The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - If the Movie had been Directed by Someone Else

Lostgaeriel · 05-06-2002, 12:19 PM

Hi again, Birdland.Well, I was thinking more in terms that MOST films are fantasy when you get down to it. Gone with the Wind for example - historical melodrama or pure fantasy? Stagecoach - classic western or fantasy? Casablanca - war/adventure/love story or fantasy? Movies ask us to suspend our disbelief the moment we sit down in front of the screen. Where should we draw the line on makeup and prosthetics? Elf ears vs. Alec Guinness' false nose as Fagin? What about pyrotechnics? Star Wars Deathstar explosion vs. gunfights in westerns or the burning of the backlot posing as Atlanta? And animation or digital effects? The Balrog vs. Jerry the Mouse dancing with Gene Kelly in Anchors Away? The craft gets better, but it has always been applied to all genres.To me 'special effects' is not a genre. (I know YOU didn't say that. But some people do.) And there is far too much pigeon-holing of movies into types. This is done for market segmentation, demographics and advertising when all the public wants to know is 'what is the story about?'. I think Peter Jackson was brilliant enough to know that The Lord of the Rings had to be shot and played 'for real' or it wouldn't work. It is a story. For it to touch us, it must become real. As real as any movie can be.As for Ron Howard (Parenthood, Gung Ho, Nightshift) I was thinking more of how the director of Apollo 13 could create suspense when we all knew the story already. Handy when you're making a film of say The Lord of the Rings and want to stay TRUE to the BOOK! (I read Jim Lovell's book Lost Moon before I saw the movie.) And his sweeping landscapes and the grittily realistic yet fantastical adventure of Far and Away seems to show that he would be up to the task. (It IS a fairy tale if you watch carefully. I think it's one of his best.)I'm also considering John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre; The African Queen; The Man Who Would be King; Key Largo; Heaven Knows, Mr. Alison).[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: Lostgaeriel ]

05-06-2002, 12:19 PM	#11
Lostgaeriel Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto the Good Posts: 477	Hi again, Birdland.<P>Well, I was thinking more in terms that MOST films are fantasy when you get down to it. Gone with the Wind for example - historical melodrama or pure fantasy? Stagecoach - classic western or fantasy? Casablanca - war/adventure/love story or fantasy? <P>Movies ask us to suspend our disbelief the moment we sit down in front of the screen. Where should we draw the line on makeup and prosthetics? Elf ears vs. Alec Guinness' false nose as Fagin? What about pyrotechnics? Star Wars Deathstar explosion vs. gunfights in westerns or the burning of the backlot posing as Atlanta? And animation or digital effects? The Balrog vs. Jerry the Mouse dancing with Gene Kelly in Anchors Away? The craft gets better, but it has always been applied to all genres.<P>To me 'special effects' is not a genre. (I know YOU didn't say that. But some people do.) And there is far too much pigeon-holing of movies into types. This is done for market segmentation, demographics and advertising when all the public wants to know is 'what is the story about?'. <P>I think Peter Jackson was brilliant enough to know that The Lord of the Rings had to be shot and played 'for real' or it wouldn't work. It is a story. For it to touch us, it must become real. As real as any movie can be.<P>As for Ron Howard (Parenthood, Gung Ho, Nightshift) I was thinking more of how the director of Apollo 13 could create suspense when we all knew the story already. Handy when you're making a film of say The Lord of the Rings and want to stay TRUE to the BOOK! (I read Jim Lovell's book Lost Moon before I saw the movie.) And his sweeping landscapes and the grittily realistic yet fantastical adventure of Far and Away seems to show that he would be up to the task. (It IS a fairy tale if you watch carefully. I think it's one of his best.)<P>I'm also considering John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre; The African Queen; The Man Who Would be King; Key Largo; Heaven Knows, Mr. Alison).<p>[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: Lostgaeriel ] __________________ Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting.