i did. i thought it was a smashing movie.
i quite liked shakespeare in love too, mind...
Shakespeare in Love
- Thread starter electrogirl
- Start date
i quite liked shakespeare in love too, mind...
No, not at all. Whilst I think you could get a measure of consensus amongst the experts on whether a director is technically competent or not, I wouldn't pretend to have any specialist knowledge on the subject at all. With that in mind, I think I've been pretty careful even here to say that I was impressed with the technical aspects highlighted on the commentary, but I would urge you to borrow a copy of the DVD and watch it yourself, and form your own opinion.Yeh, right
What's intriguing is that while I wouldn't be foolish enough to claim any objectivity, you will - "the craft is there to see" etc.
Hypocritical much?
Maybe the extra insight would elevate it in your mind from worst film ever (a, some would say, controversial charge that you haven't attempted to justify..) to, I dunno... 2nd?
I watched it at the cinema on release and reviewed it too. I've no need to revisit it, thanks
Kaka Tim
Half Arsed and Slapdash till I Die
I found these 'jokes' smug, knowing and nauseating. Also when I saw it at the cinema it was clear that many of the people laughing were just doing so cos everyone else wanted to make it look like they 'got' the reference.
A film for middle class wankers. File next to Vetriano Prints, M People, Weekend trips to Ikea and Pashmina Scarves.
Oh, it's clear that you've seen the film. What were we talking about again?I watched it at the cinema on release and reviewed it too. I've no need to revisit it, thanks
Oh, it's clear that you've seen the film. What were we talking about again?
I love the way all your arguments grind to a halt when confronted by the fact that I've seen / heard the work in question.
Pathetic, really
fucking hell... have all films got to be gritty dramas set on council estates now or something?
fwiw, my knowledge of shakespeare extends to what i learned in school, and seeing the occasional play or film adaptation (like most people, i expect) and i got a lot of the references. and yeah, i laughed at some of them too... was that bad of me?
Oh right. You want me to argue with your opinion that American Beauty is... rubbish? Is... the worst film ever? What would be an effective strategy for that, do you think? Refuting someone's opinion.
It's your opinion. You're entitled to it. I find the assertion that it's the worst film ever utterly ridiculous but, until you attempt to justify it, I've nothing further to go on.
Anyway, what I was getting at is: I know you've seen the film. That is clear. However, I don't believe - correct me if I'm wrong - that you've watched it with Mendes' commentary. You know - the thing we've been discussing most of the way along?
So that is what I suggested you should watch. Do you understand now?
But why on earth would I want to see a man justify a work i think is execrable? What on earth would be the point? Do you think, in taking in this commentary, I might suddenly be convinced that I was wrong all along, and it's actual a great movie? Or simply that despite it being a piece of crap, he's nonetheless a great director?
Well, the first isn't going to happen and the latter is, as I've already explained, irrelevant. I don't care if he can give a good account of himself, I do care about the end result. And the end result is toss.
Well, the first isn't going to happen and the latter is, as I've already explained, irrelevant. I don't care if he can give a good account of himself, I do care about the end result. And the end result is toss.
So that's got fuck-all to do with the film then. It's all about you.
I refer my honourable and learned friend to the great tradition of miners' Shakespeare productions.
No, too wildly overoptimistic. I'd hope for something smaller than that. I'd hope that, watched without prejudice (preh-judice), it might cause you to revise your, frankly, embarrassing pronouncement about it being the worst film ever. A pronouncement which, with your repeated failure to justify it, is looking more and more ridiculous at every turn.
It is, it is. Since I found the film immensely enjoyable and I'm mystified as to why you.. not merely didn't, but actively loathe it so. It puzzles me deeply and, being imbued like most of the species with a natural curiosity, it hurts to not have a satisfactory answer. Do you, by any chance, have a copy of your review that I could read, that I might pursue the matter further?
I'm honoured with a special place in your disaffections? Why, pray?
So many unanswered questions.
ok. You think it's the "worst film ever" - but you're not prepared to say why.
Like I said to begin with: silly.
Don't need to. You find it derivative. Many films are equally unoriginal, so this doesn't justify your pronouncement. Feel free to withdraw it, as I can accept that you simply don't like it. That's no big deal.
(But seriously - I really would like to read the review if possible? No doubt I'll disagree, but I'm not looking for 'ammo'. It just sounds like it'll be fun.)
(But seriously - I really would like to read the review if possible? No doubt I'll disagree, but I'm not looking for 'ammo'. It just sounds like it'll be fun.)
I'm not trying to antagonise you. Like I said, I'm just puzzled by the levels of enmity that you display towards the film (and towards me - but that's by the by ), and simply asking politely why you hate it so.
But I'll reluctantly leave it there if being asked questions annoys you.
), and simply asking politely why you hate it so.But I'll reluctantly leave it there if being asked questions annoys you.
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
I pretty much hated it too - it irritated me immensely
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Kevin Spacey's acting mainly but also the portrayal of his character, who was made out to be a sort of hero when he was a vile creep.
I don't think it's the worst film ever - there are many many far worse films than American Beauty - but it's certainly a mediocre film and very disappointing considering Alan Ball is the creator of Six Feet Under, which I loved.
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Eh? No one's forcing you to comment
Jeff's making me, Clyde.
Not really. An invisible boredom threshold has been crossed. It's no mystery. I did respond to his points.
(Half-heartedly with the last breath of a dying man, I must admit... can I go now?)
Not really. An invisible boredom threshold has been crossed. It's no mystery. I did respond to his points.
(Half-heartedly with the last breath of a dying man, I must admit... can I go now?
)
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Jeff's making me, Clyde.
No he isn't
Fictionist
Serving Eargasms....
No he is. I find the vitriol he continually spits my way irresistible (but I say again that, in this instance, that I wasn't out to antagonise, easy and satisfying though that is on the rare occasions I pursue it).
So I suppose we're both to blame.
It's a sort of love really.
