A very underrated film of the 1990's.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
jeffman52001 — 20 years ago(August 13, 2005 07:41 PM)
"Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" is what I call a true classic. Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson made this movie so great. This movie shows us that there are true Americans still around like Harley and Marlboro. They fight for what they believe in and help a good friend, no matter the cost. They both have what it takes to be a good friend. This movie should have got more respect, I never care what the critics say, this movie ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Danny_the_dog — 20 years ago(September 06, 2005 02:28 PM)
Totally agreed on that one matey. Saw this years ago and could never understand why everyone hated it. I thought it was an awesome film. And how cool is Marlboro. He's the don!!!
"Better to be dead and cool, than alive and uncool" -
Imaginary-friend — 20 years ago(September 10, 2005 01:29 PM)
i'm so surprised to have liked this film. it is so well made. everything about it from the dvd packaging to the synopsis on the back smacked of a trashy film and it was indeed trashy, but in a very self aware tongue in cheek way. it is cool by definition of the fact it just doesn't care or pretend to be anything other that what it is.
there are loads of nods to cool films like butch cassady where they jump from the roof top, the old western films dynamic of the searchin' man who can't settle down, the wanting woman he fleets, a bank job, even the S&M dusters worn by the 'bad guys' look like a perversion (and we like that in ounces) of one of the clint films where 9 or so hard asses are hired to put on the pain or something. sorry vague memory of clint films as they are so similar, like the bonds. we also have the honour of avenging dead friends etc. one they missed was if four dead friends needed avenging and then there were two, had there been one more they could of have the magnificent seven and of course that means the seven samuri.
i'm on a mickey rourke trip of late due to barfly and angel heart. having been let down getting body heat, johnny handsom and animal factory, i'm very glad to have picked this little gem up. 4.9 on the rating here. guess many thought of a different film when they watched it. like driller killer, there are many levels that the user ratings belie as the average viewer needs to be spoon fed their entertainment.
also check out the aeroplane graveyard location. maybe it's just a cool location. i think maybe the decommissioned military planes are a metaphor for the harley and marlboro men. dead relics of a bygone era, an age gone by the wayside. the planes and the men are fighters but the prime is over. the marboro man died of cancer and the hell's angels are a cliche now. like the posters of marlon brando from the wild one in the rock 'n' roll bar and the john wayne effigy. jaded greatness (well maybe not john wayne but that's contentious). as someone better than me, by miles, said: 'there can be no true beauty without decay.'
just love this flick. it isn't a film but definitely a movie and unabashedly so.
'Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel' - Samuel Johnson -
LouWorldOrder — 20 years ago(September 16, 2005 07:02 PM)
It's very nice ot see someone else enjoy this movie. I used to be the only person who liked it. I own both DVD versions, which are just different graphics "MGM Movie Time and MGM Films" thats all the difference, and I have the VHS. I remember when I was 9, my brother rented this, and I was hooked on it.
When are we getting our Special Edition? I must have it!
Chad -
Loukey — 20 years ago(November 24, 2005 03:33 PM)
Indeed awesome film, very underrated. It's very funny and very cool. No real violence, no real nudity, decent movie with a lot of humour! Don and Mickey together is like having two of '80's coolest dudes in one film!
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orangerunner — 20 years ago(November 26, 2005 10:08 PM)
I completely agree! I saw this movie as a sneak preview in August '91 and loved it right from the great opening credits sequence.
The movie is what it is, a laid-back comedy action picture with two leads that have a genuine, easy-going chemistry. This movie wasn't made to re-invent the wheel. It takes a lot of familiar action formulas and puts a slight spin on them.
A nice ode to the old Dunes hotel in the Las Vegas scene! The movie takes place in 1996 and the hotel was blown up in 1993! -
HndsmCelt — 20 years ago(January 14, 2006 03:32 PM)
Uh wow I rarely bag on films I don't like I just try to forget them but honestly HD&MM could easlily make my list of 10 worst films ever made. I am a big fan of Rourk but no amout of blood shed and Rourk could save this dog. If it had been a little worse it would have mad a good comedy (ala Plan 9) but as it it's just bad acting in mundane scritpt devoid of even good lines for comic book charaters.
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omenous21 — 18 years ago(December 26, 2007 07:31 PM)
How cool that must have been to see this as a sneak preview.
Was it a midnight showing by the way?
I remember when I was 16 or 17, I got to see the Lost Boys as a sneak preview at a midnight showing in Glendale, CAlifornia.
Man that must have been a cool treat to see the sneak preview. -
jonsannes — 18 years ago(July 02, 2007 09:05 PM)
Imaginary-friend:
For a person who can't find either shift key on your keyboard, you certainly have noticed a lot of details in this film. Thanks for your insightful comments (and sorry about teasing you for your typing skills). You put a lot of thought into your post, and made good points about film connections I never would have noticed.
I also find the low imdb rating of 5.0 for this film just as astonishing as the low rating of 4.6 for Trauma 2004/I by Marc Evans with Colin Firth. Very different films, but both brilliant and satisfying in their own ways.
Trauma made me think hard to figure out what was happening, but made me feel satisfied because I think I finally was able to understand it.
This film required little thought, but speaks volumes of truth to those of us who have lived through difficult times and difficult relationships. This film reminds me of some of my low class friends, who make mistakes (lots of them), but really are smart and true friends, especially in a pinch. Everything about this movie is wrapped tight.
I hope my brothers and sons never relate to this film quite as well as I do, but rather have simpler and happier lives. Meanwhile, I have to get back to watching this film, because every time I watch it I appreciate it more and more. -
emmePow — 19 years ago(April 19, 2006 10:45 AM)
I caught this opening day in 1991. There were about five other people in the theater. It's a fun flick that wears it's dumb heart proudly on it's sleeve, nothing wrong with that!! Mickey kicks ass in ANYTHING!! ALWAYS HAS, ALWAYS WILL!!
"Harley, you never could shoot worth a sh*t!" -
navdough — 19 years ago(May 02, 2006 12:37 PM)
Wow I'm at a loss for words. I looked at the comment section to see if ANYONE liked it. This movie was tremendously bad. I joked on the review for "Get Shorty" that it was competing for this movie as the worst movie (at least that I've seen) in the last 20 years. I think I understand why Hollywood makes so many crappy movies now. Thanks to you all for inspiring films like "Charlies Angels 2 - Full Throttle".
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mgitzel — 17 years ago(May 15, 2008 03:00 PM)
Er,
That's the beauty of this film and films like it, that you don't need to think. I don't know about you, but I think all day and when I plug in a movie, I don't necessarily want to have to think. In fact, the less thinking I am forced to do, the better to just unwind. If I want to think, I will watch something like The Pianist, or read a book. Brainless fun movies go a long way towards relaxing.
It's comments like this that irritate me. Movies are for entertaining, not thinking. -
andrew_ames247 — 19 years ago(May 10, 2006 12:54 PM)
I saw this movie for the first time 2 weekends ago. I swear i heard the Heavenly Host calling out Halleujah! This movie instantly jumped up to my top ten best movies of all time. you do not watch this film to see something world-shattering, you watch it to have a great time. Great music, great action, great laughs.
"To Lulu, who'd kill me if she knew I was doing this, but because I am, she still has a job!" -
sober_gaijin — 19 years ago(May 11, 2006 09:11 AM)
I am just so excited to see that other people like this movie. I saw it back in college, and all of my colleagues treated me like I was an idiot. Then I bought it awhile ago and watched it with my wife, and now SHE treats me like an idiot!
I guess we're all idiots! But hey, the Boston Red Sox manager called his players idiots in 2004, and we all saw what happened.