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Post by Mary on May 16, 2004 15:05:55 GMT -5
I think my favorite aspect was that Jake interpreted his evidence right, but still didn't really know the whole picture; there's your perfectly laid out complication of a plot, which makes it classical noir.
Not just classic noir, but shit, it also gives it the structure of classical tragedy. (i.e., Greek) The thing about classical tragedy - it didn't just mean something that was both epic and really sad or depressing. The modern meaning of tragedy has lost the original Greek meaning, which was quite specific - a classical tragedy was a story in which the protagonist is caught unwittingly in a series of events he can't quite understand which are spiralling inevitably towards a tragic resolution. There is no choice the hero can make that won't eventually result in dire consequence. What's "tragic" about Greek tragedy is the fatalism combined with a bleakly ironic view of human free will. And Chinatown perfectly fits this classically tragic mold, which is part of why the movie seems so unusually literate. OK you're totally right weeping, I was dying to let loose with all that for ages....  But there's absolutely no reason why any of it should make anyone feel inadequate - in fact, you've just given me another reason to watch the movie yet again - I never noticed that the movie becomes increasingly dark as Jake seems to learn more and more about what's really going on. Yet another brilliant touch, and now I've gotta pop it in the DVD player as soon as possible!!! Cheers, M
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Post by Weeping_Guitar on May 16, 2004 15:13:35 GMT -5
Me thinks Chinatown is going in my player after this basketball game as well.
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Post by luke on May 16, 2004 15:40:57 GMT -5
I'm with Ken. You can't touch Batman. When Jack shoots up Palance? One of the greatest scenes in all of cinema.
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Post by Ampage on May 16, 2004 18:46:04 GMT -5
Never bought him as Batman. Being a HUGE fan of the TV show, I needed someone who carried themselves with a bit more gusto, and a stronger face, or at least stonger mouth. Keatons lips are very fey Tina!  |
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Post by PC on May 16, 2004 18:51:13 GMT -5
Hello everyone...it's great to have the boards back, albeit in a slightly different form on a different website.
Anyway, I kind of want to see Troy too, mainly because of the hot actors involved. If I get my movie theater usher job back this week, I can see it for free. ;D
~PunkChick
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Post by Weeping_Guitar on May 16, 2004 21:01:36 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]spoilders below[/glow]
Well, I certainly can say a second and more concentrated viewing of Chinatown does certify it as pretty much deserving of it's status. One thing that I know I missed the first time watching it was the part of the bedroom discussion where he mentions the gal he tried to help in Chinatown, which is the second piece of essential info along with the "as little as possible" line, which I caught the first time.
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Post by strat-0 on May 16, 2004 21:40:53 GMT -5
...Salt watah! Bad for glass. Veli bad for glass!
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Post by Thorngrub on May 17, 2004 15:24:44 GMT -5
 Hey every1 At last we get our temporary fix. Nice review of TROY, weeping. I saw it Friday and (big surprise) it blew me away. I really liked the acting and character development, and I agree Eric Bana saved the day in his sympathetic portrayal of Hector, Prince of Troy. In fact, he was so good I found myself eminently rooting for him throughout -- he had more personal honor than Achilles, who paid allegiance to none. Brad Pitt was perfectly cast as the self-centered, arrogant warrior hero. Peter O'toole was his usual marvelous self as Priam. It was great seeing Boromir (Sean Bean) in the role of Odysseus. Orlando Bloom as Paris was another piece of good casting. Brian Cox did overplay the role of King Agammenon, but I thought he did that rat bastard justice, in so doing. And what amazing cinematography and fight sequences - the 1 on 1 sword battles in particular. This movie had the ring of 'epic' through and through -- yeah I'd see it again in a heartbeat.  Nice to see familiar faces around here.
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Post by Thorngrub on May 17, 2004 15:31:06 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]"anyone seen the preview for the new Jet Li movie, looks pretty grand. I'm looking forward to seeing it. the cinematography looks really well done." - Meursault [/glow]
Yes, I saw the preview for [shadow=red,left,300]HERO[/shadow] and I thought it looked absolutely terrific! Jet Li is the 21st Century Bruce Lee in my humble opinion, and I can guarantee he will deliver the goods in this one.
