From: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com (movies-digest) To: movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: movies-digest V2 #287 Reply-To: movies-digest Sender: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk movies-digest Friday, September 1 2000 Volume 02 : Number 287 Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? RE: [MV] Gattaca Re: [MV] old movies on tape [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films [MV] THE CREW & CROUPIER RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 18:46:19 EDT From: Nutz4n64@aol.com Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes: << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >> Only thing I can think of is eBay. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:02:19 -0400 From: "Mark J. Mills" Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes: > > << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and > hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >> Try the following link to Movies Unlimited in Philadelphia; I actually went to their store while I lived in Philly, and they were flat-out amazing in the depth and range of stock they had on hand -- and they assured me that, if it wasn't in the store but was otherwise available, that they could get it. http://www.moviesunlimited.com/dum2.htm Cheers, Mark Mills [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:08:47 EDT From: Nutz4n64@aol.com Subject: Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? In a message dated 08/23/2000 7:54:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, richard@sourcedesign.co.uk writes: << How about Pokemon the Movie? >> Don't put yourself through that torture. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 16:43:52 -0700 From: Dexter Sy Subject: Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 08/23/2000 7:54:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > richard@sourcedesign.co.uk writes: > > << How about Pokemon the Movie? >> > > Don't put yourself through that torture. Hahahah. BTW, any comments on "The Cell" - -- Dexter S. Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine Http://www.tendobox.com [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 07:38:53 -0400 From: "Jason Cormier" Subject: RE: [MV] Gattaca I enjoyed this movie - moreso because I saw it a few years ago at the Toronto Film Festival and right beside me sat none other than David Cornenberg!!! It was wild - we got to talk for 20 minutes before the movie started. Apparently he was there to see if Jude Law was any good (apparently he was as he then signed on for eXistenZ). Good movie too! - -----Original Message----- From: owner-movies@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-movies@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of julie_klenko@pleasantco.com Sent: Monday, August 21, 2000 4:12 PM To: movies@xmission.com; film@egroups.com Subject: [MV] Gattaca Gattaca was rented this weekend by mistake and I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it. Set in the "not too distant Future" starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law. Ethan Hawke is Vincent who is conceived naturally in a world where parents can choose only the best of their genes. Vincent is born with a weak heart. His parents choose the other method for his younger brother. Vincent dreams of a career in space but he is an In-Valid blood type so he settles for a job as a janitor at the space center Gattaca. Frustrated, he contacts a man who will help him switch identities with a Valid blood type, Jerome. Jerome has everything it takes to be in the Gattaca program but he is paralyzed. The methods these two use to become each other are facinating and the moments I thought they would surely get caught kept me on edge. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:02:08 +0200 From: "Olaf Adam" Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Try the VIDEO HUNT service at blackstar (www.blackstar.co.uk) Don't know if this search is any good, though Cheers Olaf -----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht-----=20 Von: manuel morrens=20 An: movies@lists.xmission.com=20 Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. August 2000 13:50 Betreff: [MV] old movies on tape Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and = hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ?=20 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Manuel Morrens mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be =20 Department of Medicine http://minf.vub.ac.be/~mmorrens/eighties Brussels Free University (lyrics of the eighties) - --------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 - ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Try the VIDEO HUNT service at blackstar (www.blackstar.co.uk)
=
 
Don't know if this search is any good, = though
 
Cheers
 
Olaf
-----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht----- =
Von:=20 manuel=20 morrens
An: movies@lists.xmission.com
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. August = 2000=20 13:50
Betreff: [MV] old movies on = tape

Does anyone here know a site or something where you can = order=20 old and hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? = 
---------------------------------------------------------=
- ------------
Manuel =
Morrens           =
       mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be =
        
Department of =
Medicine          http://minf.vub.ac.be/~=
mmorrens/eighties
Brussels Free University        =
(lyrics of the eighties)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------- =20


- ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320--


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Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 15:35:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nathan Lemrick 
Subject: [MV] Irish Films

I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland?  The only films I can think about are The Boxer, In the Name of the Father, Micheal Collins, and Far and Away to a certain extent.  But I am trying to find more on Ireland for a class I am taking.  Thanks,

Nathan  

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Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:31:16 -0500
From: Diane Christy 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

On 8/24/00, 3:35 PM -0700, Nathan Lemrick said so nicely:
>I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland?

How about "The Quiet Man"
- -- 
~~~~~
Diane Christy (Samantha and Joshua's Mom)
Jefferson, LA
http://www.geocities.com/diane507/
mailto:dchristy10@earthlink.net
ICQ #12904700   on Instant AOL Messenger
~~~~~

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 20:41:40 CDT
From: "Wade S" 
Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape

one place to check is     www.about.com

And check the movies-classics site and look in that category and see if 
there's a marketplace or something... you could also email the guide there, 
he's a relatively nice guy! jk-kidding He's a good guy, very knowledgeable.

