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From: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com (movies-digest) To: movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: movies-digest V2 #287 Reply-To: movies-digest Sender: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk movies-digest Friday, September 1 2000 Volume 02 : Number 287 Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? RE: [MV] Gattaca Re: [MV] old movies on tape [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] old movies on tape Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films Re: [MV] Irish Films [MV] THE CREW & CROUPIER RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 18:46:19 EDT From: Nutz4n64@aol.com Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes: << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >> Only thing I can think of is eBay. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:02:19 -0400 From: "Mark J. Mills" <markjmills@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes: > > << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and > hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >> Try the following link to Movies Unlimited in Philadelphia; I actually went to their store while I lived in Philly, and they were flat-out amazing in the depth and range of stock they had on hand -- and they assured me that, if it wasn't in the store but was otherwise available, that they could get it. http://www.moviesunlimited.com/dum2.htm Cheers, Mark Mills [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:08:47 EDT From: Nutz4n64@aol.com Subject: Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? In a message dated 08/23/2000 7:54:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, richard@sourcedesign.co.uk writes: << How about Pokemon the Movie? >> Don't put yourself through that torture. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 16:43:52 -0700 From: Dexter Sy <dextersy@home.com> Subject: Re: [MV] RE: Which movie for paper?? Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 08/23/2000 7:54:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > richard@sourcedesign.co.uk writes: > > << How about Pokemon the Movie? >> > > Don't put yourself through that torture. Hahahah. BTW, any comments on "The Cell" - -- Dexter S. Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine Http://www.tendobox.com [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 07:38:53 -0400 From: "Jason Cormier" <movieman@attcanada.ca> Subject: RE: [MV] Gattaca I enjoyed this movie - moreso because I saw it a few years ago at the Toronto Film Festival and right beside me sat none other than David Cornenberg!!! It was wild - we got to talk for 20 minutes before the movie started. Apparently he was there to see if Jude Law was any good (apparently he was as he then signed on for eXistenZ). Good movie too! - -----Original Message----- From: owner-movies@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-movies@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of julie_klenko@pleasantco.com Sent: Monday, August 21, 2000 4:12 PM To: movies@xmission.com; film@egroups.com Subject: [MV] Gattaca Gattaca was rented this weekend by mistake and I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it. Set in the "not too distant Future" starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law. Ethan Hawke is Vincent who is conceived naturally in a world where parents can choose only the best of their genes. Vincent is born with a weak heart. His parents choose the other method for his younger brother. Vincent dreams of a career in space but he is an In-Valid blood type so he settles for a job as a janitor at the space center Gattaca. Frustrated, he contacts a man who will help him switch identities with a Valid blood type, Jerome. Jerome has everything it takes to be in the Gattaca program but he is paralyzed. The methods these two use to become each other are facinating and the moments I thought they would surely get caught kept me on edge. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:02:08 +0200 From: "Olaf Adam" <Olaf.Adam@ruhr-uni-bochum.de> Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Try the VIDEO HUNT service at blackstar (www.blackstar.co.uk) Don't know if this search is any good, though Cheers Olaf -----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht-----=20 Von: manuel morrens=20 An: movies@lists.xmission.com=20 Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. August 2000 13:50 Betreff: [MV] old movies on tape Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and = hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ?=20 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Manuel Morrens mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be =20 Department of Medicine http://minf.vub.ac.be/~mmorrens/eighties Brussels Free University (lyrics of the eighties) - --------------------------------------------------------------------- =20 - ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV>Try the VIDEO HUNT service at blackstar (<A=20 href=3D"http://www.blackstar.co.uk">www.blackstar.co.uk</A>)</DIV>= <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Don't know if this search is any good, = though</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cheers</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Olaf</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">-----Urspr=FCngliche Nachricht----- = </DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">Von:=20 <A href=3D"mailto:mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be" = title=3Dmmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be>manuel=20 morrens</A> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">An: <A=20 href=3D"mailto:movies@lists.xmission.com"=20 title=3Dmovies@lists.xmission.com>movies@lists.xmission.