Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 28sweep on October 22, 2002, 07:25:09 AM
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I rented this movie recently and I must say it was a suprise. I think that the cinematography is absolutely staggering. Especially the nature scenes. Just beautiful. Of course, its got an all star cast…John Travolta, Sean Penn, George Clooney, Woody Harleson…etc.. So the rest of the movie is a mystery to me….is brilliant or garbage? Reviews of the movie range from very good to very, very bad. Any opinions here on this movie?
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My opinion (and it's only an opinion of course)
It was a movie cursed by being released six months after Saving Private Ryan. Where Speilberg chose to give audiences a simple story about heroism and sacrifice, interlaced with the chaos and tragidy of war, Marick chose to focus on the senseless nature of war itself. Unlike SPR, TTRL doesn't leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling about "The Greatests Genearion."(TM)
As you mention, the cinematography stands out even to those who don't normally comment on such things. And there are parts of the movie which are captivating and sublime. However... I too don't know how to feel about the movie. Terrence Malick has an all star cast, a solid novel to work from, and a 52 million dollar budget. Given that he only makes a movie about once every seven years, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that he stretches it out to nearly 3 hours (this is the movie that changed my mind about getting that large sprite at the theater. Oi, my bladder had about enough of that :eek: )
To me, TTRL failed because it came across as far to preachy and self indulgent. Yes we get it; war is bad, killing is bad, taking teeth is bad. For me, I prefer to get this lesson from reading. Try Slaughterhouse Five, or Catch 22. The reason I prefer to read about how toejamty we are, is because it can set it down after reading a while, and pick it up again after I've digested for a while. I don't resent critical lessons so much when I can take them in small doses. Seeing TTRL in the theater was a gruling experience that I was not prepared for when I bought my ticket.
I'd like to give it another shot, but my Wife absolutely hated it, so there's not much chance of that ;)
-Sikboy
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The movie is one giant rhetorical question.
I'd rather have a root canal than see it again.
And I do enjoy a movie with good cinematography... its just that you have to listen to the dialog at some point.
AKDejaVu
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what sikboy said.
If you're looking for SPR 2, this ain't it.
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That was a good movie, took 3 times to figure it out.
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Not a bad movie at home. Don't know if I would have sat in a theatre to watch the whole thing. Definately not Oscar material in my opinion. Did it win or was it only nominated?
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In another thread I was trying to think of another movie worse than Windtalkers and I totally forgot about TTRL.
I think this was the WORST war movie I've ever seen.
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Originally posted by AKDejaVu
The movie is one giant rhetorical question.
Nice discription.
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I very rarely walk out in the middle of a movie (especially at the prices today) I didn't make it halfway through this thing.
I guess the point was to show the senselessness of war by making a movie that was basically senseless.
Yes the cinematography was good, but the story (if there ever was one? I'm not sure.) Sucked. And IMO you can't base a movie on cinematography. It’s something you use to drive home the point. It doesn't work so well when it stands alone and becomes the point. Which is what this film seemed to me- just an excuse to try out new camera angles and scenery while getting as many celebrity headshots in as possible.
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Fantastic film..certainly put SPR in context (John Wayne/Hollywood).
Characters that could have been real people, instead of the cartoon cutouts in SPR.
Fighting sequences that seemed totally random, rather than the "I'm gonna say some contentious and then die" in SPR.
Daff
P.S. Pretty sure Thin Red Line went into production before SPR....they spent ages shooting it.
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I thought it was an excellent film, and the point wasn't 'war is bad, killing is bad' that toejam is a given. If you think that is the point, you might want to watch it again.
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Originally posted by Kratzer
I thought it was an excellent film, and the point wasn't 'war is bad, killing is bad' that toejam is a given. If you think that is the point, you might want to watch it again.
I'd love to, but I've gone over that. Perhaps you could help me out here?
-Sikboy
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most boring movie ever (ok ok, maybe it disputes the spot with "you have mail"). I think my ex could still kick me if I reminded her I pulled her by the arm to go & see it.
And the fake letters
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Saving Private Ryan was a movie.
The Thin Red Line is a film.
That pretty much sums it up. I thought TRL was horrible the first time I saw it (I guess I was expecting SPR in the Pacific) but after watching it a second and third time, I think its fantastic.
IMO, the "point" of the movie is not some new age spin on hippe philosophy, its a film about the challenges facing individual soldiers in combat.
I think the movie COULD have been better had they kept the momentum going. Everytime they cut the scene back to the "wife" who wrote the Dear John letter, I got disgusted... too much poetry/roadkill dialogue and I was sick of seeing the damn woman swinging/bathing.