Wade


>From: "Mark J. Mills" 
>Reply-To: movies@lists.xmission.com
>To: movies@lists.xmission.com
>Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape
>Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:02:19 -0400
>
>
>
>Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes:
> >
> > << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and
> >  hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >>
>
>     Try the following link to Movies Unlimited in Philadelphia; I actually
>went to their store while I lived in Philly, and they were flat-out amazing
>in the depth and range of stock they had on hand -- and they assured me
>that, if it wasn't in the store but was otherwise available, that they 
>could
>get it.
>
>http://www.moviesunlimited.com/dum2.htm
>
>Cheers, Mark Mills
>
>
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Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 19:25:51 -0700
From: "David F. Nolan" 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

Waking Ned Devine is set in Ireland, I believe.


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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 19:26:41 -0700
From: "David F. Nolan" 
Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape

Critics' Choice Video (www.ccvideo.com) has a lot of older movies.


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Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 20:36:39 -0700
From: "David F. Nolan" 
Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape

Here's a message I received recently from Critics' Choice Video. As I noted
in an earlier message, they have a pretty good selection of older movies.

Dear Movie Collector,

How'd you like to save $10 on your favorite movies on VHS or DVD? Click on
the link below and you'll do just that--save $10 on any order of $50 or mor=
e
at Critics' Choice Video
http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?index.html|august_10dollar, the premier Web
site for classic films and new releases on VHS and DVD!

Right now, we're featuring an exciting new addition to the ever-growing
family of great movies available on DVD. 1995's "Braveheart," winner of fiv=
e
Oscars including Best Director (Mel Gibson) and Best Picture, is now
available on DVD for the first time, complete with lots of fantastic DVD
extras.

The DVD--priced at $29.95 but on sale at Critics' Choice Video for only
$23.77! =97is loaded with special features, including exclusive commentary
with Mel Gibson, the documentary "Mel Gibson's Braveheart: A Filmmaker's
Passion--The Making of an Epic Adventure," two original theatrical trailers
and much more!

The "Braveheart" DVD won't become available until August 29--but Critics'
Choice Video is taking orders now! To pre-order your copy of Braveheart on
DVD just click here
http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?o.cgi/vid_search?v_id=3D160653/|august_10doll=
a
r

With our current offer to save $10 on any order of at least $50, there's
never been a better time to visit us at
http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?index.html|august_10dollar.

We've got a database of over 50,000 films and features on VHS and DVD, with
new titles added daily--plus special profiles and features on Hollywood's
top stars and films, both classics and contemporaries. See you soon!

This offer expires September 18th, so visit us today!


 This offer may not be combined with any other promotion or discount from
Critics' Choice Video.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this email list, visit us at:
http://www.ccvideo.com/newsletter.html Replace name@address.com with the
email address that received this newsletter, check unsubscribe and click
submit.





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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 23:13:31 -0400
From: Mel Eperthener 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

At 03.35 PM 24/08/2000 -0700, Nathan Lemrick wrote:
>I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland?  The
only films I can think about are The Boxer, In the Name of the Father,
Micheal Collins, and Far and Away to a certain extent.  But I am trying to
find more on Ireland for a class I am taking.  Thanks,
>

The Quiet Man
The Commitments
The Snapper 
The Van (those three are all connected)
Circle of Friends
I Went Down
The Brylcreme Boys
The Secret of Roan Inish
The Matchmaker
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?)

and to stretch it a bit:

Blown Away
Patriot Games
The Devil's Own
Mary Reilly (Ugh!!)

And those are just off the top of my head.  Check out imdb.com for even more.

Regards,

- --Mel


- --Mel Eperthener
president, Gowanna Multi-media Pty     http://www.webz.com/gowanna     
mailto:bcassidy@usaor.net                  mailto:gowanna@australiamail.com

419 Butler Street                                         
PO Box 95184
Pittsburgh, PA 15223-0184
(412) 781-6140                                    (412) 781-6380
1-888-45-GOWANNA -- TOLL FREE     (1-888-454-6926)
____________________________________________
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 for!" reaction to  "Gladiator"
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 14:41:29 -0700
From: Chris Parry 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

Adding to Mel's list:

The Nephew
Divorcing Jack
Felicia's Journey (kinda)
Angela's Ashes
The Butcher Boy
My Left Foot
The General
Ordinary Decent Criminal
The Last Of The High Kings
Moll Flanders

Mel Eperthener wrote:
> 
> The Quiet Man
> The Commitments
> The Snapper
> The Van (those three are all connected)
> Circle of Friends
> I Went Down
> The Brylcreme Boys
> The Secret of Roan Inish
> The Matchmaker
> Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?)
> Blown Away
> Patriot Games
> The Devil's Own
> Mary Reilly (Ugh!!)

