|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 10, 2020 5:21:42 GMT
Moonshield In Russia, do you not have a "Wild Wild East" movie genre? Because to me as neither Russian nor American, I see considerable historical parallels. No, we have not. We have movies about the Far East or the Far North (for example, "The Girls"), but it is social realism. |
|
|
|
Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 10, 2020 11:25:35 GMT
Moonshield There's certainly a lot of opportunity: start by swapping the Indians for the Mongols & Turkic nomads. Then swap the great deserts for great steppes. But be sure to keep all the smallpox and the horses. "The Siberian Saloon" would be a fun name: soldier, with glass of vodka at hand, recounts his life story.
Was this one any good? Billed as "The Last Soviet Film."
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 11, 2020 5:54:25 GMT
"The Siberian Saloon" would be a fun name: soldier, with glass of vodka at hand, recounts his life story.
Eastern Siberia is extremely cold even by my standards. Sometimes -70 C. (-78 C is a temperature of the dry ice.)  Yes. But it is more like Mad Max)
Particularly, you are right, we have some "Eastern" movies, but best of them, like "Elusive Avengers" or "White Sun of the Desert", are about the Civil War, and the others more like imitation, not self-dependent movies. Really, we have no historical background, which can be a basis of a genre. About 10 wars against Turkey or against the Golden Horde - it is a very different story. Also, wars against the Golden Horde were about 500 years ago.
By the way... I've watched ROTS in English. Now, the prequels are my first three movies in English)
|
|
|
|
Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 11, 2020 17:12:28 GMT
By the way... I've watched ROTS in English. Now, the prequels are my first three movies in English)
I take it you haven't seen the English-language film adaption of Anna Karenina then?
I'll never forget the way Tolstoy opens that novel: "All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
How has the Russian experience been of adapting your great works of literature? In English, at least, it is often an art of knowing what to cut out, and any hostility from an audience tends to be proportional to the popularity of the original novel.
I notice that Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has become a lot more popular in the West in recent years, due to his promotion by Canadian academic, Jordan Peterson, for psychological insights. So The Gulag Archipelago might make for an interesting, if perhaps rather gruesome, adaption. For authenticity it would have to be in Russian - for Ancient Rome we have an excuse with Latin being a dead language.
|
|
|
|
Post by Subtext Mining on May 11, 2020 17:47:37 GMT
Have we decided on a movie? As I'm living in Prague, Tony brought to my attention this film from 2016, Anthropoid. It about an assassination attempt on the leader of the Nazi occupation in Prague, 1942. Starring Cillian Murphy. And it's on YouTube. m.youtube.com/watch?v=D8bc98zDHegA suggestion for some point. Here's a trailer. |
|
|
|
Post by stampidhd280pro on May 11, 2020 20:42:42 GMT
Have we decided on a movie? As I'm living in Prague, Tony brought to my attention this film from 2016, Anthropoid. It about an assassination attempt on the leader of the Nazi occupation in Prague, 1942. Starring Cillian Murphy. And it's on YouTube. m.youtube.com/watch?v=D8bc98zDHegA suggestion for some point. Here's a trailer. looks like it's Stagecoach this week. |
|
|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 14, 2020 5:10:57 GMT
Yesterday watched a psychological drama «Closer» for the first time (in English). Have understood two things.
1. Actually the psychological drama was AOTC.
2. Most Hollywood writers cannot write and cannot come up with anything, so it's easier for them to declare Lucas as a bad writer than to learn to write for themselves.
At all, so boring movies haven't seen for a long time. My guess that there is nothing interesting except Natalie Portman's pink bikini is confirmed.
|
|
|
|
Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 14, 2020 10:27:58 GMT
Yesterday watched a psychological drama «Closer» for the first time (in English). Have understood two things. 1. Actually the psychological drama was AOTC. 2. Most Hollywood writers cannot write and cannot come up with anything, so it's easier for them to declare Lucas as a bad writer than to learn to write for themselves. At all, so boring movies haven't seen for a long time. My guess that there is nothing interesting except Natalie Portman's pink bikini is confirmed.
Was it any better than No Strings Attached ? 
