list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Thin Red Line on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/The_Thin_Red_Line/129361/default.aspx Title: The Thin Red Line
Year: 1998
Director: Terrence Malick
Plot: The return of director Terrence Malick to feature filmmaking after a twenty year sabbatical, this World War II drama is an elegiac rumination on man's destruction of nature and himself, based on James Jones' semi-autobiographical novel, his follow-up to From Here to Eternity. James Caviezel stars as Private Witt, a deserter living in peace and harmony with the natives of a Pacific island paradise. Captured by the Navy, Witt is debriefed by a senior officer (Sean Penn) and returned to an active duty unit preparing for what will be the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt goes ashore in the company of his fellow soldiers, they meet diverse fates. Sergeant Keck (Woody Harrelson) is killed by an exploding grenade. Captain John Gaff (John Cusack) is an intelligent, sober leader facing the destruction of his command because his commanding officer Colonel Tall (Nick Nolte) is bucking for a general's star. Sergeant McCron (John Savage) loses his mind. Private Bell (Ben Chaplin) gets a "Dear John" letter from his beloved wife. However, as the U.S. troops advance up grassy slopes toward entrenched Japanese positions, it is Witt's voiced-over ruminations on life, death, and nature that are the real heart and soul of The Thin Red Line (1998). Adrien Brody appears as Private Fife, the major character of Jones' novel and the author's alter-ego, although Fife has been relegated to a minor supporting role by Malick's filmed adaptation. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 26
Number of Lists: 48
Number of blog posts: 6
Number of discussion threads: 18
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:57:50 GMTThe Thin Red Line1998Terrence MalickThe return of director <a href="/players/P___100893/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Terrence Malick</a> to feature filmmaking after a twenty year sabbatical, this World War II drama is an elegiac rumination on man's destruction of nature and himself, based on <a href="/players/P___173324/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>James Jones</a>' semi-autobiographical novel, his follow-up to From Here to Eternity. <a href="/players/P____11903/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>James Caviezel</a> stars as Private Witt, a deserter living in peace and harmony with the natives of a Pacific island paradise. Captured by the Navy, Witt is debriefed by a senior officer (<a href="/players/P___106027/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Sean Penn</a>) and returned to an active duty unit preparing for what will be the Battle of Guadalcanal. As Witt goes ashore in the company of his fellow soldiers, they meet diverse fates. Sergeant Keck (<a href="/players/P____30548/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Woody Harrelson</a>) is killed by an exploding grenade. Captain John Gaff (<a href="/players/P____16329/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>John Cusack</a>) is an intelligent, sober leader facing the destruction of his command because his commanding officer Colonel Tall (<a href="/players/P____52916/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Nick Nolte</a>) is bucking for a general's star. Sergeant McCron (<a href="/players/P____63326/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>John Savage</a>) loses his mind. Private Bell (<a href="/players/P___198978/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ben Chaplin</a>) gets a "Dear John" letter from his beloved wife. However, as the U.S. troops advance up grassy slopes toward entrenched Japanese positions, it is Witt's voiced-over ruminations on life, death, and nature that are the real heart and soul of The Thin Red Line (1998). <a href="/players/P_____8639/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Adrien Brody</a> appears as Private Fife, the major character of Jones' novel and the author's alter-ego, although Fife has been relegated to a minor supporting role by Malick's filmed adaptation. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide26Tag Target (>10)486183http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t144993sgzx.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Thin_Red_Line/129361/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_May_25_The_American_Soldier/625/42398/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 5/25/2009 7:02:17 PM
Body: Happy Memorial Day Y'all. I had something else I decided to go with a more seasonal theme instead. Today is Memorial Day, a day that we're supposed to remember the sacrifices made by those men & women in the armed forces. So, let's all do just that by remembering the way countless films have portrayed them. Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan gave a very honorable portrayel of the WWII vets. Most of the characters in this film were a bit too archetypical (is that a word?) But nonetheless, I think it was his way of honoring a generation that will all to soon be lost to us forever. I haven't seen A Bridge Too Far in quite a while, but I do remember liking it a lot. As I recall, this was a film filled with cameos, sort of like another WWII film, The Thin Red Line. This could pretty easily turn into a list of war movies so I'll quit while I'm still ahead. But what I really like to know is: Who is your favorite American soldier. I'm looking for suggestions because as I write this, it is becoming pretty clear that I haven't seen nearly enough of these films. Well, have at it. Emery.
