> I know that Schindler actually did a lot of what he did for financial gain. When I
> say history, I could care less about the story of Schinder, but I meant it in the
> terms of Nazi takeover, camp conditions, and depictions of the Jewish people.
> Speilberg’s mom was in a camp, and that film was one of his lifelong endeavors
> to make, so I respect the movie in that vein.
Do you have a cite for the claim that Spielberg’s mother was in a concentration camp? I just checked a few sources, and it doesn’t seem likely. Spielberg’s mother is named Leah Posner, and she married his father in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 25, 1946. They had four kids and divorced twenty or so years later. She is described in one book as “a frustrated concert pianist” who became a housewife.
In a way, though, that’s why some people do find the character offensive. Forrest is Movie Retarded, not genuinely retarded. He’s a scaled-down version of a normally abled person, and his simplicity is the charm that gets him through life. “Aw…” [you’re supposed to say] “He doesn’t have the hangups we all do…he sees the real truth in everything!” Kind of a disservice to RL retarded people, who can’t avoid all the problems their limitations cause, no matter how brave they are.
I’m not saying that I didn’t like the movie at all. But my enjoyment of it didn’t stem from being won over by the main character.
Meanwhile, I don’t want to see any movie having to do with the Holocaust, because I know I won’t be able to handle it. Whether it’s 100% historically accurate or not, I still won’t. I even had to cover my eyes during the opening scene of the first X-Men movie.
This isn’t exactly a critically acclaimed movie. In fact, by all descriptions I’ve read, it’s extremely bad. However, seeing this movie is supposed to be a fun and interactive audience experience, complete with audience members in costume, props, throwing stuff, and I have many friends who encourage me to go see this movie.
I’m referring, of course, to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I won’t go. I have no desire to go to an interactive audience event where I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing—and, moreover, one that exults in tormenting people who don’t know what they’re doing. The RHPS “virgins” are, I hear, subject to a variety of public humiliations out of good-natured mockery.
In other words, it’s just like going to a Catholic funeral, minus the fishnet stockings.
So I don’t particularly care to see this film or to partake in the lovely audience interactions, thank you. My friends may really enjoy this and have a lovely time, and more power to them, but I don’t want to spend my money and my two hours sitting uncomfortably in a movie theater with a bunch of freakazoids doing God-knows-what and getting rice down my shirt.
You know, you could just watch the video. In fact, I’d recommend watching the video first even if you did want to see it in the theater at some point. That’s the only way you’ll be able to tell what the movie is actually like on its own merits without a lot of distractions. And it is, IMHO, a pretty funny little film. Sure, it’s bad, but it’s meant to be bad.
WHile it may be crass to say so, you should take another look. Lucas’ new flicks are really oriented for children (TPM) and young-mid teens (AotC). But the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were made with an adult audience in mind.
This is, I think, the single biggest reason people hated the new movies is that they got old. Lucas, if anything, got younger; at least in his film aspirations.
I appreciate the encouragement, Lamia and HPL. But still, so what? I could watch Mystery Science Theater 3000 to see a bad movie, or Amazon Women on the Moon if I want to see a movie that’s meant to be bad.
I haven’t heard anything about the movie itself that makes me want to bother seeing it for its own merits, whatever they are. A mad scientist who sings and wears fishnet stockings? Sorry, drag humor just isn’t funny to me. (Even though I adore the Pink Panther movies, I inevitably f-fwd past all of the obligatory cross-dressing scenes that Blake Edwards appears to love so much. Either that or I go make a sandwich and let the movie run. To me, it’s just dull.) The pointless cavorting in the aisles seals the deal. I just don’t see the point—and there need not be a point—to me, it’s a waste of time. I don’t know what the routine is, so I should go to a movie to watch everyone else participate? Naw, think I’ll go to the carnival instead and watch people go on rides, or go to a nightclub and watch people dance.
I’ve seen Birth of a Nation. In fact, I have it on DVD. It’s a wei9rd flick, because it’s an early example of epic film making with a lot of good stuff in it. And a lot of outright racism that, I have heard, was decried even in its own time (so it doesn’t have the excuse that, as a product of its time, you can’t judge it by today’s standards).
The movies that I don’t want to watch are the ones that are uniformly boring or depressing. I can’t see myself watching The Hours, for instance. Or Misery. Or (having seen it once already) Interiors.
I just want to be clear, I see nothing wrong with anyone choosing to watch, or own Birth of a Nation. I can understand that it is a ground breaking film for many reasons, and worthy of study for that, alone. As a private person who has no desire to be a film maker, or film historian, I have choosen not to see it. I don’t expect that anyone follow my choice. In starting this thread I’d meant only to talk about personal choices, not make policy statements.
I don’t direct this at any one comment, or person - I’m just addressing an implied message I have been concerned about.
I don’t think there’s any movie that I’ll not watch because of subject matter. It’s all about the craft. If you make a good movie, I’ll watch it.
Except for that one that Andy Warhol did…the 24 hrs. of the Empire State Bldg. I think I could safely watch ten minutes or so and then be utterly bored.
Seriously, what makes for a good movie? Is it only camera work? Only the script or only the acting? Can excellent work in one of those areas balance out crap in the other two? Are there movies worth watching only for the background scenery?
I wanted to avoid seeing American Splendor, because it sounded like a long celebration of misery. But my boyfriend wanted to see it, and lo and behold… it was a long celebration of misery.
Personally, I have no interest in seeing things like Finding Nemo, Toy Story, or anything else pumped out by the Disney powerhouse.[/QUOTE]
You better check yourself before you wreck yourself
Pixar produces the feature film. Disney does it’s share in distribution. Proved quite well by Pixar just recently stopping work with Disney.
Well, if you don’t think the movie would be enjoyable for you then I agree you shouldn’t bother watching it. The Rocky Horror Picture Show certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and if you didn’t find it funny it would be pretty miserable to sit through it. But I wouldn’t want anyone who might enjoy the movie itself to avoid it solely because of the antics at theater showings.
like koeeoaddi, I just have no desire to see sports movies. They always seem to be the same story, and while I realize there may be exceptions to the rule, I just can’t bring myself to sit through them. Well, there’s one exception: Cool Runnings. That one’s ok–probably because it’s the first sports movie I ever saw (the others just seem a repeat of this “original” to me).
I also don’t want to see Saving Private Ryan. It just never sounded appealing to me, but I heard all these good things about it, so I decided to give it a try anyway. I couldn’t make it halfway, I was just so bored. I even gave it a second chance, thinking maybe I just wan’t in the right mood before, and the same thing happened. It just didn’t do anything for me, and I eventually decided it wasn’t worth my time. I also couldn’t make it through * Black Hawk Down*.
I think I don’t have enough testosterone for these films or something. (Joking-please don’t jump on me, I know some women do like these films. I do like some other “guyish” movies, myself).
I intensely dislike prison movies, so I have no desire to see The Shawshank Redemption. I understand it’s an excellent film, a classic, but I just can’t STAND to watch movies that take place in prison.