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">Gesendet: Mittwoch, 23. August = 2000=20 13:50</DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">Betreff: [MV] old movies on = tape</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>Does anyone here know a site or something where you can = order=20 old and hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? = <PRE></PRE><PRE>---------------------------------------------------------= - ------------ Manuel = Morrens = <A = href=3D"mailto:mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be">mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be</A> = Department of = Medicine <A = href=3D"http://minf.vub.ac.be/~mmorrens/eighties">http://minf.vub.ac.be/~= mmorrens/eighties</A> Brussels Free University = (lyrics of the eighties) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------</PR= E> =20 </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_004A_01C006A8.410E4320-- [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 15:35:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Nathan Lemrick <Ghost160@go.com> Subject: [MV] Irish Films I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland? The only films I can think about are The Boxer, In the Name of the Father, Micheal Collins, and Far and Away to a certain extent. But I am trying to find more on Ireland for a class I am taking. Thanks, Nathan ___________________________________________________ GO Network Mail Get Your Free, Private E-mail at http://mail.go.com [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:31:16 -0500 From: Diane Christy <dchristy10@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films On 8/24/00, 3:35 PM -0700, Nathan Lemrick said so nicely: >I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland? How about "The Quiet Man" - -- ~~~~~ Diane Christy (Samantha and Joshua's Mom) Jefferson, LA http://www.geocities.com/diane507/ mailto:dchristy10@earthlink.net ICQ #12904700 <dkbc10> on Instant AOL Messenger ~~~~~ [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 20:41:40 CDT From: "Wade S" <wds9974@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape one place to check is www.about.com And check the movies-classics site and look in that category and see if there's a marketplace or something... you could also email the guide there, he's a relatively nice guy! jk-kidding He's a good guy, very knowledgeable. Wade >From: "Mark J. Mills" <markjmills@earthlink.net> >Reply-To: movies@lists.xmission.com >To: movies@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape >Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:02:19 -0400 > > > >Nutz4n64@aol.com wrote: > > > In a message dated 08/23/2000 4:49:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > > mmorrens@minf.vub.ac.be writes: > > > > << Does anyone here know a site or something where you can order old and > > hard-to-find-movies on tape (VHS) ? >> > > Try the following link to Movies Unlimited in Philadelphia; I actually >went to their store while I lived in Philly, and they were flat-out amazing >in the depth and range of stock they had on hand -- and they assured me >that, if it wasn't in the store but was otherwise available, that they >could >get it. > >http://www.moviesunlimited.com/dum2.htm > >Cheers, Mark Mills > > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] >[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 19:25:51 -0700 From: "David F. Nolan" <DFN@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films Waking Ned Devine is set in Ireland, I believe. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 19:26:41 -0700 From: "David F. Nolan" <DFN@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape Critics' Choice Video (www.ccvideo.com) has a lot of older movies. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 20:36:39 -0700 From: "David F. Nolan" <DFN@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [MV] old movies on tape Here's a message I received recently from Critics' Choice Video. As I noted in an earlier message, they have a pretty good selection of older movies. Dear Movie Collector, How'd you like to save $10 on your favorite movies on VHS or DVD? Click on the link below and you'll do just that--save $10 on any order of $50 or mor= e at Critics' Choice Video http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?index.html|august_10dollar, the premier Web site for classic films and new releases on VHS and DVD! Right now, we're featuring an exciting new addition to the ever-growing family of great movies available on DVD. 1995's "Braveheart," winner of fiv= e Oscars including Best Director (Mel Gibson) and Best Picture, is now available on DVD for the first time, complete with lots of fantastic DVD extras. The DVD--priced at $29.95 but on sale at Critics' Choice Video for only $23.77! =97is loaded with special features, including exclusive commentary with Mel Gibson, the documentary "Mel Gibson's Braveheart: A Filmmaker's Passion--The Making of an Epic Adventure," two original theatrical trailers and much more! The "Braveheart" DVD won't become available until August 29--but Critics' Choice Video is taking orders now! To pre-order your copy of Braveheart on DVD just click here http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?o.cgi/vid_search?v_id=3D160653/|august_10doll= a r With our current offer to save $10 on any order of at least $50, there's never been a better time to visit us at http://www.ccvideo.com/from.cgi?index.html|august_10dollar. We've got a database of over 50,000 films and features on VHS and DVD, with new titles added daily--plus special profiles and features on Hollywood's top stars and films, both classics and contemporaries. See you soon! This offer expires September 18th, so visit us today! This offer may not be combined with any other promotion or discount from Critics' Choice Video. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this email list, visit us at: http://www.ccvideo.com/newsletter.html Replace name@address.com with the email address that received this newsletter, check unsubscribe and click submit. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 23:13:31 -0400 From: Mel Eperthener <bcassidy@usaor.net> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films At 03.35 PM 24/08/2000 -0700, Nathan Lemrick wrote: >I was wondering if anyone knows films that have to deal with Ireland? The only films I can think about are The Boxer, In the Name of the Father, Micheal Collins, and Far and Away to a certain extent. But I am trying to find more on Ireland for a class I am taking. Thanks, > The Quiet Man The Commitments The Snapper The Van (those three are all connected) Circle of Friends I Went Down The Brylcreme Boys The Secret of Roan Inish The Matchmaker Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?) and to stretch it a bit: Blown Away Patriot Games The Devil's Own Mary Reilly (Ugh!!) And those are just off the top of my head. Check out imdb.com for even more. Regards, - --Mel - --Mel Eperthener president, Gowanna Multi-media Pty http://www.webz.com/gowanna mailto:bcassidy@usaor.net mailto:gowanna@australiamail.com 419 Butler Street PO Box 95184 Pittsburgh, PA 15223-0184 (412) 781-6140 (412) 781-6380 1-888-45-GOWANNA -- TOLL FREE (1-888-454-6926) ____________________________________________ "Wow! So that is what all that extra space on the movie screen is for!" reaction to "Gladiator" ______________________________________________ [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 14:41:29 -0700 From: Chris Parry <oz@hollywoodbitchslap.com> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films Adding to Mel's list: The Nephew Divorcing Jack Felicia's Journey (kinda) Angela's Ashes The Butcher Boy My Left Foot The General Ordinary Decent Criminal The Last Of The High Kings Moll Flanders Mel Eperthener wrote: > > The Quiet Man > The Commitments > The Snapper > The