]]>Mon, 25 May 2009 23:02:17 GMTleeroy711Weekly Theme5/25/2009 7:02:17 PMHappy Memorial Day Y'all. I had something else I decided to go with a more seasonal theme instead. Today is Memorial Day, a day that we're supposed to remember the sacrifices made by those men &amp; women in the armed forces. So, let's all do just that by remembering the way countless films have portrayed them. Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan gave a very honorable portrayel of the WWII vets. Most of the characters in this film were a bit too archetypical (is that a word?) But nonetheless, I think it was his way of honoring a generation that will all to soon be lost to us forever. I haven't seen A Bridge Too Far in quite a while, but I do remember liking it a lot. As I recall, this was a film filled with cameos, sort of like another WWII film, The Thin Red Line. This could pretty easily turn into a list of war movies so I'll quit while I'm still ahead. But what I really like to know is: Who is your favorite American soldier. I'm looking for suggestions because as I write this, it is becoming pretty clear that I haven't seen nearly enough of these films. Well, have at it. Emery. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terrenc/657/40801/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: QFLW
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 3/3/2009 5:16:13 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Is anyone looking forward to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life which should be coming out some time in 2009? I believe shooting has wrapped and they are into post production. It will be interesting to see what Malick does with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. And interesting to see both of them starring in a movie together. Although I will admit that I enjoy each subsequent Malick movie less than the previous one. Is anyone else looking forward to this film? Do you feel like Malick's best days are behind him or is he still gearing up for his best? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:BadlandsDays of HeavenThe New WorldThe Thin Red Line [/quote] The one I haven't seen is Thin Red Line; I just never got around to it. Got bored with The New World & didn't finish watching. Days of Heaven was just depressing, as much for the relentless, unending expanse of wheat as for the downer of a story and blandness of characters. My vote went to Badlands; it really is my favorite of the lot. Certainly more exciting than the others. Although each of Malick's films have been a disappointment to some degree, I'm curious to see Tree of Life. The premises, trailers and cast always look so interesting, so I keep being drawn in by new hope.
]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:16:13 GMTQFLWMovie Polls3/3/2009 5:16:13 PM[quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Is anyone looking forward to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life which should be coming out some time in 2009? I believe shooting has wrapped and they are into post production. It will be interesting to see what Malick does with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. And interesting to see both of them starring in a movie together. Although I will admit that I enjoy each subsequent Malick movie less than the previous one. Is anyone else looking forward to this film? Do you feel like Malick's best days are behind him or is he still gearing up for his best? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:BadlandsDays of HeavenThe New WorldThe Thin Red Line [/quote] The one I haven't seen is Thin Red Line; I just never got around to it. Got bored with The New World &amp; didn't finish watching. Days of Heaven was just depressing, as much for the relentless, unending expanse of wheat as for the downer of a story and blandness of characters. My vote went to Badlands; it really is my favorite of the lot. Certainly more exciting than the others. Although each of Malick's films have been a disappointment to some degree, I'm curious to see Tree of Life. The premises, trailers and cast always look so interesting, so I keep being drawn in by new hope. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terrence_M/657/40792/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 3/3/2009 1:33:40 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Is anyone looking forward to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life which should be coming out some time in 2009? I believe shooting has wrapped and they are into post production. It will be interesting to see what Malick does with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. And interesting to see both of them starring in a movie together. Although I will admit that I enjoy each subsequent Malick movie less than the previous one. Is anyone else looking forward to this film? Do you feel like Malick's best days are behind him or is he still gearing up for his best? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:BadlandsDays of HeavenThe New WorldThe Thin Red Line
]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:33:40 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls3/3/2009 1:33:40 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. Is anyone looking forward to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life which should be coming out some time in 2009? I believe shooting has wrapped and they are into post production. It will be interesting to see what Malick does with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. And interesting to see both of them starring in a movie together. Although I will admit that I enjoy each subsequent Malick movie less than the previous one. Is anyone else looking forward to this film? Do you feel like Malick's best days are behind him or is he still gearing up for his best? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:BadlandsDays of HeavenThe New WorldThe Thin Red Line http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Recast_ONE_FLEW_OVER_THE_CUCKOO_S_NEST_1975/563/37320/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 11/14/2008 3:07:53 PM
