text:
Harry falls madly, deeply & unreasonably in love with Martin Scorsese's stunning 3D family film, HUGO!
How to explain the feeling I have for Martin Scorsese's HUGO.
Transcendent Joy. Tear-producing Awe & Wonder.
But that doesn't really do it for me. What we have here is our greatest domestic filmmaker, a man that made his name as a director that told stories of criminals and a stunning grip of violent imagery, unleashed telling a story about a little boy – a thief – an orphan – a curious boy named Hugo Cabret. What amazes me about Scorsese and this film is the simple fact that this movie is completely, 100%, not like a single other film in his career.
We know them all. We've seen Scorsese's work, many of us worship his work. In conversations for years, I've stated that I wanted to see Scorsese get outside of his "comfort zone" as a filmmaker. Making a film for the families of the world? Yeah, that's a good start. Now let's see Marty do a Western, a War, a spy tale, a horror film… and by all means, please God… do not let this be his last family film. This is a magical work of wonder. Truly exciting.
So what's HUGO like?
Before I can discuss plot – I have to talk about the look of the film. Scorsese's silent era Paris is breathtaking. Intricately detailed, lovingly filled with a cast of characters and little bits – that reminds one of David Lean's OLIVER TWIST – in the attention to faces, the immaculate nature of the sets, the layering of imagery in masterful framing… only, this is in 3D… and Scorsese's eye… Thelma Schoonmaker's editing… it is just enveloping…
When the film begins, Scorsese is going to take you for a ride. This isn't just a visual effects thing. No, there's a whole lot of practical wizardry going on here… but the way it is composed and layered in 3D – it makes you see this world in the most awe-inspiring manner. Marty isn't limited to merely creating a window into another world… he's sending a child through a busy train station, camera at his eye level & runs hundreds of extras around him, creating one of the most stunning claustrophobic effect. Hugo is always peering through things at a world beyond… be they grates, removed number plates from a clock… but the point is you have a foreground element that we look through to see the splendor of the larger world beyond. It is stunning 3D. The sort of game-changing experience that only a truly masterful filmmaker could give us.
If you've seen Walt Disney's classic cartoon CLOCK CLEANERS, where Mickey, Donald and Goofy have to clean a giant tower clock, not unlike BIG BEN, and well… hijinks occur… but when I was a kid, I had the old Fisher Price Hand Held Movie Viewer, which had cartridges with whole cartoons (it seemed to me) – and one of my faves was CLOCK CLEANERS – the brilliant thing about that cartoon was the constantly moving environment of the interior of the clock. We've also seen it in THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE or even in Orson Welles' superb film, THE STRANGER. There are other great Clockwork films, but Scorsese – holy shit. It's just wondrous. It isn't overdone, it feels right, but absolutely magic for a child to live in and within.
Young Asa Butterfield's Hugo Cabret is a traumatized child. He's lost his father. Abandoned to slave away doing the work his Uncle should be doing in the Train Station maintaining all the clocks… stealing food and milk to live on… oh, he also steals parts that he needs to fix an Automaton, a machine that his father found in a museum and was tasked with repairing. He and his father spent hours working on it together and it was a mystery to them both. It seems like a magical device and the boy… having no adult supervision, having everything taken from him… well, he imbues the Automaton with his own particular mythology. He believe it contains a message from his father to him. It isn't a logical mythology. It's a child's mythology, the Automaton is all he has of his father. A mystery they both have worked to solve.
I love Asa's Hugo Cabret. He's a curious boy, deeply afraid. He knows he's one pinch from being in an orphanage. He's obsessive compulsive about the Automaton. However, he is a good boy. I know, he's a thief, but that is to survive. He has nobody. He's a rat to most. A filthy shame, meant to be swept up into the world of orphanages. Asa's eyes show so much fear, shame, hope, awe, frustration that he reminds me of a young Elijah Wood from Sonnenfeld's AVALON, although this is a vastly superior film.
Now, what genre is this film? Yeah, it is a family film, but that's only the audience that can see it. This is a MYSTERY. There are two mysteries that are entwined… the first has to do with the Automaton, the other is who is George Melies, the curious owner of the wind-up toy shop in the Train Station.
This is why the film is just so beautiful. So important for film loving folks to take their children to. The movie captures the magic of film. The magic of the makers of film. The wonder of the moving image.
If I had to pick some films to compare the MAGIC of this film to, it'd be Bill Condon's GODS & MONSTERS, Giuseppe Tornatore's CINEMA PARADISO and even something like Buster Keaton's SHERLOCK JR. This is Scorsese's love letter to film. The love that he gives Hugo and Chloe Moretz's Isabelle's discovery of every new bit of information – it's stunning. Watching them discover the history of cinema, which Scorsese gives us a MASTER CLASS IN 3D of, literally taking images that I've had embedded in my noggin from the earliest age from my parents – and bringing them to life in an entirely new way. Once the kids are further along on their discovery of who George Melies is – the imagery becomes… well, naturally unbelievably amazing. Forget the work Scorsese did trying to recapture the magic from AVIATOR – here – it's all 100% perfect. Here, he takes us on a 3D ride of discovery through the original magician of cinema. George Melies. Before there was Willis O'Brien, before there was Ray Harryhausen, before Jim Henson, before all the names of wizards of cinema, there was George Melies – and this film is Scorsese's love letter to him… but more so – to the notion of film preservation, history, exhibition and the power it has to change lives.
Having seen this and THE MUPPETS on the same day. I was really fond of THE MUPPETS, but HUGO is simply everything that film can do… it transports you, exhilarates you and leaves you filled with passion & love of cinema. THE MUPPETS does a good job of reminding me why the films were so much better when I was a child. HUGO is a marvel, an immaculate work of wonder and a pure shot of exciting & thrilling cinema.
I would also say it has a chance to become my favorite Scorsese film. Not the best, but my favorite. Why?
When it was announced that Scorsese was going to make a 3D big budget family film out of THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET – when I read about the elements of the book – I was so excited. You can go back and read the articles I wrote about it. But the reason I was excited was because it confused most folks. They couldn't imagine a master filmmaker like Scorsese doing a family film, but I've always dreamt of it. Scorsese does it masterfully – replacing the sense of violence with a sense of wonder and it fits him perfectly.
Easily the best modern 3D movie made thus far. All who attempt 3D should study this film, not just for the shots, but for the editing which is so incredibly natural feeling with 3D, the sense of FORWARD motion while watching the film is amazing. The film so stunned me that I was sitting there with tears rolling down my cheeks as a goofy smile laid across my face. Not because of sadness, but from elation.
Father Geek's single complaint was that the humidity caused from the tears (it happened to him too) it caused his 3D glasses to fog up a bit. Interesting problem to have… Perhaps the theaters should raise the temperature in rooms playing HUGO slightly to offset this.
Scorsese – BRAVO! This is masterful!
I should also note the wonder of Howard Shore's score, the awesome of Sacha Baron Cohen's Station Inspector - I love the shame he feels as a broken man, I love Emily Mortimer's flowergirl, Christopher Lee's bookseller, Jude Law's performance as Hugo's Dad. Michael Stuhlbarg's Film Geek is exceptional! Fantastic part and role for him. Robert Richardson's cinematography is - again - the finest 3D I've yet witness and an incredibly vibrant and beautiful palatte of colors! Dante Ferretti's production design is a marvel to behold.
I really hope this film gets Marty nominated & I'd love to see the film in the race for Best Picture. This is a film geek's love letter. Can't wait to see it many times in theaters.
