Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[AllyOops!]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?

United 93 was absolutely amazing and I'd recommend everybody view it. I don't believe in "too soon". It's heartwrenching to watch, and believe me, it will take you right back to that day. I thought about it all night. In fact, I had a lot of difficulty sleeping. However, it was no ooh rah salute to patriotism. It played much more like a documentary. No filler story-lines or added faux relationship stories ala' Pearl Harbor & Titanic.

I loved the usage of unknown actors. For me, there was no distraction and you felt as though you were right there on the plane with them. Had Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis stormed the cockpit, I wouldn't have even watched it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

If simply telling the story in an extremely well done movie is rah-rah patriotism, then I guess we have a differing opinion on what rah-rah patriotism is.

Having not seen it, I can only go by the advertising and general publicity. I've heard too much "You're not an American if you don't see this" to particularly want to see it. And the scenes I've seen make it look like it has the production values of a made for TV movie.

I've seen documentaries on the timeline of flight 93. I've heard the cell phone calls. I know the facts of the event. I'm not compelled to see a dramatization of it.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Back to miscellaneousness...

I thought more people would turn out to see 'United 93'. Especially after it got solid reviews. Too soon?

I'm sure it is a very good movie, but, while I appreciate that some people may want to see an excellent film about the horrors of this event, I really don't want or need to experience it. I guess I've had enough personal tragedy in my own life that I rarely will subject myself willingly to difficult situations. For me, it is a challenge to stay positive and happy (and sober) on my own. I don't need help being depressed or upset.

Sorry, I take care of myyself first and the world is a better - and safer - place for it.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Actually, I thought that was pretty funny. Taco Bell is so craptacular - I can't think of a chain lower down on the quality scale. I'm sure they paid for their mention, but I took it as more of a dig against them - the irony that the worst fast food chain ever would win the restaurant wars. It fit in with the idea that ad jingles rise to top 40 status. I don't think it's funny unless you know how awful the source material is.

Definitely agree with this - the joke was "Everyone knows Taco Bell sucks, how did they win the fast food wars?" That wouldn't have been communicated with Brand X.

I kinda wanted to see United 93 but I knew I'd never drag GD with me. Same goes for CastAway and King Kong, actually...

We added CastAway to our Netflix list and bumped it.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I've seen documentaries on the timeline of flight 93. I've heard the cell phone calls. I know the facts of the event. I'm not compelled to see a dramatization of it.

I can understand that. That's exactly why I posted a similarity between that and me not seeing the Passion of the Christ. I completely understand what NA has said as well. It isn't for everyone.

As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it", fortunately I have heard none of that. It isn't about being an American. As Ally pointed out, it's more like a documentary.

[Alex]

1) I left out a word. FedEx officially began using the FedEx name in 1994 (though the FDX Co. was the owner of it all until changing that name in 2000). So the name and logos were accurate for 1995.

2) On the Stephen King thing, if it only bothers you if the "author" was paid for the placement, when you see products in a movie do you have to wait until you get home to see if money changed hands before you decide whether it was annoying?

3) Even in low budget movies pretty much everything and everybody involved is only there because money is changing hands. Hardly any of it is not-for-profit, just-for-the-hell-of-it community theater.

4) But it is ok, we can disagree. I just don't understand how or where you draw the line. Does it bother you that pretty much all of the cars in movies are real-world cars and generally identifiable as such? I just watched Last American Hero (one of the only truly good redneck movies to come out of the '70s) and they actually mentioned Ford and Chevy by name. And NASCAR (as does the upcoming Cars). It would have been easy to create a fictional stock car racing circuit but the shorthand is certainly more convenient and effective, even if it was paid for in the case of Cars (and I'm sure permission was at least given for logo use in Last American Hero).

5) There isn't a bit of "rah-rah patriotism" in United 93. It is a barebones attempt at recreating the events of that morning. Causes, reasons, and results aren't mentioned. The movie literally begins with the hijackers leaving their hotel room, ends with the last plane hitting the ground and never wanders into any side discussion. It is one of the most impactful films I've seen in a long time and nothing about it sinks to the quality of a TV movie.

6) I think it didn't do well because most people aren't really interested in seeing the story recreated, no matter how well it is done. For most people older than 15 when 9/11 happened they'll probably never be quite ready but for younger people it will just be an incident in history or a dimly held memory from their childhood. I think the movie will go down as one of the great reportorial pieces of moviemaking ever but it will have to wait for that next generation to do so.

[BarTopDancer]

They're releasing one about the towers now. It is starring Nicolas Cage.

[Ghoulish Delight]

*shrug* I guess I've just caught the wrong end of the publicity about it.

Even so, a reenactment movie doesn't particularly interest me.

[scaeagles]

Alex, couldn't agree more with your numbers 5 and 6. Well said, as usual. Not that 1 through 4 aren't, but I haven't really involved myself in that whole conversation.

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

As far as "you're not an American if you don't see it", fortunately I have heard none of that.

I'm glad that's something you've not had to deal with. Working within a government organization, my experience has been a bit different.

Around here, they still pester us every Friday to wear red to show our support for the war. I usually wear black.