Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (2010) [Archive]

megladon8

04-20-2009, 10:37 PM

I really like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Kevin Costner's bad, but he's surrounded by a good supporting cast, some great action sequences, and a flipping amazing musical score.

The score was so good that Regency took it as their theme music.

EDIT: I forget if it's Regency or Morgan Creek that took the theme music. One of those companies that frequently works with WB.

[ETM]

04-20-2009, 10:43 PM

The score was so good that Regency took it as their theme music.

That's... good?:P

Crowe looks like he was running from the Praetorians through the woods, stumbled across a Nottingham forest gift shop and stole a costume and bow and arrows, leaving his jeans on, and on his way out stumbled across one of Boromir's gauntlets and picked it up...

[ETM]

04-20-2009, 10:46 PM

EDIT: I forget if it's Regency or Morgan Creek that took the theme music. One of those companies that frequently works with WB.

Actually, Regency is Elfman from "Sommersby".

Winston*

04-20-2009, 10:53 PM

Crowe's character is going to be both Robin Hood and The Sheriff of Nottingham or something

DavidSeven

04-20-2009, 10:56 PM

Ridley Scott doesn't matter anymore.

DavidSeven

04-20-2009, 11:08 PM

Crowe's character is going to be both Robin Hood and The Sheriff of Nottingham or something

So, he's a government agent who robs from the rich and gives to the poor? I didn't know Barty wrote the screenplay.

megladon8

04-20-2009, 11:11 PM

I thought they scrapped that whole thing with Crowe playing dual roles?

Ezee E

04-20-2009, 11:31 PM

Yeah, not actually true.

William Hurt, Cate Blanchett, and Vanessa Redgrave are all in it though.

lovejuice

04-20-2009, 11:51 PM

i've never known costner's robin hood is supposed to be a bad movie. my mom loves it, and i do so in a family sentiment kinda way.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 12:17 AM

of course Crowe is Robin Hood...of course....

I like Costner's version.

Dead & Messed Up

04-21-2009, 12:41 AM

The Costner version has some unintentional fun to it, what with Costner's flat American speech, Alan Rickman's generous overacting, and oddball moments like Morgan Freeman spearing hisself a witch.

As for this, hopefully it rises above the bland that encompassed Gladiator.

Maybe Robin Hood could think that he's being chased by the Sheriff's people, but it ends up all being in his head, and then, cause there's some time left before the credits, we flash-forward to him winning an arbitrary award, just so the audience leaves with a happy feeling, and God damn it A Beautiful Mind pissed me off.

Mara

04-21-2009, 12:48 AM

The Costner version is worth it for Alan Rickman. He's great.

And I was totally like, "SOLD" after reading the thread title, but then I open it, and it's all Russell Crowe and stuff.

Grouchy

04-21-2009, 02:25 AM

Fuck, that picture is ugly.

The Mike

04-21-2009, 03:03 AM

I'mkindashockedthatI'mtotallyt hefirstpersontowishitwasTonySc ott'sRobinHood.OMG,thatwouldru leeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

EvilShoe

04-21-2009, 09:56 AM

Scott needs to make another good movie.
It's been 27 years already.

Morris Schæffer

04-21-2009, 10:53 AM

Gladiator and Black Hawk Down were exceptional genre pictures.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 12:28 PM

Gladiator and Black Hawk Down were exceptional genre pictures.

Gladiator was amazing. Black Hawk Down was silly. They're in two completely different ballparks.

[ETM]

04-21-2009, 02:26 PM

Gladiator was amazing. Black Hawk Down was silly. They're in two completely different ballparks.

I'd have reversed that statement. Although BHD also plays around with historic events, Gladiator is just... embarrassing. Scott seems to have that streak, with Kingdom of Heaven and all. That, however, was a decent picture (note that I've only seen the DC).

D_Davis

04-21-2009, 02:33 PM

Gladiator and Black Hawk Down were exceptional genre pictures.

Thank you.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 02:57 PM

;154511']I'd have reversed that statement. Although BHD also plays around with historic events, Gladiator is just... embarrassing. Scott seems to have that streak, with Kingdom of Heaven and all. That, however, was a decent picture (note that I've only seen the DC).

I still need to watch KoH.

I feel like people get caught up in movies that are based around actual events. I'm not entertained by a movie/event where 18 American soldiers died and hundreds of Somalis were slaughtered. It feels so forced.

[ETM]

04-21-2009, 03:02 PM

I feel like people get caught up in movies that are based around actual events. I'm not entertained by a movie/event where 18 American soldiers died and hundreds of Somalis were slaughtered. It feels so forced.

Well, it's different for me. All of my problems with it come from it being an actual event. On its own, as a story about a group of soldiers who come under fire in a hostile environment and just survive, it works. The whole real situation is hanging around its neck like a rock. Truly despicable events, and something that should not have happened at all.

number8

04-21-2009, 04:32 PM

Let's just say both of those movies suck.

number8

04-21-2009, 04:34 PM

But Ridley Scott's not that behind, man. His last great movie was only 8 years ago. It was called Hannibal.

