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IMDBRefugee1SD's Replies
West Side Story is an urban fairy tale. It's not meant as a realistic view of gang life. As such I like the more stylised
approach.
My favorites are "Tonight" duet and ensemble versions. And "Somewhere". I love Rita Moreno, but giving her the song was
an unfortunate change.
Tony Kushner is a great writer, but no doubt under his influence, Spielberg was talked into this unnecessary addition.
And since one of the themes of West Side Story is that despite their cultural differences the Jets And Sharks are
alike, The added focus on the Sharks upsets this balance. Racism is a theme of the piece, but is sufficiently addressed
in the song "America". Another change that was ill advised is giving the song "Somewhere" to Anita. It broadens the focus
to the gangs, but I much prefer the song as a duet between Tony and Maria who are the main focus of the show.
For most people the whole idea of demon possession is deeply disturbing. And it's presented in a realistic manner.
There is plenty of atmosphere. The words and actions of the possessed Regan were and still are shocking. There
were various reactions to the tension in the film, including nervous laughter. Although Blatty
and Friedkin attempted to attach religious significance to the story much of the popularity of
the film was due to the shock value.
Robert Altman's "The Player" satirizes this and many other Hollywood excesses.
It's not explicit, but it is suggested.
The Shining.
This was all part of Hooper's realistic approach to the musical.
The books and films have been Katniss story. And that is finished. So I've been against prequels.
But they are setting it far enough in the past that we can look at it as a completely new story
set in the world of Panem. So I'll give it a chance and hope for the best.
Yes, classic films should not be remade just for a new generation.
And a new version could never get away with the anti-authoritarian tone which is one of the film's strong points.
I think Caesar absolutely does realize the nature of the games. But he has found his niche as host and commentator on
the games. So he ignores the reality and presents the games as the entertainment that the capitol citizens see it as.
He is amoral.
The fact that her attempt to save her sister fails is a tragic irony, but it in no way negates Katniss' heroism and leadership
in the revolution.
Don't assume that every poster on here is a kid. I'm in my sixties and a huge fan of the Hunger Games films.
And I'll wager that I have a much greater command of the English language than you.
Indeed, This series featured numerous examples of abuse of power. Prosecutorial misconduct, Judicial misconduct etc.
I can just see the writers congratulating themselves on a hard hitting look at the judicial system. But they forgot one of
the cardinal rules of series TV. You have to have sympathetic characters. And as you pointed out you don't want a series
of downer stories. No wonder the series only lasted one season.
I'm surprised that the Kubrick estate would allow a damaged print to be shown. They must not have known.
I saw it in 1968 in 70mm on a big screen, not Cinerama. It was thrilling. Saw it again recently in 70mm on
the last remaining big screen in my area. Pristine print. 2001: A Space Odyssey was the first film I saw
that made me aware that film could be an art form.
The audience can be distracting at showings with a large crowd. I generally go to matinees.
And I have a big plasma screen at home.
The novel and the screenplay were produced concurrently. Clarke's novel is hard science fiction. For example he makes
it clear that the monolith teaches the ape-men new ways of thinking. Kubrick preferred to let it be a mystery how the
monolith changed the ape-men. I prefer Kubrick's approach.
"If 2001 has stirred your emotions, your subconscious, your mythological yearnings, then it has succeeded."-Kubrick.
Indeed. I am most impressed with the Dawn of Man prologue. It featured shots of a truly primeval landscape filmed in
Africa and combined using state of the art front projection technology with the shots of the ape-men. And the famous
jump cut from a simple bone as weapon technology to a space vehicle is brilliant. It apparently came about as a happy
accident. Incidentely the space vehicle is supposed to be a nuclear bomb as part of a doomsday machine to prevent a
nuclear war. And the split-scan technique of the star gate sequence was groundbreaking as well. I saw it in 1968 in
70mm and it was mighty impressive. If you get the chance to see it in 70mm it adds to the epic scope of the film.
What's this obsession with pitting one person/technology against another?
As for comparing 2001: A Space Odyssey with the Star Wars films, it's apples versus oranges.
The Star Wars films are excellent examples of the Science Fiction Adventure.
2001: A Space Odyssey is a outstanding example of a more intellectual Speculative Fiction.
It never would have made $700 million if it was only about the sinking. Cameron uses the tried and true blueprint for the
historical romance. A romance (and this one's a doozy) sent against historical events.