Body: The t-shirt goes to seven-ate-9, who really knocked this one out of the park. Everyone had some great picks. Like pippin says, Elijah Wood could do great as Billy Bibbitt. And benthams_head, I love Paul Giamatti as Cheswick, and Roberto Begnini as Martini.seven-ate-9 offered two great choices for McMurphy, and though I love the idea of Ryan Gosling in the role, I think Sam Rockwell is one more degree of perfect. I recommend you check out seven-ate-9's full post; here's why I love his choices:Jack Nicholson ... R.P. McMurphy ... Sam Rockwell Sam is hugely talented, and he hits the right note between charming & smarmy. Favorite Sam roles, anyone? I'll go with Charlie in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.Louise Fletcher ... Nurse Mildred Ratched ... Linda Hamilton Whoa! The tough chick who's institutionalized in T:2 turns to the other side! Brilliant.William Redfield ... Dale Harding ... Sam Waterston Sydney Lassick ... Charley Cheswick ... Kevin Spacey I'm imagining Spacey playing this like his character in The Usual Suspects, but it would be great to see him play someone who's not hiding a wolf-like cunning.Brad Dourif ... Billy Bibbit ... James Van der Beek It would be wild to see this former teen sex symbol become terrified of the thought that his mother would discover he lost his virginity. Christopher Lloyd ... Taber ... Elias Koteas seven-ate-9 said "Does anyone out there currently play a better nutter?" I don't have an opinion on that, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Mr. Koteas. Remember him as the compassionate Captain Staros in The Thin Red Line? And who can forget him as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.William Duell ... Jim Sefelt ... Michael Jeter Poor Michael Jeter. I didn't even know he was gone until I read seven-ate-9's post. Since he's the only one we'd have to resurrect, what do you guys think of benthams_head's choice, Dylan Baker? He's one of those "Oh, that guy. I like that guy!" kind of actors.Vincent Schiavelli ... Fredrickson ... Steve Buscemi Will Sampson ... Chief Bromden ... Ron Perlman seven-ate-9 is right on: "While not preserving the American Indian vibe, I'm convinced he could bring the strong and silent like he did in The City of Lost Children (1995)."Danny DeVito ... Martini ... Colin Farrell Wow. Farrell can pull off a boyish charm (did you see In Bruges?) but playing that cute meatball, Martini, would be a challenge. If he pulled it off, he should star in a modern remake of Tom Hanks's Big. Dean R. Brooks ... Dr. John Spivey ... J.K. Simmons Nice! The guy who played Juno's dad would be perfect here. I can see himplaying it similar to how he played the CIA boss in Burn After Reading. He and Brad Pitt were my two favorite things about that film. Scatman Crothers ... Turkle the Janitor ... John Witherspoon
]]>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:07:53 GMTSkyPilotFilmgaming11/14/2008 3:07:53 PMThe t-shirt goes to seven-ate-9, who really knocked this one out of the park. Everyone had some great picks. Like pippin says, Elijah Wood could do great as Billy Bibbitt. And benthams_head, I love Paul Giamatti as Cheswick, and Roberto Begnini as Martini.seven-ate-9 offered two great choices for McMurphy, and though I love the idea of Ryan Gosling in the role, I think Sam Rockwell is one more degree of perfect. I recommend you check out seven-ate-9's full post; here's why I love his choices:Jack Nicholson ... R.P. McMurphy ... Sam Rockwell Sam is hugely talented, and he hits the right note between charming &amp; smarmy. Favorite Sam roles, anyone? I'll go with Charlie in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.Louise Fletcher ... Nurse Mildred Ratched ... Linda Hamilton Whoa! The tough chick who's institutionalized in T:2 turns to the other side! Brilliant.William Redfield ... Dale Harding ... Sam Waterston Sydney Lassick ... Charley Cheswick ... Kevin Spacey I'm imagining Spacey playing this like his character in The Usual Suspects, but it would be great to see him play someone who's not hiding a wolf-like cunning.Brad Dourif ... Billy Bibbit ... James Van der Beek It would be wild to see this former teen sex symbol become terrified of the thought that his mother would discover he lost his virginity. Christopher Lloyd ... Taber ... Elias Koteas seven-ate-9 said "Does anyone out there currently play a better nutter?" I don't have an opinion on that, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Mr. Koteas. Remember him as the compassionate Captain Staros in The Thin Red Line? And who can forget him as Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.William Duell ... Jim Sefelt ... Michael Jeter Poor Michael Jeter. I didn't even know he was gone until I read seven-ate-9's post. Since he's the only one we'd have to resurrect, what do you guys think of benthams_head's choice, Dylan Baker? He's one of those "Oh, that guy. I like that guy!" kind of actors.Vincent Schiavelli ... Fredrickson ... Steve Buscemi Will Sampson ... Chief Bromden ... Ron Perlman seven-ate-9 is right on: "While not preserving the American Indian vibe, I'm convinced he could bring the strong and silent like he did in The City of Lost Children (1995)."Danny DeVito ... Martini ... Colin Farrell Wow. Farrell can pull off a boyish charm (did you see In Bruges?) but playing that cute meatball, Martini, would be a challenge. If he pulled it off, he should star in a modern remake of Tom Hanks's Big. Dean R. Brooks ... Dr. John Spivey ... J.K. Simmons Nice! The guy who played Juno's dad would be perfect here. I can see himplaying it similar to how he played the CIA boss in Burn After Reading. He and Brad Pitt were my two favorite things about that film. Scatman Crothers ... Turkle the Janitor ... John Witherspoon http://www.spout.com/groups/Coming_Soon/Upcoming_Movies_Week_of_9_12/216/34885/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 9/8/2008 12:14:02 PM