Readers Talkbackcomments powered by Disqus
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Nov. 19, 2011, 11:11 p.m. CST
I ruin the talk back with...
by DBCOOPER
Nov. 19, 2011, 11:22 p.m. CST
You mean, like this? http://tinyurl.com/7zh78dq
by justmyluck
The consensus so far is that HUGO doesn't really *happen* until the final Méliès act. Though, I may check this out at a matinee if only to see how Scorsese used 3D.
Nov. 19, 2011, 11:25 p.m. CST
I should have added this:
by justmyluck
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/externalreviews ...the TB seems to only like one URL at a time.
Nov. 19, 2011, 11:29 p.m. CST
Harry, I would kill to see Scorsese make a war film
by lv_426
Especially a period war film. Maybe WWI or WWII. How about the Korean War? Not many films about that war. WWII sucks up all the attention.
Nov. 19, 2011, 11:56 p.m. CST
War Film?
by DBCOOPER
What about his filmography tells you he'd be good at a war film? Scorsese thrives in urban environments and personal stories.
Nov. 20, 2011, 12:30 a.m. CST
dbcooper, I think Scorsese could do a war film that turned out good
by lv_426
As you say, he thrives on personal stories and urban environments. No reason to say that all war films have to be epic in scope and about a platoon of soldiers. How about a war film that has a very focused personal POV? It could be from the perspective of a soldier on the front lines, a medic, pilot, a general, etc. As for the urban setting in war films, there is always the French Resistance as a subject (Army of Shadows for example). I could see Scorsese making a war film along those lines.
Nov. 20, 2011, 1:41 a.m. CST
new york new york...wow..shockingly horrible
by robamenta
Nov. 20, 2011, 1:45 a.m. CST
Looking forward to this big time
by Bibliographer
The book was brilliant (as is Selznick's latest) and doesn't really seem to be about movies for a long time, even if it winds up that way. It's about this kid and his journey. Most of the critical reaction is that Scorcese has hit one out of the park here. I enjoy Scorcese's recent work outside the crime dramas. Shutter Isand was pretty good, if not great, and he's done some interesting documentary stuff. He continues to be unpredictable, at least in some ways. So, for a change, right on, Harry!
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:11 a.m. CST
'out of comfort zone'
by Negator76
'Last Temptation of Christ' is among Scorcese's finest acheivements (You REALLY should grab any opportunity to see it on the BIG screen... goes from 4 to 5 stars) and totally makes up for the other misfires. Also, the Aviator has one of the most incredible single sequences of the past ten years (the crash scene). I'd rather see the man stretch his craft than molder within his 'comfort zone'. After all, you can argue that 'Gangs of New York' is securely in his wheelhouse, and that movie is, sorry to say, a big turkey. Best thing about it was that it gave DDLewis a chance to fine-tune his accent and character for 'There Will Be Blood'. And 'Casino', while beautifully shot and edited, is essentially a bloodless retread of the formula that he perfected in 'Goodfellas'. The movie is decent on repeat viewing after the initial disappointment fades, but it still has the smell of a great filmmaker ripping off himself.
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:24 a.m. CST
by loafroaster
Was that an audition?
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:25 a.m. CST
Hey Harry!
by dukeroberts
Where's last week's DVD column? This week's movies are coming out soon.
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:40 a.m. CST
by Negator76
Just a film-nerd yanking his own crank, really. I can't abide anyone implying that 'Last Temptation' is anything other than pure filmic awesomeness.
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:10 a.m. CST
Problem is, you think every movie ever made is great (except Inception and Napoleon Dynamite)
by Mel
so how can we really gauge if this is good or not? And I'm not ripping you for Inception...I thought it had issues as well, but based on your love of almost every other movie ever made, it's surprising you didn't gush over it.
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:51 a.m. CST
Is this as good as Van Helsing?
by syn_flood
Or the Nightmare on Elm Street remake?
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:52 a.m. CST
Harry's Love Letter to Scorcese...
by scrote
Actually, as a review this is surprisingly erudite for Harry. Well done. Not sure I will be seeing this because, as a general rule of thumb, anything Harry gets emotional over -which is pretty much everything it seems - turns out to be disappointing. I'm sure there are plenty of studio execs out there who get nervous whenever Harry gives a film a glowing review.
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:53 a.m. CST
"...reminds me of a young Elijah Wood from Sonnenfeld's AVALON"
by LoneGun
Maybe you mean Barry Levinson's AVALON. Not sure how I feel about Scorsese doing a family movie of this nature, but I'm hoping for the best. Sometimes filmmakers prove they can do different types of films, like David Lynch with THE STRAIGHT STORY (a Disney film). And I rather liked THE AVIATOR. If nothing else, I'll be curious to see Scorsese's use of 3D.
Nov. 20, 2011, 6:18 a.m. CST
Harry's French Letter...
by workshed
...is now full.
Nov. 20, 2011, 6:51 a.m. CST
It's so HARD...
by Ryan
to take Harry's reviews seriously. http://batstud.blogspot.com/
Nov. 20, 2011, 7:59 a.m. CST
Harry and his reviews are such a sad joke.
by Doug Phillips
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:16 a.m. CST
Not one review on Rotten Tomatoes barely four days before it opens
by Nasty In The Pasty
Not encouraging.
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:23 a.m. CST
Harry - you and this site need a good editor
by Michael Lunney
Don't you agree?
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:10 a.m. CST
by NinjaDeathPoet
Allegedly Asa Butterfield as Hugo in this has just been cast as Ender / Andrew Wiggin in the perpetually ongoing saga of bringing Ender's Game to the big screen... That development came out of nowhere for me, and sounds like a 2013 release now. Seems an interesting casting if anything, based on what I've read about Hugo thus far...
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:18 a.m. CST
What may be more important...
by Ninja Nerd
...than "is Hugo a great story?" or not is that it may halt the decline in 3D. No, not all 3D is good. Avalon=yes, most animated films=yes, everything else so far=mostly not good. Hugo, the upcoming Hobbit films, and a few others may serve to recapture the public's interest...and wallets. That will hopefully encourage Hollywood and folks like Scorsese to make awesome 3D films and also drive technology makers to get better (and cheaper) 3D gear to the home market.
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:31 a.m. CST
Dumb name.
by plasticfrank
"Hugo" feels so different from "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". The first feels cheesy the second sounds interesting, quirky and fun. The name feels so different that I've seen the movie mentioned a dozen times before realizing that it was at all related to "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". The book is an unique, award winning book that is internationally loved by children and adults alike. Why you you hide the movie from it's built-in audience by making the name so generic that it's hard to relate it to the source material?
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:42 a.m. CST
they hide the name of the movie to somehow get the rest of america in on it.
by zom-bot.com
the niche market for a loved book will only get it so far (harry potter an exception somehow)- it is sad when film producers don't trust the full name of the product and shorten it, tweak it or simplify it to make it easy for the stupids of the world to grasp.
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:56 a.m. CST
Hey Johnny, how bout some coffee? NO THANKS!
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 20, 2011, 10:02 a.m. CST
=to recapture the public's interest...and wallets.=
by KilliK
why,was their interest for 3d lost? TF3 was a huge hit,Tin Tin is a hit outside US,Immortals is a hit.i dont think that the movie audience has ever lost its interest for 3D.now the home cinema audience is another matter.
Nov. 20, 2011, 10:44 a.m. CST
I read that
by Juggernaut125
the kid who plays Hugo has been cast for a role in the new Ender's Game movie. Hey AICN! How about some REAL investigative journalism and fill us in on the details. You know, like you USED TO DO.
