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rubysue
Skeptic Friend
USA
199 Posts |
 Posted - 07/05/2001 : 18:26:30 [Permalink]
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The ending (or last third) is where the most controversial differences of opinion about this movie reside, if you go read the posts at Dreamworks, etc. I thought the ending was excellent and appropriate to a movie directed by Spielberg. It left me (and my hubby) with a strange bittersweet sad feeling that lingered. Before that part of the movie, I felt oddly detached from David's circumstances. Of course, I've been accused of being overly emotional and easily amused (I actually love Disneyland and baby animals), so perhaps I'm not the best judge of the material. I think an earlier ending would have been rather strange and more Kubrickian, but the late Stanley always wanted Spielberg to do this movie and it can be described, overall, as a "Spielberger". (By the way, this will probably get me branded as totally tasteless and hopelessly stupid, but I have usually thoroughly enjoyed every movie I've ever seen that was directed by Spielberg and I know that I'll get some value for my cinema dollar).
rubysue
If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.
Edited by - rubysue on 07/05/2001 18:26:52 |
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rubysue
Skeptic Friend
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2001 : 22:36:13 [Permalink]
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My hubby and I were talking about this at dinner tonight (over a large NY style cheese pizza that we DID NOT need, and, of course, accompanied with the jumbo-sized adult beverages) and we admitted that the reason we like Spielberg is that he brings a basic humanity and hope to a large variety of subjects with his style of filmmaking. (Yes, I know, we're hopelessly lost to rampant and gushing sentimentality, which is such a horrible thing in this day and age, when everyone should be bitingly witty and cold and incapable of caring, ala the characters on "Seinfeld" or "South Park"). So, here's my tribute to "the king of cloying", Steven Spielberg (and, before you can ask, yes, I also love "The Sound of Music", so you might as well write me off as a lost cause and old fogie right now).
The Spielberg files:
1) "Jaws" - Took a really crappy book with a stupid subplot (Brodie's wife gets it on with Hoople, the oceanographic student) and erases that unnecessary tension by making the protagonists learn to admire and/or actually like each other when faced with extreme danger (and Sheriff Brodie and his wife truly love each other in the movie, giving the Brodie character a real reason to survive; Hoople is also endearing and humorous rather than a total jerk, so he is also allowed to "rise to the surface" at the end).
2) "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (still one of my favorite movies; it is astonishing in the DVD version that just came out): Roy Neary is the "Everyman", caught up in something he doesn't understand but is compelled to pursue, unfortunately at the expense of his family (who can't or won't understand). The visitors want these average, HUMAN people to be their guests on an amazing adventure, not the overly trained scientists and engineers. As an "average" person, I could certainly envy Roy on his quest.
3) The Indiana Jones series - Possibly the best action trilogy ever made (with the possible exception of Star Wars), although Spielberg almost lost his humanity in "Temple of Doom" because he was catering to the critics. "The Last Crusade" is the best of the three and is such marvelous filmmaking because we really do care about the characters in a movie that has non-stop action.
4) "E.T." - Before you go chunder your supper over this one, think about this movie a little bit. It is the ultimate "kill the puppy but revive him at the last second" story, but the fine acting of Henry Thomas and the sympathetic supporting characters (including the government scientists) allow the basic kindness and simplicity of the title character to emerge (and I don't think those attributes are all that bad, because the children in this movie reflect those values rather than hate or indifference).
5) "Schindler's List" - An absolutely fine movie about the horror of the Holocaust, done with an unblinking eye gazing on the atrocities, yet filled with hope and courage. Spielberg could have chosen complete darkness and doom in his first personal film, but instead he examines the life of a selfish man who looked death and horror in the face and became instantly selfless.
6) "Saving Private Ryan" - a complete classic, IMHO. Probably one of the greatest war movies ever made because it never loses sight of the basic humanity of the simple soldier caught up in the horror. I've watched this movie several times and am no less moved by it after multiple viewings. As I stated in an earlier post, we actually changed travel plans slightly because of this movie when we did a trip to Europe in 1998 so that we would visit Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery.
7) "A. I" - Ok, now you see where I'm going with this, for those who have seen this latest Spielberger and why I like the last part of the movie best (no spoilers here, by the way).
I also got a kick out of the Jurassic Park movies, by the way, but they were obviously made to make money for "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan".
A final summary: I like hard-boiled, nasty movies, books and TV as much as anyone else (or cold, calculated stories that dismiss the emotions as a waste of time), but I generally prefer to subscribe to an optimistic and humanistic outlook and am much more satisfied with escapist entertainment that reflects these values. With the values I've seen reflected in some of the visitors' posts on this board, this outlook apparently wouldn't jive with a completely skeptical approach to things (as defined by someone else), but contradiction is the "soul" of intrigue and is one of those attributes that makes humans so interesting.
Comments? Or is this utter nonsense?
rubysue
If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.
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Boron10
Religion Moderator
USA
1266 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2001 : 08:55:06 [Permalink]
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quote:
I also love "The Sound of Music", so you might as well write me off as a lost cause and old fogie right now.
Hey! I like The Sound of Music, too! What's wrong with that?
-Timmy! |
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2001 : 11:07:31 [Permalink]
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quote:
I generally prefer to subscribe to an optimistic and humanistic outlook and am much more satisfied with escapist entertainment that reflects these values.
