Seeing films

[altariel]

While Mr. A was away this week, I decided to watch all three LotR films on consecutive days. (Watched the EE versions of the first two.)



I've found it works best to think of the EEs as containing two films each - it helps me make more sense particularly of the construction of the narrative and the pacing. Although they are obviously constructed to work as single films - the bookending in TTT of the shot of Frodo with his knife to Gollum's throat at the start, and to Sam's throat at the end being an obvious example.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Superb. That's all I have to say about that. A brilliant adaptation, pacing is great, visuals are stunning, and I still cry buckets for the last heart-breaking half hour.

The Two Towers: I stand by my belief that the cinema cut is a better standalone film. However, I will say that I enjoyed the first half of TTT enormously this time round - everything had a lot more time to move, the pacing seemed graceful and thoughtful this time round. I think my repeated mistake is in trying to watch this film all the way through on a single night, because I finish the first disc and think, "Christ, there's still Helm's Bloody Deep to get through yet..." I also think that there are a couple of quite dodgy bits in this half. The Fell Soup Scene should have hit the cutting room floor - it only detracts from the visual comparisons being made between Arwen and Eowyn, and it sucks. I think some of the dialogue in the Denethor-Boromir-Faramir scene sucks ("Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting...") and wish I had had just a minute with the script. I'm not going to try watching it in one night again, I think.

The Return of the King: For a change, I went to see this in the local arts cinema rather than in the benighted hell that is the Warners cinema. I was hoping for a better behaved audience, and certainly some quiet (given I was there for an afternoon showing), but was sadly mistaken. Two blokes in front of me talked (not whispered) throughout, and there was much muttering elsewhere. It could just be me, however. Despite the woman behind me saying loudly at one point, "There's going to be a great big spider in a minute, isn't there?", the man next to me still convulsed wildly with surprise when Shelob appeared on screen. But I still wish people would just belt up and watch the fucking film. This ain't your goddam living room.

I really need to get out more.

Anyway. It's difficult to compare RotK as yet with the other two, given that it's not yet the EE. But I rate this film enormously. I did quail a little at one point thinking of the multiple endings that were yet to come, but once I got past that, and just watched them, they did the trick perfectly. Part of the frustration is, of course, that in fact I want more (*coughs* faramir-and-eowyn *cough*), and so they don't entirely satisfy as they stand. Never mind, there's still a DVD to come. Two more films to come, as far as I'm concerned. For which, hurrah!




I turn thirty-two this week, and will spend at least part of my birthday in the cinema. I don't know what to see. You decide!

[Poll #231948]

Comments

[seemag.livejournal.com]

Happy pre-birthday, Una! Hope you have a totally indulgent day.

We must be sorta twins: I turn 28 sometime this week...

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Coo, my very own poll option! But really, don't worry about them: whenever you get chance to watch them. Just think how long I had your Richard III - I think you forgot at least once that you even owned it... :-)

So I've answered 'Cold Mountain', because I want to see it myself, and I'll be interested to hear what you think. But hey, it's your birthday - you go and see what you want. But perhaps Mr A should ensure that there are no blunt instruments within your reach.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I vote for Peter Pan, as he's the international representative for refusing to grow up.

Come! Let's run amok!!!!

Bwahahahahahaha!!!!

[executrix.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday next week! Go you!

I suggest Peter Pan, Cold Mountain sounds too depressing for a birthday-related celebration.

[ex-seasalt15.livejournal.com]

I would go see Cold Mountain. If only because they still don´t show it here!

[kathyh]

I'm about to start on my own marathon viewing of LOTR, though I'm not quite going to be able to manage it on consecutive days.

I think some of the dialogue in the Denethor-Boromir-Faramir scene sucks ("Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting...") and wish I had had just a minute with the script.

I wish you had too. I loved the scene but hated that line with a passion; it's wrong on so many levels that I nearly posted a huge rant in my LJ about it. If it irritates me as much this time around I still might.

Have a great birthday. I haven't seen Cold Mountain yet, but that's the one I'd probably choose. It's had mixed reviews but the trailer looked good. On the other hand you could just go and see ROTK again *g*.

[trixieleitz]

Suckiness of dialogue aside, I really do think the D-B-F scene should have been in the cinema cut. It made a huge difference to how I perceived movie-Faramir. I should set up a macro to type that automatically.

This ain't your goddam living room.

Damn straight.

It's been my impression that the arts cinema tends to attract a better-behaved audience than the McCinema, but that may be more of a condemnation of the latter than anything else :/ Audiences, the death of cinema.

I turn thirty-two this week

Aargh, aaargh, parental wedding anniversary and I haven't got them a card yet, aaaargh!

Oh, and hope your birthday is a good'un ;) Go and see RotK again, you know you want to. How many times is it now?

Have a great birthday!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

As for the film, one the one hand I'm curious to learn what you make of Peter Pan, given that the people on my friends' list have so wildly differing opinions about it, otoh - go see RotK again! *g*

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday for later. Wishing you much birthday goodness.

I voted for PP as being silly, whimsical, and I've just read some fascinating stuff about Barrie in that Lurie book. And, you'll go and see RotK again v. soon anyway.

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday for later in the week! I hope your film choice is a good one.

Ah, Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting...

I find that the suckiness of that line depends on how you imagine its backstory whilst watching. Having a mental picture of Elrond sending out invitations to his secret council meeting is definitely sucky. But then I got the idea of Denethor having Seen what was going on chez Elrond. The line's much palatable that way (despite the power of Vilya probably making it impossible!) :)

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Not seen either, as OH wasn't feeling like going out this w/e, but 'Peter Pan' seems the more celebratory bet. Or is 'Lost in Translation' on in your neck of the woods -- it's got very good reviews, but it hasn't reached Stoke yet :(

And happy birthday, by the way!

skip all three and the DVDs and...

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

...check out "The Triplets of Belleville." Probably at an "art film" place or other quirky venue, despite winning at Cannes. It's a really amazing animated film. Not animé, but animation done like it was when I was a kid, with a sort of loose-jointedness and physics-violating doings that somehow all are perfectly reasonable in the film world. I won't tell the story because part of what really impressed me is how the entire tale unfolds without narration or comprehensible dialog. It gets funnier and funnier as the mystery-drama-action unfolds. And a little old lady and her dog and three other old ladies are the hero(ine)s. Go see it - I went unprepared to enjoy much and had a ball. And have a happy birthday, too!

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

But I still wish people would just belt up and watch the fucking film. This ain't your goddam living room.

Oh, amen to that.

I'm amazed there were talkers there at a matinee. That makes me very sad. I usually frequent midweek matinees in order to get away from the chatty types. *sigh*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

NO WAY is your birthday today! Happy birthday, dear Altariel! You are the third addition to my calendar of people celebrating birthdays today, and... fellow Capricorns, as I turn 34 on Thursday. Woot!!

*does celebratory birthday dance*

Enjoy some champagne, and see Peter Pan and RotK. C'mon, you know you want to... ;) Heck, maybe *that's* what I'll do for my birthday! I hadn't figured out what to do, besides perhaps go rollerskating, trying to relive my 1980's youth.