| Author |
Message |
    
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1205
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 12:39 am: | 
|
Thump, I am hurt ...I saw Spike Lee's latest film, Miracle At St Annes ...IMO, it was a slow boring bunch of nothing. It was a damn army flick. The acting was poor and the script soap-ish. The best part of the movie was the trailer. The trailer made it seem as if it was going to be a great mystery ...I don't want to give the movie away but there's no real mystery at all. It's a damn army movie ...a poor disjointed one at that! I could have taken that $35.00 and bought a couple of slabs of ribs. I would at least been sucking on my fingers instead of kicking myself in the ass.
Spike hurt me this time! |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 661
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 04:16 pm: |
|
Hello All,
Carey: Of course it was an army picture. I take it you haven't read the book. The book was about a group of black soldiers who helped a small Italian village during WWII. The book was EXCELLENT, which is why I am reluctant to see the movie. I know Spike talked about Clint Eastwood, but maybe Clint should have been the one making the movie. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1206
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 07:05 pm: |
|
Well Thump, few movies have the same impact as the books of which they are written, I can think of one ...The Color Purple. Although I have not read this book, based on your opinion I'd say this one fell short. Clint Eastwood is an excellent Director, maybe he should have done this. I am not saying Spike is not good ...he too is a fine talent but the story was just too big for the screen or at least the way he tried to approach it. You and I have disagreed and agreed on many movies and based on that history I think you might wish to catch this on the bootleg.
Too many implausible scenes. Again, I don't know how the book painted this scene but the four soldiers where trapped in a seemingly impossible position. They found themselves separated from their unit and surrounded by Germans. They were in Italy, which at the time was controlled by the Germans. A few scenes later a white officer rides up in 2 jeeps. Not a full company of men and bombs ...2 JEEPS. That's one of many scenes that were like, "come on give me a break".
Some of Spike's thang is his camera angles and his use of character actors, this was not that kind of story. Off the top of my head I can't remember if this is Spike's first adaptation from a book. He missed the mark, even the music score didn't fit the drama or the action on the screen. Music moves us, it prepares us, it sets the tone, he missed. Of course Spike was not able to develope his charecters as one could with a book. That being the case, he relied on graphic effects such as bodies being mutilated by gun fire and mass destruction. He even gave us a shot of a crying child laying across her dead half clothed mother while a German Officer approached ... and yes, stab the child because they had emptied their rifles on the praying crowd.
Thump, since you've read the book, maybe you can answer a few questions. Why after fifty plus years did the guy take the gun to the bank and then do what he did? Why did Spike make it appear like he didn't know anything about the "head"? And Thump, why oh why did we have to sit through a love scene between "Mindy" and one of the soldiers and then ...AND THEN see two brothas go to blows as if one was in love with the women. They were only in the village ( I guess) for 2 days???
Thump, my first thought is to tell you to pass on this one but I wish you'd go see it. Maybe I am being to hard on the movie. But I wish I had my money back. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 480
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 08:36 pm: |
|
Off the top of my head I can't remember if this is Spike's first adaptation from a book.
Malcolm X, 25th Hour, and Clockers (to my knowledge) were all adapted from books. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1207
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 03:02 am: |
|
Thanks Kitty
Malcolm X was an excellent movie, (Best of that year imo)can't go to wrong with Denzel ...Clockers was also good, I believe Harvey Keitel carried much of that movie...I believe? Who wrote the book? 25th Hour...uuumm, was that the one with Bruce Willis and the raper? It too wasn't bad, sort of far fetched but entertaining...if it's the picture I am thinking of...or was that 8 blocks??? Maybe I haven't seen 25th Hour.
Kitty, do you plan on seeing "Miracle"? If and when you do let us know what you think. |
Disciple724
Veteran Poster
Username: Disciple724
Post Number: 144
Registered: 07-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 09:02 am: |
|
Carey,
What's up Dude? |
Soul_sister
Regular Poster
Username: Soul_sister
Post Number: 84
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 09:37 am: |
|
Hey Carey,
I have to chime in - and let you know from the jump - I have thing for Laz Alonzo - Yup, Im a sucker for a handsome face. Wow-wee.
Anywho, I read the book and feel in love with McBride as a result - from what I remember the whole scene in the bank had been one plotted out in the mind of the assailant to make sure the vic was who he was - the whole flashback to a moment of pain and such.