Dead & Messed Up

04-21-2009, 04:40 PM

But Ridley Scott's not that behind, man. His last great movie was only 8 years ago. It was called Hannibal.

Hah! Hehe.

Heh.

:|

Hah?

[ETM]

04-21-2009, 04:55 PM

Let's just say both of those movies suck.

"Suck" is not specific enough.

Sycophant

04-21-2009, 04:57 PM

I'mkindashockedthatI'mtotallyt hefirstpersontowishitwasTonySc ott'sRobinHood.OMG,thatwouldru leeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

Actually, yeah, I'd like to see that. At any rate, I'd like to see Tony Scott attempt a period piece, especially an old world period piece.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 05:02 PM

Why do you guys hate Gladiator? too cliche?

Grouchy

04-21-2009, 05:08 PM

But Ridley Scott's not that behind, man. His last great movie was only 8 years ago. It was called Hannibal.
I agree.

Mara

04-21-2009, 05:08 PM

Gladiator is worth it for Joaquin Phoenix's performance alone.

[ETM]

04-21-2009, 05:10 PM

Why do you guys hate Gladiator? too cliche?

I despise the way it treats me like an idiot. It's everything I hate about old school "historical" spectacles yet it acts as if it's all smart and serious.

Dead & Messed Up

04-21-2009, 05:22 PM

Why do you guys hate Gladiator? too cliche?

I didn't like how Scott cut the action, I thought the story was a dull revenge tale, and it takes a special kind of collective ignorance to think that thumbs-up/thumbs-down was how gladiators were judged.

Great look and great music, though.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 05:22 PM

;154561']I despise the way it treats me like an idiot. It's everything I hate about old school "historical" spectacles yet it acts as if it's all smart and serious.

So you're saying it's historically inaccurate? (which i would agree) I'm pretty sure 'thumbs up' meant the gladiator would die and thumbs down mean's he lived. In the movie it's the opposite.

I love the whole loss of power only to rise again to seek vengeance campaign, despite how many times this has been done before in hollywood...

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 05:23 PM

I didn't like how Scott cut the action, I thought the story was a dull revenge tale, and it takes a special kind of collective ignorance to think that thumbs-up/thumbs-down was how gladiators were judged.

Great look and great music, though.

I loved the look. And I can see people hating the cut up action. I don't mind it. But then again I also don't mind fast-slow action sequences. Nice post with the thumbs up/down. Beat me a few seconds.

Dead & Messed Up

04-21-2009, 05:32 PM

I loved the look. And I can see people hating the cut up action. I don't mind it. But then again I also don't mind fast-slow action sequences. Nice post with the thumbs up/down. Beat me a few seconds.

But that's still wrong. The thumb would either be extended to the side (death) or tucked inside the hand (life). They weren't reviewing films.

Sycophant

04-21-2009, 05:33 PM

Is it nine years too late to watch Gladiator? Trying to figure out if it's going to still be somewhat culturally relevant going forward.

I certainly don't care about factual inaccuracies or whatever the hell all this thumb talk is about.

Wryan

04-21-2009, 05:52 PM

Hahaha!

Someone shop Jimmy Smitts from SW into that pic. Would fit right in...

Dead & Messed Up

04-21-2009, 05:52 PM

I certainly don't care about factual inaccuracies or whatever the hell all this thumb talk is about.

http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2008/06/22/thumbs-down.jpg

number8

04-21-2009, 05:53 PM

I wish thumbs would make the movie less boring.

Ezee E

04-21-2009, 06:18 PM

I dig it a ton still, as well as a few others of his movies from this decade. Matchstick Men, which hasn't been mentioned, might be the last good performance from Cage.

Sycophant

04-21-2009, 06:22 PM

I liked Matchstick Men a lot when I saw it in theaters. I have a copy on DVD. Should see if it holds up.

Though I rarely get excited for his projects, I don't really dislike Scott. But I haven't seen that much. I loved Alien, thought Thelma & Louise was pretty decent, enjoyed Matchstick Men quite a bit, and disliked Blade Runner.

Morris Schæffer

04-21-2009, 06:51 PM

Gladiator was amazing. Black Hawk Down was silly. They're in two completely different ballparks.

BHD silly? I always thought it was the antithesis of jingoistic silliness. I found it very to the point and docu-like. Not too political either which is great for a change. Just showing warfare at its most visceral.

Rowland

04-21-2009, 07:06 PM

I need to rewatch Gladiator, but otherwise Black Hawk Down is my favorite of Scott's '00s work, American Gangster and Matchstick Men are pretty good, and Hannibal is flat-out terrible.

Dukefrukem

04-21-2009, 07:25 PM

BHD silly? I always thought it was the antithesis of jingoistic silliness. I found it very to the point and docu-like. Not too political either which is great for a change. Just showing warfare at its most visceral.

Yes silly and forced. Released during a time of war and when we should be honoring our fellow soldiers, the movie shows me nothing i didn't already know from reading what happened in real life. It does an annoyingly obvious bad job foreshadowing what we already know is going to happen. I don’t really care about the cast from bad character development … which doesn’t even matter anyway because the whole movie they’re just running around switching from character to character. Realistic sure… but boring uninteresting and pointless since nothing special happens. There’s no climax.