That said, the other 90% of the film I absolutely loved. It evokes an emotional response - sadness - not unlike Platoon or the end of Glory. You cant argue with the musical score either - great soundtrack.
It also seemed more realistic to me - not in terms of camera angles and effects, but in terms of the characters. Anyone notice that the vast majority of the soldiers actually looked like they were 17? Confusion, fear, nervous breakdown (guy forgetting his name - looking at dog tags in confusion after the initial attack). And in terms of the "heroism" comparison between Tom Hanks' character and (forget his name) the guy that is shot at the end of the film in TRL surrounded by Japs - I dont think you can argue that. Something about good old Tom telling Matt Damon to "Earn this" before dying smells of hollywood. The best scenes in TRL have no dialouge and still make a bigger impact than any scene in SPR.
Wow that was a long post... sorry. :p
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First time I saw The Thin Red Line I was in the theater and I thought it was so long and drawn out that I was tempted to get up and leave, I just about fell asleep. I was impressed with the visuals and cinematography but that along could hold me attention for 3 hours. I watched it again at home after it came out on video/dvd/whatever and enjoyed it more the second time around. I was prepared for a long rather slow paced movie, I think what your expectations are going in have a lot to do with what you think coming out of it.
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I enjoyed the TRL. Very esoteric and beautiful. Though it is probably a little too preachy or spiritual for my taste. But in war, you can go from beauty to sheer terror which can freeze a man in an instant. I know I got something from this movie, it's just hard to put into words.
Just spotted this sentence:
"Everytime they cut the scene back to the "wife" who wrote the Dear John letter, I got disgusted... too much poetry/roadkill dialogue and I was sick of seeing the damn woman swinging/bathing."
Contrast between where you want to be and where you really are. Yeah, a bit poetic, but that stuff did happen. That could have a profound effect on your actions in wartime.
I'm not sure too many people know it, but Randy Cunningham received a letter from his wife requesting divorce/split just a short time (maybe even just days) before he made ace in Vietnam. I've been through a divorce and though I wanted it, it takes a lot from you and I can just imagine what it would do to you during wartime.
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i didn't see it
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so some of you guys watched this movie, thought it sucked, then sat down and watched it again. now it's a great film. hell maybe I should give 'dumb & dumber' another go
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If I had to choose, I'd rather have to watch "Pearl harbor" again.
Enough said.
Regards,
Wab
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I loved it.
Guess there are different tastes for everything.
(I absolutely hated We Were Soldiers)
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I think TTRL beat SPRyan by a wide margin.
Ryan was good up until the unit was given the assignment to find Ryan. After that it became just another mish-mash very predictable, ive-seen-this-before, cliche ww2 movie.
TRRL oth had a completely different perspective. I did think they made it overly "poetic", but the movie, acting, narration and the way it is presented to the audience is original and captivating.
TRRL is one of the few movies I actually bought after renting it.
And please, dont mention Pearl Harbor here, its TITANIC with A6M Zero's zooming by. Yuck.
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SPR is like Britney Spears and TRL is like Bob Dylan…enough said……
The movie does have some really brilliant parts: Like when the Captain is being relieved of his command and says-in Greek-"you have all been sons to me." Warm scenes like these are usually coupled w/ calming nature scenes like the two parrots preening each-other. Nature vs. Man thing was really deep in this flick…harsher moments where coupled w/ darker things in nature..like snakes slithering through the grass. I love it when Sean Penn said, "This whole thing is about property." Very deep and moving………This movie flirted w/ true greatness………..
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SPR is a Story. And it was a pretty good one AFAIC.
TTRL is a message movie. If you like your movies preaching at you, then you might like it. If you want to escape into a story and become immersed in the characters, TTRL ain't it. Guess its a mood thing.
OTOH, anyone who thinks people didn't like TTRL just because they didn't get it should go stand in the corner of some fru fru New York Art exhibit and rub nobs with the other snobs.
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i have gone to probably a hundred movies in my life. I have only fallen asleep in the theatre once. Anyone have a guess which movie it was during?
IMO this movie sucks balls.
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The Movie is excellent, My only Gripe is the length.
For those of you not understanding the film maybe it would help to read the book.
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read a book ?
I think your overestimating the attention span of most people here :D
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OK... I'll listen to people argue that the movie had good cinematogrophy and base its merits on that... but ENOUGH OF THE "YOU DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT" CRAP.
This is a movie that transparently hints at being cerebrial. All of the sudden someone labels it a difficult movie to understand and prides themselves on being able to get it. That in and of itself is good... so the movie is good.