Body: Waa-hooo! This Friday we are officially delivered from the movie release Dead Zone! Let Oscar-bait season begin!FEATURES1. Burn After Reading -- New Coen bros. movie this Friday! Does the trailer for this dark spy comedy remind anyone else of the dark stoner/detective comedy The Big Lebowski?Brad Pitt and John Malkovich are both interviewed about the film on SpoutBlog.And there's a Recast The Big Lebowski contest you're all welcome to join in the Filmgaming group. The swag we're giving away would go great with a bathrobe.2. Righteous Kill -- Robert Deniro and Al Pacino do the bad cop/bad cop routine.This could be...(a) a supremely awesome, double-espresso shot of testosterone, a la Michael Mann's Heat. Or this could be ...(b) a blown opportunity on the level of The Score (remember that extremely forgettable movie with Deniro, Marlon Brando, and Ed Norton?) Unfortunately I'm expecting Righteous Kill to be closer to option (b). Director Jon Avnet is no Michael Mann. His most recent film 88 Minutes starred Al Pacino, was in theaters for about half an hour, and barely got a kind word spoken about it. There's some hope for Avnet, though -- the first film he directed was Fried Green Tomatoes.3. Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys -- Of all Tyler Perry films, this one looks most interesting to me. Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard are long-time friends and the matriarchs of two seemingly different families: Bates' family is wealthy and WASPy, while Woodard's family is working class African American. The families experience similar crises, including extramarital affairs and unethical business practices.I haven't seen any Tyler Perry movies. Any fans out there that could recommend a film to start with?4. Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips -- (limited release) This sci-fi flick is the directorial debut of Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. The story: it's Christmastime on Mars. When the community's life support system begins to malfunction, one man on the repair team begins to hallucinate about the birth of a baby. The Lips provide the music and each band member plays a role.I'm far from a die-hard Lips fan, but this sounds incredible! The film sounds like a natural (but inspired) progression from creating rock operas like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. I'd enjoy seeing more rock opera movies. Are there any films you guys would recommend? I was disappointed by Tommy, and I haven't seen Pink Floyd: The Wall (I only like about half of the music on The Wall). If you guys haven't watched The Wizard of Oz while listening to Dark Side of the Moon, I highly recommend it.Here's the trailer for Christmas on Mars: 5. The Women -- This contemporary remake of feminist comedy drama The Women (1939) stars Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, and Debra Messing. The story begins when the most-envied of the women discovers her husband is having an affair with a shopgirl. With smaller roles played by Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, and Carrie Fisher, this movie has as many stars as The Thin Red Line.Has anyone seen the original The Women? The remake is being called gossipy and bitchy-wisecracking; do you have any other bitchy-wisecracking favorites?DOCUMENTARIES6. Flow: For Love of Water -- (limited release) Presents how corporate privatization of water is adversely affecting many around the world. 7. Moving Midway -- (limited release) When Raleigh, NC man Charlie Cheshire decides to relocate the historic buildings of the Midway plantation, white Raleigh residents are outraged at the idea of moving their beloved symbol of the Old South. This is contrasted by the perspective of another branch of the Chesire family--the descendants of the slaves who were owned by the white Cheshires. The two branches of the Cheshire family meet on camera, which would be very interesting to see. Here's the trailer:
]]>Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:14:02 GMTSkyPilotComing Soon9/8/2008 12:14:02 PMWaa-hooo! This Friday we are officially delivered from the movie release Dead Zone! Let Oscar-bait season begin!FEATURES1. Burn After Reading -- New Coen bros. movie this Friday! Does the trailer for this dark spy comedy remind anyone else of the dark stoner/detective comedy The Big Lebowski?Brad Pitt and John Malkovich are both interviewed about the film on SpoutBlog.And there's a Recast The Big Lebowski contest you're all welcome to join in the Filmgaming group. The swag we're giving away would go great with a bathrobe.2. Righteous Kill -- Robert Deniro and Al Pacino do the bad cop/bad cop routine.This could be...(a) a supremely awesome, double-espresso shot of testosterone, a la Michael Mann's Heat. Or this could be ...