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:15 a.m. CST
Proofreading is your friend
by Kentucky Colonel
"Now, what genre is this film? Yeah, it is a family film, but that's only the audience that can see it." Um, what does that mean exactly? I guess since I'm a father I could go see this, which I was planning to do anyway, but what if, like young Hugo, I was an orphan? Would I be denied a ticket at the box office? Seriously, take a deep breath and read your shit before you post it. It will take only a minute and, well, you'll just look better. Will this blurb make the DVD cover???
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:17 a.m. CST
by scrote
...you mean Shitter Island...
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:24 a.m. CST
I know you're not the only one, maxcherry...that movie stank...
by scrote
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:29 a.m. CST
Is it just me or thhis review pratically says nothing much at all?
by AsimovLives
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:33 a.m. CST
by scrote
It's pretty much Harry's most coherent review in years....which is not saying a hell of a lot...
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:49 a.m. CST
by NudeandAroused
thank you very much for your review. I have heard nothing but great love and admiration for "Hugo." Obviously you were quite moved by it. I'm sold on it and will see it when it arrives here at Valley Forge.
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:52 a.m. CST
The reason this is the best site on the internet...
by Mel
In all honesty, it's wonderful that we're allowed to pretty much say anything we want. We all rip on Harry and his reviews because we're a bunch of douchebag troll cocksmokers. But if we did this anywhere else we'd get banned. I always get banned from other forums. AICN is one of the only sites not run by communists.
Nov. 20, 2011, noon CST
by Michael Lunney
Damn commies, notorious internet comment banners and sister rapers - all of em.
Nov. 20, 2011, 12:19 p.m. CST
Sold at the word...
by SK229
Claustrophobic. Thats when I realized this is scorsese we're talking about and that he'll at least do something original with the 3D. Thanks for selling me on it.
Nov. 20, 2011, 12:51 p.m. CST
Fisher Price Hand Held Movie Viewer.
by Chris Ballard
Awesome review of "Hugo", Harry. I'm really looking forward to see it. Thanks for mentioning your Fisher Price Hand Held Movie Viewer. I had one of those too. The cartridges that I got for it were Mickey Mouse in "The Band Concert" and the giant squid scene from Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea." It was a great toy. You could crank it backwards and forward. Thanks for bringing that memory back. I haven't thought about that toy in years.
Nov. 20, 2011, 1:13 p.m. CST
Every movie is like harry just DISCOVERED films.
by knowthyself
And nothing else existed prior to him watching that film.
Nov. 20, 2011, 1:27 p.m. CST
'HOLY FAWNING REVIEWS BATMAN!' I must say i'm surprised that this movie seems 'so' good after such a mediocre trailer, i'm dubous but not cynical yet. But it's strange we've not had a review of the movie with only 4 days 'till release. I'll reserve judgem
by cameron
Nov. 20, 2011, 1:49 p.m. CST
by Ingeld
Do we usually refer to other directors this way? What about, George, Steve, Al, Orson, Ronny, Stanley, Timmy and Terry? Other than that, I am looking forward to the movie. I love Marty's work.
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:39 p.m. CST
Hugo CABARET would have been a better title.
by Rob
It evokes the Paris setting so much better than plain old "Hugo" does. It's called "Hugo" because asshole, jerk-off studio suits didn't think that brain dead Americans could pronounce cabaret, or that cabaret sounded too "gay". You know I speak the truth.
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:46 p.m. CST
Harry is friends with everyone
by Razorback
So he can't give an honest review anymore. The problem with popularity.
Nov. 20, 2011, 2:59 p.m. CST
I wonder if Hugo's nickname is Hurley
by Nasty In The Pasty
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:15 p.m. CST
Is it as good as The Phantom Menace?
by catlettuce4
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:16 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
actually this site is pretty communist, in that we all share the same.
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:27 p.m. CST
On the Salon review...
by gotilk
Anyone who refers to 3d cinema as *the 3d fiasco* immediately loses all respect and credibility. The man is smart enough to know the difference between conversions and native 3d films/productions and how the industry is slowly turning away from conversions but NOT slowing down on 3d production at all. Don't like it? Pluck an eyeball out and leave the rest of us to enjoy it.
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:52 p.m. CST
How can you rip on Shutter Island?!
by tlyel37
Of course it was predictable, it was supposed to be. Anyone with half a brain should figure out that movie 45 minutes in. That movie was all about the atmosphere they created, the feeling of paranoia and that sense that something isn't quite right. I'd compare it Rosemary's Baby in that sense. That's another movie where you can see the ending from a mile away. It doesn't mean the ride there isn't still enjoyable.
Nov. 20, 2011, 3:53 p.m. CST
by tlyel37
you're fucking stupid. It's Hugo Cabret, not CABARET. What the fuck are you talking about?
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:04 p.m. CST
you've got to love the douche-nozzels like canned_dirty_ape...
by maxwell's hammer
"Harry's opinions about movies differ from mine, therefore I shall state as a given fact that his opinions are always invalid." Sometimes I agree with the man. Sometimes I don't. But if you honestly think his reviews are anything but his raw, unfiltered reactions, then you obviously don't read this site very much. If anything, its the hyperbolic sincerity that's his problem sometimes. Harry's the polar opposite of a plant. And you do realize that when Butt-Numb-A-Thon does new stuff, its usually some hotly anticipated unreleased film. Hugo comes out on Wednesday, so I doubt very seriously Harry's gonna include on the playlist a few weeks later.
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:05 p.m. CST
by gotilk
fat.valentino... Hey man, it's spelled Cabret, not Cabaret. Just thought you'd like to know. Have fun. (how big boys do it, tlyel37) You're welcome.
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:53 p.m. CST
Scorsese hasn't lost his eye for direction
by Terrence
Say what you want about Shutter Island, but it was a well done piece of almost Hitchcockian cinema. I gotta check this one out on Black Friday along with Muppets to boot while the girlfriend does her shopping.
Nov. 20, 2011, 4:57 p.m. CST
Oh I get... Positive reviews = PAID OFF!
by Andrew Coleman
First off who gives a shit if they get screenings or whatever from studios? Secondly every single person has different tastes in movies. I bet every person on here likes one really shitty movie. A review is a review... If you care that much you probably need to your own opinion on things. Too many people on here are epically bitter and just hate on everything that is coming out. Just from the trailers alone you can see Hugo is something special.
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:07 p.m. CST
it's a new martin scorsese pic you fuckin heathens.
by paul burnett
..every movie this guy has made has kicked you in the balls and made out with your mum.. his bad stuff is watchable for fucks sake an the fact that his lesser liked movies are few an far between means that film fans,like you reading this now, should be happy that he's behind the camera again..fuckin hell...shutter island put it's finger up my ass an i liked it!!
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:19 p.m. CST
Good Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
by Dread Pirate Roberts
There are only three reviews so far, but they echo Harry's views on the movie with enthusiasm. Link below: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hugo/
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:24 p.m. CST
how many pairs
by mick vance
of big ass titties are in this movie? i only go to new movies if they got a lot of topless whores in them; otherwise, i just stay home and spank it to whatever new truck stop porn i picked up. i wish the all night porno theater never shut down. there's just something about tits on the big screen. makes me want to wish the woman would come off the screen at that size, and i could just live between her breasts...
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:27 p.m. CST
by paul burnett
..growing up in edinburgh there was a xxx cineama called the classic........fucker shut down when i was 16..probably for the best looking back!
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:28 p.m. CST
It can be complete shit, no way to tell, because the Fat Fuck's a moron
by Ricardo
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:28 p.m. CST
Finally, holiday films I'm looking forward to
by Balboa
'tween this and Arthur Christmas. As of late, holiday films have been a bit lackluster, but I did like Christmas Carol.
