Camlost Blog

Geniuses who have been dead for eighty years

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Metropolis (1927)

I grew up with this film, so I didn't think anything of it when I watched it in school. And I was shocked when I invited numerous friends over to see it, only to find that they had fallen asleep on the couch and floor within twenty minutes. There is not one man I love for writing such an original story and carrying it out with such perfection as Fritz Lang. Yes, some of his other works were questionable, but you could understand where he was coming from. He's sitting on a cloud right now being envious of the technology we have today.

I had always seen the version with the 70's/80's soundtrack, so when I saw the original untouched version, I almost went to sleep myself. But in the beginning of the film, Fritz Lang does say that he regrets that he was not a man of the ear so much as the eye. His visual effects were stunning while his music left something to be desired, and it was his greatest downfall. Not until they put a new soundtrack to it and added lost footage (and lost pictures to slide across the screen as a scene) did the masses come to appreciate the marvel that is metropolis.

The affection between Maria and Freder was something idealistic and provocative as it was two people attracted to eachother and drawn to one another by the powers that they held. Maria was calm and understanding, organized and wise. Freder had the authority to bring things together and the willingness to give up his richly comfort to bring "the many" the same rights that "the few" did not deserve but partook of.

Freder's father and Rotwang, the twisted inventor, had such great chemistry on screen as the two men who had lost their mutual love to childbirth. Rotwang's obsession with Hel, the love of his life and the mother of Freder, reminds me something of Ernest Hemingway. I saw that "Love and War" movie with Sandra Bullock and Chris O'Donnel and I was unsatisfied with the ending (because the guy didn't get the girl), but I can relate his obsession with Agnes to Rotwang. And Freder's father, the master of the city, had never been in want of anything and had found the plans to the catacombs where the oppressed workers were congregating. His obsession throughout the movie is that he wants control over them and does not want them to overthrow his empire. He has no idea that they could merely be coming together for the sake of a bible study.

There was some aggrivation, when the movie came out, over Maria, the bible study teacher. Her role as "pastor" created some controversy and there were many angry over it. But it was fought with the concept that we allow women to teach our children, and the workers--being uneducated-were as children.

I feel sorry for the woman who played Maria, as she discovered that with her success in the role, it was a defeaning blow to her career. She played a quiet, loving woman teaching the bible to oppressed laborers, a robot, and a robot gone wild (which was party-central). So well did she embody this that when she sought to further her career, she was turned down. No one would have her. Why? Because she was TOO GOOD. What is that supposed to mean? Simply put, she showed that she was the best and no one thought their movie was adequate for her. This was the top for her and the end.

This movie is startling as it is beautiful, especially for a man limited to what 1920's technology could give him. But the dream was large and it could not be muffled, despite the handicap of special effects of the time.

Fritz Lang sits right next to Peter Jackson and George Lucas in my own hall of fame, and I hope that if you have not seen this movie, you will endevour to do so in the near future.

Posted Saturday, March 22, 2008 6:47 PM by Camlost | with 0 comments

Finally, a movie I didn't have to cringe through

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Jumper (2008)

Before you read this, understand that I will be stating opinions on vague statements--intended for those who have seen the movie already. For those of you who haven't seen it, SEE IT.

In Star Wars Episode II you wanted to believe in Hayden's character, but the whiny exterior and shallow interior made him a person you didn't care to know better. It was obvious that he had potential, but it was also obvious that the director would not allow any of the improvisation Christiansen could have offered (and what ultimately could have saved the Anakin character we have come to tolerate and roll our eyes at). But this review is not about Star Wars. This review is about the role that finally opened our eyes to an incredible actor and a role that finally allowed him to breathe and put his personal touch into.

Jumper was well-directed and I thank God there is someone out there that understands what it is the audience wants to see. The story opens with the outcast (don't they all?) and continues with the story without too much narrative. The worst thing that can happen in any movie is a narrator. The best thing that can happen in any movie is a narrator. Too many words makes it seem as though we are reading a book instead of watching the memories of an individual. Too little words makes us feel as though the voice is holding back valuable information and we become frustrated. This was perfection. "Hi. My name is David. I can do cool things. Oh, by the way, I'm not very popular, which you will see in the next scene."

Personally, I'm not on board with the whole "I've-loved-you-since-before-I-hit-puberty" thing, but I'm willing to keep an open mind. Maybe "we-were-really-great-friends-and-then-when-I-hit-puberty-I-fell-in-love-with-you" is better and maybe that's what they were going for...

The locations were impressive! I don't normally applaud people for that, but when David takes his girlfirend to Rome and they go inside the Coloseam (yeah, yeah, I don't know how to spell it) it wasn't some cheasy set with plaster columbs and fake statues everywhere. And, better than that, if it was green screen, you really couldn't tell.

The uneasy alliance between David and the other Jumper made the story intruiging because we learned information about Jumpers that we would not have known otherwise...unless Samuel L Jackson (the Antagonist) started monologuing--and that is the worst way to have the audience lose respect for a bad guy. He jabs his mouth off and you wonder, "Okay, if you keep waiting, the good guy is going to get away, which makes you the dumbest character I've ever seen." Did Darth Vader monologue? No. He conversed while killing people. And he saved the conversation for the important people.

The ending was a little predictable, but I don't think I could have ended it better. At least, it wasn't a cheasy moment when Hayden finds his mother and she explains that the next time she sees him she will have to try to kill him. (For those of you who haven't seen the movie and are reading this--please don't try to figure this out, it makes perfect sense and yes, you need to spend the money to see this movie.)

I am not a fan of dialogue these days because the directors let the most idiotic lines slip through their fingers and onto the screen--condeming their work to harsh criticism and ultimately failure (the definition of failure for a movie is showing up on sale for $4 at Target on Flag day.)

I think the movie could have been longer, but I also say that it is good that it was this short. Some movies run out of plot before the movie is over and you find yourself sitting in the theater with the credits rolling thinking, "if it had ended at 1 hour, it would have been really great, but they dragged it on!" It's like stretching a rubber band until it breaks. I appreciate that the movie was short because I can see the director saying, "pretty much, this is all I have written and I'm not going to drag it on needlessly. Yeah, it's short, but it's got the meat and the bones I want in it." Honestly, thank you.

Overall I would say that it was a success. Perhaps the people with conflicting opinions didn't think that it had enough sex or violence or cursing, but I enjoy a movie that I don't have to cringe through. I want to be able to show it to my little sister without having to cup her ears or cover her eyes.

This is all my opinion and you don't have to listen to a single word I've said, but take into consideration the other movies that have been made in the last year...

Posted Monday, March 10, 2008 7:20 PM by Camlost | with 0 comments