Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 303

Gemini Cricket · 03-16-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Kind of off topic but - Can anyone tell me the name of the movie that we watched at NA's home on New Year's Day? I can't think of the name and it is driving me crazy!

CQ?

Motorboat Cruiser · 03-16-2008, 03:27 PM

That would be it! Thank you so much!!!

innerSpaceman · 03-16-2008, 07:34 PM

Just to clarify, I thought the animated feeling of the character movement in Beowulf was a positive. Anything that leaned toward it being an animated movie made it a better film in my eyes.

I love the adaptations to the story the filmmakers made, and I don't think it took things too far off. It was clear that Grendil's Mother could appear as a beauty, but that it was not her natural form (which seemed to be more a lizard-creature than a hag ... but i think the point being that she could appear as many things). The only bit I absolute hated about her appearance as a luscious siren were the stilletto heels she was sporting to aid the look. I couldn't help but think that, like Merlin in Disney's The Sword in the Stone, Grendil's Mother was a time traveler who visited the 20th century for fashion tips before heading back to the 4th century to seduce Beowulf. Ugh.

I thought the biggest change ... moving the third act from back in Beowulf's native Sweden to the Denmark of the earlier acts ... was spot-on brilliant. It let the tale keep the same set of characters (adding only Beowulf's yummy new concubine) and, for a movie, I thought that was clearly the best choice -- certainly warranting a departure from the version of the tale best known.

Keeping in mind, of course, that the written poem was set down centuries after the tale had been part of oral tradition for hundreds of years. I think it's safe to say the famous poem can not be considered the one, true version of the tale.

And though historians believe many of the characters are based on actual people, the tale of Ogres and Witches and Dragons clearly has fictional elements galore. Changing elements of Beowulf, then, is somewhat different an adaptation puzzle than 300 vs. historical fact.

alphabassettgrrl · 03-16-2008, 10:56 PM

I liked the Beowulf story but I have mixed feelings about the animation/CGI thing. It's become, lately, more "look how cool the animation is" and they seem to use it as a substitute for actual story. I was glad to see Beowulf still had an actual story, and while I didn't want to see it live-action so much, the animation but not quite realness was distracting.

NickO'Time · 03-16-2008, 11:53 PM

Had Glory Road on my DVR, finally watched last night. Great film, awe inspiring.
Sports film.

innerSpaceman · 03-17-2008, 08:10 AM

Sports films. Meh. Hate that genre, sorry.

* * * *

I would have preferred Beowulf as straight animation. It seems like a lazy short-cut to scan human movement to create animation. If you can't draw it, don't do it.

Cadaverous Pallor · 03-17-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I would have preferred Beowulf as straight animation. It seems like a lazy short-cut to scan human movement to create animation. If you can't draw it, don't do it.

I don't know exactly what technique they used in Beowulf, but if you're knocking motion capture, you might have to never watch anything ever again to get away from it.

If you're talking about the age old practice of taking film and copying it to make animation...

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds in Yellow Submarine

Waking Life

Gemini Cricket · 03-17-2008, 10:51 PM

Waking Life gave me motion sickness. Good film, but I yaked.

I'm watching GoodFellas right now. Uh, why didn't this movie win Best Picture? Love this film.

wendybeth · 03-17-2008, 11:21 PM

That is probably my favorite mafia film, GC. I like it even better than the Godfather series. Ray Liotta was awesome, as was Lorraine Bracco. Great cast, great score, great editing, etc.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 03-18-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

That is probably my favorite mafia film, GC. I like it even better than the Godfather series. Ray Liotta was awesome, as was Lorraine Bracco. Great cast, great score, great editing, etc.

I'm right there with you, Wendybeth. I thought it was more deserving of the Oscar than his win for The Departed.

Sometimes, to amuse myself, I try to say "Karen" the way Ray Liotta says it.

03-16-2008, 03:27 PM	#2
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	That would be it! Thank you so much!!!
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03-16-2008, 07:34 PM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Just to clarify, I thought the animated feeling of the character movement in Beowulf was a positive. Anything that leaned toward it being an animated movie made it a better film in my eyes. I love the adaptations to the story the filmmakers made, and I don't think it took things too far off. It was clear that Grendil's Mother could appear as a beauty, but that it was not her natural form (which seemed to be more a lizard-creature than a hag ... but i think the point being that she could appear as many things). The only bit I absolute hated about her appearance as a luscious siren were the stilletto heels she was sporting to aid the look. I couldn't help but think that, like Merlin in Disney's The Sword in the Stone, Grendil's Mother was a time traveler who visited the 20th century for fashion tips before heading back to the 4th century to seduce Beowulf. Ugh. I thought the biggest change ... moving the third act from back in Beowulf's native Sweden to the Denmark of the earlier acts ... was spot-on brilliant. It let the tale keep the same set of characters (adding only Beowulf's yummy new concubine) and, for a movie, I thought that was clearly the best choice -- certainly warranting a departure from the version of the tale best known. Keeping in mind, of course, that the written poem was set down centuries after the tale had been part of oral tradition for hundreds of years. I think it's safe to say the famous poem can not be considered the one, true version of the tale. And though historians believe many of the characters are based on actual people, the tale of Ogres and Witches and Dragons clearly has fictional elements galore. Changing elements of Beowulf, then, is somewhat different an adaptation puzzle than 300 vs. historical fact.
	Submit to Quotes

03-16-2008, 10:56 PM	#4
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	I liked the Beowulf story but I have mixed feelings about the animation/CGI thing. It's become, lately, more "look how cool the animation is" and they seem to use it as a substitute for actual story. I was glad to see Beowulf still had an actual story, and while I didn't want to see it live-action so much, the animation but not quite realness was distracting. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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03-16-2008, 11:53 PM	#5
NickO'Time Missed it by that much.. Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 678	Had Glory Road on my DVR, finally watched last night. Great film, awe inspiring. Sports film. __________________ Yeah, right.
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03-17-2008, 08:10 AM	#6
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Sports films. Meh. Hate that genre, sorry. * * * * I would have preferred Beowulf as straight animation. It seems like a lazy short-cut to scan human movement to create animation. If you can't draw it, don't do it.
	Submit to Quotes

03-17-2008, 10:51 PM	#8
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Waking Life gave me motion sickness. Good film, but I yaked. I'm watching GoodFellas right now. Uh, why didn't this movie win Best Picture? Love this film.
	Submit to Quotes

03-17-2008, 11:21 PM	#9
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	That is probably my favorite mafia film, GC. I like it even better than the Godfather series. Ray Liotta was awesome, as was Lorraine Bracco. Great cast, great score, great editing, etc. __________________
	Submit to Quotes