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:39 p.m. CST
But did he want to perform cunnilingus on it?
by Gabe Athouse
He was at least this excited about his personal screening of The Phantom Menace. Not to compare Scorsese with Lucas. But still.
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:45 p.m. CST
I wonder how it compare to Luc Besson's Adèle Blanc-Sec
by chien_sale
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:46 p.m. CST
so played out in reviews to refer to it as a "love letter to..."
by EjkoUSC
Love letter, which he relies on at least three times in this review. Hey Harry was it a "tour de force" as well? Blubbering in your seat crying like a little girl. Remember the raging hard on you got during Expendables which has to amount to the gayest (intentional or not) review in the history of this website. Expendables wasn't even good, especially if you bother to go back and watch it. Are you really that out of touch with normalcy that it didnt occur to you how gay that review was? Anyways I digress. I just wish your reviews didn't range from trite/cliche to pansy/girly/homoerotic. But that continues to be my wish.
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:48 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
To use your own words, you stated... "Didn't the same thing happen with Shutter Island? That was a pretty average film but as I recall "film expert" Knowles praised it to the skies." Translation: <I thought Shutter Island was ho-hum, and Harry thought it was great, and it is a self-evident fact that I am right and Harry is wrong.> That was your evidence that Harry is a shill. That he thought a movie was better than you did. You dismissing his opinion in such a manner does not sound like, as you put it, "[You] have no problem that Harry has different opinions on film to [yours]." As for his set visits, please provide for me a list of a) all the movies Harry has visited the set for, and b) all of Harry's reviews for those movies, and I'll then gladly show you several films that Harry panned despite his connection with the production. I just dont' have time to go research all that to please you. All I know is that I've been reading Harry's reviews for a long time, and insincerity is not in that man's vocabulary. It is certainly arguable that his 'reviews' are deeply flawed on a critical level, mostly because the man loves film so much, he's very quick to shut off his critical faculty. He WANTS to love everything, and sometimes he deludes himself into doing just that. Are his reviews a good bellweather of a movie's quality? Hell no. But he always means every goddam word he says. For better or worse. I leave it to you to prove otherwise.
Nov. 20, 2011, 5:50 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
Here is the text that the TalkBack goblin stole from my last post. Tis a translation of canned_dirty_ape's quote... "I thought Shutter Island was ho-hum, but Harry liked it a lot, and it is a self-evident fact that I am right and he is wrong."
Nov. 20, 2011, 6:31 p.m. CST
Good call, John Ford (I mean... his missing eye...)
by ChaunceyGardiner
Another one is "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" - don't think you mentioned it. (That one, Scorsese clearly states that he was broadly out of his element, makeing a women's picture and a romance - which partly fueled his drive to make it, the challange of it. The major difficulty that he faced was relinquishing control over its ending - he clearly felt that Burstyn's Alice would only shackle herself to another failed relationship in accepting Kristoferson's apology. He opposed "the happy ending," and, despite his inability to make the changes he saw fit, he did orchestrate the ending to have a cloying feeling to it, a sort of sabotage, a fake ending, all the clapping faces, the public charade of the returning, dejected lover, supplicant. Sad, cause there are moments there in that picture that are splendid - and the stuff between Laura Dern's momma and Burstyn are some of the most delicate human moments in any Scorsese picture, and at the same time, his most earthy and exuberant, guileless in their innocence and celebration of hard lives lived by good people, people connecting in a simple workplace conversation in a way that cements them forever to a place and time.) Listening to Scorsese's commentary on "Kundun" also brings home the fact of how far out of his element he was with that film - but, in that fact, he brought out his best qualities as an artist. In his respect towards the material, the Buddhism of the Dali Lama, he and Schoonmaker sought to honour it by trying to imbue the editing with the temporal and spatial understandings of Buddhism (they had to steep themselves in, what was for them, an alien philosophy but one that they sought to make ammends with and connections to, to bridge that distance). Say what you will about this attempt, it makes for one of Scorsese's most interestingly edited films - specifically the astonishing shot where the young monk looks back to see that his crew of faithful, who have just helped him cross the mountain border of his country, are dead. It is a prophecy, and a jarring moment. It is the type of stuff that Malick is praised for in "Tree of Life," and Kubrick in "2001: A Space Odessey" - and Tarkovsky all the time. The explication of an idea in pure visual form. He knows his men will die for their loyalty and instead of saying so, we see the image of them brutally cut down. Even explaining it here diminshes the power of it. The seeing of it is all the explanation one needs - and the feeling of temporal displacement, the shock, is one of the grand accomplishments of that film. Brilliant ideas, concretely accomplished, performed brilliantly.
Nov. 20, 2011, 6:39 p.m. CST
Douche is spelled with an e at the end.
by EjkoUSC
Nov. 20, 2011, 6:43 p.m. CST
And "Age of Innocence" is a New York film.
by ChaunceyGardiner
Course it is about the elite high society at the turn of the century, but still - Scorsese says that the emotional violence of that film is comparable to the physical violence of his other films. It is interesting to watch it in that context.
Nov. 20, 2011, 7:19 p.m. CST
TIME calls HUGO a "masterpiece"
by CountryBoy
for what it's worth...
Nov. 20, 2011, 7:32 p.m. CST
Hey Cherry
by ChaunceyGardiner
Just when I learned how to make paragraphs on the talkback forum, Harry went and changed the whole webiste. The code no longer works. Care to enlighten me? I would appreciate it. (Didn't like the whole Joseph Conrad with "Nostromo" vibe?)
Nov. 20, 2011, 7:50 p.m. CST
The ending for Shutter Island was obvious in the TRAILER
by Gary Busey's Upper Half
When you've already deciphered the entire plot of the film from a 2 minute commercial, that is called a Cliché. Any scriptwriter/director who is even thinking about employing the idea that the entire reality of the film is inside the protagonist's head should stop and rethink their film. I'm sorry but even the most talented scriptwriter is going to have a hard time making the Jacob's Ladder/Sixth Sense plot device work anymore. It sucks all the suspense out of a suspense film when you know what the ending is at the beginning of the movie.
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:08 p.m. CST
by maxwell's hammer
Um. A few things. 1) when you ask me to prove you wrong, its an earnest desire from a curious mind to be better informed. When I ask you to prove me wrong, its the feeble attempt of shallow dickhead to prove the unprovable. Hmm. 2) You called me a 'shallow dickhead', sarcastically label me the "chairman of the Harry Knowles Appreciation Society", and claim that my IQ cannot be measured in integers. And you're mad that name-calling is all I have to offer. 3) You do realize your entire arguement against Harry is supported only by your position that "Everybody just knows I'm right, so why are we even arguing?" 4) You're a fascinating fellow.
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:15 p.m. CST
Really hope it's that good, but Harry is totally unreliable.
by Stifler's Mom
ESPECIALLY when he's gushing this much. He's far too easily swayed by the excitement of an early screening or set visit. He's written plenty of these love letters before, only to backtrack and tone down the hyperbole 5 months later in the DVD reviews.
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:26 p.m. CST
I can imagine Creepy ordering coffee, useing his Talkback voice:
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:28 p.m. CST
or bakeing bread:
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:31 p.m. CST
or commenting on a co-worker's attire:
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:33 p.m. CST
Suddenly realized something,
by ChaunceyGardiner
writing in all-caps is addictive, and a hard habit to break. (And also a little too much fun.)