Wryan

04-21-2009, 07:51 PM

Legend, people. Legend.

Watashi

04-21-2009, 08:03 PM

Legend, people. Legend.
Sucked?

Morris Schæffer

04-21-2009, 08:07 PM

Yes silly and forced. Released during a time of war and when we should be honoring our fellow soldiers, the movie shows me nothing i didn't already know from reading what happened in real life. It does an annoyingly obvious bad job foreshadowing what we already know is going to happen. I don’t really care about the cast from bad character development … which doesn’t even matter anyway because the whole movie they’re just running around switching from character to character. Realistic sure… but boring uninteresting and pointless since nothing special happens. There’s no climax.

I guess I found Scott's directorial prowess and Slavomir Idziak's lensing so persuasive, so ferociously visceral that, for once, I cared little about character development. Still, it's a fine ensemble of actors that have been assembled.

Wryan

04-21-2009, 08:08 PM

Sucked?

You'll note I added no description other than the title.

That means something...

Tim Curry, though.

Wryan

04-21-2009, 08:09 PM

I guess I found Scott's directorial prowess and Slavomir Idziak's lensing so persuasive, so ferociously visceral that, for once, I cared little about character development. Still, it's a fine ensemble of actors that have been assembled.

I was pleased as punch to see that Idziak (who has a fuckin' great name, we must concede) had been DP for the fifth Potter film.

Amnesiac

04-21-2009, 08:14 PM

;154511']Gladiator is just... embarrassing.

Really? That's not hyperbolic at all?

Mara

04-21-2009, 08:22 PM

Legend, people. Legend.

WHEEEE!

Lame, yeah, but good times.

Mara

04-21-2009, 08:23 PM

I also wouldn't say that G. I. Jane is a favorite, but I watch it whenever it's on.

Sort of a guilty pleasure, I guess.

megladon8

04-21-2009, 08:38 PM

I think Ridley Scott's earlier films give the perfect example of how a great director does not need to be an "auteur" to be great.

Alien, Blade Runner and Legend are three films that have taken on incredible status in their respective genres and at least 2/3 of them are considered American classics. However I do not see any distinguishing marks in these films - nothing that screams "this is a Ridley Scott movie!".

Oh, and Gladiator is a great movie.

MadMan

04-21-2009, 08:55 PM

As one of the resident Ridley Scott fans on the boards, I have to say that for the moment this Robin Hood movie doesn't look like a good idea. But I need to see a trailer first.

Funny enough I still have a good deal of his 00's movies to see. I haven't viewed Body of Lies, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year, or American Gangster yet. I liked Matchstick Men, Black Hawk Down, and Gladiator, though. Even though (so far) I haven't seen a movie from him that equals the greatness of Alien or Blade Runner, though.

[ETM]

04-21-2009, 10:40 PM

Really? That's not hyperbolic at all?

It was always my personal feeling. I get it that most don't care about the things that bothered me, but I felt insulted by it.

I'm guessing people liked when the horse carried a wounded and unconscious Russel Crow all the way from Germany to his home in Spain. I kept wondering how it crossed the Pyrenees on its own. Stuff like that. It's not the thumb thing at all, it's the whole Last Samurai level of "authenticity" times hundred.

megladon8

04-21-2009, 10:42 PM

I liked The Last Samurai, too.

D_Davis

04-21-2009, 11:34 PM

I like Gladiator because I love being treated like an idiot.

It's one of my favorite things.

number8

04-22-2009, 12:03 AM

I hated Gladiator because I love tigers. And the movie was cruel to tigers.

Sycophant

04-22-2009, 12:08 AM

I like Gladiator because I fucking hate tigers?

number8

04-22-2009, 12:37 AM

I like Gladiator because I fucking hate tigers?
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/4/21/128848343300914435.jpg

Dead & Messed Up

04-22-2009, 12:40 AM

So, people are still enjoying lolcats?

[ETM]

04-22-2009, 01:00 AM

So, people are still enjoying lolcats?

Only meta lolcats.

Sycophant

04-22-2009, 01:01 AM

I lied. I like tigers.

I mean, I don't have, like, posters of tigers in my apartment or screen-printed tiger t-shirts, or tiger beach towels or anything, but tigers are cool wit' me.

I just hope I'm cool wit' tigers.

Grouchy

04-23-2009, 08:27 PM

I liked The Last Samurai, too.
Huh? That's not a Scott movie.

I like... SWAT CATS!

http://www.geocities.com/sketch_diary/swatkats.gif

Scar

04-23-2009, 09:14 PM

Anyone else on the board like Body of Lies?

D_Davis

04-23-2009, 09:21 PM

So, people are still enjoying lolcats?

They crossed the line from old and tired into ironic and funny, near-history nostalgia a few months ago.

So yeah.

Dead & Messed Up

04-23-2009, 09:43 PM

They crossed the line from old and tired into ironic and funny, near-history nostalgia a few months ago.

So yeah.

I can't be the only one that finds them obnoxiously unfunny.

Spun Lepton

04-23-2009, 10:31 PM

They started off funny, but then it became overkill. That said, I still think they can be funny.

