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Monkey_Boy Jedi
Posted 03 January 2007 07:31 AM quote:


I can't seem to understand why you seem to think that some movies aren't made to make a profit for their producers. Every movie that comes out is aiming for profit. NOONE makes a movie just to make a movie(except maybe George Lucas, who has said he didn't care if his Star Wars films were profitable or not). Even your precious "Narnia" was made for profit, nothing more. No movie is a story that MUST be told, because they've all been told. How many 'down on their luck sports team' movies do we need, serious or comedic? How many 'good teacher comes in to teach good for nothing kids that learning is essential &/or fun' movies does the world need? What about 'dance' movies? How realistic is it that learning to dance will change everthing in your life? These movies were ALL made for certain audiences for profit. Nothing more. I've never walked out of a theater with a new outlook on life. I'm sure there isn't a single director, producer, or actor who thinks, "If only one person sees my film, it would have been worth it!"

Monkey_Boy makes some absolute comments which usually is dangerous because it's likely one can always find an exception. But the real concern I have is the cynical skepticism regarding directors and producers only concerned about making money and profits for their investors. As a person who has been to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and talked to some of the directors and cinematographers, I suspect there are a number of filmmakers who would be disappointed to hear that the only thing they cared about was money instead of making a movie they cared about because of the message or making a difference. Perhaps, it's what movies one goes to see, but I have gone to a lot of movies where yes I didn't get anything out of it, but there are enough movies that really offered up something new and meaningful that I hadn't thought of before and I was "wowed." Even Naria is based on Christian values and I hope that children who went to see it would have at least gained some experience about the value of being loyal to one's siblings instead of being selfish. If everything has already been told, I would have to say that I wouldn't go to any movies then. I would just be content to exist like an animal who knows nothing of good or evil, love or hate, desire or revenge.

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Monkey_Boy Jedi
Posted 03 January 2007 07:31 AM

I don't understand how people have become so jaded when it comes to special effects movies. When "Jurassic Park" came out all anyone talked about was how real the dinosaurs looked, now we have a VERY real looking 25 foot gorilla & people scoff & bad mouth it. I'm a movie fan of the highest order, when I go to the theater, I drive to the next state for the best experience in the midwest(Kansas' Westglen). I own over 700 DVD's. I dispise bootleg copies & refuse to take part in watching them. So, when you say, "...sometimes it becomes much more apparant to spot problems...", I say you're looking too hard. There aren't many movies that are flawless, if any. I just watch the movie, I don't ask stupid questions like, "How did they get him on the boat?", since they didn't ask that question in the original & noone seemed to have a problem with it. If I had a good time it was good, if I was bored, it wasn't.

As far as the Academy Awards recognizing movies, that still doesn't make them great movies in my book. There have been so many instances where I was upset that one movie was nominated & another wasn't or one actor was nominated & the one I felt truly did a better job got nothing. I actually stopped watching the awards because of it.

Before I close I would also like to mention "King Kong" was critically acclaimed! There were plenty of critics who recommended this movie. While you guys have done your polls & all, I just go by the general reaction from the people around me, & the reaction was good. There wasn't a single person who left for a bathroom break during any of the screenings I went to. That's usually a sign it was good enough that people could wait.(When I went with my wife to see "Harry Potter" I did take a bathroom break. I couldn't get into that movie at all!)

The special effects in King Kong were powerful, especially the overly long chase scene with dinosaurs crashing into each other. I don't really recall having too much of a problem with them, except for the very beginning (an important part of a movie I would think - first impressions and all) of the background city landscape that just didn't seem to rise to the standard of current effects, particularly with the sharp, clear live action shots of the regular city shots.

The Academy Awards, now there's a subject for discussion. In regards to controversy, there will always be dispute, but in terms of what alternatives do we have, these Awards remain the stellar measure, though the Golden Globes as well as the other nationally-recognized awards help to focus our attention on some good films.

Monkey_Boy is right about King Kong and film critic reviews, while not through the roof, most of them are very favorable. It's a delicious experience for me then to have an opposing opinion along with specific examples to discuss, though most responses I get are pretty generalized and avoid a direct discussion. Mostly talking passed each other, except for the most learned comments of Mark f.

