Don't kill anyone if you don't have to. We're here to make a deal.

Mal ,'Serenity'


Buffista Movies 6: lies and videotape  

A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.


§ ita § - Apr 04, 2008 10:12:49 am PDT #4828 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

TV screen = better than no screen.

Unless it makes you never want to see the movie again, and leaves you with a dislike for it, though.

I've been assured that I'll like 2001, but I've already given it two hours of my life--I'm not likely to gamble another two hours plus effort and cost do try it again. I'll try another movie instead, or just take a nap.


Fred Pete - Apr 04, 2008 10:19:08 am PDT #4829 of 10000
Ann, that's a ferret.

TV screen = better than no screen.

Generally true, but there are exceptions. And since ita mentioned 2001, I'll say I first saw it on videotape on a 19" TV screen. And I had about 15 minutes less than the running time of the movie. Let's just say I didn't appreciate it at the time.

Another example -- Lawrence of Arabia. You just can't get the vastness of the desert on a smaller screen.


lisah - Apr 04, 2008 10:33:10 am PDT #4830 of 10000
Punishingly Intricate

I got so freaked out by the the part of 2001 where the guy is set adrift in space when I saw it on TV as a kid that I've never been able to watch the whole movie.


Nutty - Apr 04, 2008 11:02:27 am PDT #4831 of 10000
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

Another example -- Lawrence of Arabia. You just can't get the vastness of the desert on a smaller screen.

I saw this first on a tiny tiny TV! In Letterbox, even! The camels were as big as my pinky fingernail! And I can faithfully say that, although it's wowsers on the big screen, it's still a big movie on a TV. You can still tell.

I think it's kind of ironic, the idea that there are some movies that only make sense on a big screen, because the big philosophy about movies was that they were artwork that the masses could enjoy. Mass production as cultural democracy! ...unless you don't own a home theatre or live within shouting distance of an art house.


§ ita § - Apr 04, 2008 11:06:32 am PDT #4832 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

It's not ironic, it's just...progress. I wonder how many people dreamt that the jerky magical black and white pictures at the cinema could ever be shown in their own living rooms. Or, fuck it, in their hands.


Sean K - Apr 04, 2008 11:20:08 am PDT #4833 of 10000
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

I love 2001, but man is it not everybody's thing. Even on the big screen. But the big screen does make a difference. It is one of those movies.

May still not be your thing.


Miracleman - Apr 04, 2008 11:22:06 am PDT #4834 of 10000
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020

I love 2001, but man is it not everybody's thing. Even on the big screen. But the big screen does make a difference. It is one of those movies.

May still not be your thing.

Sittin' with Sean. Personally, I enjoy the movie (though there are bits where I go "Okay, Stan, you built a rotating set, you're very impressed with yourself, we get it, can we move on from the fucking stewardess and get to the spooky omnipotent aliens, please? Stan? Please?") but I know Aimee hates it. It is long and Kubrick does take his time and the acting is about as flat as a flat thing under a piece of paper in a flat world, but still. Compelling movie.


Frankenbuddha - Apr 04, 2008 11:23:31 am PDT #4835 of 10000
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave.


Hayden - Apr 04, 2008 11:24:19 am PDT #4836 of 10000
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

My god! It's full of stars!


Miracleman - Apr 04, 2008 11:25:48 am PDT #4837 of 10000
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020

My god! It's full of stars!

Not said in the movie. Which I didn't remember until I watched it again on, I think, AMC a few weeks ago.