Grouchy

04-23-2009, 11:30 PM

Apart from the Swat Cats, in real life, I hate cats.

Dukefrukem

04-24-2009, 01:01 AM

Apart from the Swat Cats, in real life, I hate cats.

Including Swat Cats, I hate cats.

number8

04-24-2009, 01:19 AM

Including Swat Cats, I hate cats.
That's just retarded.

Sycophant

04-24-2009, 01:20 AM

Goddammit, you guys, it's SWAT KATS.

number8

04-24-2009, 01:33 AM

Goddammit, you guys, it's SWAT KATS.

Rep.

Now that's a worthy citizen of Megakat City.

transmogrifier

04-24-2009, 01:34 AM

Anyone else on the board like Body of Lies?

I was liking it until I fell asleep. Not the film's fault though.

The Mike

04-24-2009, 01:47 AM

I liked Body of Lies a lot, but it kept reminding me of The Kingdom and Spy Game, each of which I liked a lot more.

Ezee E

04-24-2009, 03:11 AM

Body of Lies wasn't bad. It just seemed like The Departed in Iraq, which isn't bad at all since The Departed is Infernal Affairs in Boston.

Scar

04-24-2009, 11:50 AM

I liked Body of Lies a lot, but it kept reminding me of The Kingdom and Spy Game, each of which I liked a lot more.

I'll go this way:

Spy Game > Body of Lies > The Kingdom

Dukefrukem

04-24-2009, 12:43 PM

watched Kingdom of Heaven last night. Its got to be his worst film. got to be....

Scar

04-24-2009, 12:50 PM

watched Kingdom of Heaven last night. Its got to be his worst film. got to be....

The Director's Cut is quite good. Theatrical, not so much.

Dukefrukem

04-24-2009, 01:11 PM

The Director's Cut is quite good. Theatrical, not so much.

What's the difference?

Scar

04-24-2009, 01:38 PM

What's the difference?

About 45 minutes.

Wryan

04-24-2009, 03:42 PM

Cats are assholes.

And that's not a plus in my book (Qualities I Desire in Pets, 2010).

Kurosawa Fan

04-24-2009, 03:46 PM

People are assholes. Cats are brilliant.

Wryan

04-24-2009, 04:03 PM

Derailing like a mother, but...anyone seen that fabric softener commercial that featured a lovable, huggy dog, cat, and...a ferret?

I literally wtf-ed outloud.

I like ferrets. We had two when I was a kid. A coworker has a cute ferret. But that was literally the first time I'd seen a ferret used in a mainstream commercial like that, in the same vein as "cudly domestic pet" ala cats/dogs.

Wryan

04-24-2009, 04:06 PM

People are assholes. Cats are brilliant.

I think the Egyptians were just so staggered to have a domestic pet that didn't really give a shit about them that they just assumed cats to be omnipotent gods. It would have been my logical answer at the time, too, but now...

number8

04-24-2009, 04:18 PM

Matthew MacFayden is the Sheriff.

God, this project turned bland pretty quickly. First it was a role-reversal movie where Robin Hood is the villain, then it was an ambiguous take of the legend with both Sheriff and Robin as their own heroes, then it was some kind of surreal identity thing with Crowe playing both roles, and now it's just some Robin Hood movie where he goes to Nottingham for the first time and do the usual dance.

Interest dropped to minus ten.

Ezee E

04-24-2009, 06:49 PM

number8

04-24-2009, 06:55 PM

I'm actually more interested in the equal heroes one, especially with the proposed roles. Christian Bale as an idealistic, socialist and anarchist Robin Hood, trying to bring down England for the betterment of his people, while Crowe plays a tortured and steadfast Sheriff, trying to keep a promise he made to King Richard that he would fight to keep his country safe and stable. It would make for a great political war story.

But nooooooooo.

EvilShoe

04-24-2009, 08:01 PM

It doesn't help that Russel Crowe is fairly boring these days.
I haven't been impressed by him since The Insider.

Dukefrukem

04-24-2009, 11:07 PM

It doesn't help that Russel Crowe is fairly boring these days.
I haven't been impressed by him since The Insider.

I so agree, except I'd replace The Insider with Gladiator.

However; The Insider > Gladiator > L.A. Confidential >> Virtuosity >>>>>> Everything Else >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Master and the Commander

megladon8

04-24-2009, 11:14 PM

I so agree, except I'd replace The Insider with Gladiator.

However; The Insider > Gladiator > L.A. Confidential >> Virtuosity >>>>>> Everything Else >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Master and the Commander

I'd put L.A. Confidential at the front.

But otherwise, I'd pretty much agree.

Ezee E

04-24-2009, 11:24 PM

I knew he'd be a huge star after I saw L.A. Confidential, but after Gladiator he pretty much did tank with interesting roles. 3:10 To Yuma and Body of Lies are watchable though.

Strange that he's only worked with Ron Howard and Ridley Scott since 2000, with the exception of one movie.

megladon8

04-24-2009, 11:25 PM

I was puzzled by the lukewarm reviews 3:10 to Yuma got.