Nov. 20, 2011, 8:44 p.m. CST
I was about to say that Jeunet is not one I'd saddle with an adaptation.
by ChaunceyGardiner
And then I remembered how amazing a choice it was for Jeunet to make an adaptation of "A Very Long Engagement." A great match of source and filmmaker: probably his most mature film thus far, and one that is enriched by age and multiple viewings. Never would have paired this "Hugo" story with Jeunet, but Creepy, sir, you have a point - now that I think about it seriously. (Though, I am terribly excited to see Scorsese's vision for this. Any new Scorsese is something I always welcome. Though, I am as passionate to see his film of "Silence," as I am to see Spielberg's "Lincoln," though I am pretty sure that you aren't from Spielberg stock, Creepy.)
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:03 p.m. CST
Yeah last temptation is part of the canon now. Scorcese and film in general.
by dahveed1972
Nov. 20, 2011, 9:37 p.m. CST
Shutter Island is a BRILLIANT character study masquerading as a Big Twist thriller
by Nasty In The Pasty
For everyone whining about "figuring it out from the TRAILER!", I don't think Scorsese gave two fucks about trying to "trick" the audience. As a dissection of a deeply disturbed mind, the film was fascinating, and the finale was emotionally wrenching. I read the book ahead of time just so I wouldn't have anyone "spoil" it for me, and yet had I gone in blind to the ending, it wouldn't have really mattered to me. Plus, it looked spectacular.
Nov. 20, 2011, 10:18 p.m. CST
by DrMorbius
What works for me is ... After a sentence, press the enter key once to start a new para, twice to make a space between paras. Enter once ... New line. Enter twice ... Space. See if this works for you.
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:42 p.m. CST
Actor John Neville dies at the age of 86. RIP.
by Pixelsmack
Come on, we're all supposed to be sci-fi geeks over here. Yes we're film lovers in general, but mostly sci-fi nerds! Neville's short stint as the "The Well Manicured Man" in the X-Files was an awesome one. I thought he was a riot as the "Baron" as well. However he will always be that well-spoken and well-manicured...man.
Nov. 20, 2011, 11:50 p.m. CST
Shutter Island was a Lynch movie for dummies...
by gaygoonie
Oooh, dream logic explained and explained and explained in the last ten minutes. Ugh, and Inception was a Lynch movie minus emotion. Not to pick on two Leo movies, but the fact that both were so successful and Mulholland Drive, which was so much more powerful and intelligent, made like a hot dollar bothers me.
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:09 a.m. CST
Heh look at those big Hugo adverts on this website ...
by sg
Nov. 21, 2011, 2:33 a.m. CST
RIP Steve Guttenberg
by wallygogo
Falls to his death while filming a movie in Austria. So sad.
Nov. 21, 2011, 2:34 a.m. CST
using a family film to teach the history of cinema
by john
is a brilliant move on marty's part and yes...the movie is gonna get some noms
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:59 a.m. CST
For the record: Barry Levinson directed AVALON
by abcdefz7
...and, yes, it's a terrific movie.
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:20 a.m. CST
gaygoonie, i'd say that SHUTTER ISLANDa was a Brian De Palma movie made by Scorsese.
by AsimovLives
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:22 a.m. CST
AGE OF INNOCENCE is a magnificent movie, one of Scorsese's top best. I pity the fools who can't understand why.
by AsimovLives
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:47 a.m. CST
Gonna give it a try Morbius.
by ChaunceyGardiner
Let's see. Baby steps. Baby steps. Baby steps. Think... that I've got the hang of it.
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:51 a.m. CST
Thank you Dr. Morbius, that ...
by ChaunceyGardiner
Was deceptively simple. Something about computers and my relationship with them, I often expect any problem with be solved with no less than the most complicated soluation possible - and thereby, an indecipherable conundrum to me. Glad to be proven wrong. (And nice to see that Harry has made this place exceedingly more user friendly than it was in days gone by - ever use the old search engine?) Thank you sir Morbius, could not have done it without you. (I HAVE CRACKED THE CODE!!! FACT!!! THE GOLDEN NUMERAL!!! THE SECRET TO PARAGRAPH COMPLETION EVERYWHERE?!?)
Nov. 21, 2011, 7:17 a.m. CST
I don't know why...
by NightArrows
...but I have ZERO interest in this film. Love the director, for the most part, but as I watch the trailers I am just void of any emotion one way or another on this one...
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:16 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
I feel the same way. Hope to be proved wrong.
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:43 a.m. CST
by Sluggolicious
At a Paramount press screening in New York on 11.18.11. All I can add to Harry's WAY over-the-top ass-kissing, sycophantic write-up is that the movie actually is very good. Ben Kinglsey is a shoe-in for a Best Supporting Actor nom and Sasha Baron Cohen is always fun to watch. However, the movie DOES drag out a little bit at times (particularly towards the end) and many important plot motivators revolve around unlikely coincidences and pure chance. However, Scorcese does create a wonderfully unique world and the 3D is put to great use.
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:45 a.m. CST
Harry, cmon now, didn't you say the same thing about Human Centipede 2?
by WINONA_RYDERS_PUSSY_JUICE
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:51 a.m. CST
by NightArrows
I thought Harry said he could "sympathize with the ones in the middle"...
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:54 a.m. CST
Since it's a Scorsese film, all the reviewers are falling over themselves
by Snookeroo
praising the "new technology" of 3D. These would be the same reviewers that can't pooh-pooh 3D enough otherwise.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:29 a.m. CST
Hugo 3D
by Michael Lunney
For whatever it's worth, James Cameron says that the 3D in this film is the best he has seen.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:35 a.m. CST
someone PROVE to me that Harry is a sell-out with his reviews
by Michael Lunney
And not just enthusiastic for films that he enjoys. Really. Prove it. With details. Not just some lame he got a ring so he likes Green Lantern and that proves he is a sell-out. No, it doesn't. So he got a ring? That means he must hate the film to prove he is not a sell-out? Lame ass arguments. Prove it, or shut the fuck up. I know it is de rigeur to hate Harry's reviews. So, I want to join the in-the-know chorus, but not as a mindless sheep. Someone who knows, educate me. Or again, shut the fuck up./
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:13 p.m. CST
Harry, my man, I want to be more like you
by RedLeaderStandingBy
And just love everything. What a happy life you must live.
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:17 p.m. CST
Avalon is Barry Levinson...it wasn't even photographed by Sonnenfeld.
by SmokeFilledTavern
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:42 p.m. CST
Well, the trailers for Hugo aren't doing it any favors.
by Orbots Commander
They make it look like 'random holiday movie made by the Night at the Museum guy', even though it's a Scorsese film. Also, to those arguing that Last Temptation of Christ is a good film. I realize film opinion is subjective, but, ugh, that movie is a ham fisted mess. Even down to the basics of casting it's klunky: Harvey Keitel, with a full on New-Yawk accent, as Judas? Really???
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:49 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
The best argument i can come up with of Harry's selling out is the reviews of Abrams Trek... ... yes, yes, i know same old tired rant argument, but bear me out for a moment... ... as i was saying, back in 2009, Harry not only wrote a glowing review of that movie, but so did everybody in this site... and then there come up some obscure people who supposedly used to be contributors at AICN but never bothered to show up for years, but lo and behold, they did for their bit of Abrams Trek praising and never return again. It is a bit suspicious. And the thing that was the most suspicious about it all? Everybody said the exact same thing, as if follwoing a script. Which i think they were. Ask me for hard evidence, and i can't give it. In the end it's just my suspicion and not much more. But it's damn peculiar. Some might say it's a case of reading between the lines and shit like that. I don't think Harry is on the take for every movie out there. I know sometimes he's genuinely enthusiastic about a certain movie and he truly wants to push for it out of love and in an atmept to make everybody else watch it merely because he thinks it's a movie worth watching, to share his enthusiasm and experience. The pickle is to seperate the genuine from the mercenary.
