Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 308

Alex · 03-21-2008, 08:04 PM

And Jack Lemmon/Walter Mathau with The Odd Couple (30 years). And Brude Willis with 19 years between the first and last Die Hard (and 12 years between the last two). And Schwarzenegger with 19 years between first and last Terminator (and 12 years between the last two). And Sharon Stone returning to Basic Instinct after 14 years. And Dan Ayckroyd with 18 years before being Elwood Blues again. Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley spanned 18 years. Paul Newman's Eddie Felson saw 27 years of life fly by between The Hustler and The Color of Money.

Only 9 years for Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Of course, a whole mess of people got to watch their characters age in the 16 years between The Godfather, Part II, and The Godfather, Part III.

My favorite, Patrick Swayze waited 17 years to reprise his character form Dirty Dancing in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights - which was technically a prequel.

All of that means nothing and has nothing to do with the topic at hand. It was just fun to think up the list. On topic, I'm closer to GC on this one. It was booooooooring enough that I barely paid enough attention to have an opinion on costuming.

ETA: Forgot about 13 years for Linda Kozlowski and Paul Hogan between Crocodile Dundee II and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. I'm probably going to spend the whole night have others pop into my head.

ETA2: And there are rumors floating that Eastwood's next movie, Gran Torino, is going to be a "Dirty Harry returns as washed up retired detective" movie, which would be 21 years since the last Dirty Harry movie, The Dead Pool. But I really hope that rumor is wrong.

ETA3: See, my mind is going crazy now. Also later this year, early next we have the return of Fox and Mulder after a decade.

ETA4: ****, three other obvious ones. Anthony Perkins, 23 years between Psycho and Psycho II. Jack Nicholson with 16 years between Chinatown and The Two Jakes (and if, as has been rumored he tries it a third time it would be another 18 years since that second one). 29 years between The Last Picture Show and Texasville with many cast members returning (including Jeff and Beau Bridges, Cloris Leachman, and Cybil Shepherd). Ok, I promise to stop now. Unless I can't help myself.

Gemini Cricket · 03-21-2008, 09:20 PM

I've finished the film Elizabeth: TGA and nothing redeems it. This take on Elizabeth's is tarnished.
I hereby decree that this film be banished to the White Tower and never released. The editor of this film will also enter through Traitor's Gate as a traitor to good film making and also sent to the tower where he will be fated to watch this tripe on a continual loop for the rest of his years. Ms. Blanchett and Mr. Owen shall be spared my anger. For their past efforts which outclass this one, they are forgiven. Mr. Kapur will be denied an audience from me henceforth. If there is to be a third installment of the Elizabeth tale, I shall weep five hundred year old tears.

As for you, Mr. Spaceman, this queen demands historical accuracy for a film portraying my most cherished historical figure and leader. You may find it laughable, but I do not. What does attribute to folly is your famously bad taste in films. For that, you will be sent to the rack... my rack of DVDs for a collection of truly great films for you to reference.*

HRH Crickebeth the First

*For those not familiar with humor, this take on Steve is in jest and in jest only.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 03-21-2008, 09:05 PM

I think I may have liked Across the Universe more tham most, as I thought more than a couple of numbers that stood out. As a whole, the character development was kind of shoddy, but I found myself relying on the music to stir my emotions (which, when it's a musical, I don't mind a bit), and so by the end I was kind of a happy, blubbering mess. Of course, some of that is probably PMS. Heh.

What the film accomplished for me, and which I wasn't expecting, was a stirred up and renewed appreciation for the Beatles. Not since Roxeanne's makeover in M.R. has the use of popular music been reimagined so well on film. I found myself paying a great deal more attention to the lyrics, and I really *liked* the versions of these songs very, very much. I found them all effective and moving in their own way.

Definitely there were problems, but by the time "All You Need is Love" started playing, I found myself believing it. I only wish I saw it on the big screen, because the visuals were most impressive and I probably would have gotten more out of it had they filled my range of vision. Surround sound would have been nice, too.

If anyone ever asks me to recommend a flawed movie worth watching, this would be on the list.

innerSpaceman · 03-22-2008, 07:53 AM

It's a movie, G.C. Get over it. By definition, it cannot be historically accurate. I happen to prefer when it's more so than less so, and I regret this one was very much less so.

I also regret it portrayed Elizabeth as a lovesick teenager obsessed with menopause. Bah. And I hated the portrayal of Walter Raleigh as Stock Debonnaire Adventurer.

But I liked the art direction, and the directorial stylisticness. I agree, a poor film. But, to me at least, an interesting failure.

I'm with you on most of the critiscims, G.C. .... but please show me an historically accurate history movie or two. Alex was prolific with decades-later role revisitings; surely you can provide a handful of historically accurate, non-documentary films.