It is the first of "Quentin Tarantino Presents" movies imported from Asia. Man that is going to kick so much ass.
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MrGordon
Struggling Artist
Ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?
Posts: 106
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Post by MrGordon on May 17, 2004 16:57:44 GMT -5
I have to agree. Hero looks amazing.
I have got to see Troy.
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Post by Weeping_Guitar on May 17, 2004 21:17:19 GMT -5
In the because I can department I blind bought the Godfather box set today for a nice $55. I figure I can't go wrong here right?
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Post by luke on May 17, 2004 21:19:25 GMT -5
No, you can't. Only 55 bucks? That's a pretty good deal.
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MrGordon
Struggling Artist
Ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?
Posts: 106
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Post by MrGordon on May 17, 2004 22:13:45 GMT -5
Weep, its the best box set out there. In fact, i have to say that Part 2 is the finest film ever made.
Although i interchange that claim with part 1 every once in a while. Both films are timeless treasures.
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MrGordon
Struggling Artist
Ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really unevolved?
Posts: 106
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Post by MrGordon on May 17, 2004 22:14:45 GMT -5
WHen i bought the dvd set a couple years ago, i payed 85 bucks for it.
55 bucks is a steal.
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Post by Mary on May 18, 2004 3:58:51 GMT -5
Just reposting this from the RS Project board, cause it belongs here much better, and it's such an apt testimonial to the limitless depths of my film geekishness  So here's my favorite films, year by year, beginning with 1941.... 1941: The Maltese Falcon 1942: Casablanca 1943: I Walked With a Zombie 1944: Double Indemnity 1945: Spellbound 1946: Gilda 1947: Out of the Past 1948: ?? 1949: The Third Man 1950: Sunset Boulevard 1951: Strangers on a Train 1952: High Noon 1953: ?? 1954: Rear Window 1955: Night of the Hunter 1956: The Searchers 1957: The Seventh Seal 1958: Vertigo 1959: Some Like It Hot 1960: Psycho 1961: ?? 1962: The Manchurian Candidate 1963: The Birds 1964: Dr. Strangelove 1965: The Battle of Algiers 1966: ?? 1967: Bonnie and Clyde 1968: Rosemary's Baby 1969: Midnight Cowboy 1970: A Clockwork Orange 1971: The Last Picture Show 1972: The Godfather 1973: The Exorcist 1974: Chinatown 1975: Dog Day Afternoon 1976: Network 1977: Annie Hall 1978: Days of Heaven 1979: Apocalypse Now 1980: The Shining 1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark 1982: Blade Runner 1983: The Killing Fields 1984: Blood Simple 1985: Brazil 1986: Blue Velvet 1987: Wings of Desire 1988: Die Hard 1989: Heathers 1990: Edward Scissorhands 1991: Thelma and Louise 1992: Reservoir Dogs 1993: Schindler's List 1994: Pulp Fiction 1995: 12 Monkeys 1996: Welcome to the Dollhouse 1997: The Ice Storm 1998: The Big Lebowski 1999: Boys Don't Cry 2000: Almost Famous 2001: Mulholland Drive 2002: Y Tu Mama Tambien 2003: LOTR 3: Return of the King I started to get kinda tired at the end, I admit, so I might have fucked some stuff up. Not exactly sure when Donnie Darko, Being John Malkovich, or City of God came out, and those all potentially could unseat some of the more recent movies up there... too tired to think about it right now, though! Cheers, M |
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But there's absolutely no reason why any of it should make anyone feel inadequate - in fact, you've just given me another reason to watch the movie yet again - I never noticed that the movie becomes increasingly dark as Jake seems to learn more and more about what's really going on. Yet another brilliant touch, and now I've gotta pop it in the DVD player as soon as possible!!!
Hey every1 
Nice to see familiar faces around here. 