(b) a blown opportunity on the level of The Score (remember that extremely forgettable movie with Deniro, Marlon Brando, and Ed Norton?) Unfortunately I'm expecting Righteous Kill to be closer to option (b). Director Jon Avnet is no Michael Mann. His most recent film 88 Minutes starred Al Pacino, was in theaters for about half an hour, and barely got a kind word spoken about it. There's some hope for Avnet, though -- the first film he directed was Fried Green Tomatoes.3. Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys -- Of all Tyler Perry films, this one looks most interesting to me. Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard are long-time friends and the matriarchs of two seemingly different families: Bates' family is wealthy and WASPy, while Woodard's family is working class African American. The families experience similar crises, including extramarital affairs and unethical business practices.I haven't seen any Tyler Perry movies. Any fans out there that could recommend a film to start with?4. Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips -- (limited release) This sci-fi flick is the directorial debut of Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. The story: it's Christmastime on Mars. When the community's life support system begins to malfunction, one man on the repair team begins to hallucinate about the birth of a baby. The Lips provide the music and each band member plays a role.I'm far from a die-hard Lips fan, but this sounds incredible! The film sounds like a natural (but inspired) progression from creating rock operas like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. I'd enjoy seeing more rock opera movies. Are there any films you guys would recommend? I was disappointed by Tommy, and I haven't seen Pink Floyd: The Wall (I only like about half of the music on The Wall). If you guys haven't watched The Wizard of Oz while listening to Dark Side of the Moon, I highly recommend it.Here's the trailer for Christmas on Mars: 5. The Women -- This contemporary remake of feminist comedy drama The Women (1939) stars Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, and Debra Messing. The story begins when the most-envied of the women discovers her husband is having an affair with a shopgirl. With smaller roles played by Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, and Carrie Fisher, this movie has as many stars as The Thin Red Line.Has anyone seen the original The Women? The remake is being called gossipy and bitchy-wisecracking; do you have any other bitchy-wisecracking favorites?DOCUMENTARIES6. Flow: For Love of Water -- (limited release) Presents how corporate privatization of water is adversely affecting many around the world. 7. Moving Midway -- (limited release) When Raleigh, NC man Charlie Cheshire decides to relocate the historic buildings of the Midway plantation, white Raleigh residents are outraged at the idea of moving their beloved symbol of the Old South. This is contrasted by the perspective of another branch of the Chesire family--the descendants of the slaves who were owned by the white Cheshires. The two branches of the Cheshire family meet on camera, which would be very interesting to see. Here's the trailer: http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Cast_BATMAN_3/563/33806/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: jonnygotham
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 8/9/2008 8:05:19 PM
Body: Hello Everyone: I realize this has been said before, as I'm joining a bit late in the game, but I agree that the next solid and fitting character for the Batman movies would draw from the story arc of HUSH, by Jeph Loeb. Nolan has a knack for cutting and piecing together story elements, which is going to come in handy when the need arises to cut out a great deal of characters from this story line - which is practically Batman versus his entire Rogues Gallery. Further, it's something that would need to be done. Some characters would simply be too fantastic to fit the grit of the world that Nolan took so long to create, and for the sake of creating a strong and enjoyable film, you need to focus on the concentrating things rather than diluting the story with too many characters. That being said, the main villain is HUSH. Thomas Elliot. As it has already been described, Thomas Elliot is an excellent character foil for the Batman/Bruce Wayne character. While having several parallels to both sides of the Batman/Bruce Wayne character, Elliot also has a small, but powerful set of ties and links to the Dark Knight character that make for a great story. The end of "The Dark Knight" saw the hero finally turn into a villain. Presumably, opinion is now going to be split on the Batman character, with far more of its citizens fearing the hero than begging for his help. This takes the main character away from the previous story push and aim to create a symbol that inspires people, allowing a story shift and pursuance of another avenue that is equally compelling. The hero is locked-in now. No one to pick up the mantle, its just him to save the people... and they don't necessarily want his help. As a now isolated character without aid or allies, it is conceivable that Batman pushes beyond his limits and actually suffers the injuries that introduce the Hush character to the story (Elliot, childhood friend, is a world-renounce surgeon - the best in his field and the only one they can trust to handle the operation and potential questions about the nature of the injuries). There is a very engrossing story that is possible there, between a hero that's been cutoff and the renewing of an old friend. The equalities of the Elliot character to Bruce Wayne in intelligence, success, and discipline provide interactions that were as interesting, if not more, as the love triangle dinner we saw in "The Dark Knight". The fact that he knows the hero's secrets and is smart enough to exploit the weaknesses Batman has in the wake of the last movie make the story less Superhero flick, and more revenge thriller (as the last film capitalized on making a crime drama, rather than the standard superhero movie). The costumes are solid and realistic. For much of the story, the Hush character appears as a face-bandaged, trench-coat figure and shadow. This helps, because with the unknown status of the Two Face character, we have an identity mystery - is the villain Harvey Dent? - Now completely mad and face-fully bandaged similar to the hospital scenes in the Dark Knight, or is it someone completely new? Further, with the relative unknown nature of the Hush villain until very recently, this ambiguity helps, because everyone is going to wonder who the next big costume villain is going to be - and they aren't going to get it. There are a myriad of supporting characters to aid this new story and complementary direction, and I leave their inclusion and exclusion to Nolan. There is something to be said about the possibilities of this new villain though. We gain a friend that the isolated hero needs. We gain a character interaction that is similar to the friendship between Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne that was left out of "The Dark Knight", and only slightly exploited in the Love Triangle dinner scene. We have an equal, if not smarter adversary, with a distinct advantage over the hero in that he knows the full playing field and all the players, where Batman does not because of the events at the end of the last movie. Finally, we have a good story that isn't filled with Super-ness. It's a pure revenge-angled crime story. Plenty of options with psychosis, flash-backs, inner struggles, finding control within doing good and dealing with anger and violence, etc. So with the case presented, comes the problem of casting. The character has to match in charisma, acting talent, and needs to be able to switch between friend and foe without the cliches of cinema. He can be the villain without a sinister laugh, vocal change, or costume - the worst villains don't have to LOOK like villains, they're the friends that are trusted and wreak havoc by exploiting their unique positions. Hugh Jackman would be great because of stature and talent - not Wolverine, but more The Fountain and Prestige. Problem is resurrecting the Bale/Jackman duo without reminding the audience of their previous collaboration, similar in revenge aspect. Further, I'm not sure what happens with contracts and acting in multiple superhero franchises. Tom Cruise is great, except for stature. While a lot of people have issues with him, he matches in charisma, looks, and seriousness that would be needed. Unfortunately, he doesn't command the same weight in presence due to his size, especially relative to Bale. He would do well though, given the psyche exploits in Vanilla Sky and other work. I do not like Gerard Butler, as previously noted. I feel like it would become too reminiscent of his previous villain and hero roles and fall victim to the cliches stated before. I had to wrack my brain, and I'm still on the fence a bit (because there might be someone more fitting), but among the many options in Hollywood, perhaps James Caviezel would suit the role well. He has strength in previous roles: Thin Red Line, Count of Monte Cristo, Passion of the Christ, etc. He has similar stature to Bale, if only slightly taller than Bale (according to IMDB), and he evokes a feeling of sympathy for his characters, no matter the act - which helps when crafting a villain. You don't just need Batman to trust him, you need the audience to trust him. There is enough in the HUSH story to bring old characters and villains back to help minimize "noise" in the story, while it also has enough options to introduce new characters to help with transitions and plot development. Hopefully, you'll all see some merits in this, and maybe find a more suitable player to fill the shoes, but either way, the villain of Hush presents a pretty strong case to fill out and end Nolan's work with the Batman franchise. Three films is enough for the current ensemble - enough to be great, and still has potential to leave its fans wanting more. Thanks for the patience in reading. Best. jonny.gotham
]]>Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:05:19 GMTjonnygothamFilmgaming8/9/2008 8:05:19 PM Hello Everyone: I realize this has been said before, as I'm joining a bit late in the game, but I agree that the next solid and fitting character for the Batman movies would draw from the story arc of HUSH, by Jeph Loeb. Nolan has a knack for cutting and piecing together story elements, which is going to come in handy when the need arises to cut out a great deal of characters from this story line - which is practically Batman versus his entire Rogues Gallery. Further, it's something that would need to be done. Some characters would simply be too fantastic to fit the grit of the world that Nolan took so long to create, and for the sake of creating a strong and enjoyable film, you need to focus on the concentrating things rather than diluting the story with too many characters. That being said, the main villain is HUSH. Thomas Elliot. As it has already been described, Thomas Elliot is an excellent character foil for the Batman/Bruce Wayne character. While having several parallels to both sides of the Batman/Bruce Wayne character, Elliot also has a small, but powerful set of ties and links to the Dark Knight character that make for a great story. The end of "The Dark Knight" saw the