* * * * * *

EH1812 - right on, sista, about Across the Universe. The vividly and imaginatively re-worked covers of Beatles tunes revitalized my interest in their music.

Interestingly, I ran right out and bought the Across the Universe CD ... but found the songs were lame without their visuals. Not lame, exactly, but not a one where I preferred the cover to the original. Yet, in the film, I find most of the covers absolutely brilliant.

They work for their medium. I like that. And yes, the characters are weakly drawn and rely on the music to propel their meager arcs and the minor story. But it's an operetta, after all, with barely 20 minutes of dialogue. And, as I've mentioned before, major points for non-lip-synching 90% of the time. Live singing captured on film. Name me the musical that's done that before.

Alex???

flippyshark · 03-22-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And, as I've mentioned before, major points for non-lip-synching 90% of the time. Live singing captured on film. Name me the musical that's done that before.

At Long Last Love - Peter Bogdanovich's disastrous 1975 musical starring Burt Reynolds, Cybil Sheppard and Madeline Khan singing Cole Porter standards. The singing was performed live on set, which was highly touted in the film's publicity. The result was apparently so awful, and the reviews so scathing, that Bogdanovich ran an apology ad in the papers.

I caught a little bit of At Long Last Love on TV back in maybe 1982, and it did look pretty bad, but I'd happily watch the whole thing given the chance. It's never been released on video, but perhaps it turns up on AMC or something now and again. Anyone have it?

Gemini Cricket · 03-22-2008, 01:11 PM

I just watched Sicko by Michael Moore. I didn't see it in the theatres.
A very interesting documentary. I really, really liked it.
It's astounding how bad our health care system is.
Yes, that whole Cuba scene was dorky and clunky, but the rest brought up very interesting questions that need to be answered.

Gemini Cricket · 03-22-2008, 11:44 PM

CoasterMatt, madmonkeygirl and I watched Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at their abode.
It was... well it was what it was.
For me, it was one of those movies that are so bad that it's good.
Loved Aerosmith and Earth Wind & Fire in this one.
Man, there must have been Costco-sized hairspray cans all over the set just for Barry Gibbs' do alone.
It made me long for the Beatles' versions of their songs.

Let's just say that this movie made Across the Universe look like Casa-freakin-blanca.

wendybeth · 03-23-2008, 12:53 AM

It was hideous, but Peter Frampton was pretty darned cute.

(And Gibbs looks like an Aqua-net extra firm rock hard insoluble polymer kind of guy).

CoasterMatt · 03-22-2008, 08:09 AM

iSM, which version of the CD Soundtrack did you get?

innerSpaceman · 03-22-2008, 09:14 AM

The single disc. I was going to nab the other tracks from the 2-disc set from some kind soul ... but I was not really inspired to. I was so surprised to be "meh" about the songs out of their context. And yet, even when I watch the movie now, I love the numbers musically as well as visually.

