki which is a short jaunt for me, no I'd have to hit the tourist area at 835 Market Street. Yuck! I hope it plays somewhere else in town.

Alex · 09-20-2007, 12:04 PM

I just stumbled into reading the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest last week (somehow I've never read it before) and it got me to thinking about the process of literary to film adaptation.

So I've decided on a little project wherein I'll compare the great films with the materials they are based on. We'll see how long that lasts and I've decided to use the AFI 100 films list as a guide (simply because they had it presented in an easy format and it is a list of good movies even if not a perfect list of the best).

So, from the top 20, in the next year I hope to cover:

The Godfather by Mario Puzo (Novel)

Everbody Comes to Rick's (Play) by Joan Alison and Murray Barnett - the basis for Casablanca

Raging Bull: My Story (Autobiography) by Jake LaMotta

Gone with the Wind (Novel) by Margaret Mitchell

Schindler's List (Novel) by Thomas Keneally

Cold Sweat: From Among the Dead (Novel) by Pierre Boileau and Pierre Ayrand, translated from the French D'entre les Morts and the basis for Vertigo

The Wizard of Oz (Novel) by Frank L. Baum

The Searchers (Novel) by Alan Le May

Psycho (Novel) by Robert Bloch

2001: A Space Odyssey (Novel) by Arthur C. Clarke

The Graduate (Novel) by Charles Webb

The Great Locomotive Chase (Autobiography) by William Pittinger and the basis for The General

A series of articles in the New York Sun by Malcolm Johnson that were the basis for On the Waterfront

The Greatest Gift (short story) by Philip Van Doren Stern and the basis for It's a Wonderful Life

The only one I've read is 2001 and the only one I dread reading is Gone with the Wind so if I stick to it, it should be interesting. I will, of course, follow the reading with a viewing (and I've already seen all of these movies).

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 09-20-2007, 12:34 PM

Eastern Promises. A better movie than A History of Violence, which I didn't care for. Worth it for Viggo's performance and one of the best on screen fights I've ever seen. I'm interested in the Russian mob underworld and Russian prison tattoos, but I was expecting more historical depth and context, I think. And there was one aspect relating to Viggo's character that disappointed me.

lashbear · 09-20-2007, 05:14 PM

Also try Tim by Colleen McCulloch - a good read made into an interesting adaptation with Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie.

and maybe some Disney conparisons, such as the original Pinocchio by Carlo Cullodi (The Cricket episode is worth it alone...) not forgetting the original Cinderella, gore and all.

Babette · 09-20-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

the only one I dread reading is Gone with the Wind so if I stick to it, it should be interesting. I will, of course, follow the reading with a viewing (and I've already seen all of these movies).

GwtW is one of my favorite books! It is sooooooo much better than the movie (which I like). I know many LoTers would advise you skip the viewing and save four hours of your life.

Alex · 09-20-2007, 06:57 PM

I've seen the movie and I wasn't a huge fan, though I recognize it as a pretty impressive achievement of its time.

I've not read GwtW but did read some other (supposedly lesser) novels from the same general school of thought and style back in school for a class on the Civil War and popular culture and hated them pretty uniformly.

But I bought The Godfather at lunch today and despite being told that the book is pretty unimpressive the first 100 pages have been very readable in a John Grisham/Stephen King sort of way.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 09-20-2007, 11:06 PM

I saw "3:10 to Yuma" this evening at a really crappy theatre - the AMC City Walk. Yes, I worked 18 years as a projectionist and it bothers me when there are scratches and the zenon bulb is not focused properly, among other things. Damnit!

Anyway - I enjoyed it - It was one of those films where you're not quite sure where it will end up (Unless you saw the original or read the short story, which I've not) It was long in parts and the acting was both Crowe and Bale at their usual - nothing too great but good.

I see why the released it now, instead of during the Oscar race. It might get something, but I doubt it. I think in a "greater" directors' hand it might have been easier to sit thru.

3:10 to Yuma gets 6 bornieo's out of 10. Mostly hinging on a better than average script. I'm eager to read the short story.