OZ

http://www.efilmcritic.com
http://www.mymovies.com.au
http://www.tribe.com
http://www.if.com.au
http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com
http://www.sain.com.au

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------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 00 09:36:06 +0100
From: "Source - Richard" 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

I recommend The General and Butcher Boy.

Chris Parry wrote:
>Adding to Mel's list:
>
>The Nephew
>Divorcing Jack
>Felicia's Journey (kinda)
>Angela's Ashes
>The Butcher Boy
>My Left Foot
>The General
>Ordinary Decent Criminal
>The Last Of The High Kings
>Moll Flanders
>
>Mel Eperthener wrote:
>> 
>> The Quiet Man
>> The Commitments
>> The Snapper
>> The Van (those three are all connected)
>> Circle of Friends
>> I Went Down
>> The Brylcreme Boys
>> The Secret of Roan Inish
>> The Matchmaker
>> Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?)
>> Blown Away
>> Patriot Games
>> The Devil's Own
>> Mary Reilly (Ugh!!)
>
>OZ
>
>http://www.efilmcritic.com
>http://www.mymovies.com.au
>http://www.tribe.com
>http://www.if.com.au
>http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com
>http://www.sain.com.au
>
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 11:32:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nathan Lemrick 
Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I did not know there was so many films that pertained to Ireland.  Now I just have to go and try to find these and watch some of them.

Nathan

>I recommend The General and Butcher Boy.>
>Chris Parry wrote:
>>Adding to Mel's list:
>>
>>The Nephew
>>Divorcing Jack
>>Felicia's Journey (kinda)
>>Angela's Ashes
>>The Butcher Boy
>>My Left Foot
>>The General
>>Ordinary Decent Criminal
>>The Last Of The High Kings
>>Moll Flanders
>>
>>Mel Eperthener wrote:
>>> 
>>> The Quiet Man
>>> The Commitments
>>> The Snapper
>>> The Van (those three are all connected)
>>> Circle of Friends
>>> I Went Down
>>> The Brylcreme Boys
>>> The Secret of Roan Inish
>>> The Matchmaker
>>> Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?)
>>> Blown Away
>>> Patriot Games
>>> The Devil's Own
>>> Mary Reilly (Ugh!!)
>>
>>OZ
>>
>>http://www.efilmcritic.com
>>http://www.mymovies.com.au
>>http://www.tribe.com
>>http://www.if.com.au
>>http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com
>>http://www.sain.com.au
>>
>>[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
>>[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com          ]
        ]


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Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 10:36:00 -0600
From: ("Paul D  Richardson") 
Subject: [MV] THE CREW & CROUPIER

This weekend, I went out and saw these two similarly-titled releases.  Here
are some brief thoughts:

THE CREW -- I have no excuse for seeing this film...the trailer made it look
hilarious.  Unfortunately, the film is anything but.  It's actually
well-directed and the cast is great, but the screenplay is poor and the
chemistry is non-existent.  Too bad, because the film could've had a lot of
potential.  The best jokes come from the subtle parodying of GOODFELLAS,
including a funny take-off on the "entrance through the kitchen" scene.  But
even these don't quite work.  If you really must see a film about 4 geezers,
check out SPACE COWBOYS instead...it is far superior.  Not recommended.

CROUPIER -- This English film from 1998, directed by veteran Michael Hodges,
is one of the best films I've seen this year.  Many thanks to those of you who
have recommended this film.  Clive Owens plays the title character, a would-be
author who takes a job as a croupier (a dealer in a casino) in order to make
ends meet.  He learns that having a day job can actually help his "real"
career, although it weighs heavily on his personal life.  It's hard to
describe this film, since it can't really be pigeonholed into a genre.  It's a
very-focused, very-interesting character study.  Highly recommended.

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------------------------------

Date: 31 Aug 00 11:03:07 +0100
From: "Source - Richard" 
Subject: RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK

Many of you may disagree, but personally I believe Steven Spielberg to be
one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time. He may not reflect the times,
have a political message or raise intellectual issues (apart from some of
his more recent 'historical' movies), but for sheer entertainment, he
cannot be beat!

I thought it would be interesting to just do a quick and simple rating on
each of his films (yes, I know it's not from the film theory school of
moving picture dissection  but, if like me, you are at work, it's just a way
to kill five minutes and let off some steam). Anyway, feel free to
elaborate if you have the time but in the meantime...

* Jaws - 10/10 - Without a doubt, the forerunner to every 'good' movie
blockbuster of the last 20 years (I don't believe summer blockbusters are a
'bad' thing. They are just as important as arthouse, foreign, independent
or any other genre in keeping movies alive).

* Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 10/10 - Wow, this movie stays with
me to this day. A lesson in how to achieve complete wonder. Contact is
one of my favourite movies but could not have been made without this.

* 1941 - 5/10 - A case of self indulgence as Spielbergs new found praise
and fame maybe forced him into a corner and go against his better
judgement. A brave effort but most incoherent and basically a series of sketches.