I thought it was a good movie. Not "one for the ages", but it was well-acted, well shot, had a great musical score and was entertaining through and through.

number8

04-24-2009, 11:42 PM

I thought it was a good movie. Not "one for the ages", but it was well-acted, well shot, had a great musical score and was entertaining through and through.

But not really.

Winston*

04-24-2009, 11:59 PM

3:10 to Yuma is really terrible IMO.

"Did we make it?"
"Yeah doc....we made it"

Master and Commander is good though.

DavidSeven

04-25-2009, 12:14 AM

Strange that he's only worked with Ron Howard and Ridley Scott since 2000, with the exception of one movie.

I was trying to figure out why Crowe seems to appear exclusively in really, really bland movies (outside Mann's Insider and Hanson's L.A. Confidential, of course).

This explains it.

[ETM]

04-25-2009, 12:39 AM

Master and Commander is good though.

The movie is. Crowe? Not as much.

Kurosawa Fan

04-25-2009, 01:41 AM

;156096']The movie is. Crowe? Not as much.

They both sucked.

[ETM]

04-25-2009, 01:45 AM

They both sucked.

I liked it. Despite Crowe. No reason not to.

Kurosawa Fan

04-25-2009, 01:51 AM

;156112']I liked it. Despite Crowe. No reason not to.

I found plenty of reasons.

[ETM]

04-25-2009, 02:08 AM

I found plenty of reasons.

Do share.

transmogrifier

04-25-2009, 04:20 AM

Weird. I thought Crowe was excellent in M&C. Movie is very good as well. In fact, it's Crowe's best since The Insider, which was his best since LA Condidential.

Crowe needs to diversify away from Scott and Howard though.

Ezee E

04-25-2009, 05:38 AM

I don't understand this hate towards 3:10 To Yuma. Was it expected to be a great movie? I found it incredibly entertaining, especially the end when the villains declare a ridiculous bounty. Not as good as Open Range, but a fun finale nonetheless.

And it doesn't look like Russell Crowe is changing his director picks anytime soon.

Morris Schæffer

04-25-2009, 10:16 AM

I love Master and Commander. Mind, I found it a little anti-climactic the first time, but have begun to appreciate the movie's more leisurely pace in the intervening years. It's more about folks eking out an existence on the oceans and in that sense, such as when Captain Aubrey longingly stares at an indiginous woman, and realizes that settling down is just never going to be an option for him, the movie is a great succes. I'd go mad with joy if another Aubrey/Maturin adaptation was announced. Instead we get three goddamn pirates of the caribbean movies. :frustrated:

And do share K-Fan. I'll be surprised if you have something substantial to say about the movie's failings. I'm sorry if that sounds condescending, but I honestly don't understand how anyone could fail to see M&C as a superbly intelligent crowdpleaser. I mean, what is so colossally wrong with it? :confused:

Kurosawa Fan

04-25-2009, 11:57 AM

;156121']Do share.

Well, I haven't seen it in five years, so this might be a bit scattered, but I remember disliking the way the supporting characters were treated. They were really cliche and bland, especially the Tiny Tim character, who was insufferable. The film was so focused on Crowe and Bettany that it neglected everyone else, which in this case hurt the film. When people died, because they had been nothing more than background pieces, I couldn't have cared less even though it was clear I was supposed to be affected by it (the not-so-subtle musical cues let me know I wasn't emoting enough). I also found the end of the film very unsatisfying. It felt really anticlimactic compared to the intensity of the rest of the film. It was a pretty meager payoff.

The whole thing just felt so average and flat. I'm sorry I don't have more to offer, but like I said, it's been five years. Fortunately for me, I won't be revisiting the film to offer better criticism.

EvilShoe

04-25-2009, 11:58 AM

I'm sorry for bringing so much hate to this thread.
Um... I like Hurt and Blanchett.

Winston*

04-25-2009, 01:56 PM

I'm sorry for bringing so much hate to this thread.
Um... I like Hurt and Blanchett.

John Hurt > William Hurt

What do you say to that EvilShoe? Huh?

Sven

04-25-2009, 03:09 PM

John Hurt > William Hurt

This would've been true had you posted it about ten years ago, before John Hurt was co-opted by Hollywood as "Eccentric Brit." William Hurt's still got a bit of dignity left.

In truth, I love both about equally. But don't rag on the Harlan.

EvilShoe

04-25-2009, 03:10 PM

John Hurt > William Hurt

What do you say to that EvilShoe? Huh?
I'll let William's work speak for itself:
http://dobbeltd.dk/joe/04124alteredstates.jpg

Dukefrukem

04-25-2009, 11:00 PM

3:10 to Yuma is really terrible IMO.

"Did we make it?"
"Yeah doc....we made it"

Master and Commander is good though.

