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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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 Posted: 04.26.2005 3:33 am Post subject: |
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Obviously a landmark in terms of visual imagination--it truly does replicate the texture of a graphic novel--and yet, and yet... is there anything else here? Since there is no variation in its hysterical tone, none of the demented imagery actually makes a lasting impact. (One decapitation or castration matters; a dozen renders them all trivial.) If the movie views death as a nonchalant event, how can it reasonably ask its characters--and by extension, its audience--to bother with vengeance? Worse, does Rodriguez have anything to say about violence, sin, or vile things other than he finds them all really really cool? Tiresome, repetitive, juvenile--I was completely bored before the halfway mark.
I keep going to Rodriguez movies with a sense of hope, perhaps foolishly. I've rarely seen a more talented, enthusiastic filmmaker who can't seem to find an artistic compass or purpose. The best "Rodriguez" movie was actually directed by Tarantino--Kill Bill Volume 1 brilliantly accomplished everything Rodriguez usually sets out to do.
Eric
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Rodriguez's methods of filmmaking continually interest me, especially their economics, but I, too, have never really liked a movie out of him. I mostly agree with you about Sin City, although I was more forgiving towards its relentless violence simply because it handles it in a superior matter than most current releases. Had he turned the Mickey Rourke sketch into a short, on its own, I think I would've liked it a hell of a lot better.
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Monkeypox
Cinematographer
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
Posts: 156
Location: TX
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 5:10 am Post subject: |
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Ditto for the most part, though I viewed the Kill Bill series in much the same way as Sin City.
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| Danny Baldwin wrote: | | I was more forgiving towards its relentless violence simply because it handles it in a superior matter than most current releases. |
His violence certainly is more stylish than most, but since nothing is ever truly at stake I'm not sure I'd call it "superior." In fact, the movie's adolescent point-of-view regarding violence makes it rather inferior, I think.
Eric
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | | His violence certainly is more stylish than most, but since nothing is ever truly at stake I'm not sure I'd call it "superior." In fact, the movie's adolescent point-of-view regarding violence makes it rather inferior, I think. |
I soppose the word interesting is of better use for me to describe it; because he has so much going on, visually, instead of just shots and blood, I was kept intrigued. It's one of those rare occassions that business actually aided a movie.
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Danny Baldwin wrote: | | beltmann wrote: | | His violence certainly is more stylish than most, but since nothing is ever truly at stake I'm not sure I'd call it "superior." In fact, the movie's adolescent point-of-view regarding violence makes it rather inferior, I think. |
I soppose the word interesting is of better use for me to describe it; because he has so much going on, visually, instead of just shots and blood, I was kept intrigued. It's one of those rare occassions that business actually aided a movie. |
I know what you mean, and I even felt the same way for about the first thirty minutes. Beyond that, though, I just found it wearying.
I guess I just don't find hookers, pedophiles, and gougings to be as nifty as Rodriguez does. Sin City is the greatest movie ever made for eighth-graders.
Eric
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Jim Harper
Director
Joined: 29 Feb 2004
Posts: 226
Location: Totnes, Devon, UK
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | | I keep going to Rodriguez movies with a sense of hope, perhaps foolishly. I've rarely seen a more talented, enthusiastic filmmaker who can't seem to find an artistic compass or purpose. The best "Rodriguez" movie was actually directed by Tarantino--Kill Bill Volume 1 brilliantly accomplished everything Rodriguez usually sets out to do. |
I may be in the minority, but I've always felt that Rodriguez' best movies are the ones he didn't write: From Dusk Till Dawn and The Faculty. His others (with the exception of the Spy Kids crap) are often entertaining but generally lacking in some area. |
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | I know what you mean, and I even felt the same way for about the first thirty minutes. Beyond that, though, I just found it wearying.
I guess I just don't find hookers, pedophiles, and gougings to be as nifty as Rodriguez does. Sin City is the greatest movie ever made for eighth-graders. |
Very true. And I don't think that the first thirty minutes are the best just because they're new; it's that the Mickey Rourke character is the only one that really matches the vibrancy of the way in which the movie is made.
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Danny Baldwin
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Jim Harper wrote: | | (with the exception of the Spy Kids crap) are often entertaining but generally lacking in some area. |
In my opinion, the first two Spy Kids are his best movies.
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Danny Baldwin
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 04.26.2005 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Danny Baldwin wrote: | | And I don't think that the first thirty minutes are the best just because they're new; it's that the Mickey Rourke character is the only one that really matches the vibrancy of the way in which the movie is made. |
I also found Rourke's story the most interesting, perhaps because of his strangely consistent devotion to his own brand of justice. (His narration is probably the most engrossing.) I actually preferred the Bruce Willis character, but by the time that story's second half rolled around I had had enough--plus, that story quickly devolves into pretty ugly stuff.
Maybe I missed something and you guys can help out, but I have a logistical question: After Willis got out of jail, how did he find Alba's apartment? If no one else could find her, and if she never left any clues in her letters, how did he know where she lived?
Eric
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.27.2005 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: |
Maybe I missed something and you guys can help out, but I have a logistical question: After Willis got out of jail, how did he find Alba's apartment? If no one else could find her, and if she never left any clues in her letters, how did he know where she lived? |
I think there was some explanation, but it's been three weeks since I saw it, and I can't think of it.
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matt header
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 623
Location: Milwaukee, WI
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| Posted: 04.27.2005 12:30 am Post subject: |
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I was wondering that too when I saw the film. I suppose the easiest answer is: because he's Bruce Willis.
To weigh in on the film, I agree mostly with what you guys said. I really don't have anything else to add. Juvenile but visually astounding. Mickey Rourke is the best. Clive Owen is boring. Jessica Alba is a good-looking lady. That's all I have to say.
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.27.2005 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| matt header wrote: | | Mickey Rourke is the best. Clive Owen is boring. Jessica Alba is a good-looking lady. That's all I have to say. |
Amen.
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Danny Baldwin
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xAndyx
Director
Joined: 28 Sep 2004
Posts: 207
Location: Platteville, WI
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| Posted: 04.27.2005 2:55 am Post subject: |
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| Danny Baldwin wrote: | | matt header wrote: | | Mickey Rourke is the best. Clive Owen is boring. Jessica Alba is a good-looking lady. That's all I have to say. |
Amen. |
I actually enjoyed Clive Owen's character. I really enjoyed ALL the characters, they are just overdone like all of you said.
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 04.27.2005 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| xAndyx wrote: | | I actually enjoyed Clive Owen's character. I really enjoyed ALL the characters, they are just overdone like all of you said. |
The Clive Owen piece was, by far, the least interesting to me. It exemplifies the idea of a lot of sex and blood without wit. And I'm still a little shaky on Owen, as an actor, to be honest.
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