* Raiders of the Lost Ark - 10/10 - It may appear that I am being too
generous with my scores, but I think this is just a reflection of what a
winning streak Spielberg was on (1941 excepted as 3 out of 4 ain't bad).

To be continued when i get a minute.................

R


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Date: 31 Aug 00 18:11:52 +0100
From: "Source - Richard" 
Subject: RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK

And i continue...

* ET  - 10/10 - Spielbergs masterpiece. A work of pure wonder and
enjoyment which says more about our inner child and lost innocence than any movie
before or since.

* Poltergeist - 8/10 - Sorry Tobe, but I don't believe for a minute that
you directed this movie! Jam packed with Spielbergisms that you will not
find in ANY other Tobe Hooper movies, this definitely stemmed from
Spielbergs darker side that began to seep through in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

* Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 7/10 - Disappointing following
the first Indy movie, and maybe this could have been seen as a classic if
it had come first as it had all the thrills and excitement that made the
first movie great - thing is, Raiders was just SO good. This is where
Spielberg maybe went too far with his dark side which may have occurred from the
press at the time calling him a kids movie director.

* The Color Purple - 7/10 - Possibly the point at which Spielberg lost
his way. He didn't want to continue being known as a 'fantasy' filmmaker,
yet 'fantasy' was what he did best and what the public wanted! This is a
wonderful and moving movie with a strong message - but where was our magical
fantasy going to come from now?

* Empire of the Sun - 8/10 - Undeterred by the lack of Academy
recognition with Purple, Spielberg continued with his adult themes, but the twist
was that this was an adult theme from a child's point of view, and, as with
ET, he nails it perfectly.

* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - 9/10 - The second best Indy film.
The nastiness of Temple has been replaced with pure comedy and slapstick
and it works a treat. Sean Connery as Indys dad was a casting stroke of
genius.

* Always - 6/10 - One of Spielbergs mosts understated films. This movie
is thoroughly enjoyable for what it is, but any number of accomplished
Directors could have achieved much the same effect. Speilberg on auto-pilot.

* Hook - 5/10 - Mmmm, interesting one this. No other Spielberg film seems
to split the audience like this one. People either appreciated a return
to the innocence of his earlier family movies or hated the sugary
sentiment. Me? I fall into the former but appreciate the latter issues. Best to
watch with an open mind on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Not his best.

* Jurassic park - 9/10 - This was more like it! A pure rollercoaster ride
of a movie (if you'll excuse the cliché). The effects are absolutely
groundbreaking and amaze even to this day. Lack of character development let
down an almost perfect movie.

* Schindlers List - 10/10 - The most successful of Spielbergs adult
movies. Who would have thought that someone who was so adept and showing new
worlds and possibilities could also reveal the horrors of war so powerfully.
A revelation.

* The Lost World - 6/10 - It was quite baffling to watch this movie when
it first came out as I'm sure most people anticipating a sequel had their
own idea of what it could be like (whether they had read the book or not).
It turns out that this was basically more of the same and didn't expand
on the original enough to make it a classic. Again, Spielberg on auto-pilot
(JP3 although not directed by Spielberg, looks set to be the story that
Lost World should have been).

* Amistad - 6/10 - Probably the least memorable of all Speilbergs films
(yes even Hook and Always). Although an extremely well-made, acted and
scripted movie that would warrant rave reviews from lesser directors, Amistad
just seems too forgettable! It feels like a stop-gap between bigger and
better things.

* Saving Private Ryan - 8/10 - Shocking, moving, masterful and deeply
disturbing...but that was only the first half an hour. The rest of the movie
doesn't quite live up to this first section but is still Spielberg on
form. The main problem is that Speilbergs weakest trait has always been
character development, and SPR is basically a character study, a story of
bonding and the effects of war on young men.

Coming soon - AI and Minority Report. Reasons to be excited as, not since
Jurassic Park has Spielberg tackled pure fantasy  with major success.
These could be the ones we have been waiting for!

Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with
other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help
elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has turned a
number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the
'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET
silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language theme tune?
Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not. 

R 



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[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com          ]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:02:04 -0700
From: Dexter Sy 
Subject: Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK

- --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

>
> Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with
> other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help
> elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has turned a
> number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the
> 'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET
> silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language theme tune?
> Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not.

Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is turning out nothing
more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious films for his dramatic works,
and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more examples of the popcorn culture that is the
new hollywood"

And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious film going
community and their target #1 is Spielberg.

That's not to say I disagree with you.  I actually agree with you wholeheartedly, but
there is that line of reasoning out there.  You probably won't find it in the
mainstream, this stuff is written more in as a subtext in most of the intellectual
circles.   I am studying film history so I  took the liberty to flip through the pages
of my film text, Oxford History of World Cinema,  to see what they wrote of Spielberg.
The book is basically a collection of essays from various contributors strung together
by a handful of editors. Anyways, the editors  of the book were level headed enough to
give him a special box (a privilege reseved only for the important figures/directors
the book talks about) but the essay attached to spielberg (written by a contributing
writer) was rather stilted and pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn
director who happened to do Schindler's List.  His previous works like Empire of the
Sun and the Color Purple were ignored all together.