It would be cool if she did a film with Hayden and Ewan again. You know, a prequel reunion for old time sake. She must surely be getting tired of starring alongside Jude Law all the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Subtext Mining on May 14, 2020 10:45:39 GMT
She has done another movie with Ewan; Jane Got A Gun, also starring Owen Lars/Edgerton. The plot has an interesting parallel with the PT. I remember it being pretty good, but in full disclosure I only watched it once and I watched it while playing the Aerosmith album Pump simultaneously to see how well they synced up. It's the album that contains the song "Janie's Got A Gun". And we'll, it did very well.  And it's funny you bring up Closer. "Closer?!" That was the first non-SW movie we discussed in the TFN pm thread way back in its early days, and it was quite a lenghty discussion. It then garnered discussion of other similar movies and on and on. I liked Closer for a few reasons, one being parallels in Portman's role with Padme (in subtle, Pyro-y ways), or more specifically, an archetype she seems to play in many of her roles. Also it was directed by the guy who did The Graduate. I also thought the writing was well done despite the cringey subject matter. Which was the big topic of contention in our discussion; does good writing and/or directing justify a movie about bad people? |
|
|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 15, 2020 6:11:35 GMT
I take it you haven't seen the English-language film adaption of Anna Karenina then? No, I haven't. I've seen Soviet 1967 film, but it is boring. (I like the novel.)
I'll never forget the way Tolstoy opens that novel: "All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Good quote. Unhappy families are unhappy for different reasons.
How has the Russian experience been of adapting your great works of literature? In English, at least, it is often an art of knowing what to cut out, and any hostility from an audience tends to be proportional to the popularity of the original novel. I didn't watch. They aren't good, as for me. English is better, I think.
I notice that Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has become a lot more popular in the West in recent years, due to his promotion by Canadian academic, Jordan Peterson, for psychological insights. So The Gulag Archipelago might make for an interesting, if perhaps rather gruesome, adaption. For authenticity it would have to be in Russian - for Ancient Rome we have an excuse with Latin being a dead language.
Solzhenitsyn is a bad writer. He was disliked even by political prisoners. Though, he isn't bad psychologist. I read his main books (Ivan Denisovich, Matryona's Place, In the First Circle, Cancer Ward, The Gulag Archipelago), but at that date, I was stupid. Now I think that his books are simply whining. Many people were far more experienced than Solzhenitsyn (for example, my cousin's granddad), but they didn't write bad novels. Also, he is a propagandist. |
|
|
|
Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 15, 2020 7:49:12 GMT
Also, he is a propagandist.
I don't think there is any "propaganda" about spreading the truth about brutal tyrants and their repressive, totalitarian states, whether they be like Hitler, Mao or Stalin. Where do you think the inspiration for Palpatine comes from?
Solzhenitsyn was a very brave man. I didn't mean to imply he was an equal of Tolstoy in writing ability, but the fact he still won a Nobel Prize in literature.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 15, 2020 9:02:57 GMT
Was it any better than No Strings Attached ?
Don't know. Need to watch. Today, maybe.)
|
|
|
|
Post by eljedicolombiano on May 17, 2020 1:35:13 GMT
HATA-HATA
well I finished Stagecoach- did anyone else?
|
|
|
|
Film club
May 17, 2020 1:56:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by stampidhd280pro on May 17, 2020 1:56:34 GMT
HATA-HATA well I finished Stagecoach- did anyone else? I doubt it. I'll watch it tonight and create a thread for discussion, but I don't think this film club is going to take off. |
|
|
|
Post by Moonshield on May 17, 2020 4:36:36 GMT
I also thought the writing was well done despite the cringey subject matter. Which was the big topic of contention in our discussion; does good writing and/or directing justify a movie about bad people? Hmmm... For me, it is not cringey but boring. I slept the whole movie, waking up only 2 times: 1) porn chat and 2) striptease.
For example, I like "Basic Instinct" or "Showgirls" not because of nude scenes but because of the interesting story.