I am not a film buff and rarely see movies in the theater -- I wait til DVD and the redbox -- the cheapo-depo route.
Sorry to hear how pathetic the screenplay was - it was written by McBride and I am surprised he did not do himself some justice. Mmmmm, what can I say -- talking about ribs got me thinking about lunch and it aint even 10:00am -- peace
Soul Sister |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1208
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 01:07 pm: |
|
Hey Disciple, what's up ...let me holler at my girl Soul_sister and I'll get back at cha.
Sooooul_Sister, cheapo-depo huh *lol*, hey, a fool and his money will soon part and it looks like you are trying to cop and hold not cop and blow.
You mentioned McBride, I don't know if it was the screenplay or the director's vision. Yet again, it could just be me, I am very hard on movies ...you know that, "Good" book vs "Bad" book thang. I was going to ask Disciple if he has seen it cause I know he'd give it to me in the raw.
You did help, see, I didn't know the gunman plotted the crime. In fact, until you mentioned the fact that the victim had a place in the movie, I didn't even get that. Listen, I LOVE movies ...GOOD movies, good drama, good suspense, good acting. Yeah, the sceenplay has to be tight but I don't know how much control McBride had over the finished product. Anyway, am telling ya, I took a break midway through this one, Yep, walked outside. Can you believe that, left the movie ...and my lady right there and went outside. That's serious, paid my money AND bought popcorn. Now I don't even want to get started on the pricing thang ...$5.00 for a little bitty drink. And I had a big black women with me and she loves to eat *lol*. That popcorn just got her started ...I had to reach in my slacks AFTER the movie. I should have taken her to the Drive-In ...she would have been more than happy for us to have taken a greasy bag of fried chicken, the women can burn and eat. I ain't talkin' bad about my baby ...am just sayin'.
Soul_sister, I thought you were one of those salad eaten sistas ...what you doing letting your mouth water over some ribs  . Anyway, I'd like to hear from others as well, I know there are probably many that just loved the movie, it had it's moments.
You know I had been just dying waiting for this movie as well as the one you mentioned ...Deniro and ol'boy. Now I am a little gun shy, I don't think I can endure 2 hit's in the same month. I think I'll wait until I recover. Oh well, October is right around the corner, yes sir, it's off to the movies, pray for me. That reminds me, yesterday the message was "Pay attention to what you pray for". He said, The "book" is specific, one might need to consider praying for revelation. Well, I have to look deep on this movie thang. See, I was about to pray for a skinny women ...you know the bashful (not hungry) type. But that wouldn't be right, so I had to think if it was the money or the experience. My girl said I made her feel like a Queen ...so hey, it was a good night. We dressed up and strolled in like we were going somewhere. She was smelling good and I had a smile on my face ...it was a good night! |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1209
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 01:29 pm: |
|
Hey Disciple, what's poppin'? I've been checkin' you out over there talkin' that good. Yeah, if I had some real money I'd be runnin' you down. Now you know you have a strong voice and many don't like that ...but if I were to let that bother me I'd have to stop posting *lol*. I always enjoy reading your posts ...most of them anyway *lol* . You know, I have to keep it real with you, that's what we do.
But look, we don't want to be up in here talkin' bout the "Crisis" so hit me with some good movies. You know ol'boy Thump is my guy ...he knows books and movies ...what you know? Let me feel Disciple ...take off that Brooks Brothers and sit down on my couch ...can you do that for me. Yeah, take your shoes off ...what would you like to drink?
If you open your mouth and let anything about money fall out....*LOL*. |
Disciple724
Veteran Poster
Username: Disciple724
Post Number: 148
Registered: 07-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 03:58 pm: |
|
Carey,
I don't handle anybody's money, just my own. Besides the posts I'm writing are politically/spiritually/socially driven not Financial; although they are all connected. Dude, this is some serious stuff man, and I am just blown away that noone is talking about it. This effects everything right down to that $5.00 pop corn you bought. Don't mean to be a downer, but I'm just sayin. |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 664
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 05:02 pm: |
|
Hello All,
Carey: I haven't seen the movie yet. I've been on-call and won't get off of it until tomorrow. I can't answer all of your questions. I do know that the scenes with the "Mindy"s was in the book. And really, how many sistas did you expect to see in a small Italian village?
