The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.0
Sphere (1998) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.3
Last Action Hero (1993) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.4
I give all three a solid 9 for being non-banal and highly entertaining/interesting. Great films, but watch without prejudice.
I cross-posted this thread to each of these films boards.
Prog.
Have you read the book? that's why people give this movies low rates. Tou can't take a book like this one and make a movie like this one... As for Sphere I haven't seen it. But the book is not good at all (Michael Crichton if I'm not wrong), so there must be another explanation as well
share> Have you read the book?
No, which is why I was capable of enjoying the film. Had I read the book and expected the film to follow it closely, I would have certainly been disappointed.
> that's why people give this movies low rates.
I agree, but luckily, I only saw the film and could judge it by its own merits.
> You can't take a book like this one and make a movie like this one...
Apparently, De Palma could and did. In this case, the book was probably only a source for inspiration, many plot-lines and way too much marketing. The end result is a new creation, a film that stands by its own. Too bad they named it "The Bonfire of the Vanities" and lead everyone to believe they were actually going to see an adaptation of Tom Wolfe's novel.
> As for Sphere I haven't seen it.
Well, then you should. It's a great film with a brilliant ending. I have no idea how close was it to the original book though, not that I really have any reason to care - I don't tout myself as someone who has read or who is familiar with Michael Crichton's Sphere, just as someone who was lucky enough to see a film by that name, and a very good one no less.
Prog.
I hate it when people say "Read the book" in order to enjoy or not enjoy the film.
The book is a book and the movie, while based upon the book, is its own work.
I for one didn't care for the film, but it was better than most of DePalma's films.
Mainly I think the film exists as a visual companion piece for "The Devil's Candy"
But maybe that's just me
www.firsttimecaller.com
plus, sphere sucked as a movie and a book
shareExactly right boyinthedrain. I loved the book and enjoy the movie. Different animals entirely.
"The audience doesn't know someone sits down and writes a picture. They think the actors make it up as they go along." Joe Gillis
Brutal movie. I saw it in the theater and walked out halfway through in anger.
Great book. Horrible choice to turn it into an over the top black comedy. I can't believe that there is even one person who liked this garbage.
"I can't believe that there is even one person who liked this garbage."
You've admitted your problem right there. Limited imagination.
[M. Night Shyamalan]"He had 2 1/2 good ideas. The well's clearly dry." - Tim Briody
>>>Brutal movie. I saw it in the theater and walked out halfway through in anger.
Great book. Horrible choice to turn it into an over the top black comedy. I can't believe that there is even one person who liked this garbage.
Ditto. Only I didn't have the good sense you did to walk out halfway through.
this really works - try putting the book into your video machine - then you can watch the book!
share[deleted]
Tom Wolfe
shareHave you read the book?No, I haven't. But I don't like the movie, anyways. It's just dull. Tom Hanks was a real letdown here. share
yea readin books before seein the movie is a huge mistake i keep making, i did it with the godfather and i must be one of the only people HUGELY dissapointed in the trilogy, this will be the 30+ book ive done it with, and im waitin to watch Bonfire tonight on tv.
i hope its not a let down
I'm letting you have shotgun. But cuz it's cuz only 'cuz I'm goin' inside.
That is by far one of the most sweepingly wild statements i have heard. last action hero and this part of the top three most underrated films of all time? i dont know what sort of crosseyed stupid-in-the-face criteria you used to come to that conclusion, but they were obviously fueled by a wildman passion induced by the combined abuse of alcohol and halucigens. if your gonna make such nonsensical or substance lacking statements, you open the doors for gibberish.
sharePrognathos, I'm with you. A brilliant movie, IMO. I can see how the general masses might not like it, but that's a sad statement on the general masses. What can you do?
I personally hated this movie, mostly because I thought it was extremely overacted to the point of absurdity, and obviously not in a good way.
As for Sphere, I think the book is great, and the movie followed it closely, including the ending... but for some reason, the movie was extremely boring and slow, so I didn't like it. Around 5 is a good rating for it, IMHO.
I enjoy Last Action Hero, but don't think it's a great movie by any means.
So, I know my opinions matter little in the grand scheme of things, but don't stereotype us all if we don't agree with you. This is the same thing that other people do when they claim that "people just didn't get it". I get sick of people using that to strengthen their argument. "You don't like it, you just didn't get it." Ridiculous.
Haven't read the book, but liked the movie. As a black comedy, I mean. Don't know if the book is also supposed to be that.
1. Sphere (the movie) SUCKED!
2. While I don't expect literal translations of books into movies, I do expect that movies based on books should at least try to preserve the "spirit" of the book. Bonfire, the book, was brilliant. This movie took away any sort of intelligent commentary Wolfe made, and pretty much everyone was miscast.
"I enjoy Last Action Hero, but don't think it's a great movie by any means."
Nah, it's not a great film, but people are so quick to pan it. The point of the film is to make distinctions between film and reality and it does it in a really comical way. It's a shame most people don't like that style.
"No sequel for you!"
About being in the top 3 or not i don't know... no comments.
But it shocked me to see a 5!! It really did!
I haven't read the book and have the same opinion you do. The movie is brilliant. I couldn't care less about the book, as i never seen a movie overcome a book!
I do like it. Yes, it somewhat skims the book as opposed to delving into it, but by doing this, De Palma returns to something he is never given credit for: his ability to satire. Before he became associated with his brilliant thrillers (Body Double, Dressed to Kill, Blow Out etc.), he did some fantastic work with De Niro in 'Greetings' and 'Hi, Mom!' where he more explored his biting wit (the 'Be Black, Baby' sequence alone is confimation of this), and that's what I admire about 'Bonfire', that it is a work in that similar vein. Although I do wish he could have fought the studio against casting Willis in the Fallow role.
I'm a Drummer, not a Wet Nurse - Ringo
BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIMES to me...but hey, they think that (what's the name??) Galactic crap...the one with the swords that are lasers...any way that one is on top!!!!! Geeeee
Great acting, amazing plot
No I did not read the book. I know now I should because i will probably enjoy it.
But the movie, just forget the book is great. I saw it 20 times already.