Van (those three are all connected) > Circle of Friends > I Went Down > The Brylcreme Boys > The Secret of Roan Inish > The Matchmaker > Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?) > Blown Away > Patriot Games > The Devil's Own > Mary Reilly (Ugh!!) OZ http://www.efilmcritic.com http://www.mymovies.com.au http://www.tribe.com http://www.if.com.au http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com http://www.sain.com.au [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 00 09:36:06 +0100 From: "Source - Richard" <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films I recommend The General and Butcher Boy. Chris Parry wrote: >Adding to Mel's list: > >The Nephew >Divorcing Jack >Felicia's Journey (kinda) >Angela's Ashes >The Butcher Boy >My Left Foot >The General >Ordinary Decent Criminal >The Last Of The High Kings >Moll Flanders > >Mel Eperthener wrote: >> >> The Quiet Man >> The Commitments >> The Snapper >> The Van (those three are all connected) >> Circle of Friends >> I Went Down >> The Brylcreme Boys >> The Secret of Roan Inish >> The Matchmaker >> Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?) >> Blown Away >> Patriot Games >> The Devil's Own >> Mary Reilly (Ugh!!) > >OZ > >http://www.efilmcritic.com >http://www.mymovies.com.au >http://www.tribe.com >http://www.if.com.au >http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com >http://www.sain.com.au > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] >[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] > >RFC822 header >----------------------------------- > >Return-Path: <owner-movies@lists.xmission.com> >Received: from lists.xmission.com ([198.60.22.7]) by zag.workstation.org.uk > (Netscape Messaging Server 3.5) with ESMTP id 321 > for <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk>; Fri, 25 Aug 2000 05:32:01 +0100 >Received: from domo by lists.xmission.com with local (Exim 2.12 #2) > id 13SB8o-00050O-00 > for movies-gooutt@lists.xmission.com; Thu, 24 Aug 2000 22:30:54 -0600 >Received: from [139.134.5.159] (helo=teapot21.domain3.bigpond.com) > by lists.xmission.com with smtp (Exim 2.12 #2) > id 13SB8l-0004zo-00 > for movies@lists.xmission.com; Thu, 24 Aug 2000 22:30:52 -0600 >Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by >teapot21.domain3.bigpond.com (NTMail 3.02.13) with ESMTP id za915459 for ><movies@lists.xmission.com>; Fri, 25 Aug 2000 14:31:08 +1000 >Received: from CWIP-T-011-p-226-15.tmns.net.au ([203.54.226.15]) by >mail3.bigpond.com (Claudes-Druidic-MailRouter V2.9b 5/591173); 25 Aug 2000 14:31:07 >Message-ID: <39A6E809.FC44640B@hollywoodbitchslap.com> >Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 14:41:29 -0700 >From: Chris Parry <oz@hollywoodbitchslap.com> >Organization: BPP >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.72 [en] (Win95; I) >X-Accept-Language: en >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: movies@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films >References: <3.0.2.16.20000824231331.3417d510@pop.usaor.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Sender: owner-movies@lists.xmission.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: movies@lists.xmission.com > [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 11:32:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Nathan Lemrick <Ghost160@go.com> Subject: Re: [MV] Irish Films Thanks for all the suggestions. I did not know there was so many films that pertained to Ireland. Now I just have to go and try to find these and watch some of them. Nathan >I recommend The General and Butcher Boy.> >Chris Parry wrote: >>Adding to Mel's list: >> >>The Nephew >>Divorcing Jack >>Felicia's Journey (kinda) >>Angela's Ashes >>The Butcher Boy >>My Left Foot >>The General >>Ordinary Decent Criminal >>The Last Of The High Kings >>Moll Flanders >> >>Mel Eperthener wrote: >>> >>> The Quiet Man >>> The Commitments >>> The Snapper >>> The Van (those three are all connected) >>> Circle of Friends >>> I Went Down >>> The Brylcreme Boys >>> The Secret of Roan Inish >>> The Matchmaker >>> Darby O'Gill and the Little People (?) >>> Blown Away >>> Patriot Games >>> The Devil's Own >>> Mary Reilly (Ugh!!) >> >>OZ >> >>http://www.efilmcritic.com >>http://www.mymovies.com.au >>http://www.tribe.com >>http://www.if.com.au >>http://ifmagazine.ifctv.com >>http://www.sain.com.au >> >>[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] >>[ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ] ___________________________________________________ GO Network Mail Get Your Free, Private E-mail at http://mail.go.com [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 10:36:00 -0600 From: ("Paul D Richardson") <Richardson.Paul@amstr.com> Subject: [MV] THE CREW & CROUPIER This weekend, I went out and saw these two similarly-titled releases. Here are some brief thoughts: THE CREW -- I have no excuse for seeing this film...the trailer made it look hilarious. Unfortunately, the film is anything but. It's actually well-directed and the cast is great, but the screenplay is poor and the chemistry is non-existent. Too bad, because the film could've had a lot of potential. The best jokes come from the subtle parodying of GOODFELLAS, including a funny take-off on the "entrance through the kitchen" scene. But even these don't quite work. If you really must see a film about 4 geezers, check out SPACE COWBOYS instead...it is far superior. Not recommended. CROUPIER -- This English film from 1998, directed by veteran Michael Hodges, is one of the best films I've seen this year. Many thanks to those of you who have recommended this film. Clive Owens plays the title character, a would-be author who takes a job as a croupier (a dealer in a casino) in order to make ends meet. He learns that having a day job can actually help his "real" career, although it weighs heavily on his personal life. It's hard to describe this film, since it can't really be pigeonholed into a genre. It's a very-focused, very-interesting character study. Highly recommended. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: 31 Aug 00 11:03:07 +0100 From: "Source - Richard" <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk> Subject: RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK Many of you may disagree, but personally I believe Steven Spielberg to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time. He may not reflect the times, have a political message or raise intellectual issues (apart from some of his more recent 'historical' movies), but for sheer entertainment, he cannot be beat! I thought it would be interesting to just do a quick and simple rating on each of his films (yes, I know it's not from the film theory school of moving picture dissection but, if like me, you are at work, it's just a way to kill five minutes and let off some steam). Anyway, feel free to elaborate if you have the time but in the meantime... * Jaws - 10/10 - Without a doubt, the forerunner to every 'good' movie blockbuster of the last 20 years (I don't believe summer blockbusters are a 'bad' thing. They are just as important as arthouse, foreign, independent or any other genre in keeping movies alive). * Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 10/10 - Wow, this movie stays with me to this day. A lesson in how to achieve complete wonder. Contact is one of my favourite movies but could not have been made without this. * 1941 - 5/10 - A case of self indulgence as Spielbergs new found praise and fame maybe forced him into a corner and go against his better judgement. A brave effort but most incoherent and basically a series of sketches. * Raiders of the Lost Ark - 10/10 - It may appear that I am being too generous with my scores, but I think this is just a reflection of what a winning streak Spielberg was on (1941 excepted as 3 out of 4 ain't bad). To be continued when i get a minute................. R [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: 31 Aug 00 18:11:52 +0100 From: "Source - Richard" <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk> Subject: RE: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK And i continue... * ET - 10/10 - Spielbergs masterpiece. A work of pure wonder and enjoyment which says more about our inner child and lost innocence than any movie before or since. * Poltergeist - 8/10 - Sorry Tobe, but I don't believe for a minute that you directed this movie! Jam packed with Spielbergisms that you will not find in ANY other Tobe Hooper movies, this definitely stemmed from Spielbergs darker side that began to seep through in Raiders of the Lost Ark. * Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 7/10 - Disappointing following the first Indy movie, and maybe this could have been seen as a classic if it had come first as it had all the thrills and excitement that made the first movie great - thing is, Raiders was just SO good. This is where Spielberg maybe went too far with his dark side which may have occurred from the press at the time calling him a kids movie director. * The Color Purple - 7/10 - Possibly the point at which Spielberg lost his way. He didn't want to continue being known as a 'fantasy' filmmaker, yet 'fantasy' was what he did best and what the public wanted! This is a wonderful and moving movie with a strong message - but where was our magical fantasy going to come from now? * Empire of the Sun - 8/10 - Undeterred by the lack of Academy recognition with Purple, Spielberg continued with his adult themes, but the twist was that this was an adult theme from a child's point of view, and, as with ET, he nails it perfectly. * Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - 9/10 - The second best Indy film. The nastiness of Temple has been replaced with pure comedy and slapstick and it works a treat. Sean Connery as Indys dad was a casting stroke of genius. * Always - 6/10 - One of Spielbergs mosts understated films. This movie is thoroughly enjoyable for what it is, but any number of accomplished Directors could have achieved much the same effect. Speilberg on auto-pilot. * Hook - 5/10 - Mmmm, interesting one this. No other Spielberg film seems to split the audience like this one. People either appreciated a return to the innocence of his earlier family movies or hated the sugary sentiment. Me? I fall into the former but appreciate the latter issues. Best to watch with an open mind on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Not his best. * Jurassic park - 9/10 - This was more like it! A pure rollercoaster ride of a movie (if you'll excuse the clichΘ). The effects are absolutely groundbreaking and amaze even to this day. Lack of character development let down an almost perfect movie. * Schindlers List - 10/10 - The most successful of Spielbergs adult movies. Who would have thought that someone who was so adept and showing new worlds and possibilities could also reveal the horrors of war so powerfully. A revelation. * The Lost World - 6/10 - It was quite baffling to watch this movie when it first came out as I'm sure most people anticipating a sequel had their own idea of what it could be like (whether they had read the book or not). It turns out that this was basically more of the same and didn't expand on the original enough to make it a classic. Again, Spielberg on auto-pilot (JP3 although not directed by Spielberg, looks set to be the story that Lost World should have been). * Amistad - 6/10 - Probably the least memorable of all Speilbergs films (yes even Hook and Always). Although an extremely well-made, acted and scripted movie that would warrant rave reviews from lesser directors, Amistad just seems too forgettable! It feels like a stop-gap between bigger and better things. * Saving Private Ryan - 8/10 - Shocking, moving, masterful and deeply disturbing...but that was only the first half an hour. The rest of the movie doesn't quite live up to this first section but is still Spielberg on form. The main problem is that Speilbergs weakest trait has always been character development, and SPR is basically a character study, a story of bonding and the effects of war on young men. Coming soon - AI and Minority Report. Reasons to be excited as, not since Jurassic Park has Spielberg tackled pure fantasy with major success. These could be the ones we have been waiting for! Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has turned a number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the 'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language theme tune? Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not. R [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:02:04 -0700 From: Dexter Sy <dextersy@home.com> Subject: Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK - --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with > other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help > elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has turned a > number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the > 'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET > silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language theme tune? > Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not. Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is turning out nothing more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious films for his dramatic works, and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more examples of the popcorn culture that is the new hollywood" And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious film going community and their target #1 is Spielberg. That's not to say I disagree with you. I actually agree with you wholeheartedly, but there is that line of reasoning out there. You probably won't find it in the mainstream, this stuff is written more in as a subtext in most of the intellectual circles. I am studying film history so I took the liberty to flip through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World Cinema, to see what they wrote of Spielberg. The book is basically a collection of essays from various contributors strung together by a handful of editors. Anyways, the editors of the book were level headed enough to give him a special box (a privilege reseved only for the important figures/directors the book talks about) but the essay attached to spielberg (written by a contributing writer) was rather stilted and pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn director who happened to do Schindler's List. His previous works like Empire of the Sun and the Color Purple were ignored all together. - -- Dexter S. Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine Http://www.tendobox.com - --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <blockquote TYPE=CITE> Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has turned a number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the 'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language theme tune? Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not.</blockquote> Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is turning out nothing more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious films for his dramatic works, and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more examples of the popcorn culture that is the new hollywood" And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious film going community and their target #1 is Spielberg. That's not to say I disagree with you. I actually agree with you wholeheartedly, but there is that line of reasoning out there. You probably won't find it in the mainstream, this stuff is written more in as a subtext in most of the intellectual circles. I am studying film history so I took the liberty to flip through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World Cinema, to see what they wrote of Spielberg. The book is basically a collection of essays from various contributors strung together by a handful of editors. Anyways, the editors of the book were level headed enough to give him a special box (a privilege reseved only for the important figures/directors the book talks about) but the essay attached to spielberg (written by a contributing writer) was rather stilted and pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn director who happened to do Schindler's List. His previous works like Empire of the Sun and the Color Purple were ignored all together. -- Dexter S. Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine <A HREF="Http://www.tendobox.com">Http://www.tendobox.com</A> </html> - --------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327-- [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: 01 Sep 00 11:24:12 +0100 From: "Source - Richard" <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk> Subject: Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK - --====49515150514953535452===1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I completely anticipate comments similar to those you mentioned, and that = was really the reason i thought i'd begin this thread. I think it is wrong = to dismiss him for making so called 'popcorn' movies - they are as = important to the art of film as anything else. To sit in a cinema and give = the audience a pure rush of joy, excitement and emotion is not an easy = thing to do. Spielberg may be guilty for influencing much sentimental pap that has come = out of Hollywood, but i don't believe he can be direcly blamed for the = poor quality of his immitators. There are filmmakers talking to their audience intelligence, drawing the = attention on a particular issue or shooting films for the sake of art. = Others are just skilled technicians mixing special effects, stunts and = dramatic sets to entertain people and especially the under-25 action-= hungry males. But there is also a kind of filmmakers who cleverly mix all these = ingredients to make films able to be enjoyed by a broad audience, both = entertaining and full of inner meanings. Spielberg is, commercially and, = in my opinion, artistically speaking, the most successful of these = filmmakers. One of the recurring themes in Spielberg's films is the criticism of the = middle-class way of life and its hearth-bound vision. Spielberg often = offers an escape to this situation in his films. In Close Encounters of = the Third Kind and E.T., the aliens provide this escape, whereas in Hook a = serious lawyer recalls his youth as Peter Pan. This narrow-minded vision can even constitute a source of danger for the = main characters: in The Sugarland Express, the law does not allow Goldie = Hawn to see her son because she was jailed; she will nevertheless try to = prove that she can be a loving mother and take good care of him. In Jaws, = the Mayor's will to attract tourists prevents him from taking appropriate = measures to fight the shark. In Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the US = government is trying to hide the truth about extra-terrestrials from the = public. The US government is also the principal threat to E.T.'s life. = The main characteristic of Steven Spielberg's action movies that makes = them so different from the classical blockbusters is the absence of an = evil character who is the single source of danger in the film. No Darth = Vader, Terminator, T1000, Dr. No, psycho killer or other "bad guys" whose = aim to destroy the hero's life. There is rather a combination of a dangerous factor (the shark in Jaws, E.= T.'s illness) and a pressure of events resulting from the gregarious = instinct of a narrow-minded crowd. Spielberg is thus revealing our = inability to understand the real purpose of life: we are according too = much significance to futile things and that prevents us from seeing what = is really important. The characters own sins also play the role of the dangerous factor. Even = if the character himself is not a villain, his greed and selfishness most = of the time put him and the others in jeopardy. Jurassic Park is a good example: a millionaire wants to create a theme = park featuring dinosaurs. They are genetically recreated from prehistoric = DNA conserved in mosquitoes from the Jurassic era, but the genetic code is = altered in order to control the sex and the reproduction of the species. = Though, the scientists had not taken into account the self-organising = nature of life and the dinosaurs eventually mutate into normal animals = capable of reproduction. = Spielberg also attracts repeatedly our attention on human reaction to the = unknown. It is this reaction that sometimes reveals our hidden sins. = Confronted to the unknown, needing to improvise and make new decisions, = many people panic and act with gregarious