I don’t believe Lynch is overrated. He has become a little over saturated it would seem (an above post mentioned his own brand of coffe and the whole TM thingy) and a little self indulgent (INLAND EMPIRE was a 3 hour escapade into all that makes lynch, lynch) however the term “Lynchian” was coined as a way to describe in other films the moods and imagery that although he didn’t invent he most certainly popularized.
However in all honestly i do find myself going to Cronenburg more than Lynch (two very different film makers but often compared) but i suppose that is just my own personal tastes.
Self indulgence insn’t necessarily a bad thing especially for fans of the artist’s work. Inland Empire wasn’t a terrible or bad film in my view (i am a fan of lynch’s work, and went out of my way to watch it when it came to the art house). Your point on that any artist is self indulgent is a very valid and intellegent observation (although your analogy of the kid i can’t quite understand) however there are levels of indulgence that in my opinion can leave a viewer disengaged. When it has reached that level in all honesty the “cluster of word” is the best description for it in my eyes.
Death Proof is my best personal example of how self indulgence of the artist (and an artistic choice of style) left me honestly disappointed and bored. I liked Inland Empire far more than Death Proof in that sense.
I was honestly bored during the film, in the first film i was on the edge of my seat hanging on every minute and when it was over i wanted more. but with this one the shrill pace over such a long period of time sucked the energy out of me and by the end i had had enough of it all.
The hype most certainly played a huge part in me not loving the film as much as i did. Certain parts lived up to my huge expectations (heath Ledger, and the personal losses that batman suffers) but Two Face is a solid enough villian to have deserved his own movie (i expected him to be the main villian in the thrid picture)
In the end i don’t know what didn’t do it for me and why instead of being: HOLY SHIT that movie kicked my ass!! by the end i simply said to my girlfriend: Did you like it… ya it was good.
all of them had their moments, shimura brought a stellar subtly to Ikiru that Mifune wouldn’t be right for. Shimura’s brought a sense of seriousness and decrepitness to his performance in Ran not impossible by the other two but by then kurosawa had had a falling out with mifune. Lastly Mifune brought a sense of charisma and sheer stage presence to just to everything he is in…
If i picked a favorite it would be Shimura followed quickly by mifune.
I find remakes interesting depending on who is behind them. Cronenburg brought to the Fly his own fascinations and running themes and quite honestly it stands as certainly one of the best remakes made. The only reason a remake should be done is when the film maker can add or strengthen the original work and make it better (again the Fly). Social experiements like Psycho aren’t worth making much less seeing as the creators bring nothing new to the original story.
I haven’t seen tim burtons remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory, but from what i hear that it shifts the focus of the narrative from Charlie to Willy Wonka. I will have to watch it as i will now give it a chance it being a different take on the same story.
Currently i’m very curious what Arnofsky will bring to ROBOCOP in 2010
Wes Anderson is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I haven’t hated his films but Rushmore ended for me 45 minutes into the film, i really like the Royal Tenebaums and stands as my favorite work from him, Darjeeling was okay and i have yet to see the rest of his filmography. He has a very distinct style and that should at least be commended that he managed to carve out something in his movies as instantly recognizable as David Lynch or Kubrick.
For Kurosawa i recomend anything with Mifune in it as his sheer charisma and stage presence may keep the running times, themes, and structurally different films of japan more than palpable. I won’t list them here as you can look them up on imdb.com
i can’t comment much on the other directors (as i haven’t seen too much from from them :S) I can however recommend Amarcord from mr. fellini it will get you used to long almost plotless films :D
i’m Manuel i live in edmonton and got out of film school just this year prior, i’m currently working on trying to make a living in the film industry. thats about all for now…
I will go for my favorite and say Inigo vs Westly in the “Princess Bride” The choreography the humor and the tesion all add up to a perfect onscreen duel, it most certainly takes from those old swashbuckler movies of yesteryear but that isn’t a bad thing. but close second is the Lone Wolf vs everybody else in the Lone Wolf and Cub series. OH and i love the sword section in Fearless where Jet Li crosses blades with a spanish fencer.
These are the three that come first to mind when i think of sword fights.
I went to SAIT Polytechnic (in Calgary) for the money you put in it certainly gives you a great foundation that you can then go into the real world and learn how everything really works. Although i suggest you specialize in Craft/Tech as the program and school are geared towards technical studies. I honestly think spending more than 2 years in a progam is a waste of time and money as 2 years is more than enough to get you a basic understanding that you can take to set and spend the time you would otherwise be in school going over the basics or studying things you honestly will learn on the job actually working and gaining ground in a very hard industry.