Nov. 21, 2011, 1:50 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Actually, loving everythig is a bad thing. Eventually you lose eprspective. Eventually you will take everything for granted. If you ask me, it's a shitty way to live.
Nov. 21, 2011, 2:07 p.m. CST
People bashing THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST should learn the basic movie geek lesson of what a good movie looks like.
by AsimovLives
I'm probably the most or one of the most hardcore atheist in this joint, and i love THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST to death. I love it not because it reflects my convictions, because it sure fuck doesn't, but because IT'S A FUCKING AWESOME GREAT MOVIE. As for the people bitching on the accents from the actors, could it ever have gotten to your head that it's actually deliberate? Notice on that all the gallileans in the movie speak with new yorker accents. Paul, who came from a different place, speaks with a southern accent. And romans speak with british accents. Is that accidental? The fuck it is! It's deliberate. The new yorker accents portait the origin of the characters as galilleans, and it also plays to the fact that Jesus and his diciples were men of the people. It was done that way to deliberatly avoid one of the most silly things in former Jesus movies in which everybody spoke with exhalted King's English dialogues which would really be absurd coming form the mouth of a character who was a lowly son of a carpenter. It evne actually mannages to be more realistic then the aramaic dialogue seen in Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF CHRIST because the aramaic used in that movie was peotic aramaic, which is a highly stylized form of the language only very erudic people would know and master, not the common people. The new york dialects in THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, thus, is to help enforce the notion of Jesus and his croonies as men of the people, which is quite in accordance to what's writen in the bbile itself. So, yeah, there was some though put to that, and it was deliberate, not some mistake they let it in. And in fact,t hat is quite easy to udnerstand and grasp if you watch the movie, no explanation is needed. And to futher drive the very obvious point home, Scorsese and screnwriters Paul Schraeder and Jay Cocks explain that in the audio comentary for the CRITERION COLLECTION DVd release of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. So there! How the fuck people couldn't understand this very obvious thing is beyond me. And i'm not even american, for fuck's sakes! For an american this should be beyond obvious! Jesus Christ!
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:08 p.m. CST
@asi have you read Kazantzakis's book which the
by KilliK
movie was based on? the Orthodox Church here forced the State to forbid the theatrical release of Scorcese's film and ofc they also abolished Kazantzakis and his book. the sad thing is that 30 years later,and the Church is still interfering with the affairs of the State.fuckers.
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:09 p.m. CST
R.I.P. John Neville :/
by KilliK
damn :/
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:15 p.m. CST
by Orbots Commander
Oh, I got the *intent* of the NY accents in LTOC. Intents and results, however, are two different things. On-screen, it comes off as absurd and it takes you out of the movie. I'm sure the filmmakers of Gigli and Green Lantern *intended* to make great works of escapist cinema; the results were, of course, not what they were expecting.
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:20 p.m. CST
@orbots good point.intent and end result are two
by KilliK
entirely different things.
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:22 p.m. CST
orbots commander
by Michael Lunney
you are an idiot
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:22 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Nov. 21, 2011, 3:26 p.m. CST
asi - Temptation
by Michael Lunney
I was lucky enough to see Last Temptation in a theater. It was packed. Every seat taken. I am also a non-believer. The movie had me in tears at the end. Outside the theater there were protesters against the film. Of course, non of them saw it. I discoursed with the protesters for about an hour. At one point, one brawny guy moved at me like he wanted to beat me up in reaction to something I said. Brilliant, brilliant film. Lots of numbskulls don't get this film. One of my favorite lines from the film is: When I look into the eyes of an ant, I see the face of God.
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:06 p.m. CST
by Orbots Commander
..... I was all ready to write some other insult-back barb, but honestly, who cares? We're discussing movies, not issues of war and peace. I just can't muster up the feeling needed to be insulted by a random-internet- movie-comments-section post.
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:08 p.m. CST
asimovlives - Last Temptation is abhorrent on every conceivable level save for Peter Gabriel's score
by The_Genteel_Gentile
YOU SAY: "I'm probably the most or one of the most hardcore atheist in this joint, and i love THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST to death." I SAY: By your naive comments one could only hope you're an athiest, because a person of any faith ought to assess that film with a lot more thoughtfulness and discerning discretion. YOU SAY: "I love it not because it reflects my convictions, because it sure fuck doesn't, but because IT'S A FUCKING AWESOME GREAT MOVIE." I SAY: But as an admitedly gleeful athiest, Last Tempation must convey exactly your convictions for desecrating that which is held sacred and already "the greatest story ever told" and replacing it instead with a blatantly ignorant script that clumsily takes broad stabs in the dark in a pethic effort to shoehorn inflamatory flights-of-fancy off as a viable substitute for insight with ill-concieved, half-cocked and petty character connections and motivations, inept direction, rediculous acting, tepid cinematography, cheap production design and inauthentic costumes. Even Peter Gabriel's score, which is in and of itself quite magnificient, is misused within the actual flow of Scorsese and Schrader's incompetent narrative. Everything about the movie smacks of shoddy farce. Are you also an athiest of cinema? YOU SAY: "It mannages to be more realistic then the aramaic dialogue seen in Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF CHRIST because the aramaic used in that movie was peotic aramaic, which is a highly stylized form of the language only very erudic people would know and master, not the common people. The new york dialects in THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, thus, is to help enforce the notion of Jesus and his croonies as men of the people, which is quite in accordance to what's writen in the bbile itself...i'm not even american, for fuck's sakes! For an american this should be beyond obvious!" I SAY: There are a handful of people in the entire world that can speak wih any authority at all about the postulated use of ancient Aramaic, please, don't pretend you are among them. Nor that you posses even a passable knowledge about what is in accoradance with the gospels ("bbile"). Nor about Americans, for that matter. You clearly are out of your depth, and that is a fact. As a believer as well as devotee of cinema, the thing about The Last Temptation Of Christ that I find deplorable isn't even it's extreme liberties taken with every character and circumstance, but the fact that for all its pretentious posturing, The Last Temptation Of Christ ultimately amounts to nothing more than a botched intellectual and cinematic abortion. As a Christian I can forgive Last Temptation's misguided theology, but as a cinephile I can not ignore its floundering exectution. The Last Temptation Of Christ is an atrocious film, and for those who feel differently I offer my profound pity.
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:13 p.m. CST
Not sure how much adoration Scorsese deserves on the visuals when he's got the GOAT!
by The_Genteel_Gentile
Greatest. Of. All. Time. Robert Richardson (Cinematographer)
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:27 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
As a Christian you are the perfect idiot. Hateful and prejudiced. I pray for your damned soul.
Nov. 21, 2011, 4:31 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
As my mom used to say, you are blind in one eye and can't see out the other. Fuck Christians like you.
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:02 p.m. CST
And this guy made Taxi Driver?
by Marc Cerasini
Some of us are adults. Some of us have already come of age. Some of us want to live in the adult world, to have adult questions explored. Scorsese's been dead to me since The Aviator. Now he's been embalmed.