- --
Dexter S.
Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine
Http://www.tendobox.com


- --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit





 

Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with

other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help

elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has
turned a

number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the

'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and
ET

silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language
theme tune?

Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not.




Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is
turning out nothing more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious
films for his dramatic works, and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more
examples of the popcorn culture that is the new hollywood"

And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious
film going community and their target #1 is Spielberg.

That's not to say I disagree with you.  I actually agree with you
wholeheartedly, but there is that line of reasoning out there.  You
probably won't find it in the mainstream, this stuff is written more in
as a subtext in most of the intellectual circles.   I am studying
film history so I  took the liberty to flip through the pages of my
film text, Oxford History of World Cinema,  to see what they
wrote of Spielberg.  The book is basically a collection of essays
from various contributors strung together by a handful of editors. Anyways,
the editors  of the book were level headed enough to give him a special
box (a privilege reseved only for the important figures/directors the book
talks about) but the essay attached to spielberg (written by a contributing
writer) was rather stilted and pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist
popcorn director who happened to do Schindler's List.  His previous
works like Empire of the Sun and the Color Purple were ignored all together.

 

--

Dexter S.

Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine

Http://www.tendobox.com

 

- --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327--


[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ]
[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com          ]

------------------------------

Date: 01 Sep 00 11:24:12 +0100
From: "Source - Richard" 
Subject: Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK

- --====49515150514953535452===1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I completely anticipate comments similar to those you mentioned, and that =
was really the reason i thought i'd begin this thread. I think it is wrong =
to dismiss him for making so called 'popcorn' movies - they are as =
important to the art of film as anything else. To sit in a cinema and give =
the audience a pure rush of joy, excitement and emotion is not an easy =
thing to do.

Spielberg may be guilty for influencing much sentimental pap that has come =
out of Hollywood, but i don't believe he can be direcly blamed for the =
poor quality of his immitators.

There are filmmakers talking to their audience intelligence, drawing the =
attention on a particular issue or shooting films for the sake of art. =
Others are just skilled technicians mixing special effects, stunts and =
dramatic sets to entertain people and especially the under-25 action-=
hungry males.

But there is also a kind of filmmakers who cleverly mix all these =
ingredients to make films able to be enjoyed by a broad audience, both =
entertaining and full of inner meanings. Spielberg is, commercially and, =
in my opinion, artistically speaking, the most successful of these =
filmmakers.

One of the recurring themes in Spielberg's films is the criticism of the =
middle-class way of life and its hearth-bound vision. Spielberg often =
offers an escape to this situation in his films. In Close Encounters of =
the Third Kind and E.T., the aliens provide this escape, whereas in Hook a =
serious lawyer recalls his youth as Peter Pan.

This narrow-minded vision can even constitute a source of danger for the =
main characters: in The Sugarland Express, the law does not allow Goldie =
Hawn to see her son because she was jailed; she will nevertheless try to =
prove that she can be a loving mother and take good care of him. In Jaws, =
the Mayor's will to attract tourists prevents him from taking appropriate =
measures to fight the shark. In Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the US =
government is trying to hide the truth about extra-terrestrials from the =
public. The US government is also the principal threat to E.T.'s life. =

The main characteristic of Steven Spielberg's action movies that makes =
them so different from the classical blockbusters is the absence of an =
evil character who is the single source of danger in the film. No Darth =
Vader, Terminator, T1000, Dr. No, psycho killer or other "bad guys" whose =
aim to destroy the hero's life.

There is rather a combination of a dangerous factor (the shark in Jaws, E.=
T.'s illness) and a pressure of events resulting from the gregarious =
instinct of a narrow-minded crowd. Spielberg is thus revealing our =
inability to understand the real purpose of life: we are according too =
much significance to futile things and that prevents us from seeing what =
is really important.

The characters own sins also play the role of the dangerous factor. Even =
if the character himself is not a villain, his greed and selfishness most =
of the time put him and the others in jeopardy.

Jurassic Park is a good example: a millionaire wants to create a theme =
park featuring dinosaurs. They are genetically recreated from prehistoric =
DNA conserved in mosquitoes from the Jurassic era, but the genetic code is =
altered in order to control the sex and the reproduction of the species. =
Though, the scientists had not taken into account the self-organising =
nature of life and the dinosaurs eventually mutate into normal animals =
capable of reproduction. =

Spielberg also attracts repeatedly our attention on human reaction to the =
unknown. It is this reaction that sometimes reveals our hidden sins. =
Confronted to the unknown, needing to improvise and make new decisions, =
many people panic and act with gregarious instinct and selfishness that =
endanger the people under their responsibility.

