I saw “The Spanish Prisoner” with Steve Martin (not a comedy) and i loved it, nobody else i’ve asked has even heard of it, if anyone who is reading this has seen it, please e-mail me w/ their opinion
Thanks, I’d rather post so that the entire board may enjoy the pearlescent quality of my prose.
I saw The Spanish Prisoner and liked it pretty much. It was the first film by David Mamet I had ever seen. The very stilted dialog style got to me, but I got used to it. I saw House of Games much later (though it is a much older film) and thought it was a better, simpler, more immediate and rewarding film.
I have since been informed that Lindsay Crouse, the female lead in House of Games, was Mamet’s wife when they made the film and Rebecca Pidgeon, the female lead in The Spanish Prisoner, was his wfie when they made that film. I now expect a good con-man film with Ricky Jay as a supporting actor every time Mr. Mamet chooses a new bride. I demand satisfaction!
**Pee Wee’s Big Adventure ** I think is a brilliant family film that never fails to crack me up.
Clay Pidgeons This movie just rocked my world and brought me into the little sphere known as Indy films.
I could stalk Vince Vaughan.
**13th Warrior ** This film totally captured my attention. So much so that I went out and bought the book, EATERS OF THEIR DEAD, by Michael Crichton.I haven’t bought movie based book since I was a teenager, but I thought that this story in the movie was so incredible and so different that it just had to be based on something. The entire story is based on a an epic story written by the character that Banderes plays in the movie. It’s a fairly well known epic in …Scandinavia? I could own a copy of this movie easily.
**Money Pit ** Any one every looking to buy an old fixer-upper should be required to watch this great little flick starring a young Tom Hanks and Shelly Long in one of her only successful films.
**Mr. North **This is a charming little film based on a story by Thorton Wilder with a surprisingly good cast of Anthony Edward ( after Goose and before ER and the hair disappeared) Robert Mitchum, Lauren Bacall and Anjelica Houston. A Yale graduate moves to the elite world of Newport Rhode Island and touches the locals in magical ways. (Hint, he seems to have healing powers.)
**Ed Wood ** This is a film that very few that I have known have seen and I just thought it was brilliant. Johnny Depp was outstanding at the very off beat Ed Wood. I want to watch it again for Bill Murray’s part, espcially some smart ass comment he makes in back of the church. I can’t remember what it is and it’s driving me nuts.
**Nate and Hayes ** I have yet to meet anyone who has ever seen this Indiana Jones Adventure spin off of the early 80’s. I absolutely love this. Tommy Lee Jones (looking reallly fine) is a pirate ( but an honest one).
How could I forget?
**Johnny Dangerously ** Any one who is a fan of the 30’s gangster films will thoroughly enjoy Michael Keaton in this spoof/homage to those great Cagney/Bogart/Raft flicks of years gone by. Joe Piscopo is the bad guy in it and it is the only time he is good at campy fun.
Another sleeper movie:
**Return to Paradise ** Starring Vince Vaughan, Ann Heche and Joachim Phoenix. I almost turned it off during the first 15 minutes because it seemed to be dragging, but then I was intrigued. Based on a true life story.
Connor, I read one of your links relating Nazism with Starship Troopers. The only convincing argument they gave was the use of propaganda and mind manipulation directed at controlling people’s minds and focusing them towards the advancement of their cause. It is until reading this article that I recall having the same initial reaction while watching the movie.
Still, it doesn’t appear to provide a strong enough basis for the nazi characterization they and you propose. As far as my thinking goes, whatever propaganda and hierarchical structure that the military uses serves a practical value-- a more devoted, motivated, effective and coordinated strike force-- instead of providing an allegorical symbolism analogous to the nazis brainwashing of the German population.
Aside from that point, there are several reasons that contradict the nazi argument, IMHO. A few of them:
The heroes are of Latin American origin, specifically from Buenos Aires. Not exactly the genetically superior bunch that Adolph, in his deviated mind, envisioned ruling the earth.
Furthermore, there is no underlying ethnic cleansing agenda, no genetically motivated prejudice or intolerance. The alleged pseudo/neo Nazis are reacting to a devastating attack, they are by no means instigators.
If anything, the humans characterized as nazis are the underdogs, the victimized species. They are in danger of being wiped out by a superior race–yes, even though the bugs are ugly as hell they are more advanced than us. If there is a holocaust-type/genocidal scenario, it manifests itself against humans, instead of being brought up by them, as you seem to imply.
Not to extend myself much, I provide one brief comment on an argument expressed by your link as a support to the Nazism in Starship Troopers hypothesis. The page linked to states:
“The fact that none of the characters are heroic in the traditional sense, they are driven more by necessity, chance or the desire for revenge than any altruistic motive…”
I beg to differ, a hero is defined by the grandeur of his cause and by the actions he/she directs towards its materialization and effective consummation. His/her drive or motivations are of no relevance, pragmatism being more important that romantic idealizations–in this context, of course.
For my review of Starship Troopers, go to the following URL:
Click on Reviews and then click on Starship Troopers.
Shirley Ujest writes:
> 13th Warrior . . . The entire story is based on a an epic
> story written by the character that Banderes plays in the
> movie. It’s a fairly well known epic in …Scandinavia?
What? What are you talking about? Don’t you realize it’s based on Beowulf, which is the epic of England? Didn’t you realize that the preface to the novel is part of the fiction? Crichton’s pretense in that novel is that an Arabic traveler (played by Banderes in the film) was visiting Europe in the 11th century and was drafted into an expedition which formed the source of the story of Beowulf. As part of the fiction, Crichton provides a preface which tells of the “sources” of his story (which are actually just invented for the purpose of the novel).
quasar:
Uh . . . the heroes are all, quite clearly, WASP-y Caucasians. Big time. The fact that they are from Buenos Aires is of little consequence–that doesn’t make them Latin American any more than eating at McDonalds makes them hamburgers. In fact, this makes the Nazi comparison even more effective–no matter where you are on Earth, you’re surrounded by nice, pure Aryans.
At the outset of the movie, it is not at all clear who started the war, but it is implied that it was the Bugs who were reacting to human incursion into their sector of space. It appears the humans were just looking for some Leibensraum.
Furthermore, look at the way the Bugs are depicted–the first efforts to discuss how they might “think” are met with derision (“A bug with a brain? Who ever heard of such a thing?!”) Kids are shown stomping on cockroaches to “get into the act.” At no time is it ever implied that the Bugs, who clearly have some highly specialized evolutionary traits and battle tactics, have any sort of intelligence, culture, civilization, or anything; they are simply “Other,” the enemy.
I suppose the movie can be read either way, but there are nontrivial reasons (including the commentary on the DVD by Paul Verhoeven) to suppose that the heroes were purposely made to resemble fascists in general and Nazis in particular.
Okay, I didn’t see mine listed yet…I must still be all alone…sigh!
**Mars Attacks (best “B” grade sci-fi spoof of all time)
Heavy Metal
Forbidden Planet (the cartoon)
Crossroads
The Trinity Series (western comedies)**
The old man ducks and runs for cover whilst pulling on asbestos underware 