hero finally turn into a villain. Presumably, opinion is now going to be split on the Batman character, with far more of its citizens fearing the hero than begging for his help. This takes the main character away from the previous story push and aim to create a symbol that inspires people, allowing a story shift and pursuance of another avenue that is equally compelling. The hero is locked-in now. No one to pick up the mantle, its just him to save the people... and they don't necessarily want his help. As a now isolated character without aid or allies, it is conceivable that Batman pushes beyond his limits and actually suffers the injuries that introduce the Hush character to the story (Elliot, childhood friend, is a world-renounce surgeon - the best in his field and the only one they can trust to handle the operation and potential questions about the nature of the injuries). There is a very engrossing story that is possible there, between a hero that's been cutoff and the renewing of an old friend. The equalities of the Elliot character to Bruce Wayne in intelligence, success, and discipline provide interactions that were as interesting, if not more, as the love triangle dinner we saw in "The Dark Knight". The fact that he knows the hero's secrets and is smart enough to exploit the weaknesses Batman has in the wake of the last movie make the story less Superhero flick, and more revenge thriller (as the last film capitalized on making a crime drama, rather than the standard superhero movie). The costumes are solid and realistic. For much of the story, the Hush character appears as a face-bandaged, trench-coat figure and shadow. This helps, because with the unknown status of the Two Face character, we have an identity mystery - is the villain Harvey Dent? - Now completely mad and face-fully bandaged similar to the hospital scenes in the Dark Knight, or is it someone completely new? Further, with the relative unknown nature of the Hush villain until very recently, this ambiguity helps, because everyone is going to wonder who the next big costume villain is going to be - and they aren't going to get it. There are a myriad of supporting characters to aid this new story and complementary direction, and I leave their inclusion and exclusion to Nolan. There is something to be said about the possibilities of this new villain though. We gain a friend that the isolated hero needs. We gain a character interaction that is similar to the friendship between Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne that was left out of "The Dark Knight", and only slightly exploited in the Love Triangle dinner scene. We have an equal, if not smarter adversary, with a distinct advantage over the hero in that he knows the full playing field and all the players, where Batman does not because of the events at the end of the last movie. Finally, we have a good story that isn't filled with Super-ness. It's a pure revenge-angled crime story. Plenty of options with psychosis, flash-backs, inner struggles, finding control within doing good and dealing with anger and violence, etc. So with the case presented, comes the problem of casting. The character has to match in charisma, acting talent, and needs to be able to switch between friend and foe without the cliches of cinema. He can be the villain without a sinister laugh, vocal change, or costume - the worst villains don't have to LOOK like villains, they're the friends that are trusted and wreak havoc by exploiting their unique positions. Hugh Jackman would be great because of stature and talent - not Wolverine, but more The Fountain and Prestige. Problem is resurrecting the Bale/Jackman duo without reminding the audience of their previous collaboration, similar in revenge aspect. Further, I'm not sure what happens with contracts and acting in multiple superhero franchises. Tom Cruise is great, except for stature. While a lot of people have issues with him, he matches in charisma, looks, and seriousness that would be needed. Unfortunately, he doesn't command the same weight in presence due to his size, especially relative to Bale. He would do well though, given the psyche exploits in Vanilla Sky and other work. I do not like Gerard Butler, as previously noted. I feel like it would become too reminiscent of his previous villain and hero roles and fall victim to the cliches stated before. I had to wrack my brain, and I'm still on the fence a bit (because there might be someone more fitting), but among the many options in Hollywood, perhaps James Caviezel would suit the role well. He has strength in previous roles: Thin Red Line, Count of Monte Cristo, Passion of the Christ, etc. He has similar stature to Bale, if only slightly taller than Bale (according to IMDB), and he evokes a feeling of sympathy for his characters, no matter the act - which helps when crafting a villain. You don't just need Batman to trust him, you need the audience to trust him. There is enough in the HUSH story to bring old characters and villains back to help minimize "noise" in the story, while it also has enough options to introduce new characters to help with transitions and plot development. Hopefully, you'll all see some merits in this, and maybe find a more suitable player to fill the shoes, but either way, the villain of Hush presents a pretty strong case to fill out and end Nolan's work with the Batman franchise. Three films is enough for the current ensemble - enough to be great, and still has potential to leave its fans wanting more. Thanks for the patience in reading. Best. jonny.gotham http://www.spout.com/blogs/windbreaker/archive/2008/7/6/32192.aspx Post By: Windbreaker
Post To: Windbreaker!
