Serious Movie Discussion

[Article125]

Originally Posted by Bullitt68

I never said anything to the contrary. In fact, the multiple times we've discussed Batman in this thread, I've always said how I don't read comic books and I don't care whatsoever what any comic book storylines are.

I only care about Batman from a cinematic standpoint. As a filmmaker, whatever your source material is, you have the poetic license to do whatever you want in the interest of good cinema. I don't think Batman Begins is good cinema. I think it's very stupid and full of unintentional hilarity, and it is hurt severely by a weak characterization of Bruce Wayne/Batman and a disappointing performance by Bale as well as painfully stupid plot points. If they're true to a specific comic book or series of comic books, it makes no difference. The film Batman Begins is stupid to me.

The films Tim Burton created are miles and miles ahead of Batman Begins in every way imaginable, and while The Dark Knight lessened the gap considerably, IMO surpassing Batman while falling short of Batman Returns, when looking at Burton's two Batman films compared to Nolan's two Batman films, I think Burton's have more intriguing characterizations, chief among which is the combination of a great characterization of Bruce Wayne/Batman---which I've explained at length in this thread and don't feel the need to repeat yet again---and a great performance from Michael Keaton, and that's not saying anything about the films from a technical standpoint---which I've also explained at great length multiple times.

I did really enjoy Batman Begins, but I agree with you on doing what is necessary from a cinematic standpoint. Movies and books (comics, novels, whatever) are very different mediums. And as such they should be treated differently. Making something the exact way it appears in a book doesn't work for the most part. In fact, 300 is an example where trying for that was distracting for me. So many slow motion shots that tried to recreate comic book pages to the letter.

I agree the original movies had a better Bruce Wayne, but there is something about the filming that I dislike. I can't really put my finger on it exactly, nor put it to words. I just feel like i'm wearing horse blinders watching it if it makes sense. I can't get a good sense of the environment, because I feel so close in. That isn't a good explanation... Ok, so imagine there is a scene taking place in a barn between 2 characters. Instead of showing the barn and surroundings, it is dark with fog all around. You see a small amount of hey, and the 2 characters talking face to face. As in you want to look around and appreciate the surroundings, but you are prevented from doing so. As if you are in a dream and can't move. I still think that explanation sucks, but it's the best way I can describe it. Sorry if it sounds retarded, and I know I'm alone in this point of view. It just eats at me when I'm watching, though.

[flemmy]

Originally Posted by gogoGomi

In order on the record

Raging Bull
True Romance
Pulp Fiction
The 13th Warrior
Barfly
Braveheart
Trainspotting
Jaws
Aliens
Unforgiven
The Breakfast Club
Iron Monkey
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Snatch
Red Dawn
Conan The Barbarian
The Terminator
Midnight Run
Reservoir Dogs
The Dark Knight
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Abyss
Night of the Living Dead
The Matrix
Die Hard

ok, fixed, and awesome list.



as for sweede, my workload is pretty huge already, but i'm a really nice guy so i'll let you slide. i'm also gonna give H33ZY a chance to submit a list since he's newer blood and he'll have 100 posts in no time. But THAT'S IT. i have to lock it after that.

i'm not chasing either of you around tho, so make sure you get me the info before i finish.

[flemmy]

Originally Posted by flosh

1. Taxi Driver
2. Stalker
3. Aguirre, Wrath of God
4. A Clockwork Orange
5. City of God
6. Apocalypse Now
7. White Heat
8. Raging Bull
9. Barfly
10. Bad Lieutenant
12. Eyes Wide Shut
13. District 9
14. Fitzcarraldo
15. Grizzly Man
16. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
17. The Shining
18. The Wrestler
19. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
20. Leon
21. Godfather pt. II
22. The Bicycle Thief
23. There Will Be Blood
24. Fight Club
25. Dog Day Afternoon

whew

flosh you skipped #11 so you need to add one more movie also.

[flemmy]

i've decided also that if valkyrie and redjako dont get back to me ill count their lists, but everything will be valued at 61 (which is the lowest).

francis rossi also posted a list where he distinguished that he only has a #1, and the rest are in no particular order, so im gonna do the same thing...ill give his #1 what it deserves and the rest are going in at the lowest value.

[flemmy]

feel free to object to anything i'm doing by the way...i don't want to do anything that the 'group' disagrees with.

[Will Jacobs]

What if I disagree with your entire existance, Flemmy?

But seriously, I'm ok with the way it's being handled.

Also, I feel the need to inform you guys that I'm toying with the idea of including the recommendations from our list in my megathread I'm currently building in the plat forum.

[flemmy]

HH.

1. Heat
2. Braveheart
3. Rain Man
4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. The Shawshank Redemption
7. Mad Max 2
8. Apocalypse Now: Redux
9. Papillon
10.Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
11. Forrest Gump
12. 12 Monkeys
13. Star Wars trilogy
14. The Groundhog Day
15. The Great Escape
16. Once Upon A Time In America
17. Barry Lyndon
18. The Prestige
19. A Clockwork Orange
20. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
21. Blade Runner
22. Terminator 2
23. Godfather I & II
24. Scarface
25. The Untouchables

you're gonna have to list them as individuals...so sort that shit out and get back to me

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Originally Posted by Article125

I agree the original movies had a better Bruce Wayne, but there is something about the filming that I dislike. I can't really put my finger on it exactly, nor put it to words. I just feel like i'm wearing horse blinders watching it if it makes sense. I can't get a good sense of the environment, because I feel so close in. That isn't a good explanation... Ok, so imagine there is a scene taking place in a barn between 2 characters. Instead of showing the barn and surroundings, it is dark with fog all around. You see a small amount of hey, and the 2 characters talking face to face. As in you want to look around and appreciate the surroundings, but you are prevented from doing so. As if you are in a dream and can't move. I still think that explanation sucks, but it's the best way I can describe it. Sorry if it sounds retarded, and I know I'm alone in this point of view. It just eats at me when I'm watching, though.

I think the words you are looking for is that the movie is shot painfully obvious in a fake-looking studio back lot and therefore constricting the world around them. Is that what you meant?

[H33ZY]

Originally Posted by flemmy

ok, fixed, and awesome list.



as for sweede, my workload is pretty huge already, but i'm a really nice guy so i'll let you slide. i'm also gonna give H33ZY a chance to submit a list since he's newer blood and he'll have 100 posts in no time. But THAT'S IT. i have to lock it after that.

i'm not chasing either of you around tho, so make sure you get me the info before i finish.

that's really sweet of you flemmy, I'm honoured, even though I haven't posted here in a while. I'll be honest when I say that it may take me a while to have a list but I should be no later than this coming Wednesday.

[Francis Rossi]

Originally Posted by flemmy

i've decided also that if valkyrie and redjako dont get back to me ill count their lists, but everything will be valued at 61 (which is the lowest).

francis rossi also posted a list where he distinguished that he only has a #1, and the rest are in no particular order, so im gonna do the same thing...ill give his #1 what it deserves and the rest are going in at the lowest value.

That's partly because I'm lazy, and partly because my favourites list changes pretty much continually. I usually forget about something awesome like The French Connection or put an incredibly bad, yet entertaining film in, like Hudson Hawk.