3:10 terrible and master and commander good??? whaa?

im perplexed at how all over the place everyone is on Crowe movies. We can't seem to agree on anything... so I'll start

Rated Movies

Gladiator 95
the Insider 95
A Beautiful Mind 94
L.A. Confidential 92
Cinderella Man 90
3:10 to Yuma 88
Proof of Life 85
Body of Lies 82
Virtuosity 75
American Gangster 70
Master and the Commander 50

Rated Acting
the Insider
Gladiator
L.A. Confidential
Virtuosity
the rest

Morris Schæffer

04-26-2009, 06:27 PM

Well, I haven't seen it in five years, so this might be a bit scattered, but I remember disliking the way the supporting characters were treated. They were really cliche and bland, especially the Tiny Tim character, who was insufferable. The film was so focused on Crowe and Bettany that it neglected everyone else, which in this case hurt the film. When people died, because they had been nothing more than background pieces, I couldn't have cared less even though it was clear I was supposed to be affected by it (the not-so-subtle musical cues let me know I wasn't emoting enough). I also found the end of the film very unsatisfying. It felt really anticlimactic compared to the intensity of the rest of the film. It was a pretty meager payoff.

The whole thing just felt so average and flat. I'm sorry I don't have more to offer, but like I said, it's been five years. Fortunately for me, I won't be revisiting the film to offer better criticism.

About what I expected, but, with some effort, I do understand some of these. Thanks for sharing anyways.

Skitch

04-26-2009, 10:21 PM

Anyone else on the board like Body of Lies?

I did.

Skitch

04-26-2009, 10:23 PM

Any to destroy any misconceptions of credibility...

...am I the only person on the planet that hated every second of The Insider?

number8

04-26-2009, 10:45 PM

...am I the only person on the planet that hated every second of The Insider?

Probably not, but I think it's both Mann and Crowe's best film.

transmogrifier

04-26-2009, 11:33 PM

Mann's ....best film.

The Last of the Mohicans

...Crowe's best film.

LA Confidential

number8

04-27-2009, 01:33 AM

The Last of the Mohicans

....sucks.

LA Confidential

...great film, ordinary performance.

megladon8

04-27-2009, 01:34 AM

I liked Crowe's character more than I liked his actual performance in L.A. Confidential.

SpaceOddity

04-27-2009, 08:39 AM

;154561']I despise the way it treats me like an idiot. It's everything I hate about old school "historical" spectacles yet it acts as if it's all smart and serious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCUA1o8Kwno

transmogrifier

04-27-2009, 08:46 AM

...sucks.....

...to be you, what with the disability of having a poor taste in film. BOO-yah!

Wryan

04-27-2009, 03:11 PM

I liked M&C a lot, and 3:10 to Yuma wasn't that bad.

I now shoot albatrosses at regular intervals, if it can be helped.

[ETM]

04-27-2009, 08:21 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCUA1o8Kwno

Call MCXXXVI... :lol:

Dukefrukem

06-17-2009, 05:51 PM

on set pics (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41442)

Dukefrukem

07-22-2009, 05:05 PM

more on set pics. check out the castle (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41769).

Sven

07-22-2009, 05:15 PM

more on set pics. check out the castle (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41769).

It is in the crafting of such things that makes me want to be in the film industry. Seriously, when I was watching the special features for FoTR, watching all the passionate craftsmen at work was inspiring.

Wryan

07-22-2009, 06:15 PM

It is in the crafting of such things that makes me want to be in the film industry. Seriously, when I was watching the special features for FoTR, watching all the passionate craftsmen at work was inspiring.

On the extended ROTK dvds, at the end when everyone is indulging in their looks back and wistful experiences, John Rhys Davies and Chris Lee toast the crew and get weepy describing how proud they are to have worked with and known these crew members for this time and how dedicated they are to their work. Made me weepy.

Sven

07-22-2009, 06:45 PM

On the extended ROTK dvds, at the end when everyone is indulging in their looks back and wistful experiences, John Rhys Davies and Chris Lee toast the crew and get weepy describing how proud they are to have worked with and known these crew members for this time and how dedicated they are to their work. Made me weepy.

I love this. Thank God for those with a sense of perspective.

[ETM]

07-22-2009, 08:07 PM

Wait, Crowe is already doing another Master and Commander?

Morris Schæffer

07-23-2009, 11:07 AM

;187270']Wait, Crowe is already doing another Master and Commander?

Yup. Read it also some days ago.

He said as much to our good selves in an interview a couple of months ago, but Russell Crowe has once again talked up the possibility of returning to the seafaring world of Master and Commander.

Crowe first played Patrick O'Brien's Captain Jack Aubrey, the protagonist of twenty novels, in 2003, when Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was released to critical approval, reasonable box office and ten Oscar nominations.

The film contained elements of three of the original novels: the two namechecked in the franchise-starter title, plus the chase around Cape Horn from Desolation Island. That still leaves a good eighteen and a half novels ripe for movie attention however, and USA Today reports Crowe confirming that a script based on 1986's The Reverse of the Medal has been completed.

The Reverse of the Medal is the eleventh in the sequence of novels, and sees Aubrey gambling his dodgy finances on a peace treaty with France, being struck off the Naval list, and registering the HMS Surprise as a private man-of-war.

Most of the cast are still under contract for two more films, but negotiations are said to be in the early stages, with "a long way to go" according to Crowe. No official green light or start-date for the time being then.

Peter Weir told the Seattle Times in 2005: "I think a sequel is most unlikely. While it did well-ish at the box office, it didn't generate that kind of monstrous, rapid income that provokes a sequel." We hope he's proved wrong.

