tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post2548088430018948005..comments2024-03-22T11:55:50.335+13:00Comments on Not PC: Plot, character and great drama, all in less than an hour-and-a-half (updated)Peter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-33277333557180083322008-01-24T19:24:00.000+13:002008-01-24T19:24:00.000+13:00Ah, that's why the vrerification didn't work the f...Ah, that's why the vrerification didn't work the first time. I'm not as good with the computers as my grandfather was lead to believe.Clunking Fisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020166717482531977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-40651579064827299642008-01-24T19:23:00.000+13:002008-01-24T19:23:00.000+13:00kihidlkpI like "Snatch". Have you guys seen that? ...kihidlkpI like "Snatch". Have you guys seen that? I have watched it about 8 times. I would have watched it more, but it's a region 1 disk and my DVD seems to have gone all regional 4 on me.<BR/><BR/>It has Brad Pitt in it, just like Mr & Mrs Smith. Although Snatch has no, err, actual snatch in it, the quality of the swearing is far superior to the Smiths.Clunking Fisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020166717482531977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-71811422191494352152008-01-23T13:00:00.000+13:002008-01-23T13:00:00.000+13:00I'm a bit leery of appealing to Aristotle, not lea...I'm a bit leery of appealing to Aristotle, not least because you don't seem to need to.<BR/><BR/>And looking at the definitions I don't think Aristotle meant by his elements what we understand by the translations. I really think the greatest of noir classics would be all screwed up as far as the Most Famous Greek Philosopher would be concerned.<BR/><BR/>Its not like a (prototype) academic writing after the fact about classical tragedy is necessarily going to help with modern drama. For instance, if someone actually <I>stuck to</I> the unities, that would be news.<BR/><BR/>That said I'm entirely in favour of a good story well told; the List you have there actually seems kind of useful.Lyndonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05622953598107216261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-18216741172232019902008-01-23T06:43:00.000+13:002008-01-23T06:43:00.000+13:00Meh... putting Aristotle aside, 'The Black Dahlia'...Meh... putting Aristotle aside, 'The Black Dahlia' is a masterclass in how not to adapt a novel for the screen.<BR/><BR/>I'm a huge fan of James Ellroy - but what I love about his work is <I>literary</I> not <I>cinematic</I>: the distinctive 'voice' of his prose, the plots that sprawl over years and where a double cross is far too simple, and great chunks of internal monologue. <BR/><BR/>Compare and contrast 'LA Confidential' (1997 - dir. Curtis Hanson, scr. Hanson & Brian Helgland) who did it right. As Hanson put it himself, a literal transcription of Ellroy's novel would have been several hundred hours long, literally required a cast of thousands and been utterly incomprehensible. 'LA Confidential' isn't a flawless film, but at least it does work as a film. 'The Black Dahlia' is just a mess.Craig Ranapiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923246310584658857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-44794249437925234712008-01-22T23:28:00.000+13:002008-01-22T23:28:00.000+13:00Didn't Socrates top himself after just 5 minutes w...Didn't Socrates top himself after just 5 minutes with Aristotle?<BR/><BR/>I think it all stemmed from a visit to the Oracle at Delphi. Socrates asked which would be the better movie: Mr and Mrs Smith or some low budget "kill the emperor" with plot twists about as convoluted as a slide rule set on Pythagoras's theorem.<BR/><BR/>He said "Mr and Mrs Smith" and Aristotle reasoned that because he hadn't seen it, it didn't exist and therefore he'd go with the low budget flick.<BR/><BR/>The Oracle confirmed that Socrates was wisest for acknowledging that a film he'd never seen was better than the crap offered up by the Athenian Playwright Association (of which Aristotle was a junior member), and the next thing you know it's a cup of hemlock and Goodbye Pork Pie.<BR/><BR/>Mr and Mrs Smith.ZenTigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07888629207437612884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-33083365363867897992008-01-22T23:27:00.000+13:002008-01-22T23:27:00.000+13:00Finally, my view of this blog has gone up a notch,...Finally, my view of this blog has gone up a notch, with the stunning and lucid comment from Falafulu Fisi.<BR/><BR/>Fala, I'm thinking you have too much taste for this blog.