Lester's utterly beguiling and engaging sequel…..
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Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 04:44 AM)
and the alter-ego Clark vs Superman sequence is one of the best of the franchise.
Agreed 100%. It's fantastic stuff. Worthy of the first two.
I've always liked Empire over Hope, yet I don't think Lucas is that great a director. He got lucky with the first Star Wars.
Yes, Lucas proved with the rest of his career that he fluked out with Star wars 77. I think everything fell into his lap and he was probably amazed at the end result. I doubt the finished product even resembled his original vision. He proved with the special editions and prequels that he was just a lucky film maker who made the most of his limited talent. He had a good eye for actors, I'll give him that. Mark Hamill was perfect casting.
I bought American Graffiti and THX on dvd and I thought both were dull. What do people see in these films?
Robocop 2 is glossier, but I find it quite creepy as well. Kane scares me.
Yes, Kane is a scary guy. Do you find the evisceration of Duffy more disturbing than Murphy's torture-murder in the original? -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 06:06 AM)
I don't mind
American Graffiti
. It has an outlandish feel about it. Lucas, (like Nolan), I find is more of an ideas kinda guy, than a director ideal to deal with actors and direct something himself. He's no Spielberg.
He was lucky with
Star Wars
, that the cast came to the party and gave of themselves 110% and it was well balanced with the casting of 2 old pros like Guiness and Cushing who may have even acted as coaches. His episodes 1, 2 & 3 were quite abysmal. He was wise to hand over the directors reins for 7,8 & 9.
It was the less is more approach that made Duffy's torture-murder more disturbing. I didn't find the Murphy mutilation sequence that scary to witness, in either the R rated and unrated cut, which is fake looking at any rate.
The warehouse sequence when the Cainbot attacks, is well directed and presented. When watching it, I often think about what I could do to hide and get away from him.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 06:46 AM)
American Graffiti is not a bad film, it just lacks something that I can't put my finger on. I think maybe seeing that in 1973 was groundbreaking. I think it lacks focus. A series of random events. Paul Le Mat was very good in it, he outshone the overrated Harrison Ford, and Charlie Martin Smith was great. I found everyone else was annoying though.
Yes Duffys murder was disturbing in its set up - the dank setting etc. 1990 had a lot of those types of scenes, like in Predator 2 where you had the penthouse sacrifice of a naked man begging for his life being another such scene, as well as the hot woman being decapitated while being felt up in Showdown in little Tokyo. Movie violence mixed with sadism was in a league of its own back then.
Yeah, the use of lighting in the RoboCain sequence was very well done, all dark apart from its lights. I heard someone say robocop 2 is the last great stop motion film. They're right. The sfx are the last of its kind, the best kind. -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 08:43 AM)
Le Mat and Smith are my favorite thing about AG and while it is predominantly a series of vignettes, it is entertaining to watch. I'd say the charm it projects connected with both the younger and older generation of the time.
I love that mid/late 80's early 90's style of all 3 films you have mentioned. They are a one of a kind with the way lighting was utilized in this era. I cite
Year Of The Dragon - '85
and
Big Trouble In Little China - '86
as setting a precedence here.
Black Rain - '89
also looked great.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 09:46 PM)
while it is predominantly a series of vignettes
Yep, I would've liked more focus on a proper story eg make Charlie Martin Smith the main character, and all that stuff he does with the hoods, make something more of that. The constant breakaways to different characters, I didn't like.
I agree about the late 80s/early 90s style. I had a discussion with someone about that one time. I was telling them that the films released in the early 90s, because they were written and went into pre-production in the 80s, that they were quasi 80s films, giving them a unique style. It's an interesting period to say the least. -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 10:35 PM)
There is something about the way late 80's movies look, that is just so warm and appealing. 70's film generally had a grittier more organic look about them. The 80's was in a sense superficial in terms of zeitgeist, yet the stylized almost neon look reflected well in the substance of many of the films. Both these eras were embraced wonderfully in celluloid.
I'm not so certain about the 90's. Many appeared bland in representation.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 11:44 PM)
I'm not so certain about the 90's
Well, not the 90s, the early 90s. I generally don't like most 90s movies, I hate the style. didn't you say you enjoyed the style of Robocop 2, Predator 2 and Showdown in Little Tokyo? That's what I mean. Those kinds of films, in terms of filming style and look & tone.
If you watch a film from 1990 compared to one from 1995, it's much different. Like a different decade. -
I love hutch — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 07:08 AM)
I like THX 1138 and I love American Graffiti. Rarely have I seen a film capture a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet sentiment as well as AG. It was an entertaining movie with memorable characters, emotional sweep and a wonderful oldies' soundtrack. Gorgeous cinematography.
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!" -
Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 08, 2022 09:52 PM)
The characters were certainly very good, as were the actors who were well cast. And yes I agree, the soundtrack is great. I just think if you didn't grow up in America in this period, driving cars in high school along to classic music, it doesn't resonate, because where I'm from 99% of people are still learning to drive and thus don't have cars at 18, and they're all listening to rap music, so the cruising aspect is lost on me.
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I love hutch — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 03:01 AM)
Have you seen "Dazed and Confused" (1994)? It takes place on the last day of school (and into the night) in 1976.
I thought it was pretty entertaining, but sometimes it really does feel more like a 90s movie than a 70s nostalgia piece. Though the soundtrack is undeniably great.
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!" -
Jim Shortz — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 07:31 AM)
There is an undercurrent of smugness to it that does sort of leave a bad taste
Yeah I pick that vibe up just by looking at the title, screen shot, and actors. Sort of a Kevin Smith / Casey Affleck type vibe (whom I don't like at all). -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 09:02 AM)
I found
Dazed and Confused
a "dress up" 70's film and lacked a certain charm and warmth. If it was supposed to be a homage to the era, it didn't really work that well.
Detroit Rock City - '99
does a much better job and is very funny in parts.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
I love hutch — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 09:06 AM)
I agree that D&C lacks warmth.
Maybe it's really the soundtrack that makes me think this film is entertaining after all!
You've mentioned "Detroit Rock City" before. Isn't it about some guys who want to see KISS in concert?
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!" -
ToastedCheese — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 09:13 AM)
You've mentioned "Detroit Rock City" before. Isn't it about some guys who want to see KISS in concert?
Yes, as the mother of one of them is a religious loon and burns their tickets.
It is one of my favorite comedies and that is rare thing for me being from the 90's. 1999 was however, an excellent year for films.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?