Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 343

Pirate Bill · 07-02-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

3PO and R2 are HEAVILY ~~ripped off from~~ influenced by Hidden Fortress, as I recall from my viewing.

The one bonus feature the disc had was Lucas talking about Hidden Fortress. He pretty much completely admits to using the 2 peasants as "inspiration" for 3PO and R2, but any other similarities are "only coincidence." I call BS. Having now read the synopsis and story of the early drafts of Star Wars, it seems to me that ol' George was having trouble coming up with a story and copied Hidden Fortress. But through a number of rewrites the story changed.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-02-2008, 09:17 AM

Grave of Fireflies.

Wow. That's a powerful movie. I realized that while I've seen countless Japanese movies and tv shows that have had blatant, beyond thinly veiled allegories relating to WWII, I've never seen anything that so directly addressed it. So seeing the war from that perspective for the first time added even more emotion to an already gut-wrenching story.

It is not an easy watch, but it's a stunningly beautiful film.

innerSpaceman · 07-02-2008, 09:29 AM

I didn't care for it. Yes, very disturbing and haunting for an animated film. But I really found it rather relentlessly depressing for no particularly good cause of cinema.

Gemini Cricket · 07-02-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

But I really found it rather relentlessly depressing for no particularly good cause of cinema.

Yeah, who would want to immortalize one of the most tragic events in history for? No need to remember all that.

Snowflake · 07-02-2008, 10:37 AM

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.

Gemini Cricket · 07-02-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.

I think one of the reasons I love this film and films like His Girl Friday, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Stage Door is that the machine gun pace of the dialogue of these films match the way my brain moves: fast and bitchy.

JWBear · 07-02-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I think one of the reasons I love this film and films like His Girl Friday, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Stage Door is that the machine gun pace of the dialogue of these films match the way my brain moves: fast and bitchy.

Has anyone else seen the trailer for the new version of The Women? It really looks bad...

innerSpaceman · 07-02-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Yeah, who would want to immortalize one of the most tragic events in history for? No need to remember all that.

Oh, were that boy and his sister some sort of legend? Sorry, I never heard about them other than in this film.

If you're talking about the greater situation that provoked their tragic circumstances, I don't see why there couldn't have been 1000 or that there haven't been 1000 other films with that as a background to a far better drama.

I found nothing theatrical, storytellingness, cinematic about the STORY. It was just a series of depressing events. This is just my opinion, but the story was weak. A series of events is not necessarily a story worth telling.

Ghoulish Delight · 07-02-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I found nothing theatrical, storytellingness, cinematic about the STORY. It was just a series of depressing events. This is just my opinion, but the story was weak. A series of events is not necessarily a story worth telling.

It was based on a semi-autobiographical novel, the author of which did lose a sister to malnutrition during the war and blamed himself.

What I found striking about the movie was how authentic its emotions were, how starkly it portrayed the pride-centric Japanese mentality, how well it depicted the collateral horrors of the war.

It was one of the most tangible and believable cinematic portrayals of grief and loss I've ever seen.

innerSpaceman · 07-02-2008, 04:50 PM

something about the little girl bugged me so much, i was almost glad she died.

Anyway, different takes on it. I was urged and urged to see it, so obviously many people feel it's good, and powerful and well done. I'm happy to concede that my minority opinion is likely way off base.

07-02-2008, 09:17 AM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Grave of Fireflies. Wow. That's a powerful movie. I realized that while I've seen countless Japanese movies and tv shows that have had blatant, beyond thinly veiled allegories relating to WWII, I've never seen anything that so directly addressed it. So seeing the war from that perspective for the first time added even more emotion to an already gut-wrenching story. It is not an easy watch, but it's a stunningly beautiful film. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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07-02-2008, 09:29 AM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I didn't care for it. Yes, very disturbing and haunting for an animated film. But I really found it rather relentlessly depressing for no particularly good cause of cinema.
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07-02-2008, 10:37 AM	#5
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	I watched The Women for the umpteenth time last night, still wonderful, still funny and still makes me laugh and smile. Mary Boland and Roz Russell do steal the picture. That is all. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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07-02-2008, 04:50 PM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	something about the little girl bugged me so much, i was almost glad she died. Anyway, different takes on it. I was urged and urged to see it, so obviously many people feel it's good, and powerful and well done. I'm happy to concede that my minority opinion is likely way off base.
	Submit to Quotes