instinct and selfishness that = endanger the people under their responsibility. In Jaws, the Mayor, unaware of the real danger a white shark represents = for the population, refuses to close the beach. In Close Encounters of the = Third Kind, it is the government's measures which are criticised, together = with the reaction of the family and friends of the people "feeling" that = something is about to happen. Their relatives, unable to understand their = visions, reject them, thinking they are insane. The Sugarland Express, 1941, E.T. and Jurassic Park are also good examples = of how stupidly we can behave when an unknown and unexpected situation = arises. = What also appears quiet often, is a father failing to assume his role. = William Atherton is just following his wife in The Sugarland Express; Roy = Scheider hesitates and doesn't always know how to handle the situation in = Jaws; Elliott's father is in Mexico with his secretary in E.T.; Robin = Williams doesn't pay enough attention to his son in Hook and there is no = need to mention Whoopi Goldberg's sadistic husband in The Color Purple or = the hero of Empire of the Sun, who is lost by his parents. Actually, despite his criticism for the typical American middle-class = family where the children grow up with "three parents: a mother, a father = and a TV set", Spielberg is very attached to the ideal of a unified family.= He was very affected by his parents divorce and in many of his films, the = evil element is not only threatening the characters' life but also the = family integrity: in Duel, where the hero is trying to drive back home to = join his family; The Sugarland Express, where Goldie Hawn is desperately = trying to regain custody of her child; Jaws; E.T.; Indiana Jones and the = Last Crusade, where Indy's family is mentioned for the first time; Hook, = and Jurassic Park, where the couple of paleontologists and the two = children are treated like a family. = Besides this emphasis on family, Spielberg also likes to adopt a child's = point of view (E.T., Empire of the Sun, Hook, Jurassic Park). He is a = master for putting on screen childlike emotions and directing children. In = 1982, he admitted: "I feel I'm still a kid. I'm 34 and I really haven't = grown up yet." Even his episode of Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) was = the story of elderly people who can become children again if they wish it = strongly enough. In fact, Spielberg's fantastic and emotional films aim at awakening the = child hidden in each of us. = Steven Spielberg is not one more of these silly filmmakers for blood-= thirsty teens, mixing stunts, special effects and haemoglobin in two-hours = meaningless motion pictures. He is rather a great filmmaker whose movies inspired many others and set = new standards for action movies. He is not trying to hide a lack of talent = or imagination behind special effects but uses them to tell beautiful = stories. The ancient Greeks used special effects in their theatre plays = =97 the Deus ex Machina =97 and nobody blamed them for that. I don't claim Steven Spielberg is the greatest director of all times =97 = and I don't think he is. People like Stanley Kubrick or Alfred Hitchcock = all brought much to the film industry but thanks to Steven Spielberg, = entertainment became a noble art. His Indiana Jones trilogy, E.T., Hook, Jurassic Park brought joy and = happiness throughout the world and made us dream, whereas The Sugarland = Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Color Purple or Schindler'= s List made us think about important issues such as family values, human = reaction to the unknown or the place of mankind in the universe. Steven Spielberg thus manages to include inner meanings which mirror his = own personality in mildly violent blockbuster movies. Everyone with an = open mind can enjoy his films. He is the best representative of a whole = part of the American film industry which succeeds in making films which = can both be enjoyed on a first degree and understood on a second. It doesn't surprise me that the Oxford History of World Cinema are not big = fans of Spielberg - it would damage their credibility to advocate such a = populist director. Dexter Sy wrote: >=A0 >Final note - Although I think Spielberg is one of the greats, as with >other legends, it is also the people who surround the genius that help >elevate the work. I am of course talking about John Williams who has = turned a >number of great films into classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the >'dum-dum-dum-dum' theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot and ET >silhouette against the moon? Close Encounters without the sign-language = >theme tune? >Or Indy without his rousing overture? Thought not. > >Of course detractors will claim that Spielberg, the populist, is turning = >out nothing more than sentimental crap pretending to be to serious films = for his = >dramatic works, and dismiss his action flicks are "yet more examples of = the popcorn = >culture that is the new hollywood" >And trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies in the so called serious = film = >going community and their target #1 is Spielberg. >That's not to say I disagree with you.=A0 I actually agree with you = >wholeheartedly, but there is that line of reasoning out there.=A0 You = probably won't find it in = >the mainstream, this stuff is written more in as a subtext in most of the = >intellectual circles.=A0=A0 I am studying film history so I=A0 took the = liberty to flip = >through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World Cinema,=A0 to = see what = >they wrote of Spielberg.=A0 The book is basically a collection of essays = from various = >contributors strung together by a handful of editors. Anyways, the = editors=A0 = >of the book were level headed enough to give him a special box (a = privilege = >reseved only for the important figures/directors the book talks about) = but the essay = >attached to spielberg (written by a contributing writer) was rather = stilted and = >pretty much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn director who = happened to do = >Schindler's List.=A0 His previous works like Empire of the Sun and the = Color = >Purple were ignored all together. >=A0 >-- >Dexter S. >Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine >Http://www.tendobox.com(Http://www.tendobox.com) >=A0 > >RFC822 header >----------------------------------- > >Return-Path: <owner-movies@lists.xmission.com> >Received: from lists.xmission.com ([198.60.22.7]) by zag.workstation.org.