03-21-2008, 08:04 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	And Jack Lemmon/Walter Mathau with The Odd Couple (30 years). And Brude Willis with 19 years between the first and last Die Hard (and 12 years between the last two). And Schwarzenegger with 19 years between first and last Terminator (and 12 years between the last two). And Sharon Stone returning to Basic Instinct after 14 years. And Dan Ayckroyd with 18 years before being Elwood Blues again. Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley spanned 18 years. Paul Newman's Eddie Felson saw 27 years of life fly by between The Hustler and The Color of Money. Only 9 years for Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Of course, a whole mess of people got to watch their characters age in the 16 years between The Godfather, Part II, and The Godfather, Part III. My favorite, Patrick Swayze waited 17 years to reprise his character form Dirty Dancing in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights - which was technically a prequel. All of that means nothing and has nothing to do with the topic at hand. It was just fun to think up the list. On topic, I'm closer to GC on this one. It was booooooooring enough that I barely paid enough attention to have an opinion on costuming. ETA: Forgot about 13 years for Linda Kozlowski and Paul Hogan between Crocodile Dundee II and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. I'm probably going to spend the whole night have others pop into my head. ETA2: And there are rumors floating that Eastwood's next movie, Gran Torino, is going to be a "Dirty Harry returns as washed up retired detective" movie, which would be 21 years since the last Dirty Harry movie, The Dead Pool. But I really hope that rumor is wrong. ETA3: See, my mind is going crazy now. Also later this year, early next we have the return of Fox and Mulder after a decade. ETA4: ***, three other obvious ones. Anthony Perkins, 23 years between Psycho* and Psycho II. Jack Nicholson with 16 years between Chinatown and The Two Jakes (and if, as has been rumored he tries it a third time it would be another 18 years since that second one). 29 years between The Last Picture Show and Texasville with many cast members returning (including Jeff and Beau Bridges, Cloris Leachman, and Cybil Shepherd). Ok, I promise to stop now. Unless I can't help myself. Last edited by Alex : 03-21-2008 at 08:18 PM.
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03-21-2008, 09:20 PM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I've finished the film Elizabeth: TGA and nothing redeems it. This take on Elizabeth's is tarnished. I hereby decree that this film be banished to the White Tower and never released. The editor of this film will also enter through Traitor's Gate as a traitor to good film making and also sent to the tower where he will be fated to watch this tripe on a continual loop for the rest of his years. Ms. Blanchett and Mr. Owen shall be spared my anger. For their past efforts which outclass this one, they are forgiven. Mr. Kapur will be denied an audience from me henceforth. If there is to be a third installment of the Elizabeth tale, I shall weep five hundred year old tears. As for you, Mr. Spaceman, this queen demands historical accuracy for a film portraying my most cherished historical figure and leader. You may find it laughable, but I do not. What does attribute to folly is your famously bad taste in films. For that, you will be sent to the rack... my rack of DVDs for a collection of truly great films for you to reference.* HRH Crickebeth the First *For those not familiar with humor, this take on Steve is in jest and in jest only.
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03-21-2008, 09:05 PM	#3
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	I think I may have liked Across the Universe more tham most, as I thought more than a couple of numbers that stood out. As a whole, the character development was kind of shoddy, but I found myself relying on the music to stir my emotions (which, when it's a musical, I don't mind a bit), and so by the end I was kind of a happy, blubbering mess. Of course, some of that is probably PMS. Heh. What the film accomplished for me, and which I wasn't expecting, was a stirred up and renewed appreciation for the Beatles. Not since Roxeanne's makeover in M.R. has the use of popular music been reimagined so well on film. I found myself paying a great deal more attention to the lyrics, and I really liked the versions of these songs very, very much. I found them all effective and moving in their own way. Definitely there were problems, but by the time "All You Need is Love" started playing, I found myself believing it. I only wish I saw it on the big screen, because the visuals were most impressive and I probably would have gotten more out of it had they filled my range of vision. Surround sound would have been nice, too. If anyone ever asks me to recommend a flawed movie worth watching, this would be on the list.
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03-22-2008, 07:53 AM	#4
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	It's a movie, G.C. Get over it. By definition, it cannot be historically accurate. I happen to prefer when it's more so than less so, and I regret this one was very much less so. I also regret it portrayed Elizabeth as a lovesick teenager obsessed with menopause. Bah. And I hated the portrayal of Walter Raleigh as Stock Debonnaire Adventurer. But I liked the art direction, and the directorial stylisticness. I agree, a poor film. But, to me at least, an interesting failure. I'm with you on most of the critiscims, G.C. .... but please show me an historically accurate history movie or two. Alex was prolific with decades-later role revisitings; surely you can provide a handful of historically accurate, non-documentary films. * * * * * * EH1812 - right on, sista, about Across the Universe. The vividly and imaginatively re-worked covers of Beatles tunes revitalized my interest in their music. Interestingly, I ran right out and bought the Across the Universe CD ... but found the songs were lame without their visuals. Not lame, exactly, but not a one where I preferred the cover to the original. Yet, in the film, I find most of the covers absolutely brilliant. They work for their medium. I like that. And yes, the characters are weakly drawn and rely on the music to propel their meager arcs and the minor story. But it's an operetta, after all, with barely 20 minutes of dialogue. And, as I've mentioned before, major points for non-lip-synching 90% of the time. Live singing captured on film. Name me the musical that's done that before. Alex???
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03-22-2008, 01:11 PM	#6
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I just watched Sicko by Michael Moore. I didn't see it in the theatres. A very interesting documentary. I really, really liked it. It's astounding how bad our health care system is. Yes, that whole Cuba scene was dorky and clunky, but the rest brought up very interesting questions that need to be answered.
	Submit to Quotes

03-22-2008, 11:44 PM	#7
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	CoasterMatt, madmonkeygirl and I watched Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at their abode. It was... well it was what it was. For me, it was one of those movies that are so bad that it's good. Loved Aerosmith and Earth Wind & Fire in this one. Man, there must have been Costco-sized hairspray cans all over the set just for Barry Gibbs' do alone. It made me long for the Beatles' versions of their songs. Let's just say that this movie made Across the Universe look like Casa-freakin-blanca.
	Submit to Quotes

03-23-2008, 12:53 AM	#8
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	It was hideous, but Peter Frampton was pretty darned cute. (And Gibbs looks like an Aqua-net extra firm rock hard insoluble polymer kind of guy). __________________
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03-22-2008, 08:09 AM	#9
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	iSM, which version of the CD Soundtrack did you get? __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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03-22-2008, 09:14 AM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	The single disc. I was going to nab the other tracks from the 2-disc set from some kind soul ... but I was not really inspired to. I was so surprised to be "meh" about the songs out of their context. And yet, even when I watch the movie now, I love the numbers musically as well as visually.
	Submit to Quotes