Please be true.

Morris Schæffer

12-15-2009, 10:44 AM

trailer

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=61633

Dukefrukem

12-15-2009, 12:21 PM

trailer

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=61633

Looks very Ridley Scottish.. Was Robin Hood really that much of a warrior?

angrycinephile

12-15-2009, 03:16 PM

Wow, that was one generic trailer.

What's up with the weird music choice? I always hate when they try to advertise a period piece with modern rock music.

Sven

12-15-2009, 09:18 PM

Oh barf.

Skitch

12-15-2009, 09:30 PM

Instinct says generic trailer, Gladiator and Kingdom Of Heaven in a different setting. Reality is its Ridley, his trailers blow, his movies always end up better than expected.

Conclusion: if history has taught me anything, its have faith in Mr. Scott. This will rock.

Sven

12-15-2009, 09:39 PM

Conclusion: if history has taught me anything, its have faith in Mr. Scott. This will rock.

You and Turtledove ought to write a book together, given your common interest in revisionist history. :)

Skitch

12-15-2009, 09:44 PM

You and Turtledove ought to write a book together, given your common interest in revisionist history. :)
A non-believer in our midst! Two questions: 1. No faith in Ridley? And 2. Who's Turtledove?

amberlita

12-15-2009, 09:44 PM

Looks like Gladiator 2.

Sven

12-16-2009, 01:30 AM

A non-believer in our midst! Two questions: 1. No faith in Ridley? And 2. Who's Turtledove?

I SHOULD'VE said "You and Ridley ought to make a picture together given your shared interest in revisionist history," but that would've been too appropriate and witty for me. Turtledove is an author of alternate history novels. Frequently involving "What if the Nazis _________" scenarios. Exs: What if the Nazis won? What if the Nazis had time travel? What if the Nazis had dragons?

Anyway, I like about three of his films (The Duellists, Hannibal, and Alien), and I've seen all but maybe a couple of them. Don't ask me why I keep seeing them. Frankly, I think he's pretty terrible and this looks way bad.

Skitch

12-16-2009, 01:46 AM

I SHOULD'VE said "You and Ridley ought to make a picture together given your shared interest in revisionist history," but that would've been too appropriate and witty for me. Turtledove is an author of alternate history novels. Frequently involving "What if the Nazis _________" scenarios. Exs: What if the Nazis won? What if the Nazis had time travel? What if the Nazis had dragons?

Anyway, I like about three of his films (The Duellists, Hannibal, and Alien), and I've seen all but maybe a couple of them. Don't ask me why I keep seeing them. Frankly, I think he's pretty terrible and this looks way bad.

Ah. I still think he's one of the best directors working today.

Kurosawa Fan

12-17-2009, 03:39 PM

Oh barf.

My thoughts exactly.

KK2.0

12-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Looks like Gladiator 2.

indeed.

Gladiator was a good time at the movies, i bet this will be too.

Dukefrukem

12-17-2009, 04:54 PM

I SHOULD'VE said "You and Ridley ought to make a picture together given your shared interest in revisionist history," but that would've been too appropriate and witty for me. Turtledove is an author of alternate history novels. Frequently involving "What if the Nazis _________" scenarios. Exs: What if the Nazis won? What if the Nazis had time travel? What if the Nazis had dragons?

Anyway, I like about three of his films (The Duellists, Hannibal, and Alien), and I've seen all but maybe a couple of them. Don't ask me why I keep seeing them. Frankly, I think he's pretty terrible and this looks way bad.

What was so terrible about Gladiator? This is a revenge film that I totally get sucked into... with a perfect ending.

lovejuice

12-21-2009, 10:53 PM

Turtledove is an author of alternate history novels. Frequently involving "What if the Nazis _________" scenarios. Exs: What if the Nazis won? What if the Nazis had time travel? What if the Nazis had dragons?
my favorite is "what if lizard people landed on earth during WW2 and forced the axis and allies to unite?" turtledove is an example of sci-fi writers who go one step too far and turn a ligitimately good idea into a shamoo.

megladon8

12-21-2009, 10:55 PM

I like Gladiator well enough, but I can't see it as some brilliant historical epic.

It's a grandiose action flick.

This looks to be the same, but much less interesting visually.

BuffaloWilder

12-22-2009, 05:13 AM

Action films can't be brilliant historical epics?

Dukefrukem

12-22-2009, 11:59 AM

UK trailer is better (http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/features/exclusive/)

Qrazy

12-22-2009, 01:48 PM

Action films can't be brilliant historical epics?

He said he can't see it as such.

eternity

12-23-2009, 12:46 AM

I thought he was a fox.

number8

05-11-2010, 07:53 PM

So a writer for my site saw this last night, and when I asked him what the hell's the movie about now, he said it's mostly an origin story, and that, "Imagine if in Prince of Thieves, between that time when Robin arrives home and when he becomes one of the merry men in the woods, he lead an army of Englishman to defend against a French invasion on the coast, and then it just ends when the traditional story would begin."

I will not see this ever.