= uk > (Netscape Messaging Server 3.5) with ESMTP id 182 > for <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk>; Fri, 1 Sep 2000 05:52:49 += 0100 >Received: from domo by lists.xmission.com with local (Exim 2.12 #2) > id 13UioT-0004Op-00 > for movies-gooutt@lists.xmission.com; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:52:25 -0600 >Received: from [24.2.10.84] (helo=3Dmail1.rdc2.bc.home.com) > by lists.xmission.com with esmtp (Exim 2.12 #2) > id 13UioQ-0004OT-00 > for movies@lists.xmission.com; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:52:23 -0600 >Received: from home.com ([24.115.13.70]) by mail1.rdc2.bc.home.com > (InterMail vM.4.01.03.00 201-229-121) with ESMTP > id <20000901045219.GFCA5839.mail1.rdc2.bc.home.com@home.com> > for <movies@lists.xmission.com>; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 21:52:19 -= 0700 >Message-ID: <39AF384C.6F2F1C42@home.com> >Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:02:04 -0700 >From: Dexter Sy <dextersy@home.com> >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.73 [en] (Win98; U) >X-Accept-Language: ja,en >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: movies@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [MV] SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK >References: <20000831171134802.AAA593.573@[213.143.5.66]> >Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary=3D"------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327" >Sender: owner-movies@lists.xmission.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: movies@lists.xmission.com > - --====49515150514953535452===1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY>I completely = anticipate comments similar to those you = mentioned, and that was really the reason = i thought i'd begin this thread. I think = it is wrong to dismiss him for making so = called 'popcorn' movies - they are as important = to the art of film as anything else. To = sit in a cinema and give the audience a pure = rush of joy, excitement and emotion is not = an easy thing to do. Spielberg may = be guilty for influencing much sentimental = pap that has come out of Hollywood, but = i don't believe he can be direcly blamed = for the poor quality of his immitators. There = are filmmakers talking to their audience = intelligence, drawing the attention on a = particular issue or shooting films for the = sake of art. Others are just skilled technicians = mixing special effects, stunts and dramatic = sets to entertain people and especially = the under-25 action-hungry males. But = there is also a kind of filmmakers who cleverly = mix all these ingredients to make films = able to be enjoyed by a broad audience, both = entertaining and full of inner meanings. = Spielberg is, commercially and, in my opinion, = artistically speaking, the most successful = of these filmmakers. One of the recurring = themes in Spielberg's films is the criticism = of the middle-class way of life and its = hearth-bound vision. Spielberg often offers = an escape to this situation in his films. = In Close = Encounters = of the Third Kind = and E.T.<= /I>, the aliens provide = this escape, whereas in Hook = a serious lawyer recalls his youth as Peter = Pan. This narrow-minded vision can = even constitute a source of danger for the = main characters: in The Sugarland Express, the law does not allow Goldie = Hawn to see her son because she was jailed; = she will nevertheless try to prove that = she can be a loving mother and take good = care of him. In Jaws, the Mayor's will = to attract tourists prevents him from taking = appropriate measures to fight the shark. = In Close = Encounters = of the Third Kind, = the US government is trying to hide the = truth about extra-terrestrials from the public. = The US government is also the principal = threat to E.T.'s life. The main characteristic = of Steven Spielberg's action movies that = makes them so different from the classical = blockbusters is the absence of an evil character = who is the single source of danger in the = film. No Darth Vader, Terminator, T1000, = Dr. No, psycho killer or other "bad = guys" whose aim to destroy the hero's = life. There is rather a combination = of a dangerous factor (the shark in Jaws, E.T.'s illness) and a pressure = of events resulting from the gregarious = instinct of a narrow-minded crowd. Spielberg = is thus revealing our inability to understand = the real purpose of life: we are according = too much significance to futile things and = that prevents us from seeing what is really = important. The characters own sins = also play the role of the dangerous factor. = Even if the character himself is not a villain, = his greed and selfishness most of the time = put him and the others in jeopardy. Jurassic Park</= FONT> is a good example: = a millionaire wants to create a theme park = featuring dinosaurs. They are genetically = recreated from prehistoric DNA conserved = in mosquitoes from the Jurassic era, but = the genetic code is altered in order to = control the sex and the reproduction of the = species. Though, the scientists had not = taken into account the self-organising nature = of life and the dinosaurs eventually mutate = into normal animals capable of reproduction. = Spielberg also attracts repeatedly = our attention on human reaction to the unknown. = It is this reaction that sometimes reveals = our hidden sins. Confronted to the unknown, = needing to improvise and make new decisions, = many people panic and act with gregarious = instinct and selfishness that endanger the = people under their responsibility. In = Jaws<= /FONT>, the Mayor, unaware = of the real danger a white shark represents = for the population, refuses to close the = beach. In <= I>Close = Encounters of the Third Kind, it is the government's measures = which are criticised, together with the = reaction of the family and friends of the = people "feeling" that something = is about to happen. Their relatives, unable = to understand their visions, reject them, = thinking they are insane. The Sugarland Express, 1941, = E.T.<= /FONT> and Jurassic Park are also good examples of = how stupidly we can behave when an unknown = and unexpected situation arises. What = also appears quiet often, is a father failing = to assume his role. William Atherton is = just following his wife in The Sugarland Express; Roy Scheider hesitates = and doesn't always know how to handle the = situation in Jaws; Elliott's father = is in Mexico with his secretary in E.T.; Robin Williams doesn't pay = enough attention to his son in Hook and there is no need to mention = Whoopi Goldberg's sadistic husband in The Color Purple</= FONT> or the hero of <= FONT = FACE=3D"Humanst521 BT" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000">Empire of the Sun<= /FONT>, who is lost by his = parents. Actually, despite his criticism = for the typical American middle-class family = where the children grow up with "three = parents: a mother, a father and a TV set", = Spielberg is very attached to the ideal = of a unified family. He was very affected = by his parents divorce and in many of his = films, the evil element is not only threatening = the characters' life but also the family = integrity: in Duel, where the hero is = trying to drive back home to join his family; = The = Sugarland = Express,= where = Goldie Hawn is desperately trying to regain = custody of her child; Jaws; = E.T.