tbourner Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Have you seen Eraserhead by Lynch? That's a weird, weird film. Ninety minutes of Jack Nance (who was killed a few years ago in a fight) standing around with the same worried expression on his face. Haven't seen it, I've got Lost Highway that I borrowed off a mate though, haven't watched that yet either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 (flounces back in) .........Apocalypse Now? Rubbish? Rubbish. I wouldn't dismiss 'Apocalypse Now' as rubbish, but actually it's one classic film that I can't get much out of. Sorry. It has some terrific cinematography, memorable characters and scenes - but the whole Kurtz character doesn't really interest me. I read Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' this summer and didn't do any better with that: Kurtz still didn't interest me. And yet, it's widely regarded as one of the best novels ever written. I can't help feeling I'm missing something in both book and film:shrug: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Wild at Heart for example! I remember buying the video of that, and watching it at home with my parents. After the first scene where Cage smashes that guys head in on the stone steps, my parents both looked at me and said "Do you enjoy this sort of thing?" I wouldn't dismiss 'Apocalypse Now' as rubbish, but actually it's one classic film that I can't get much out of. Sorry. It has some terrific cinematography, memorable characters and scenes - but the whole Kurtz character doesn't really interest me. I read Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' this summer and didn't do any better with that: Kurtz still didn't interest me. And yet, it's widely regarded as one of the best novels ever written. I can't help feeling I'm missing something in both book and film:shrug: . I often wonder what the film would have been like if Brando hadn't been such a prima donna and demanded to improvise his own lines. Presumably thr Kurtz character represents every soldier, or even the heart of America, turned black by the horror of war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I often wonder what the film would have been like if Brando hadn't been such a prima donna and demanded to improvise his own lines. Presumably thr Kurtz character represents every soldier, or even the heart of America, turned black by the horror of war. I don't know, it's all opaque to me. In 'Heart of Darkness' Kurtz is an ivory trader who has 'gone native'. Kurtz exerts his power over the natives and acquires the status of a god. He should have rejected that status - but he embraces and abuses it. The temptations have overwhelmed his moral code, because 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'. I think Conrad was commenting (writing at the cusp of the 19th/20th century) on the corruption inherent in imperialism. Kurtz is a reflection of these corrupt, exploitative values. It would make sense for Coppola to choose the text for a Vietnam war film because America was the 1960s equivalent of the old imperialist powers. Or maybe he was just making a war film . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Have you seen Eraserhead by Lynch? That's a weird, weird film. Ninety minutes of Jack Nance (who was killed a few years ago in a fight) standing around with the same worried expression on his face. Not sure how to describe Eraserhead, but it is one of my 'favorite' films. A film that should be watched on ones own, disturbing and dream-like. Heres a taste... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMQtkrJgJY&NR=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Not sure how to describe Eraserhead, but it is one of my 'favorite' films. A film that should be watched on ones own, disturbing and dream-like. Heres a taste... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMQtkrJgJY&NR=1 I'd not noticed before that Jack Nance looks like a cross between Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The dying baby at 4:35 - holy cow, what does go on in Lynch's head? Hard to believe that the same guy can direct a film like 'Dune'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 The dying baby at 4:35 - holy cow, what does go on in Lynch's head? Hard to believe that the same guy can direct a film like 'Dune'. Yup....I watched 'The Straight Story' (guy driving across America on a lawn mower) and was gob-smacked it was by Lynch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tones Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 That eyes wide shut was some head wrecker of a film Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Not sure how to describe Eraserhead, but it is one of my 'favorite' films. A film that should be watched on ones own, disturbing and dream-like. Heres a taste... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMQtkrJgJY&NR=1 W T F Not sure I'm such a big fan of those 'mean nothing so can be interpreted any way you like' kinda films really, I'd rather watch Gone in 60 Seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Not sure I'm such a big fan of those 'mean nothing so can be interpreted any way you like' kinda films really, I'd rather watch Gone in 60 Seconds. Well, I guess it can be interpreted in different ways, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it has no meaning. I wouldn't want to watch it more than once every five years or so. I can't tell if you're saying "I'd EVEN rather watch Gone in 60 seconds" or " Gone in 60 seconds is my kind of film." Actually, I think Gone in 60 seconds is a great example of a film with as close to no meaning as it's possible to get. Nick Cage can't half pick 'em. It's more like a pop video that goes on forever than an actual film. I'd rank it almost as low as the truly dire The Fast and The Furious.. As King Lear, I think, put it: "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Each to his own, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Well, I'll say I DO like films like gone in 60 and F&F, but I definitely don't kid myself into thinking they're good or well thought out in any way. I agree, they have no meaning really, but I like that on occasion, in fact I have a strange love of pants films - still haven't seen 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' yet though!! I also just like the car films for the car porn (turn the speakers up when he gets in Eleanor and pulls up to the junction and stops). Also, I thought someone would pick up on me saying they mean nothing, and I was going to change it at the time but wondered what peoples opinions would be on the subject. We discussed Mulholland Drive after watching it (again) and came up with some pretty good ideas, and I understand the meanings of the slightly less confusing confusing films (Machinist, Memento, Donnie Darko, Jackobs Ladder), so I don't really mean it when I say they mean nothing - obviously he had reason to put the things he put in, and he had thoughts on the film as a whole no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannhauser Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Well, I'll say I DO like films like gone in 60 and F&F, but I definitely don't kid myself into thinking they're good or well thought out in any way.. Ah, I know what you mean. Some films are so bad they're good, in a cheesy way. But others are just bad....which is, personally, where I'd put those two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I have to say, as I've got older, I started to enjoy more basic action films rather than all the serious world cinema stuff I used to watch as a student. I do recommend "Con-Air" though, it's just fabulously over the top and utterly cliche ridden. It so bad it's brilliant and I can't work out whether Bruckheymer really means it, or is being tongue in cheek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Has anyone seen the original Gone in Sixty Seconds? I'd like to see that. Also, the original (Japanese, wasn't it?) movie that The Departed was on. That would be another one worth seeing, I should think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Has anyone seen the original Gone in Sixty Seconds? I'd like to see that. Also, the original (Japanese, wasn't it?) movie that The Departed was on. That would be another one worth seeing, I should think. I fancy watching that too and I think I've managed to find a torrent for the original Gone in Sixty Seconds. If you need the link Jake let me know Watched 'eXistenZ' on Sunday, hadn't seen it in years so had forget how it ended. Really enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 I've seen the original, it's OK I suppose, if you like Bullet you'd probably appreciate it, similar style. He seems to steal and crash about 6 Eleanors though, must be common!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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