This brought to mind a letter I read once in Rolling Stone. It was commenting on an article about rap music lyrics.
The author of the letter was criticizing the disgusting nonsense that for some reason has enamored our youth today, and was being justified by claiming that they were just "telling it like it is". The writer responded by saying, "anyone can write about how things are, but it takes real courage to write about how things should be".
So don't feel guilty or self-conscious for preferring optimistic fiction in today's gloomy, "real world" style entertainment atmosphere. They all have there place, but optimism and hope should never be criticized.
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Ma gavte la nata! |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2001 : 11:22:13 [Permalink]
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I think my biggest objection with the end of this movie was that, for all intents and purposes, since a happy ending was not possible via reality magic had to be introduced. It might just as well have been Jesus floating down and making everything right.
There is also the fact that apart from that one touching scene humans were the bad guys in that entire movie. The main character was a result of basic human selfishness and an unwillingness to face reality. I just didn't find the end to be that uplifting. Throw rocks at me if you want, but I left feeling it was phony.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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rubysue
Skeptic Friend
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2001 : 16:40:45 [Permalink]
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Thanks for the responses. Here's some in return.
quote:
I think my biggest objection with the end of this movie was that, for all intents and purposes, since a happy ending was not possible via reality magic had to be introduced. It might just as well have been Jesus floating down and making everything right.
Atomic, you have a valid point, but I really didn't look at the events as requiring "magic", but rather that they reflected the technological capabilities of the aliens and/or advanced mechas (take your pick as to which you think they are; both theories are interesting).
I also didn't find the ending to be uplifting, but I did feel it was deeply satisfying in a strange, sad way and served to allow the "human" Spielbergian aura to permeate the final story.
*****SPOILERS AHEAD! SPOILERS AHEAD!****** IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN "A.I.", YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING AT THIS POINT.
There is really nothing uplifting in a storyline that has the human race becoming extinct during the 2000 years after David descends into the ocean to plead with the Blue Fairy. He does get his "perfect day", which goes by so quickly, but then he enters his dreamtime at the end (e.g., mecha death?) knowing that he can't rouse Monica or have any more contact with her. I did not consider this to be a very happy ending, to be honest with you, but I did find it to be far more emotionally satisfying than ending the movie with him pleading to the Blue Fairy or even at the point where he jumps off his creator's building into the ocean.
quote:
Hey! I like The Sound of Music, too! What's wrong with that?
Yay! Someone else who enjoys this classic! We watch it about four times a year. The DVD version is awesome - there's even an exceptionally cheesy and unintentionally hilarious documentary that was made when the movie was being filmed about the exciting adventures of Charmian Carr (Lisl) as she spent time in Salzburg before and after the location filming; the present-day Charmian talks about this film in a very wry and witty introduction that's worth the price of the complete 2-disk set. We've been to Salzburg a couple of times (lovely city) and actually re-enacted the Mirabell gardens step scene from "Do-Re-Mi" in the pouring rain while a bunch of Japanese tourists looked on in confusion.
quote:
The writer responded by saying, "anyone can write about how things are, but it takes real courage to write about how things should be".
Good quote! I think that there is entirely too much "angst-sharing" and brutish, insensitive behavior that masquerades as "honesty" in our world.
rubysue
If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2001 : 22:47:26 [Permalink]
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quote:
I think my biggest objection with the end of this movie was that, for all intents and purposes, since a happy ending was not possible via reality magic had to be introduced. It might just as well have been Jesus floating down and making everything right.
There is also the fact that apart from that one touching scene humans were the bad guys in that entire movie. The main character was a result of basic human selfishness and an unwillingness to face reality. I just didn't find the end to be that uplifting. Throw rocks at me if you want, but I left feeling it was phony.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law!
@, I still haven't seen it and don't exactly know what you are talking about but if it makes you feel any better, Skylar didn't like the last part of the movie either. He didn't go into details with me but I have a reason to believe you two have the same thoughts about it. I'll shield you from rocks, bring 'em on.
"It's all hype, until you prove it"
T. |
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ljbrs
SFN Regular
USA
842 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2001 : 08:12:04 [Permalink]
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My all-time favorite movie was *A Clockwork Orange*! I laughed so hard it hurt for days.
ljbrs
Perfection Is a State of Growth... |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2001 : 02:49:32 [Permalink]
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quote:
My all-time favorite movie was *A Clockwork Orange*! I laughed so hard it hurt for days.
ljbrs
Perfection Is a State of Growth...
I know I saw it but can't remember any of it other then a scene where the guy was made to keep his eyes open, why I don't know.
I never understood 2001 either. Have tried to watch it a couple of times again but it's boring.
'Soylent Green' and 'Westworld' are better Sci-fi movies for that era.
Heck, 'Planet of the Apes' was better then 2001.
BTW, this moring on a talk radio show they were talking about the movie 'Artifical Intelligence'. Must be something very controversial! I think I would like to see it now just to make sure my opinion is right, that it's not all that great, ha ha. Sounds like a very sappy tear jerker. They didn't want to give away the ending but from what I got, the robot was going to go back to the junk yard and there was some problem with that. I say send it back, it's only a machine.
Talk to you later after I see it. (maybe in a few weeks or a month or so)
"It's all hype, until you prove it"
T. |
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