Three Kings

[John Siljke]

Why is it that I watched this film yesterday and quite enjoyed it while it was on, but ten minutes later I couldn't really give a damn? I mean I certainly wouldn't buy it, know what I mean? Is it a trait of many Hollywood films? Someone give me an answer!

[Matt J Heaton]

I haven't seen it but I know what you're saying.

Lots of Hollywood films stay with me after they've finished.

Private Ryan and Schindlers List Haunted me for a while, in fact every film I mentioned in the fave film section stayed with me and are often in my thoughts.

[Matt J Heaton]

I still stand by what I said. OK the majority of Hollywood films are shallow but many are not.

Fight Club and American Beauty are hardly shallow and feature in many peoples best film list.
Most, if not all of the films I mentioned as faves are hollywood and are all fantastic and very influential. As well as not being shallow.


SPR was a US film and so concentrated on Americas involvement in the American sector.
I'm not too sure but didn't the allies storm the beaches seporately?

U-571 changes history but so what, it is the story that counts and I've heard good things about that film.

No, I'm sorry but hollywood films are great.
Almost everyone I speak to lists hollywood films as their favourites.

[WUXflooble]

They would.
Only the big films get enough media coverage
and hype for Joe Bloggs to be arsed to see
them and claim them as "fave" flics.

"Delacatessen" is an excellent film, but you
couldn't see it down your local multiplex-
the fact that its French is also off putting
to Joe Bloggs, because effort has to be
made to read the subtitles.
Moreover the themes of the film are unlikely
to capture the same audience as a Hollywood
film with big advertising.
WOT! NO ACTION? NO SFX? Were's the CGI?
Joe Bloggs likes Holywood because it's big
overblown, easy to understand, happy go
lucky with cheesy morals, and the "good
guys always win". Joe can sleep at night
knowing that TRUTH- JUSTICE- AND THE
AMERICAN WAY are safe in Hollywoods hands.

It's strange how you've sighted Schindlers
List and SPR- because of late they are the
most un-Holywood Holywood films I've seen.
Empire of the Sun was good, you forgot that.
I have a feeling if they didn't have
Speilbergs clout behind them, both would
have flopped.


[This message has been edited by WUXflooble (edited June 05, 2000).]

[WUXflooble]

Ha Ha!

I think you've misunderstood, Matt J!
John Silijke is actually talking about
the complete opposite of what you are.
I.e. Hollywood films have become so
shallow and throw away(In the main) that
he just doesn't give a fuck anymore.
Having said this the Films that you have
noted are exceptions. Although I deeply
resent the American flag at the begining
and end of SPR, and found that it soured
the film for me. Contrary to popular belief
the US did not win WWII single handedly-
and certainly were not the only people to die
horribly on D-day.
As for that U-boat film... AAAHHHHHHHH!

[Matt J Heaton]

What about the other films I mentioned?

Empire Of The Sun was a great film, I always watch that when it's on TV.

I just think of the majority of hollywood films as throw away entertainment, there are exceptions though and these happen to be my favourite films. I like any film that is good, its as simple as that, but anyone who says that hollywood can't be deep is lying.


I saw a great miramax film the other day with Harvey Keitel. It was called Smoke.

[citizenkane25]

Chill out guys! I see both points of view. But Hollywood's where my money is at. Always has been and always will. It's all about how much money a person has to make a movie. There for if one of those artsy flicks had an explosion for some weird ass reason written in the script, and they had the bucks to do it I'm damned sure they would go ahead and do it just to add some production value even if it had nothing to do with the story. Just like a Hollywood flik would.

------------------
citizenkane25

[WUXflooble]

Well ponited out,

At the end of the day you either want to
make films or you want to make money.
Few people have done both.
Terry Gilliam seems to have an aptitude for
this kind of film making.
He's been able to make the big studios coff
up, and do his arty films-
and occasionaly one is a hit(12 Monkeys).
That said, I do like all the mans films
so I'll go and see'em even if the critics
do slag them to pieces and no one else wants
to go.

PS- When watching Fear and Loathing-
make sure you have a big spliff to pass
around and a healthy supply of alcohol!

[This message has been edited by WUXflooble (edited June 06, 2000).]

[shirt]

This is a reply to the bloke who resented the American flag at both the beginning and end of Saving Private Ryan.
First off... I am Canadian. I agree that Americans more often then not tend to Glorify and Americanize every little war, or historic moment that has every occured on this planet... but SPR is reality.

The Omaha landing (%90 Americans) was by far the most heavily defended, most suicidal beach that was attacked on D-Day. SPR depicts what happened perfectly. In fact, compared to Omaha, many of the beaches the British, Canadians, Irish, etc. had to attack were Cakewalks.

Before anyone critizes a film, research the facts. One of the true beauties of SPR is that it depicts what happened on D-Day extremely accuratly, without Americanizing it. Unfortunatly, the film in whole does have a few flaws, ie. While the group is touring France in search of Mr. Ryan, I am fairly positive they never meet a non-American allie.

As for U-571. What a load of shit. Rent Das Boot. 500000000000 billion more times real. Long, silent... realistic and not Americanized.... well Germanized, but at least not Americanized!

[Matt J Heaton]

Saving Private Ryan sure stayed in my mind, possibly more than any other film ever. Except perhaps Schindlers list.

Kellys Heros was more of a fun film.