<BR/><BR/>Fa'a, Fala.Insolent Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-67449051627327271222008-01-22T22:19:00.000+13:002008-01-22T22:19:00.000+13:00I loved the film Mr and Mrs Smith, the explosions,...I loved the film <I>Mr and Mrs Smith</I>, the explosions, the shootings, modern gadgets & electronic devices designed using modern state-of-the-art Physics. I have seen this movie 3 times, an excellent one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-30775296088646812012008-01-22T21:36:00.000+13:002008-01-22T21:36:00.000+13:00I've heard of that brandy guy Napolean, but I don'...I've heard of that brandy guy Napolean, but I don't know about Jefferson. Was he the bourbon guy? Anyway I don't see how a bunch of old boozers having a meeting with a stupid old greek fart has anything to do with films.<BR/><BR/>I think most people would agree that Peter's talking out of his arse when he says that Mr and Mrs Smith wasn't the greatest film ever made.Insolent Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-42908368556425993542008-01-22T16:20:00.000+13:002008-01-22T16:20:00.000+13:00Yes, he died 200 years ago...I remember reading ab...Yes, he died 200 years ago...I remember reading about how Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon used to have late night discussions with Aristotle in the early 1800s.<BR/><BR/>This was at a time when Aristotle was recovering from wounds he received fighting in the US War of Independence.<BR/><BR/>By pointing this out Insolent has added even further to my view of his credibility....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-6886849135850013062008-01-22T16:07:00.000+13:002008-01-22T16:07:00.000+13:00PC,You've just destroyed any reputation you had to...PC,<BR/><BR/>You've just destroyed any reputation you had to having any good taste.<BR/><BR/>Mr and Mrs Smith is the perfect film. It has car chases, sex scenes, shootings, explosions, fast and profound dialogue, guys yelling at their mothers, domestic violence, suspense, beamers getting shot to pieces, and Angeline's tits.<BR/><BR/>Fuck that Aristobabble dude. If he'd seen Mr and Mrs Smith he would have rewritten his formula. But he didn't see it. Why? Because he's DEAD! He died at least two hundred years ago. Why you keep quoting him when he's so irrelevant now astonishes me.Insolent Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-1807477878129035362008-01-22T15:44:00.000+13:002008-01-22T15:44:00.000+13:00IP: YOU mean yo know people who don't take me seri...IP: YOU mean yo know people who don't take me seriously! I'm appalled. You must find better friends.<BR/><BR/><I>"All this pontificating, snooty analysis makes you look like Russell Brown's skinnier twin."</I><BR/><BR/>Phew! Saved by a kilo or two.<BR/><BR/>BTW, 'Mr and Mrs Smith' really <I>is</I> a shit film. ;^)<BR/><BR/>ELIJAH: I found knowing the history neither helped nor hindered watching it, but the natural comparison to make was with 'Third Man' -- Nazi city in rubble; post war occupation; new guy in town; femme fatale; film noir -- and on that basis 'Good German' is a certified stinker. <BR/><BR/>CRAIG: Stay tuned, eh. :-)Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-49107063356037121742008-01-22T14:49:00.000+13:002008-01-22T14:49:00.000+13:00Aristotle as applied to a George Clooney film, bey...Aristotle as applied to a George Clooney film, beyond classic.<BR/>What's next Rand on Boney M?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-16311118487601736172008-01-22T13:29:00.000+13:002008-01-22T13:29:00.000+13:00I think it is you without any credibility, Insolen...I think it is <I>you</I> without any credibility, Insolent.<BR/><BR/>Funnily enough, I took several staff and friends to the Good German last year.<BR/><BR/>I loved it due to knowing a lot of the background to the Potsdam events, and having read rather widely some of the things going on.<BR/><BR/>Everyone else was bored to tears and glad when it finished! LOL!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-60601521018151313012008-01-22T13:02:00.000+13:002008-01-22T13:02:00.000+13:00This is why people don't take you seriously, PC. ...This is why people don't take you seriously, PC. All this pontificating, snooty analysis makes you look like Russell Brown's skinnier twin. Next you'll be heralding Aunty Helen's contribution to the Arts.<BR/><BR/>Just summarise the bloody thing. Good German and Black Dahlia crap film, Spooks great show.<BR/><BR/>By applying the high-falutin' analysis some old Greek wanker left for you, you would conclude that Mr and Mrs Smith is a shit film. When in fact, as we all know, it's the greatest film ever made.Insolent Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.com