You can get a movie and still not like it.
The movie had good cinematography.
The movie had horrible dialog and no real story. It was badly written. What now? Let's add another rhetorical question and cut away to a dead bird. Rinse and repeat.
That is why I will never like it. Pure and simple.
Hell... Uncle Buck was a deeper movie than this one.
AKDejaVu
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OMG! Are we agreeing? >
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Damn!!! Never saw it, now I gotta go rent it.
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Originally posted by midnight Target
OMG! Are we agreeing? >
Speaking of rain of frogs, have you seen the movie Magnolia?
It stands divided just like TTRL.
I liked it but cant watch it more than twice.
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Nope, but I'm willing to try it.
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Its better than Thin Red Line.
I think Vu may even like it!
You dont know what tastes to expect from a guy who owns Spy Kids and hates Thin Red Line, then goes and buys classics like Reservoir Dogs and Amelie, but then is thinking that Joe Dirt would make a nice addition ;)
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I'm suprised no-ones mentioned this puppy (probably one of the best ever):
(http://a1944.g.akamai.net/7/1944/1185/00031815018/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/710000/712846.jpg)
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You want a message movie about war.. "Johnny Got His Gun".
Haven't seen it in 20 years and it still one movie I can never forget.
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Originally posted by AKDejaVu
Hell... Uncle Buck was a deeper movie than this one.
AKDejaVu
ya right..
heres two bits. why dont you go down town and get a rat to knaw that thing off your face...
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Originally posted by Animal
Its better than Thin Red Line.
I think Vu may even like it!
You dont know what tastes to expect from a guy who owns Spy Kids and hates Thin Red Line, then goes and buys classics like Reservoir Dogs and Amelie, but then is thinking that Joe Dirt would make a nice addition ;)
I buy alot of movies I haven't seen in the theater. I buy others based on recomendations and reviews. Thin Red Line is one I saw in the theaters. No need to watch it again.
BTW.. have you seen Joe Dirt or Spy Kids? I'll watch most movies once.
AKDejaVu
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No, but here is a genuinely good recomendation Startup.com
Look for a review in Amazon. You are gonna love it, and I was the one who recomended Amelie.
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I know you recomended that Animal... and I'll check out that one too.
But the point is... I'm not here slamming on movies I haven't seen. You, on the otherhand, are using movies you haven't seen to attempt to define an individual.
That seems a tad bit hypocritical.
AKDejaVu
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Originally posted by AKDejaVu
I know you recomended that Animal... and I'll check out that one too.
But the point is... I'm not here slamming on movies I haven't seen. You, on the otherhand, are using movies you haven't seen to attempt to define an individual.
That seems a tad bit hypocritical.
AKDejaVu
Dude I saw both of them.
I was only joking, pulling your leg.
And by the way, they are showing Joe Dirt right now on HBO and I have that on.
Its in the part where he is talking to the meteor.
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Originally posted by Animal
Speaking of rain of frogs, have you seen the movie Magnolia?
It stands divided just like TTRL.
I liked it but cant watch it more than twice.
My dear friend Paul and I saw that movie when it came out. Paul is so very different from me. He is a political radical (Think of Chomsky, but more liberal) He works in the Film industry (MFA in Film from Loyola Marymount) Is a Veggan. When both of us hate a movie, it makes a profound statement I think :) But it helps that I already saw the movie a few years before when it was called "Short Cuts" lol
-Sikboy
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The only bit i remember of this film is woody fragging his own arse. Hmmm...i i'm gonna buy the DVD tomorrow, i think i remember enjoying the film.
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Originally posted by AKWabbit
If I had to choose, I'd rather have to watch "Pearl harbor" again.
Enough said.
Regards,
Wab
Rafe: "... remember, P-40s can't outrun zeroes, so don't try. You're gonna have to outfly 'em."
That right there ruined what was otherwise a fairly decent movie for me. :rolleyes:
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Ah, but youre forgetting the circa 1940 BoB Spitfire XIV's!!! Damn those 109E's never had a chance... JUST CRANK IT IAN!! LOL!!
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Length was very trying, but I liked TTRL...excellent cast (not just the 'big' names - The supporting cast was excellent too), the story dragged in some respects but there were stand out sections -e.g Where Nick Nolte is ordering Elias Koteas to get his men up the hill.
SPR would easily be in my top 3 films, however even I realise that after the first 30 mins...it is really just a run of the mill A to B story that any good director could've made.
Tronsky
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The top war movies ever made are as follows:
1) All Quiet on the Western Front
2) Thin Red Line
3) The Bridge Over the Rive Kuai (can't spell it)