In Jaws, the Mayor, unaware of the real danger a white shark represents =
for the population, refuses to close the beach. In Close Encounters of the =
Third Kind, it is the government's measures which are criticised, together =
with the reaction of the family and friends of the people "feeling" that =
something is about to happen. Their relatives, unable to understand their =
visions, reject them, thinking they are insane.

The Sugarland Express, 1941, E.T. and Jurassic Park are also good examples =
of how stupidly we can behave when an unknown and unexpected situation =
arises. =

What also appears quiet often, is a father failing to assume his role. =
William Atherton is just following his wife in The Sugarland Express; Roy =
Scheider hesitates and doesn't always know how to handle the situation in =
Jaws; Elliott's father is in Mexico with his secretary in E.T.; Robin =
Williams doesn't pay enough attention to his son in Hook and there is no =
need to mention Whoopi Goldberg's sadistic husband in The Color Purple or =
the hero of Empire of the Sun, who is lost by his parents.

Actually, despite his criticism for the typical American middle-class =
family where the children grow up with "three parents: a mother, a father =
and a TV set", Spielberg is very attached to the ideal of a unified family.=
 He was very affected by his parents divorce and in many of his films, the =
evil element is not only threatening the characters' life but also the =
family integrity: in Duel, where the hero is trying to drive back home to =
join his family; The Sugarland Express, where Goldie Hawn is desperately =
trying to regain custody of her child; Jaws; E.T.; Indiana Jones and the =
Last Crusade, where Indy's family is mentioned for the first time; Hook, =
and Jurassic Park, where the couple of paleontologists and the two =
children are treated like a family. =

Besides this emphasis on family, Spielberg also likes to adopt a child's =
point of view (E.T., Empire of the Sun, Hook, Jurassic Park). He is a =
master for putting on screen childlike emotions and directing children. In =
1982, he admitted: "I feel I'm still a kid. I'm 34 and I really haven't =
grown up yet." Even his episode of Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) was =
the story of elderly people who can become children again if they wish it =
strongly enough.

In fact, Spielberg's fantastic and emotional films aim at awakening the =
child hidden in each of us. =

Steven Spielberg is not one more of these silly filmmakers for blood-=
thirsty teens, mixing stunts, special effects and haemoglobin in two-hours =
meaningless motion pictures.
He is rather a great filmmaker whose movies inspired many others and set =
new standards for action movies. He is not trying to hide a lack of talent =
or imagination behind special effects but uses them to tell beautiful =
stories. The ancient Greeks used special effects in their theatre plays =
=97 the Deus ex Machina =97 and nobody blamed them for that.

I don't claim Steven Spielberg is the greatest director of all times =97 =
and I don't think he is. People like Stanley Kubrick or Alfred Hitchcock =
all brought much to the film industry but thanks to Steven Spielberg, =
entertainment became a noble art.

His Indiana Jones trilogy, E.T., Hook, Jurassic Park brought joy and =
happiness throughout the world and made us dream, whereas The Sugarland =
Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Color Purple or Schindler'=
s List made us think about important issues such as family values, human =
reaction to the unknown or the place of mankind in the universe.

Steven Spielberg thus manages to include inner meanings which mirror his =
own personality in mildly violent blockbuster movies. Everyone with an =
open mind can enjoy his films. He is the best representative of a whole =
part of the American film industry which succeeds in making films which =
can both be enjoyed on a first degree and understood on a second.

It doesn't surprise me that the Oxford History of World Cinema are not big =
fans of Spielberg - it would damage their credibility to advocate such a =
populist director.

Dexter Sy wrote:
>=A0
>Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with
>other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help
>elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has =
turned a
>number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the
>'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET
>silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language =
>theme tune?
>Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not.
>
>Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is turning =
>out nothing more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious films =
for his =
>dramatic works, and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more examples of =
the popcorn =
>culture that is the new hollywood"
>And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious =
film =
>going community and their target #1 is Spielberg.
>That's not to say I disagree with you.=A0 I actually agree with you =
>wholeheartedly, but there is that line of reasoning out there.=A0 You =
probably won't find it in =
>the mainstream, this stuff is written more in as a subtext in most of the =
>intellectual circles.=A0=A0 I am studying film history so I=A0 took the =
liberty to flip =
>through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World Cinema,=A0 to =
see what =
>they wrote of Spielberg.=A0 The book is basically a collection of essays =
from various =
>contributors strung together by a handful of editors. Anyways, the =
editors=A0 =
>of the book were level headed enough to give him a special box (a =
privilege =
>reseved only for the important figures/directors the book talks about) =
but the essay =
>attached to spielberg (written by a contributing writer) was rather =
stilted and =
>pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn director who =
happened to do =
>Schindler's List.=A0 His previous works like Empire of the Sun and the =
Color =
>Purple were ignored all together.
>=A0
>--
>Dexter S.
>Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine
>Http://www.tendobox.com(Http://www.tendobox.com)
>=A0
>
>RFC822 header
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>Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:02:04 -0700
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- --====49515150514953535452===1
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I completely =
anticipate comments similar to those you =
mentioned, and that was really the reason =
i thought i'd begin this thread. I think =
it is wrong to dismiss him for making so =
called 'popcorn' movies - they are as important =
to the art of film as anything else. To =
sit in a cinema and give the audience a pure =
rush of joy, excitement and emotion is not =
an easy thing to do.