I have not been a fan of Spike's camera angles or even the overall look of some of his movies. It's like he's bending the story to fit his view rather than the other way around. Second, with the Inside Man, his film scores SUCKS! Like I said, instead of making choices to fit the story, he makes the story fit his vision, which gives for a fuc_ed up movie. Frankly, with the exception of maybe Malcolm X, his movies aint aging well. I don't find myself saying, um, I'm going to pop in Mo Better Blues, I'm in a Mo Better mood. It don't happen. And you know I always have a problem with his casting. So, if I see the movie, and I probably will, it will be when it hits the bargain price. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 481
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 05:14 pm: |
|
Carey, I'll probably pass on this flick. No interest. But I did take my oldest to see "Igor" the other night, and I might catch "The Family That Preys" (I only know a tad about it). |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1211
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 09:45 pm: |
|
I hear you Thump, I never thought of the aging of a movie. I generally do not view a movie a second time until maybe 5 yrs or so. There has been exceptions like The Great Debators. It's probably because I like suspense and drama. And once that's gone I find it hard to find other reasons to watch it again. But the Great Debators had so many messages and great acting. I have to give some thought to the aging process. I could do Mo Better Blues again. Of course I haven't seen it in a number of years. The more I think about it I wouldn't necessarily agree with you. I believe it boils down to what each gets from their movie. I can assume you don't like most of Spikes stuff from the jump. You did hit on something, he tries to make the scenes fit his vision ...uuummmm. Maybe you said it for me ...I know something was missing.
Kitty, I also saw Tyler Perry's latest. Just pull out any one of his other flicks and save your dime. It's a soft family drama that feels good in the end. Po' black women gets rich in the end ...give me a break. Oh, they did throw in a little "cream in the coffee" ...yeah, white cream in the black coffee, yes sir, went to the hospital ...that's enough, I done told the whole movie. Alfre Woodard has been playing this sameol' pitiful face part forever. They even put a spin on Driving Miss Daisy.
I think I would have enjoyed Igor. I watched Shreck (1) again just last night ...Eddie Murpy's voice makes me laugh. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 482
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 02:12 pm: |
|
Carey, thanks for the heads up on "The Family that Preys". I thought I might be in for something different/more appealing, but it sounds like that's not the case. I rarely get to see first-run movies, and when I do it's usually something I'm really looking forward to (or something for the kids). I'll leave this one for the Netflix queue.
I liked "Igor" precisely because it was a little different from the usual Disney/Pixar fare. Darker and not at all saccharin. Very French, lol! They used the word "dammit", and I thought my daughter's head would explode off her neck. ;-) One complaint: the female characters (which, it turns out, were mostly played by the same character) left a lot to be desired.
I liked the first two "Shrek" movies, but haven't seen the third one yet. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3213
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 08:33 pm: |
|
Soul_Sister, re: Laz Alonzo--that was the brother from Stomp the Yard, yes? If so, your sucker-ism is quite understandable. My favorite face to watch right now is "the mysterious African" character on Heroes, Usutu, played by Ntare Mwine
(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0616543/). |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3215
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 09:03 pm: |
|
Interesting story about the French reaction to the film, to Lee generally, and about the wider complexity of race relations in that country: http://www.theroot.com/id/48207. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 10:20 pm: |
|
Okay, break it up ladies, yawl did the Top Coolest Brothers in another tread and ran Chris out of the house *lol*.
But since you've started this little love feast, who the heck is Las Alonzo? Which character was he? I saw Stomp The Yard but for the life of me I can't place him in spikes movie. I know that one dude played in the Navy movie with Denzel but Alonzo?
White Sox Win! |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1221
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 10:41 pm: |
|
Yvette, thanks for the link, I got stuck over there. Hey, the article didn't say anything about the movie, it didn't mention any reviews.
I did stumble across an article about Spike and Clint Eastwood. I loved Clints two movies on war. I believe Spike was hyping his film by comparing it to Clints and saying Clint didn't include any blacks in his films. Clint defended his decision by saying although blacks participated in the wars, they didn't fit into his storyline. Spike should have been spending his time asking Clint how to make a war film.
I can't wait to hear other reviews. Not professional reviews, you know...folks. I've purposely stayed away from reading the popular critics. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3217
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 08:15 am: |
|
Sorry, Carey! I'll stop with the talk of good-looking brothers. LOL! |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1228
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 10:24 am: |
|
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20081001/122289041500.html
Spike is under fire in Italy. |
|
Email This Page