KK2.0

05-11-2010, 08:08 PM

Yep, this description scared me away as well, sounds like a generic historical epic, even more so than Scott's equally dull Kingdom of Heaven.

Boner M

05-12-2010, 02:15 AM

My friend at IGN Australia described it as a "two hour Oatmeal commercial".

lovejuice

05-12-2010, 02:26 AM

"Imagine if in Prince of Thieves, between that time when Robin arrives home and when he becomes one of the merry men in the woods, he lead an army of Englishman to defend against a French invasion on the coast, and then it just ends when the traditional story would begin."

if this comes out of the decision to epic-ize and trilogy-ize everything, i curse ya hollywood. i curse ya!

Derek

05-12-2010, 02:30 AM

My friend at IGN Australia described it as a "two hour Oatmeal commercial".

If it's a 2-hour oatmeal commercial with Wilford Brimley, it'd probably be more entertaining than Robin Hood.

SpaceOddity

05-12-2010, 06:10 AM

Mullet deficit.

*shakes fist at historical inaccuracy* ;)

Sxottlan

05-15-2010, 12:05 AM

This was a convoluted mess.

number8

05-15-2010, 03:13 PM

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/crowe-walks-out-over-irish-robin-hood-question-1973427.html

HOW DARE YOU IMPLY THAT MY ACCENT ISN'T IMPECCABLE!!!

Barty

05-16-2010, 08:25 AM

The first half was really quite excellent, after that it went downhill a bit. Still, a nicely shot and acted film with superb anti-government overtones.

SirNewt

05-17-2010, 02:52 AM

So, he's a government agent who robs from the rich and gives to the poor? I didn't know Barty wrote the screenplay.

And Produced.

SirNewt

05-17-2010, 03:01 AM

What was so terrible about Gladiator? This is a revenge film that I totally get sucked into... with a perfect ending.

The fact that no one in that movie ever talks to each other. Every conversation just becomes another belt for conveying Ridley Scott's bullshit (the oh-so sober and pretty thoughts that come from his heart). Every dialog transforms into a speech about honor and virtue and freedom and. . . blah blah blah.

balmakboor

05-17-2010, 03:38 AM

I really hated this movie -- until the credits. They were quite a beautiful little animated movie.

Yxklyx

05-22-2010, 05:19 AM

I really hated this movie -- until the credits. They were quite a beautiful little animated movie.

Were they at the end or at the beginning? Crucial information is missing here!

Winston*

06-17-2010, 03:31 AM

Good article on how this film came to be. (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/05/robin_hood_script_russell_crow .html)

Ezee E

06-17-2010, 05:59 AM

Good article on how this film came to be. (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/05/robin_hood_script_russell_crow .html)
Good article. Interesting in how it only takes one person to get interested in something in Hollywood, and how it could completely blow up from there.

balmakboor

06-17-2010, 09:40 PM

Were they at the end or at the beginning? Crucial information is missing here!

I guess I think of credits being at the end and titles being at the beginning. So, yes, the great animated movie (aka the credits) is at the end.

Irish

11-21-2010, 08:36 PM

I liked this quite a bit more than I feel I should have. At least the first half of it.

Killing Richard right off the bat was clever. In the original stories, the return of Richard is always the ending, a little deux ex, a metaphor for the return of law, order, and God to Britain. Making his death the inciting incident here was a flash of brilliance. It establishes we're in completely different territory and yeah, anything can happen (it doesn't, but at that moment, it could).

Loved Marion. Loved that she's more hardworking peasant than noblewoman, up to her knees in mud and shit while trying to hold her town together. Loved that she implies, not once but several times, and to several different men, that what they hold dear is not only impractical but useless.

Just me or was Max Von Sydow channeling Richard Harris during the entire movie?

Those Lost Boys/Lord of the Flies kids are built up and built up and ... never used. Excising them completely from the movie would make little difference. I like mixing up the legend and all, but if you're going to do it ... do it with some kind of purpose.

The third act ruins the picture. Thomas Paine comes to 12th century Britain. We've already seen Mel Gibson do that, and do it better.

Not the best cinematography from Scott & crew. Another period piece with a muddy palette and desaturated colors. This didn't have much in the way of a Scott's signature at all.

Marion pulling a Joan of Arc with the Lost Boys in tow made me want to throw something at the screen. Pro tip: "Strong woman" doesn't mean a chick with a weapon. She was already a great character, and meaningful in her own right. Her inclusion in the final battle negates some of the themes she raised earlier in the picture, as well as just being patently ridiculous.

Being 2010 and with us living in an age of robber barons and corrupt public officials ... seems like this one missed a good opportunity. Of course, subtlety has never been Scott's forte so I'm not surprised he let it slip by.

Dukefrukem

08-11-2011, 02:48 PM

This was much better than I was expecting but as Irish says above, the second half is a little weak- more specifically the Those Lost Boys/Lord of the Flies kids were never used appropriately. My second complaint is this movie has probably the weakest climax in cinematic history. For a running time of 2.5 hours, you’d expect there to be some kind of payoff. The pros? Crowe and Blanchett - she’s such a good actress and it’s obvious here.

Did they write this with a planned sequel?