Spielberg may =
be guilty for influencing much sentimental =
pap that has come out of Hollywood, but =
i don't believe he can be direcly blamed =
for the poor quality of his immitators.



There =
are filmmakers talking to their audience =
intelligence, drawing the attention on a =
particular issue or shooting films for the =
sake of art. Others are just skilled technicians =
mixing special effects, stunts and dramatic =
sets to entertain people and especially =
the under-25 action-hungry males.



But =
there is also a kind of filmmakers who cleverly =
mix all these ingredients to make films =
able to be enjoyed by a broad audience, both =
entertaining and full of inner meanings. =
Spielberg is, commercially and, in my opinion, =
artistically speaking, the most successful =
of these filmmakers.



One of the recurring =
themes in Spielberg's films is the criticism =
of the middle-class way of life and its =
hearth-bound vision. Spielberg often offers =
an escape to this situation in his films. =
In Close =
Encounters =
of the Third Kind =
and E.T.<=
/I>, the aliens provide =
this escape, whereas in Hook =
a serious lawyer recalls his youth as Peter =
Pan.



This narrow-minded vision can =
even constitute a source of danger for the =
main characters: in The Sugarland Express, the law does not allow Goldie =
Hawn to see her son because she was jailed; =
she will nevertheless try to prove that =
she can be a loving mother and take good =
care of him. In Jaws, the Mayor's will =
to attract tourists prevents him from taking =
appropriate measures to fight the shark. =
In Close =
Encounters =
of the Third Kind, =
the US government is trying to hide the =
truth about extra-terrestrials from the public. =
The US government is also the principal =
threat to E.T.'s life. 



The main characteristic =
of Steven Spielberg's action movies that =
makes them so different from the classical =
blockbusters is the absence of an evil character =
who is the single source of danger in the =
film. No Darth Vader, Terminator, T1000, =
Dr. No, psycho killer or other "bad =
guys" whose aim to destroy the hero's =
life.



There is rather a combination =
of a dangerous factor (the shark in Jaws, E.T.'s illness) and a pressure =
of events resulting from the gregarious =
instinct of a narrow-minded crowd. Spielberg =
is thus revealing our inability to understand =
the real purpose of life: we are according =
too much significance to futile things and =
that prevents us from seeing what is really =
important.



The characters own sins =
also play the role of the dangerous factor. =
Even if the character himself is not a villain, =
his greed and selfishness most of the time =
put him and the others in jeopardy.



Jurassic Park is a good example: =
a millionaire wants to create a theme park =
featuring dinosaurs. They are genetically =
recreated from prehistoric DNA conserved =
in mosquitoes from the Jurassic era, but =
the genetic code is altered in order to =
control the sex and the reproduction of the =
species. Though, the scientists had not =
taken into account the self-organising nature =
of life and the dinosaurs eventually mutate =
into normal animals capable of reproduction. =




Spielberg also attracts repeatedly =
our attention on human reaction to the unknown. =
It is this reaction that sometimes reveals =
our hidden sins. Confronted to the unknown, =
needing to improvise and make new decisions, =
many people panic and act with gregarious =
instinct and selfishness that endanger the =
people under their responsibility.



In =
Jaws<=
/FONT>, the Mayor, unaware =
of the real danger a white shark represents =
for the population, refuses to close the =
beach. In <=
I>Close =
Encounters of the Third Kind, it is the government's measures =
which are criticised, together with the =
reaction of the family and friends of the =
people "feeling" that something =
is about to happen. Their relatives, unable =
to understand their visions, reject them, =
thinking they are insane.



The Sugarland Express, 1941, =
E.T.<=
/FONT> and Jurassic Park are also good examples of =
how stupidly we can behave when an unknown =
and unexpected situation arises. 



What =
also appears quiet often, is a father failing =
to assume his role. William Atherton is =
just following his wife in The Sugarland Express; Roy Scheider hesitates =
and doesn't always know how to handle the =
situation in Jaws; Elliott's father =
is in Mexico with his secretary in E.T.; Robin Williams doesn't pay =
enough attention to his son in Hook and there is no need to mention =
Whoopi Goldberg's sadistic husband in The Color Purple or the hero of <=
FONT =
FACE=3D"Humanst521 BT" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000">Empire of the Sun<=
/FONT>, who is lost by his =
parents.