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Originally posted by tabuno:If somebody surrounds themselves with people who talk about a certain movie it's natural that discussion will continue when it's raised, but if one focuses one's attention to the general public, discussion of King Kong doesn't really seem to come up, if at all

But, this is true of EVERY movie! Who is still discussing ANY movie from 2005? Or, even earlier for that matter? UNLESS, there are those who agree in the group. The general public always looks to the next big thing.

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I won't say that it was garbage and I would suspect that Monkey_Boy may need to reveal a little about love at first sight if he is to make a statement that someone would elect to stay in freezing water for a women he recently met.

Oh, I've had experience with love at first sight. (My wife hates that it wasn't her.) However, without time to really expand on that love, I still can't believe that I would have given my life for her. A week just isn't enough to find out everything you need to know about a person. It was just very unrealistic to me. Really, I'd have wanted her in the water with me!

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But the real concern I have is the cynical skepticism regarding directors and producers only concerned about making money and profits for their investors. As a person who has been to Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and talked to some of the directors and cinematographers, I suspect there are a number of filmmakers who would be disappointed to hear that the only thing they cared about was money instead of making a movie they cared about because of the message or making a difference.

I will agree that there are those out there with a message, but if that "message" doesn't make any money, you can bet that was their last. There are plenty of directors who started with good intentions, but have "sold out" in order to stay in the business. I've listened to many commentaries where the director was saddened because the studio made changes to his vision because they thought it would do better their way.

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Even Naria is based on Christian values and I hope that children who went to see it would have at least gained some experience about the value of being loyal to one's siblings instead of being selfish.

I suppose so. However, once again, if that message didn't turn a profit, there would not be a sequel in the works. Studios don't really care for a message, they want cash.

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If everything has already been told, I would have to say that I wouldn't go to any movies then.

Well, I didn't mean EVERYTHING has been told, but there are a number of movies that have put a slight spin on the story to be original. Like, "The Matrix", "The 13th Floor", & "Tron", or "Volcano" & "Dante's Peak", or "Deep Impact" & "Armageddon", "Finding Nemo & "A Shark's Tale", or even "Antz" & "A Bug's Life". These are but a few examples of the many ideas that have been redone several times with slight tweaks to make each adventure different. Let's also not forget the list of movies in the following catagories: "Down on Their Luck Sports Teams", "Good Teacher VS Bad Students" or "Great Teacher & Unappreciated Students", "Lovers Who Don't Know They Love Each Other Until the End", or even "Learning to Dance Will Change Your Life" Every Year these movies come out in some form or another. Because they ALWAYS make money. There are a few that break the mold, but there aren't alot that do, anymore.

That is all I'm saying. You had made a point of saying that "King Kong" was made primarily for money & not critical acclaim & I took issue with it mainly because Peter Jackson didn't do this for monetary gain (he already had it with "The Lord of the Rings"), this was a childhood dream of his that finally came to fruition. There are many more movies that you could throw into the catagory of "Made for Profit" before you could hope to include "King Kong".

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It's a delicious experience for me then to have an opposing opinion along with specific examples to discuss, though most responses I get are pretty generalized and avoid a direct discussion.

I love discussions like these! Why be general? You're almost guaranteed a response by directly addressing someone & being clear on why you have a difference in opinion ! I also get annoyed when people are extremely vague. Makes it harder to argue a point when you aren't sure why they disagree. It's nice to finally get a response outta you, Tabuno ! Took ya long enough.

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Originally posted by Monkey_Boy:
..."Finding Nemo...

I love that movie!

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Originally posted by Monkey_Boy:
"Good Teacher VS Bad Students" or "Great Teacher & Unappreciated Students

I know for a fact that when you noted this, you were clearly making a direct implication to the forgotten, beautifully-acted, heart-touching, brilliantly-written, Oscar-snubbed, hidden gem that is Kindergarten Cop! Which just happens to fall into both of those categories.

I'm sure EVERYONE knows you love "Finding Nemo" by now, FKA ! You'll notice it came out first, so all others are copycats! You are wrong about "Kindergarten Cop" being in that catagory, though. It was a gritty thriller/dark comedy where a cop had to, unwillingly, go undercover as a kindergarten teacher in order to catch a murderer! Completely original !