Was it any better than No Strings Attached ? Yes, it was... )) AT-AT well I finished Stagecoach- did anyone else? I'll watch today in the evening. |
|
|
|
Post by Subtext Mining on May 18, 2020 11:08:12 GMT
I tired to watch Stagecoach a few nights ago but I just can't stomach the "Injun bad, white man good" mentality from that era, especially from the Ford/Wayne camp.
|
|
|
|
Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on May 26, 2020 1:30:22 GMT
I tired to watch Stagecoach a few nights ago but I just can't stomach the "Injun bad, white man good" mentality from that era, especially from the Ford/Wayne camp.
America's original sin.
That said, I've never understood cowboys to have any more moral integrity than say Tony Soprano or Tony Montana. Fun to watch, for sure, but that doesn't mean you're condoning their actions either.
|
|
|
|
Film club
May 27, 2020 18:49:55 GMT
via mobile
Post by tonyg on May 27, 2020 18:49:55 GMT
Moonshield Can you advice us on any Russian films? I'm sure there's been a few on the Romanov emperors? Russian films are badly made. I myself don't watch them, except two or three. Soviet, maybe. For example: The Shield and the Sword (1968)
But how to watch - it isn't even voiced. Only subtitles.
I like the early 90ties movies (Brat, Voina etc.). I watched Духless in YouTube, very interesting interpretation of the westernization of Russia, it reminds me a lot of what happened in my country in smaller proportions. However if we talk about more let's say it epic and fantasy and science fiction movies Russia has the potential: exceptional literature but is not filmed, as for example Strugatzkie brothers: at least 3 unsuccessful attempt of their most adventure-like books (Stalker doesn't count as is Tarkovski about Strugatzkie and is not adaptation). |
|
|
|
Film club
May 27, 2020 18:56:17 GMT
via mobile
Post by tonyg on May 27, 2020 18:56:17 GMT
She has done another movie with Ewan; Jane Got A Gun, also starring Owen Lars/Edgerton. The plot has an interesting parallel with the PT. I remember it being pretty good, but in full disclosure I only watched it once and I watched it while playing the Aerosmith album Pump simultaneously to see how well they synced up. It's the album that contains the song "Janie's Got A Gun". And we'll, it did very well. And it's funny you bring up Closer. "Closer?!" That was the first non-SW movie we discussed in the TFN pm thread way back in its early days, and it was quite a lenghty discussion. It then garnered discussion of other similar movies and on and on. I liked Closer for a few reasons, one being parallels in Portman's role with Padme (in subtle, Pyro-y ways), or more specifically, an archetype she seems to play in many of her roles. Also it was directed by the guy who did The Graduate. I also thought the writing was well done despite the cringey subject matter. Which was the big topic of contention in our discussion; does good writing and/or directing justify a movie about bad people? I would say it again: is like The pool but without Alain Delon. Empty people with empty desires passing empty time in luxurious places. Strange, when I was little everyone or should I say every woman around me liked The pool (Alain Delon has magical blue eyes). When I watched this as grown up: yuck, his character was so unlikable. I have to watch Lawrence of Arabia. I was too little when I watched and I remember the magical blue eyes of Peter O'Toole but that's it. It would be interesting to see it now. |
|
|
|
Film club
May 27, 2020 19:05:52 GMT
via mobile
Post by tonyg on May 27, 2020 19:05:52 GMT
By the way... I've watched ROTS in English. Now, the prequels are my first three movies in English)
I take it you haven't seen the English-language film adaption of Anna Karenina then?
I'll never forget the way Tolstoy opens that novel: "All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
How has the Russian experience been of adapting your great works of literature? In English, at least, it is often an art of knowing what to cut out, and any hostility from an audience tends to be proportional to the popularity of the original novel.
I notice that Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has become a lot more popular in the West in recent years, due to his promotion by Canadian academic, Jordan Peterson, for psychological insights. So The Gulag Archipelago might make for an interesting, if perhaps rather gruesome, adaption. For authenticity it would have to be in Russian - for Ancient Rome we have an excuse with Latin being a dead language.
I like the movie with Sean Bean as it is far from the text of the novel which I greatly dislike (War and Peace 100 times yes but Ana Karenina, no). Sean Bean is not superfluous Vronsky and Sofie M. is really suffering Ana, I.e. they are not the characters of the novel. Also it is filmed really in St.Petersburg and looks amazing. |
|