Actually, despite his criticism =
for the typical American middle-class family =
where the children grow up with "three =
parents: a mother, a father and a TV set", =
Spielberg is very attached to the ideal =
of a unified family. He was very affected =
by his parents divorce and in many of his =
films, the evil element is not only threatening =
the characters' life but also the family =
integrity: in Duel, where the hero is =
trying to drive back home to join his family; =
The =
Sugarland =
Express,=
 where =
Goldie Hawn is desperately trying to regain =
custody of her child; Jaws; =
E.T.<=
/FONT>; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade=
, where Indy's family =
is mentioned for the first time; Hook, and Jurassic =
Park, =
where =
the couple of paleontologists and the two =
children are treated like a family. 



Besides =
this emphasis on family, Spielberg also =
likes to adopt a child's point of view (E.T., Empire =
of the Sun, =
Hook<=
/FONT>, Jurassic Park). He is a master for putting =
on screen childlike emotions and directing =
children. In 1982, he admitted: "I =
feel I'm still a kid. I'm 34 and I really =
haven't grown up yet." Even his episode =
of =
Twilight =
Zone - The Movie =
(1983) was the story of elderly people who =
can become children again if they wish it =
strongly enough.



In fact, Spielberg's =
fantastic and emotional films aim at awakening =
the child hidden in each of us. 



Steven =
Spielberg is not one more of these silly =
filmmakers for blood-thirsty teens, mixing =
stunts, special effects and haemoglobin =
in two-hours meaningless motion pictures.

He =
is rather a great filmmaker whose movies =
inspired many others and set new standards =
for action movies. He is not trying to hide =
a lack of talent or imagination behind special =
effects but uses them to tell beautiful =
stories. The ancient Greeks used special =
effects in their theatre plays =97 the Deus ex Machina =97 and nobody blamed =
them for that.



I don't claim Steven =
Spielberg is the greatest director =
of all times =97 and I don't think he is. =
People like Stanley Kubrick or Alfred Hitchcock =
all brought much to the film industry but =
thanks to Steven Spielberg, entertainment =
became a noble art.



His Indiana Jones trilogy, E.T., =
Hook<=
/FONT>, Jurassic Park brought joy and happiness =
throughout the world and made us dream, whereas =
The =
Sugarland =
Express,=
 Close Encounters =
of the Third Kind, =
The =
Color =
Purple =
or =
=
Schindler's =
List =
made =
us think about important issues such as =
family values, human reaction to the unknown =
or the place of mankind in the universe.



Steven =
Spielberg thus manages to include inner =
meanings which mirror his own personality =
in mildly violent blockbuster movies. Everyone =
with an open mind can enjoy his films. He =
is the best representative of a whole part =
of the American film industry which succeeds =
in making films which can both be enjoyed =
on a first degree and understood on a second.



It =
doesn't surprise me that the Oxford History of World Cinema =
are not =
big =
fans of Spielberg - it would damage their =
credibility to advocate such a populist =
director.



Dexter =
Sy wrote:

> 

>Final =
note - Although I think Spielberg is one =
of the greats, as with

>other legends, =
it is also the people who surround the genius =
that help

>elevate the work. I am of =
course talking about John Williams who has =
turned a

>number of great films into =
classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the

>'dum-dum-dum-dum' =
theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot =
and ET

>silhouette against the moon? =
Close Encounters without the sign-language =


>theme tune?

>Or Indy without =
his rousing overture? Thought not.

>

>Of =
course detractors will claim that Spielberg, =
the populist, is turning 

>out nothing =
more than sentimental crap pretending to =
be to serious films for his 

>dramatic =
works, and dismiss his action flicks are =
"yet more examples of the popcorn 

>culture =
that is the new hollywood"

>And =
trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies =
in the so called serious film 

>going =
community and their target #1 is Spielberg.

>That's =
not to say I disagree with you.  I =
actually agree with you 

>wholeheartedly, =
but there is that line of reasoning out =
there.  You probably won't find it in =


>the mainstream, this stuff is written =
more in as a subtext in most of the 

>intellectual =
circles.   I am studying film =
history so I  took the liberty to flip =


>through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World =
Cinema,  =
to see what 

>they wrote of Spielberg.  =
The book is basically a collection of essays =
from various 

>contributors strung =
together by a handful of editors. Anyways, =
the editors  

>of the book were =
level headed enough to give him a special =
box (a privilege 

>reseved only for =
the important figures/directors the book =
talks about) but the essay 

>attached =
to spielberg (written by a contributing =
writer) was rather stilted and 

>pretty =
much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn =
director who happened to do 

>Schindler's =
List.  His previous works like Empire =
of the Sun and the Color 

>Purple were =
ignored all together.

> 

>--

>Dexter =
S.

>Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine

>Http://www.tendobox.com(Http:=
//www.tendobox.com)

> 

>

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