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:04 p.m. CST
And, dudes, "New York, New York" is brilliant.
by ChaunceyGardiner
I'm sorry, but I must lend dissenting opinion - here is a film that mixes Scorsese's brand of Italian neo-realism ("Rocco and his Brothers," woot) with his love of film fantasy, specifically his love of Hollywood musicals and the New York docu-musicals of Busby Berkley. It is an homage but a very clear example of how Scorsese learns from and adapts to the filmmakeing styles and genres, and the ideas inherent therein, of the filmmakers and films that enraptured him as a child. (Thinking in this vein, a Sword-and-Sandels film might be an interesting choice for Mr. Scorsese one of these days, if he ever got around to it – as much as he loves "Ben Hur," it might be an awesome fit for him.) For me, some of his most interesting pictures are his adapting his skills and mindset to particular genres. One merely need look to his films to see how intense and fervent his devotion to film and the exploration of it. As much as there are Hithcockian vibes to his genius "Shutter Island," specifically "Vertigo," there is also to be found the powerful influence of the psychological intensity of Powell and Pressburger's "Black Narcissus" (also an influence seen in the colour washouts of "Age of Innocence," where one scene ends or signals with its end the beginning of an evolution in the characters' emotional states, reiterateing the trauma or ecstasy on screen, the fact of being overcome with emotion with dissolves from the characters' faces into frames of pure colour, like blood soaking the white cloth surrounding a fresh wound). Point is, Scorsese takes his influences and adds his probeing intelligence to a deconstruction and examination of their thematic elements. Beyound his visual prowess, it is his intelligence that is always evident: his black humour ("After Hours" and "The King of Comedy"), his satire in "Goodfellas," his extrapolation of facts and images of specific periods in history to form a new, living vision of the past ("Woodstock," the Bob Dylan documentary, "the Aviator," "Gangs of New York," "Bringing Out the Dead" with its tour through Hell's Kitchen in all its early 90s Rotten Apple splendor, "Rageing Bull," "Goodfellas," "Shutter Island," "Kundun," "Age of Innocence," "Casino," "Mean Streets," "The Last Temptation of Christ," heck, even "After Hours" and "Taxi Driver" as both, though set contemporarily at their time, feel like a weird little time capsules of New York shakeing off the 60s and 70s, on the cusp of the 80s - his desire to brings these eras "to life," and not merely makeing stylish replicas of them - and his extreme eminence as a film historian and expert (only person I know that loves Visconti films more than I do, and got "Senso" the legs it needed to finally be seen worldwide). And what he does that makes him so unique is his ability to distill all these wonderful ideas into films that are astonishingly complete works of art - and if one of his films ever feels incomplete, that is often the reason that it is not treated with the respect his other films are often afforded: "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and, for me, "Gangs of New York." "Gangs" failed for me because it seemed to never to coalesce, seemingly the product of too many great ideas and not enough glue in the center to hold the whole thing together (Amsterdam's story, as much as I like the essential nature of it, just doesn't compete with how interesting a period of time that was; and while I understand that is part of the point, that their street war was overshadowed by a greater, national conflict, I still regret that it wasn't a more potent story for me). In fact, I sort of feel that "Gangs" fell victim to too much ambition; the product of too many versions of the film that Scorsese and Cocks had laboured to bring about in the past. Listening to his commentary on "Gangs" where we have him extricate these various, sometimes competeing ideas of the film and its subject matter was a terribly enlightening experience for me, as it was quite troubleing to me that I did not completely love the film, as much as I really respect it, only merely likeing it). "New York, New York" though is a very concise, almost epic portrait of the course of one couple's relationship - and also as a picture of Jazz from War time up into the late 50s. And the music, man, the music. Did you know that the song "New York, New York" was made FOR THAT FILM? I mean, really?! How genious is that? That is one great song! And an extremely recongnizeable tune at that, sort of a cultural thumbprint, special in the fact that the majority of people who know and love it would never ever know that it came from a Martin Scorsese picture. A great film. And one of my favourites. Mind you, the first time that I saw it, I was a relatively young man compared to my 30 years now. And I did not like it, or at least did not understand it. It did not fit into my view of the world. I didn't dislike it, it just didn't capture my attention. But as I grew, my understanding of relationships, my lifeline expanding, my life experiences expounded upon, one heaped on the other at a blistering, alarming rate, a few years of personal freedom and isolation turning to form a large part of the narrative of my life, my recollections of my childhood past complicated by the sheer number of events and memories that became mine: large-scale world events and small family moments of extremely important in my own special personal perspective, branching and breaking, falling and rising, spreading out to form a far more extensive web of knowledge. In short, I got a lot of perspective on stuff – I also fell in love with Jazz due to John Coltrane (who I knew about through "Mr. Holland's Opus," I am not ashamed to admit; listening to a library borrowed copy of selected works of Charlie Parker while I slept on a friend's wood plank floors during my first visit to New York City, a young man listening to the master of Bop smokeing cigarettes while on fireescapes watching the city wake up); and the films of Woody Allen, who introduced me to the grandeur of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." And, also, during my period of adjustment to my new life as an adult - a man with a little history on him - I kept having a reoccurring image from the film play upon my mind: Jimmy (DeNiro) playing through his sax a lament of lost and complicated love, while outside his window, beneath a street lamp, a couple, a sailor and his mate dance silently in the night. It was a strange, dreamlike quality that returned me to it, told me there was more to the film than I already knew. Returning, I saw the art that I'd lost along the way, uncertain of what it really was that Scorsese had made. A brilliant mad comedy of heartache and break-up, of chances lost and a city that seemed to listen silently, even to the most plaintive and personal of tunes; the ones that hum waltzes in our eyes when we look upon the face of lost opportunity, and our mistakes ask our forgiveness.
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:06 p.m. CST
dude, I go away for one day, arrive to find out
by ChaunceyGardiner
that this thread has become a massive discussion about "The Last Temptation of Christ." That's heavy.
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:06 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Enjoy the rest of your live as a sorry ass adult.
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:29 p.m. CST
mcgootoo - you know absolutely nothing about which you speak.
by The_Genteel_Gentile
How exactly am I hateful? Because I understand my own religion and you clearly do not? Or the fact that I understand what constitutes quality filmmaking, and you clearly do not. And it sounds a lot like your dear mother was trying to quote Christ's disciple Mathew, smark guy! Matthew, Chapter 7 Verse 5" " Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Christian's are not magical beings of perfection, nor do they think they are. They're merely people who have come to terms with the frailties of their own humanity and aknowledge the inadequacy of ALL men and the need for grace. Christians are perfect idiots and you will pray for my damned soul and I'M prejudiced?
Nov. 21, 2011, 5:51 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Yes, you are a perfect idiot. Christian's are not magical beings of perfection, nor do they think they are. Laughable. And I understand and appreciate more kinds of film than you ever will.
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:35 p.m. CST
I never met a Christian I didn't like
by Michael Lunney
... with a nice side salad. --The Lion King
Nov. 21, 2011, 6:49 p.m. CST
mcgootoo - try me
by The_Genteel_Gentile
I highly doubt you've studied film as extensively as me. You sir, clearly have no idea you're dealing with a connoisseur. Nor should you nessessarily, but you are and it's too bad we all have the internet at our fingertips to fain authority, otherwise I'd give you a right walloping in literate film analysis in person my friend. You know virtually nothing about me other than I'm a professed Christian and Film aficionado whom does not care for The Last Tempation Of Christ as a film on equal parts theological and aesthetic reasoning. You've spoken here with nothing other than bias and have neglected to even do as much as qualify that. It's laughable that a people would earnestly strive to hold themselves to a moral ideal? A Christian's only mandate is to seek mercy, love all and share Christ's message of said love and redemption. The fact that Christians will constantly fail in that pursuit is exactly why we require grace in order to move past disparagement and continue to try. The very foundation of Christianity is to recognize that no individual is superior to another and that all have and will fall short of righteousness. It's supremely introspective. Any supposed Christain who subscribes to anything of the contrary is likely no Christian at all. The fact that you think Christianity is anything other than fundamentaly this is cause for me not to laugh but weep. What conviction have you? Given your words, you'd not even qualify as a decent representitive of Secular Humanism. On what perch do you stand from which to justify such ineffectual disdain and ridicule?