<= /FONT>; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade= , where Indy's family = is mentioned for the first time; Hook, and Jurassic = Park, = where = the couple of paleontologists and the two = children are treated like a family. Besides = this emphasis on family, Spielberg also = likes to adopt a child's point of view (E.T., Empire = of the Sun, = Hook<= /FONT>, Jurassic Park). He is a master for putting = on screen childlike emotions and directing = children. In 1982, he admitted: "I = feel I'm still a kid. I'm 34 and I really = haven't grown up yet." Even his episode = of = Twilight = Zone - The Movie = (1983) was the story of elderly people who = can become children again if they wish it = strongly enough. In fact, Spielberg's = fantastic and emotional films aim at awakening = the child hidden in each of us. Steven = Spielberg is not one more of these silly = filmmakers for blood-thirsty teens, mixing = stunts, special effects and haemoglobin = in two-hours meaningless motion pictures. He = is rather a great filmmaker whose movies = inspired many others and set new standards = for action movies. He is not trying to hide = a lack of talent or imagination behind special = effects but uses them to tell beautiful = stories. The ancient Greeks used special = effects in their theatre plays =97 the Deus ex Machina</= FONT> =97 and nobody blamed = them for that. I don't claim Steven = Spielberg is the greatest director = of all times =97 and I don't think he is. = People like Stanley Kubrick or Alfred Hitchcock = all brought much to the film industry but = thanks to Steven Spielberg, entertainment = became a noble art. His Indiana Jones trilogy, E.T., = Hook<= /FONT>, Jurassic Park brought joy and happiness = throughout the world and made us dream, whereas = The = Sugarland = Express,= Close Encounters = of the Third Kind, = The = Color = Purple = or = = Schindler's = List = made = us think about important issues such as = family values, human reaction to the unknown = or the place of mankind in the universe. Steven = Spielberg thus manages to include inner = meanings which mirror his own personality = in mildly violent blockbuster movies. Everyone = with an open mind can enjoy his films. He = is the best representative of a whole part = of the American film industry which succeeds = in making films which can both be enjoyed = on a first degree and understood on a second. It = doesn't surprise me that the Oxford History of World Cinema = are not = big = fans of Spielberg - it would damage their = credibility to advocate such a populist = director. Dexter = Sy wrote: > >Final = note - Although I think Spielberg is one = of the greats, as with >other legends, = it is also the people who surround the genius = that help >elevate the work. I am of = course talking about John Williams who has = turned a >number of great films into = classics. Can you imagine Jaws without the >'dum-dum-dum-dum' = theme? ET without the soaring theme as Elliot = and ET >silhouette against the moon? = Close Encounters without the sign-language = >theme tune? >Or Indy without = his rousing overture? Thought not. > >Of = course detractors will claim that Spielberg, = the populist, is turning >out nothing = more than sentimental crap pretending to = be to serious films for his >dramatic = works, and dismiss his action flicks are = "yet more examples of the popcorn >culture = that is the new hollywood" >And = trust me, Hollywood has a lot of enemies = in the so called serious film >going = community and their target #1 is Spielberg. >That's = not to say I disagree with you. I = actually agree with you >wholeheartedly, = but there is that line of reasoning out = there. You probably won't find it in = >the mainstream, this stuff is written = more in as a subtext in most of the >intellectual = circles. I am studying film = history so I took the liberty to flip = >through the pages of my film text, Oxford History of World = Cinema, = to see what >they wrote of Spielberg. = The book is basically a collection of essays = from various >contributors strung = together by a handful of editors. Anyways, = the editors >of the book were = level headed enough to give him a special = box (a privilege >reseved only for = the important figures/directors the book = talks about) but the essay >attached = to spielberg (written by a contributing = writer) was rather stilted and >pretty = much dismissed Spielberg as a populist popcorn = director who happened to do >Schindler's = List. His previous works like Empire = of the Sun and the Color >Purple were = ignored all together. > >-- >Dexter = S. >Tendo Box - Nintendo e-zine >Http://www.tendobox.com(Http:= //www.tendobox.com) > > >RFC822 = header >----------------------------------- > >Return-Path: = <owner-= movies@lists.xmission.com> >Received: from = lists.xmission.com ([198.60.22.7]) by zag.workstation.org.uk > = (Netscape Messaging Server 3.5) = with ESMTP id 182 > for <richard@sourcedesign.co.uk</= U>>; Fri, 1 Sep 2000 = 05:52:49 +0100 >Received: from domo = by lists.xmission.com with local (Exim 2.12 = #2) > id 13UioT-0004Op-00 > for = movies-gooutt@= lists.xmission.com; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:52:25 = - -0600 >Received: from [24.2.10.84] = (helo=3Dmail1.rdc2.bc.home.com) > by lists.xmission.com = with esmtp (Exim 2.12 #2) > id 13UioQ-0004OT-00 > for = movies@lists.= xmission.com; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 22:52:23 = - -0600 >Received: from home.com ([24.115.13.70]) = by mail1.rdc2.bc.home.com > = (InterMail vM.4.01.03.00 201-229-121) with = ESMTP > id <20000901045219.GFCA5839.mail1.rdc2.bc.home.= com@home.com> > for = <movies@= lists.xmission.com>; Thu, 31 Aug 2000 = 21:52:19 -0700 >Message-ID: <39AF384C.6F2F1C42@home.com</= U>> >Date: Thu, = 31 Aug 2000 22:02:04 -0700 >From: Dexter = Sy <dextersy@= home.com> >X-Mailer: Mozilla = 4.73 [en] (Win98; U) >X-Accept-Language: = ja,en >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: = movies@lists.= xmission.com >Subject: Re: [MV] = SPIELBERG - A SIMPLE LOOKBACK >References: = <= 20000831171134802.AAA593.573@[213.143.5.66]> >Content-Type: = multipart/alternative; > boundary=3D"------------FA90F828ABF9E9AC7BF54327" >Sender: = owner-movies@= lists.xmission.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: = movies@lists.= xmission.com ></BODY></HTML> - --====49515150514953535452===1-- [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ End of movies-digest V2 #287 **************************** [ To quit the movies-digest mailing list (big mistake), send the message ] [ "unsubscribe movies-digest" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ]