I was down in LA and needed to kill time so the traffic wouldn't be so bad, so I popped into a multiplex to see Public Enemy. It's a powerful that stretches the use of digital technology. Much has been written about this, but from what I have read, something has been missed. I know I am too aware of film-making techniques as I watch some films--I'd love to turn this off sometimes--but some of the digital elements of the film are too noticeable for my tastes. I get taken out of the story set before me. There are shots amazing shots and moments of film-making that are stunning, but I really want to fully engrossed in the tale that is being told, not the technique.
This is a hard film to grasp onto. The action is dynamic, the sets/costumes etc. beautifully created, and the acting polished, but something still left me at too far a distance to say Pubic Enemies is as brilliant as it seems like it should be.
I wanted more, or something else, but what is at fault? Me or the film? We're my expectations/hope for something special too much for the film to meet.
Anyone have any stories about expectations and films? Was there an instance where a film didn't live up to the hype, did live up to the hype, or how about a time when you had little or no expectations and a film really surprised you?
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I remember all the hype about Star Wars. It seem the HollyWood reviews,or Critics loved it, but the public reviews were not as thrilled. I definitely feel when you have familiarize yourself with the film making process you have a different take on film. You have a professional view on films. I also feel you value and have a different sentiment toward the making of the film. After taking this class I certainly have attain an appreciation for what went into the establishing all the many films I have not even begun to watch. On another perpective, those of us who have not seen a lot of films we are not as desentisize to the fast-action moderize films. I probably could not grasp all digital technology yet alone notice all the differences. I think once one become skilled in judging in a field, I would say yes it's is harder to just keep it something special without the extra knowledge we can't have nothing to judge were just naive.
ReplyDeleteBTW I was referring to the Clone Wars Star Wars, but I do think the public now has become thrilled with the Star Wars (Clone Wars). Anyhow it is just a matter of observation.
ReplyDeleteI REMEBER ONCE GOING TO THE DRIVE IN NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS PLAYING AND I SEE THAT IT WAS MARLEY AND ME. AND I WAS LIKE OOOH NOO I DONT WANT TO SEE A MOVIE ABOUT A DOG, AND I WANTED TO LEAVE. BUT AS I WATCHED THE MOVIE, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MOVIE AND I ACTUALY LIKED, SUPRISINLGY ENOUGH II THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BAD MOVIE AND IT WAS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED, I LOVED THE MOVIE=P
ReplyDeletei think that when you have really high expectaions of a movie sometimes you end up dissapointed like when i went to see transformers it was good but not my taste ,its like asking for a coke and you get a pepsi not quite the same taste,in the first movie the guy that play the role of inpector () in the second one he totally play a differnt role and i didnt like the idea of having optimus prime die and then comes to life again and fights the huge decepticon and comes out in triumph.
ReplyDeleteJust last week I watched Transformers 2. Everyone from critics to fans were waiting for it in the theaters, thus having really high expectations. And no doubt it was bigger but definitely not better. The action sequences were good but the movie lacked in its storyline. I agree that it was supposed to be primarily an action film but it's plots and story were confusing and useless. And I ended up giving it 2 out of 5. Similar experience I had was in Will Smith's "I am Legend". I expected it to be on the lines of "Independence Day" but it was horrible and senseless to me. Though the Harry Potter series has performed well with hype and expectations. I hope the 6th movie coming this week is good to its hype.
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I have been a fan of the Nancy Drew books for as long as I can remember. When I was little my mom would read them to me and once I learned to read, I started from The Secret of the Old Clock (the very first book, written in 1930) and read up to the newest ones (which have been dumbed down for the audiences of the 2000s. All Nancy Drew fans know the formula; In the beginning we are reminded of her last mystery, her friends George (a girl), Bess and Ned show up, they go on some kind of trip and end up involved in multiple mysteries which start to come together and then at the end Nancy is cornered by the bad guy and we don't know if she will make it out safely (but of course she always does). When I found out a movie was coming out I had high hopes for it. I expected it to be very similar to the books, especially since they had such a clear format and Nancy was such a strong character, I didn't think it could be ruined too badly. I went the first weekend it was released and I was seriously disappointed. The cast was at least 3 years younger than the characters were intended to be (and probably only chosen because they had a little pull with the tween audience, Emma Roberts, from the television show Unfabulous and Max Theriot from Catch That Kid and The Pacifier) so the characters came off as less mature and the entire feeling that comes with Nancy Drew was lost. I almost wondered if Emma Roberts and director Andrew Fleming had ever read an original Nancy Drew book. If so, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. I felt that Roberts was "over-the-top" in her portrayal of Nancy to the point that it felt that she was making fun of Ms. Drew and her traditional ways. The supporting cast was forgettable and the sub-plots were flimsy. I was disappointed that like the later books, the movie had been "dumbed down" for today's audience. The spirit of Nancy Drew was gone, and so was my interest.
ReplyDeleteOne movie that really fell flat compared to my expectations was "Jurassic Park". I guess I made one of the greatest mistakes a movie goer can make by reading the book first. There were so many compelling parts of the book that were not even approached in the movie. In the book there is this part where the T-Rex is chasing them down a river for some hours. It was one of my favorite parts of the book and it was absent from the movie. In their day the Jurassic Park movies were cutting edge. Now they are looked at, in some circles, as corny. I can't help, but wonder if they would be seen in a different light if more of the story from the book was included in the movie...
ReplyDeleteThe latest movie that comes to mind is "Revenge of the Fallen"(Transformers). The plot was simple and easy to predict. It made me feel as if i had seen this movie before. As if someone had simply added more action scenes and some corny ones as well. But the director countered the corny scenes that dont belong in an action scify movie with sound. Yes he made the characters say their corny lines in a low tone voice lacking emotion(half assed). But yeah, "Revenge of the Fallen" was a let down.
ReplyDeleteJesus Copado
A movie that comes to mind is "O brother where art thou"? I had no idea what the movie was about and started to watch it. I actually enjoyed the music and how it was incorporated into the movie. The three characters that played escaped inmates made the movie funny to me. Especially seeing them in serious roles before, and then to see them play roles like this. I did not expect for George Clooney to be as funny the way he was.
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