Post Date: 7/6/2008 3:27:24 PM
Body: Probably Malick's movie with the most mainstream appeal, yet also the most hidden from the general public. I'm surprised it didn't get more attention when The Thin Red Line came out, particularly since Malick doesn't have a ton of projects over the years like a Spielberg, for example. Usually when I see Martin Sheen acting in his younger days, I'm impressed. As opposed to today's Martin Sheen who every time he appears onscreen, it's like "hey, I'm Martin Sheen -- I used to act". Anyway, the half-Charlie half-Emilio rebel plays it nice and smooth in Badlands, perfectly representing the character. Sissy Spacek was perfect for the innocent teen just waiting for someone to corrupt her. She's not completely naiive -- she knows her innocence is being taken by the young punk. Overall, a fascinating first-person look at wild, misguided kids on the run.
]]>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:27:24 GMTWindbreakerWindbreaker!7/6/2008 3:27:24 PMProbably Malick's movie with the most mainstream appeal, yet also the most hidden from the general public. I'm surprised it didn't get more attention when The Thin Red Line came out, particularly since Malick doesn't have a ton of projects over the years like a Spielberg, for example. Usually when I see Martin Sheen acting in his younger days, I'm impressed. As opposed to today's Martin Sheen who every time he appears onscreen, it's like "hey, I'm Martin Sheen -- I used to act". Anyway, the half-Charlie half-Emilio rebel plays it nice and smooth in Badlands, perfectly representing the character. Sissy Spacek was perfect for the innocent teen just waiting for someone to corrupt her. She's not completely naiive -- she knows her innocence is being taken by the young punk. Overall, a fascinating first-person look at wild, misguided kids on the run. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Everybody_Seems_To_Love_But_I_Hate/190/32116/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: joem18b
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 7/4/2008 3:59:32 AM
Body: [quote user="indieabby88"] [quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful. [/quote] I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now. And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise. [/quote] Since this is a contrarian-type group, I'll just say that I put Shakespeare in Love well above Saving Private Ryan (just another war movie) and Life Is Beautiful (comedian tries to get serious about the Holocaust but goes seriously wrong - put if it moved you, then it becomes a worthy movie). The Thin Red Line and Elizabeth are off on some other, orthogonal axes.
]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:59:32 GMTjoem18bTop 57/4/2008 3:59:32 AM[quote user="indieabby88"] [quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful. [/quote] I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now. And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise. [/quote] Since this is a contrarian-type group, I'll just say that I put Shakespeare in Love well above Saving Private Ryan (just another war movie) and Life Is Beautiful (comedian tries to get serious about the Holocaust but goes seriously wrong - put if it moved you, then it becomes a worthy movie). The Thin Red Line and Elizabeth are off on some other, orthogonal axes. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Everybody_Seems_To_Love_But_I_Hate/190/32099/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: indieabby88
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 7/3/2008 7:32:53 PM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful. [/quote] I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now. And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise.
]]>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:32:53 GMTindieabby88Top 57/3/2008 7:32:53 PM[quote user="leeroy711"] [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful. [/quote] I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now. And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Everybody_Seems_To_Love_But_I_Hate/190/31611/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 6/24/2008 2:02:06 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful.
]]>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:02:06 GMTleeroy711Top 56/24/2008 2:02:06 PM[quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="laylor"]Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.[/quote] I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won. [/quote] I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/war/MemberTagFilms.aspxwar
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