Kevin's Watch

Tragic? He chose. He didn't have to do what he did. Nothing tragic about it to me. And no...I never was really emotionally involved with any character - it's still my fav film of all-time. Just love everything about it. Wheras the pathos in Apocalypse Now...the imagery...the unnerving character that Brando played representing the insanity of war...truly amazing film and work of art...leaves me with gut feelings...the meaning of the film isn't as obvious or telegraphed, until the end.

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote:Tragic? He chose.

Exactly. A real tragedy isn't something bad that you can't control... that's life. Get over it.

Real drama (and tragedy) exist when a character has a choice, and makes a bad one.

? But then how is it 'tragic'? I don't get it. If I made a film about a guy who chose to rape a woman, would it be a tragic film if it was about the consequences for him? (boy I hope it happens...alas, Crowe would have done a great job)

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote:? But then how is it 'tragic'? I don't get it. If I made a film about a guy who chose to rape a woman, would it be a tragic film if it was about the consequences for him?

I don't see why that couldn't be tragic. After all, the tragedy of his own choice not only ruins the woman's life, but possibly his own (or simply leads to him corrupting his own mindset by surrendering to his own vices).

But...whereas most eventually feel some sympathy for Covenant, I never felt any sympathy for Pacino's character.

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote:But...whereas most eventually feel some sympathy for Covenant, I never felt any sympathy for Pacino's character.

I can't comment on Covenant because I've never read the books, though I did feel sorry for Pacino's character in Godfather, or at least the man he would have become if he had of made different choices. Just a matter of what strikes a chord with us, I suppose.

...don't get me wrong, I'm glad your here...but wtf? You've never read the Chrons? (jaw refuses to con-tract)

I'd say Michael Corleone's story is very tragic - and I felt a lot of sympathy for him. He was ruthless, cold, evil. His choices made him a monster. He could have gone down a totally different path - it's tragic, to me. There were times when I hated him, and times when I felt for him strongly.

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote:









...don't get me wrong, I'm glad your here...but wtf? You've never read the Chrons? (jaw refuses to con-tract)

Actually, I've never read any Donaldson. He doesn't really spark my own interest, though I have heard good things about him.

I actually joined the forum because my brother (Loremaster) was running a forum game I wanted to take part in. Since then, I've stuck around a bit

Montresor wrote:
...my brother (Loremaster)...

I knew it!

Montresor wrote:

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote:









...don't get me wrong, I'm glad your here...but wtf? You've never read the Chrons? (jaw refuses to con-tract)

Actually, I've never read any Donaldson. He doesn't really spark my own interest, though I have heard good things about him.

I actually joined the forum because my brother (Loremaster) was running a forum game I wanted to take part in. Since then, I've stuck around a bit

(raises eyebrow)...hmmm...Lore and I usually disagree, whereas you and I usually agree - it's all becoming clearer...

Orlion wrote:

Montresor wrote:
...my brother (Loremaster)...

I knew it!

And here I was thinking it was common knowledge...

jacob Raver, sinTempter wrote: (raises eyebrow)...hmmm...Lore and I usually disagree, whereas you and I usually agree - it's all becoming clearer...

And what is strange is my brother and I often agree.

The pinnacle of 1970's film-making was Altered States.

Edge wrote:The pinnacle of 1970's film-making was Altered States.

How did I forget that one? (smacks forehead)

Maybe because the film had freaked me out so I blocked it from memory.

That really is awesome!

matrixman wrote:

Edge wrote:The pinnacle of 1970's film-making was Altered States.

How did I forget that one? (smacks forehead)

Maybe because the film had freaked me out so I blocked it from memory.

It's okay, you can tell us...what happened? What scarred, err scared you? (either one, or both)? Do tell...

All the strange imagery in the hallucinatory scenes...vomiting blood...weird regression into "simian" form...the bizarre scene with Jessup struggling between his human form and hideously misshapen form...

Altered States was one crazy movie.

The 70s were a seminal decade in film-making. It would be near impossible for me to pick 5 movies. Personally, I would pick Raiders of the Lost Ark or Close Encounters to represent Spielberg. (Hard to do, he made so many classic films in the decade) I have personally always felt Apocalypse Now to be over-rated. It would also be hard to pick between Clockwork Orange and The Shining to represent Kubrick. This may not make sense, but I think the Shining is a *greater* film. (In terms of its infulence and cultural significance) and Clockwork is the *better* film. (from an artistic standpoint). But they are two movies extremely difficult to compare.

Once again, I think its a mistake to exclude Sidney Lumet. Serpico, Network, and Dog Day Afternoon easily stand up to the more remembered Coppola and Spielberg films.

Star Wars cannot be ignored. It's the decade's swan song. Everything that changed about film making in the 70s is represented by the single movie, that tells a story older than history in a exciting a fresh way. (Somehow, the movie STILL feels fresh, which makes me envious of those who got to see it in 77. One of my greatest wishes is to be able to erase my memory of this movie and be able to watch it for the first time again. I have the same wish for Led Zeppelin 4.)

Alien is a movie I have a LOT of personal affinity for. It's one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it's one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. It essentially created the modern sci-fi horror genre.

voted for the Godfathers