I can recall instantly frank TJ mackie’s talk with his father from his entrance at the door until earl’s last moments. Although the scene is cut and placed between a number of others.
Citizen Kane: Greg Toland
The Godfather: Gordan Willis
Children of men: Emanuel Lubezki
The Thin Red Line: John Toll
The Conformist/The Last Emperor: Vittorio Storaro
Magnolia: Robert Elswit
Eraserhead: Herbert Cardwell, Frederick Elmes
Citizen Kane is at top for what it brought to cinematography (although this isn’t some numerical list though or ‘best of’) as with the Godfather. Children of men is a great example of the use of the camera to really bring subjectivity to a scene. The Thin Red Line and anything Storaro for just those extrememly lush and memorable images. Magnolia is a favorite of mine so it has to be up there… And Eraserhead for its grime and its muck and its success for creating a truly horrifying place for its characters to inhabit.
Bill Munny comes to mind at least as a great example of the villian within someone. you never see his past but you hear about it, and when he does make an appearance he turns from a broken sick old man to a lethal heartless killer. Although Little Bill was also a very good secondary villain (if he was one…;)
Kurosawa had a tough time finding finacing for his later films Kagamusha was financed with foriegn money (lucas and Coppola helped him out there) and was much more appreciated abroad than in his native japan. Although i don’t know if that has changed and if this post of mine has any relevance… :S
The Man Who Fell To Earth. Its hard to describe what i didn’t like about the film it just felt empty, emotionaly and narratively.That was the point mind you it failed to ring as a tragedy for me anyways. However the inclusion of the book in the package is something quite thoughtful perhaps a read through of that will help me understand the themes a little more thorughly. Its inclusion in the Blu Ray collection is an odd choice for me as there are more a bunch more films that would be more worth looking at (in a purely visual way).
Certainly not the best samurai movie ever made but it has all the elements of a good one.
As for the confusion of whether a film is a samurai film I say that films like Ghost Dog, Blind Fury, Le Samourai, Collateral???, Kill Bill are not samurai films as they have to take place within a specific time frame in Japanese history (No Country For Old Men takes place in the west but i don’t see it as a western) just because someone uses a Katana and follows the code doesn’t make them a Samurai (every teenage boy woudl then be one :S ) that social class and way of life is dead and in the past.
My pick at least for favorite and not best is: Throne Of Blood
If you want to get technical…. Seven Samurai may not count as you see the Samurai in the film actually had no masters to serve and where therefore classified as Ronin. so Seven Ronin anyone :P
Tom the fact that Unforgiven is held in such high esteem 17 years after the film initial release it has been watched and scrutinized by thousands of critics and normal people and it still stands as a excelent revisionist western. There Will Be Blood which you awarded 5 stars can be sumed up as Greed is bad family is good.
Better films are not made everyday i wish that were so.
Lachlan Foley thanks for your defence on my behalf for the rather foul use of language towards my assurtions.
i am undetered from my opinion still that Kill Bill is not a samurai film (it pays homage, the Katana, the winter duel, the sense of lost honour) for the simple fact that the bride is not a samurai herself yes the traditional classification applies look up what a samurai is you’ll see it is very specific. It is an action film blending the genres of revenge thriller, and martial art movie into a B movie masterpiece. its like saying something is film noir because it is lit darkly and deals with some seedy people in seedy situations.
as for mathis’ statements Costello was a hitman for the mob not a samurai there are certain values taken from samurai and applied but i am of the belief that it is a gangster film as it deal primarily with well gangsters… I say the same for Ghost Dog, although it is much easier to argue for Ghost Dog as its influences are much more apparent. As for the noir assurtion Watanabe made an excellent point that i again agree with.
We can argue genre until judgement i will post a link that sums up my argument nicely atlhough not a definitive source it lists some classic examples of films in the genre none of which are the ones we are debating. i will leave my opinion as just that:
2.0:1 is mine it combines the wideness of animorphic with the height of the american standard, and i see it as one of them most versatile of formats (apocalypse now was shot on it) and as much as people harp on it 1.33:1 is another fave Kurosawa did beautiful things with it its a shame that it is being replaced entirely…
The remastered transfer of Seven Samurai is a wonderful improvement on the previous edition so much more contrast was brought out of every shot in the film. The last emperor manages to be Vivid in its colour without being overly saturaated (the skin tone is preserved)
The remastered transfer of Seven Samurai is a wonderful improvement on the previous edition so much more contrast was brought out of every shot in the film. The last emperor manages to be Vivid in its colour without being overly saturaated (the skin tone is preserved)
Terminator introduced us to 2 of hollywoods biggest stars and movie makers James Cameron and Arnold Shwarzenegger (although Conan shares the place with bringing arnold to popular opinion but terminator made him a super star) and James Cameron who went on to direct two of the 90’s biggest and most expensive films made by Hollywood its sequel T2 and Titanic (i’m sure many many many people will chastise me for including Titanic but it is important and secures its place in history because of all the money it made) then onto Aliens that influenced a host of video games (related to the series or not).
T2 Should be included for its importance in what it brought to computer generated imagery (the liquid metal effects of the T1000 in some parts still hold up today much less in ’91) It was also one of the most expensive movies every made (an uprecedented buget of over 100 million) and its influence is still felt today.
Daniel, Cronenberg is not under rated in the slightest look at his awards page on IMDB he is more of a candidate for over rated (not that i think he is)
Why is micheal bay at the top of your list? i spelled his name wrong because he sucks
If martial arts can count then a criterion release of Enter The Dragon would be fantastic. Bruce Lee’s last film ( I don’t count the almost completely unfinished game of death ) and most certainly his biggest in scope that made him a star here in the west and cementing him into pop culture for all time.
David Lynch Overrated? over 3 years ago
I don’t believe Lynch is overrated. He has become a little over saturated it would seem (an above post mentioned his own brand of coffe and the whole TM thingy) and a little self indulgent (INLAND EMPIRE was a 3 hour escapade into all that makes lynch, lynch) however the term “Lynchian” was coined as a way to describe in other films the moods and imagery that although he didn’t invent he most certainly popularized.
However in all honestly i do find myself going to Cronenburg more than Lynch (two very different film makers but often compared) but i suppose that is just my own personal tastes.
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What was the first Criterion movie you watched? over 3 years ago
The Scarlet Empress (in high school film studies)
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David Lynch Overrated? over 3 years ago
Self indulgence insn’t necessarily a bad thing especially for fans of the artist’s work. Inland Empire wasn’t a terrible or bad film in my view (i am a fan of lynch’s work, and went out of my way to watch it when it came to the art house). Your point on that any artist is self indulgent is a very valid and intellegent observation (although your analogy of the kid i can’t quite understand) however there are levels of indulgence that in my opinion can leave a viewer disengaged. When it has reached that level in all honesty the “cluster of word” is the best description for it in my eyes.
Death Proof is my best personal example of how self indulgence of the artist (and an artistic choice of style) left me honestly disappointed and bored. I liked Inland Empire far more than Death Proof in that sense.
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? over 3 years ago
David Lynch, Paul thomas anderson, James Cameron (if they include michael bay…)
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Anybody else hate the Dark Knight? over 3 years ago
I was honestly bored during the film, in the first film i was on the edge of my seat hanging on every minute and when it was over i wanted more. but with this one the shrill pace over such a long period of time sucked the energy out of me and by the end i had had enough of it all.
The hype most certainly played a huge part in me not loving the film as much as i did. Certain parts lived up to my huge expectations (heath Ledger, and the personal losses that batman suffers) but Two Face is a solid enough villian to have deserved his own movie (i expected him to be the main villian in the thrid picture)
In the end i don’t know what didn’t do it for me and why instead of being: HOLY SHIT that movie kicked my ass!! by the end i simply said to my girlfriend: Did you like it… ya it was good.
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Favorite Kurosawa lead actor? over 3 years ago
all of them had their moments, shimura brought a stellar subtly to Ikiru that Mifune wouldn’t be right for. Shimura’s brought a sense of seriousness and decrepitness to his performance in Ran not impossible by the other two but by then kurosawa had had a falling out with mifune. Lastly Mifune brought a sense of charisma and sheer stage presence to just to everything he is in…
If i picked a favorite it would be Shimura followed quickly by mifune.
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Favorite Kurosawa lead actor? over 3 years ago
*Oops Nakadai on the Ran entry there
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Remakes over 3 years ago
I find remakes interesting depending on who is behind them. Cronenburg brought to the Fly his own fascinations and running themes and quite honestly it stands as certainly one of the best remakes made. The only reason a remake should be done is when the film maker can add or strengthen the original work and make it better (again the Fly). Social experiements like Psycho aren’t worth making much less seeing as the creators bring nothing new to the original story.
I haven’t seen tim burtons remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory, but from what i hear that it shifts the focus of the narrative from Charlie to Willy Wonka. I will have to watch it as i will now give it a chance it being a different take on the same story.
Currently i’m very curious what Arnofsky will bring to ROBOCOP in 2010
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The Great Cinematographers over 3 years ago
I’m a huge fan of Robert Elswit, Roger Deakins, Emmanuel Lubezki, and Mr. Storaro
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Do You Like Wes Anderson? over 3 years ago
Wes Anderson is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I haven’t hated his films but Rushmore ended for me 45 minutes into the film, i really like the Royal Tenebaums and stands as my favorite work from him, Darjeeling was okay and i have yet to see the rest of his filmography. He has a very distinct style and that should at least be commended that he managed to carve out something in his movies as instantly recognizable as David Lynch or Kubrick.
In the end i’m just meh about him.
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12-year old asking... over 3 years ago
For Kurosawa i recomend anything with Mifune in it as his sheer charisma and stage presence may keep the running times, themes, and structurally different films of japan more than palpable. I won’t list them here as you can look them up on imdb.com
i can’t comment much on the other directors (as i haven’t seen too much from from them :S) I can however recommend Amarcord from mr. fellini it will get you used to long almost plotless films :D
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New to The Auteurs? You Belong Here over 3 years ago
i’m Manuel i live in edmonton and got out of film school just this year prior, i’m currently working on trying to make a living in the film industry. thats about all for now…
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Best sword fight over 3 years ago
I will go for my favorite and say Inigo vs Westly in the “Princess Bride” The choreography the humor and the tesion all add up to a perfect onscreen duel, it most certainly takes from those old swashbuckler movies of yesteryear but that isn’t a bad thing. but close second is the Lone Wolf vs everybody else in the Lone Wolf and Cub series. OH and i love the sword section in Fearless where Jet Li crosses blades with a spanish fencer.
These are the three that come first to mind when i think of sword fights.
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Film School over 3 years ago
I went to SAIT Polytechnic (in Calgary) for the money you put in it certainly gives you a great foundation that you can then go into the real world and learn how everything really works. Although i suggest you specialize in Craft/Tech as the program and school are geared towards technical studies. I honestly think spending more than 2 years in a progam is a waste of time and money as 2 years is more than enough to get you a basic understanding that you can take to set and spend the time you would otherwise be in school going over the basics or studying things you honestly will learn on the job actually working and gaining ground in a very hard industry.
Thats my Two cents!
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Scenes you remember without effort over 3 years ago
I can recall instantly frank TJ mackie’s talk with his father from his entrance at the door until earl’s last moments. Although the scene is cut and placed between a number of others.
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Best Online Film Resources over 3 years ago
allmovie.com is farily decent not as good as allmusic but certainly better than allgame :S
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What great films do you violently hate for no other reason than because you're a total idiot? over 3 years ago
anything starring ben affleck
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Best shot movie(s) and its cinematographer over 3 years ago
The ones that come straight to mind are:
Citizen Kane: Greg Toland
The Godfather: Gordan Willis
Children of men: Emanuel Lubezki
The Thin Red Line: John Toll
The Conformist/The Last Emperor: Vittorio Storaro
Magnolia: Robert Elswit
Eraserhead: Herbert Cardwell, Frederick Elmes
Citizen Kane is at top for what it brought to cinematography (although this isn’t some numerical list though or ‘best of’) as with the Godfather. Children of men is a great example of the use of the camera to really bring subjectivity to a scene. The Thin Red Line and anything Storaro for just those extrememly lush and memorable images. Magnolia is a favorite of mine so it has to be up there… And Eraserhead for its grime and its muck and its success for creating a truly horrifying place for its characters to inhabit.
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Most Memorable Villain over 3 years ago
Bill Munny comes to mind at least as a great example of the villian within someone. you never see his past but you hear about it, and when he does make an appearance he turns from a broken sick old man to a lethal heartless killer. Although Little Bill was also a very good secondary villain (if he was one…;)
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Creative works unknown in their originating country but revered abroad over 3 years ago
Kurosawa had a tough time finding finacing for his later films Kagamusha was financed with foriegn money (lucas and Coppola helped him out there) and was much more appreciated abroad than in his native japan. Although i don’t know if that has changed and if this post of mine has any relevance… :S
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Now, how about CRITERION issued films you just don't like!! over 3 years ago
The Man Who Fell To Earth. Its hard to describe what i didn’t like about the film it just felt empty, emotionaly and narratively.That was the point mind you it failed to ring as a tragedy for me anyways. However the inclusion of the book in the package is something quite thoughtful perhaps a read through of that will help me understand the themes a little more thorughly. Its inclusion in the Blu Ray collection is an odd choice for me as there are more a bunch more films that would be more worth looking at (in a purely visual way).
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Greatest samurai film of all time? over 3 years ago
Whats wrong with Taboo?
Certainly not the best samurai movie ever made but it has all the elements of a good one.
As for the confusion of whether a film is a samurai film I say that films like Ghost Dog, Blind Fury, Le Samourai, Collateral???, Kill Bill are not samurai films as they have to take place within a specific time frame in Japanese history (No Country For Old Men takes place in the west but i don’t see it as a western) just because someone uses a Katana and follows the code doesn’t make them a Samurai (every teenage boy woudl then be one :S ) that social class and way of life is dead and in the past.
My pick at least for favorite and not best is: Throne Of Blood
If you want to get technical…. Seven Samurai may not count as you see the Samurai in the film actually had no masters to serve and where therefore classified as Ronin. so Seven Ronin anyone :P
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Slumdog Millionaire Overrated Film of the Year over 3 years ago
Tom the fact that Unforgiven is held in such high esteem 17 years after the film initial release it has been watched and scrutinized by thousands of critics and normal people and it still stands as a excelent revisionist western. There Will Be Blood which you awarded 5 stars can be sumed up as Greed is bad family is good.
Better films are not made everyday i wish that were so.
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Greatest samurai film of all time? over 3 years ago
Lachlan Foley thanks for your defence on my behalf for the rather foul use of language towards my assurtions.
i am undetered from my opinion still that Kill Bill is not a samurai film (it pays homage, the Katana, the winter duel, the sense of lost honour) for the simple fact that the bride is not a samurai herself yes the traditional classification applies look up what a samurai is you’ll see it is very specific. It is an action film blending the genres of revenge thriller, and martial art movie into a B movie masterpiece. its like saying something is film noir because it is lit darkly and deals with some seedy people in seedy situations.
as for mathis’ statements Costello was a hitman for the mob not a samurai there are certain values taken from samurai and applied but i am of the belief that it is a gangster film as it deal primarily with well gangsters… I say the same for Ghost Dog, although it is much easier to argue for Ghost Dog as its influences are much more apparent. As for the noir assurtion Watanabe made an excellent point that i again agree with.
We can argue genre until judgement i will post a link that sums up my argument nicely atlhough not a definitive source it lists some classic examples of films in the genre none of which are the ones we are debating. i will leave my opinion as just that:
http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=24:D||1009
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WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT RATIO? over 3 years ago
2.0:1 is mine it combines the wideness of animorphic with the height of the american standard, and i see it as one of them most versatile of formats (apocalypse now was shot on it) and as much as people harp on it 1.33:1 is another fave Kurosawa did beautiful things with it its a shame that it is being replaced entirely…
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Best criterion transfers over 3 years ago
The remastered transfer of Seven Samurai is a wonderful improvement on the previous edition so much more contrast was brought out of every shot in the film. The last emperor manages to be Vivid in its colour without being overly saturaated (the skin tone is preserved)
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Best criterion transfers over 3 years ago
The remastered transfer of Seven Samurai is a wonderful improvement on the previous edition so much more contrast was brought out of every shot in the film. The last emperor manages to be Vivid in its colour without being overly saturaated (the skin tone is preserved)
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Action movies that deserve to be in the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
James Cameron’s Terminator and T2
Terminator introduced us to 2 of hollywoods biggest stars and movie makers James Cameron and Arnold Shwarzenegger (although Conan shares the place with bringing arnold to popular opinion but terminator made him a super star) and James Cameron who went on to direct two of the 90’s biggest and most expensive films made by Hollywood its sequel T2 and Titanic (i’m sure many many many people will chastise me for including Titanic but it is important and secures its place in history because of all the money it made) then onto Aliens that influenced a host of video games (related to the series or not).
T2 Should be included for its importance in what it brought to computer generated imagery (the liquid metal effects of the T1000 in some parts still hold up today much less in ’91) It was also one of the most expensive movies every made (an uprecedented buget of over 100 million) and its influence is still felt today.
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WHO ARE THE UNDER-RATED DIRECTORS? over 3 years ago
Daniel, Cronenberg is not under rated in the slightest look at his awards page on IMDB he is more of a candidate for over rated (not that i think he is)
Why is micheal bay at the top of your list? i spelled his name wrong because he sucks
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Action movies that deserve to be in the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
If martial arts can count then a criterion release of Enter The Dragon would be fantastic. Bruce Lee’s last film ( I don’t count the almost completely unfinished game of death ) and most certainly his biggest in scope that made him a star here in the west and cementing him into pop culture for all time.
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