09-15-2007, 09:56 PM	#2461
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	I agree with €uro - very enjoyable. As a Beatles fan and a frequent apologist for the musical genre (even when it doesn't deserve it), I think that Taymor used the Beatles music perfectly (see my rant elsewhere on CdS's Love to see when it's not used right), and the characters, as portrayed by a mostly unknown (by me) cast were sympathetic. While the structure is similar to something like RENT, I found this much more appealing. I'd gladly see it again. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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09-17-2007, 04:14 PM	#2464
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Across the Universe is currently playing at one (1) ONE!!!!! venue in SF. Is the film only in limited release? Sheesh.....it's not even at the Kabuki which is a short jaunt for me, no I'd have to hit the tourist area at 835 Market Street. Yuck! I hope it plays somewhere else in town. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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09-20-2007, 12:04 PM	#2465
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I just stumbled into reading the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest last week (somehow I've never read it before) and it got me to thinking about the process of literary to film adaptation. So I've decided on a little project wherein I'll compare the great films with the materials they are based on. We'll see how long that lasts and I've decided to use the AFI 100 films list as a guide (simply because they had it presented in an easy format and it is a list of good movies even if not a perfect list of the best). So, from the top 20, in the next year I hope to cover: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (Novel) Everbody Comes to Rick's (Play) by Joan Alison and Murray Barnett - the basis for Casablanca Raging Bull: My Story (Autobiography) by Jake LaMotta Gone with the Wind (Novel) by Margaret Mitchell Schindler's List (Novel) by Thomas Keneally Cold Sweat: From Among the Dead (Novel) by Pierre Boileau and Pierre Ayrand, translated from the French D'entre les Morts and the basis for Vertigo The Wizard of Oz (Novel) by Frank L. Baum The Searchers (Novel) by Alan Le May Psycho (Novel) by Robert Bloch 2001: A Space Odyssey (Novel) by Arthur C. Clarke The Graduate (Novel) by Charles Webb The Great Locomotive Chase (Autobiography) by William Pittinger and the basis for The General A series of articles in the New York Sun by Malcolm Johnson that were the basis for On the Waterfront The Greatest Gift (short story) by Philip Van Doren Stern and the basis for It's a Wonderful Life The only one I've read is 2001 and the only one I dread reading is Gone with the Wind so if I stick to it, it should be interesting. I will, of course, follow the reading with a viewing (and I've already seen all of these movies).
	Submit to Quotes

09-20-2007, 12:34 PM	#2466
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	Eastern Promises. A better movie than A History of Violence, which I didn't care for. Worth it for Viggo's performance and one of the best on screen fights I've ever seen. I'm interested in the Russian mob underworld and Russian prison tattoos, but I was expecting more historical depth and context, I think. And there was one aspect relating to Viggo's character that disappointed me.
	Submit to Quotes

09-20-2007, 05:14 PM	#2467
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	Also try Tim by Colleen McCulloch - a good read made into an interesting adaptation with Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie. and maybe some Disney conparisons, such as the original Pinocchio by Carlo Cullodi (The Cricket episode is worth it alone...) not forgetting the original Cinderella, gore and all. __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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09-20-2007, 06:57 PM	#2469
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I've seen the movie and I wasn't a huge fan, though I recognize it as a pretty impressive achievement of its time. I've not read GwtW but did read some other (supposedly lesser) novels from the same general school of thought and style back in school for a class on the Civil War and popular culture and hated them pretty uniformly. But I bought The Godfather at lunch today and despite being told that the book is pretty unimpressive the first 100 pages have been very readable in a John Grisham/Stephen King sort of way.
	Submit to Quotes

09-20-2007, 11:06 PM	#2470
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I saw "3:10 to Yuma" this evening at a really crappy theatre - the AMC City Walk. Yes, I worked 18 years as a projectionist and it bothers me when there are scratches and the zenon bulb is not focused properly, among other things. Damnit! Anyway - I enjoyed it - It was one of those films where you're not quite sure where it will end up (Unless you saw the original or read the short story, which I've not) It was long in parts and the acting was both Crowe and Bale at their usual - nothing too great but good. I see why the released it now, instead of during the Oscar race. It might get something, but I doubt it. I think in a "greater" directors' hand it might have been easier to sit thru. 3:10 to Yuma gets 6 bornieo's out of 10. Mostly hinging on a better than average script. I'm eager to read the short story.
	Submit to Quotes