Nov. 21, 2011, 7:39 p.m. CST
The reason it's not Hugo Cabret is...
by Kentucky Colonel
...people would confuse it with Liza's "Cabaret", I betcha
Nov. 21, 2011, 8:13 p.m. CST
?? "The very foundation of Christianity is to recognize that no individual is superior to another." =
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nov. 21, 2011, 8:14 p.m. CST
"I highly doubt you've studied film as extensively as me. You sir, clearly have no idea you're dealing with a connoisseur." ??
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nov. 21, 2011, 8:48 p.m. CST
I bet DOLLARS to PESOS that it was a CHRISTIAN BULLET that put Larry Flynt in a wheelchair. Larry Flynt fought more for American Freedoms than any Christian I ever saw. Just sayin.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 21, 2011, 8:59 p.m. CST
If you don't like Hustler Magazine, DON'T READ IT. But Jesus Harold P. Esquire Christ don't go around putting bullets in people. Nut JOBS. All of them.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:02 p.m. CST
The BIBLE is the GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD. It's JUST A STORY. It's NOT the GREATEST COLLECTION OF FACTS. It's just a story.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:08 p.m. CST
I mean, when you watched STAR WARS did you think LUKE SKYWALKER and DARTH VADER were REAL PEOPLE? No, it's story. How old are you? Wake up. It's a story.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:09 p.m. CST
Do you think MOSES and JESUS CHRIST and KING SOLOMON were real people that existed? Wake up it's story. How old are you?
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:31 p.m. CST
by D.Vader
That goes for my interest in this review, I've been so disappointed in Harry before. I just no longer believe him. That goes for this movie too, really. All the trailers and commercials for this have been just plain awful. If Scorsese wasn't attached, there'd be no interest at all in this picture.
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:35 p.m. CST
chaunceygardiner - Obviously film savviness is something that can be measured
by The_Genteel_Gentile
Films and knowledge pertaining to film is measurable. As are a great many feats. The value of one human being's soul over another is not. Therefore no man is qualified to spiritually judge another, however worldly merit can be ascertained and assessed. By placing special deifying significants on dead saints, putting priests, archbishops, cardinals, and Popes upon a thrown, and dogmatic reliance upon rosarys, rituals, relics and symbols, some misguided Catholics have tended to miss the original intent of Christ that distinctions between all believers and any idolization placed upon objects be abolished. That ALL are children of God, and are to be loved as just as one would seek God's love. That no one can prove themselves worthy through deed, but through grace all have been granted worthiness to come to God in and of their own volition. This is a major reason for the reformation and the protestant church. Matthew 23:8-12 "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 6:7 "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Mark 7:6-13 "He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." And he continued, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and mother,'and, 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.' But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." Romans 14 "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:39 p.m. CST
Mcgootoo, all you have ever posted here is complete bullshit. I think you are by far the most idiotic TBer ever.
by SierraTangoFoxtrotUniform
I mean, it's wonderful to allow special needs children internet access, but sometimes it isn't such a good idea, just as every fucking post that you punch out with your shit-stained fingers proves.
Nov. 21, 2011, 9:41 p.m. CST
chaunceygardiner - True Christianity is the very definition of tolerance, brotherhood and equality.
by The_Genteel_Gentile
I hope I made that clear.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10 p.m. CST
Saw it - it is that good
by VoiceOfSaruman
Very much unlike his other films (though there are a few unmistakable touches of his) but definitely one of his best works. Ben Kingsley is fantastic in it. So is Asa who plays Hugo. It's a brilliant and beautiful mystery of a movie for kids and parents, and those who are kids at heart. d.vader: No interest at all in this picture without Scorsese? Hardly, more like the opposite. Scorsese's name might give people the wrong idea about this movie. This is the family movie of the decade, with some very top notch actors in it. You don't have to be a Scorsese-head to love it. That's why it's one of his best films, IMO. I would not be surprised if this movie wins Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Kingsley), with many other nominations to boot. It's a technical masterpiece, with a beautiful, emotional heart, excellent plotting and characterization. And it's the love letter to cinema Scorsese has always had it in him to transmit to everyone, young and old. And he does this with a great, great story, without which it would just be self-indulgent and boring. And FYI I don't agree with Harry's reviews often, in judgment or in tone. Even here, I think he gives far too much of the film away. And, though I'll own up to loving a few of Scorsese's less-regarded works (NY NY, The Aviator), it's irrelevant because this film has very little in common with those. One more thing, Sacha Baron Cohen owned. Maybe this is too close to home considering his particular work here, but he's our generation's Peter Sellers. And I love, love, love Peter Sellers.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:09 p.m. CST
And re: all the comments
by VoiceOfSaruman
Don't NOT see the movie just because Harry said he loved it, while he loved some other crap movie. That just doesn't make any sense. Give it a chance if you have a heart (cause this movie does.) It's not a movie for cynical teenagers, but the rest of humanity will likely deem it a classic. Again, for a movie ostensibly accessible to younger viewers, in some ways this is Scorsese's most mature film. He has perhaps been guilty of beautifully fucking up movies, being too overlong, too improvisational, repeating himself here and there, but this movie is pretty note perfect resulting in a powerful effect. God, I sound like a plant. But I'm not, and soon this movie won't need any anyway. I am a father to a young boy though - and after you see the movie maybe you'll understand why I loved it so much.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:41 p.m. CST
"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters."
by ChaunceyGardiner
It is not your stance that I disagree with. It is that you purport a message of tolerance and forgiveness for the weaknesses of others and yet assailed McGooToo when he merely stated his opinion as an athiest. Mind you, I understand now that you feel Scorsese Christ picture was a misrepresentation of the true Christ - and yet, your villification of McGooToo was not warranted. True, we are on a site which is full of vitriol and sad sweet bite of tooth, and yet it is also a place where we can share our hearts about how film has touched our lives, shareing honest stories about what the medium has meant for us. In the interium, we also come across people from all walks of life, of all types and desires and tastes. And it is not also a pleasant reality, what we see here on this site. McGooToo's admission to likeing "The Last Temptation of Christ" was honest, even humble. And McGooToo is not always so. And yet, he was lambasted. This is what I disagreed with, sir. *And I did like the extent of your post, and the inclusion of the verses - especially the New Testament. I appreciate the thoroughness of your reply. In speaking, may we also listen.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:54 p.m. CST
What's up, Saruman.
by ChaunceyGardiner
Nice to have your comments. They are good ones - and they further my anticipation. (And I agree with your small list of Scorsese's occassional flaws. Don't like to say such about a master, but I am not always a fan either - but that is what is so vital within film criticism, that is a continued relationship with a medium and its artists that does not always conform to the subverience that pure mainstream entertainment is so desirous of.) That said, I briefly toyed with filling out a Butt-Numb-A-Thon application the other month and was momentarily stumped by the question of whom my favourite director was. Actually, I was flumoxed. I walked around in my free time, thought about it - I came to this conclusion, while John Huston is easily one of the biggest influences on my viewing of motion pictures, and Spielberg has a special hold on my heart and has stored up some of the most delightful and touching images my imagination could ever hope to hold onto, and Kubrick and Lean both made two of the most perfect pictures anyone could ever hope to make, and Malick is just "!!! MY BOI !!!" I believe that it is Scorsese that I am the most deeply intwined with. Ever since the first, seeing "Goodfellas" on a Saturday matinee program on local TV (you know the kind, three movies in an afternoon, standard 90s fare, hosted by some guy slingin' aluminum siding), and standing, literally standing on anxious heels and stretched ankles, my hands probably fidgeting spastically, awe struck from the Lufthansa robbery assassinations onward. Till the final, bitter, simultaneously hilarious and horrific hollow final monolouge. That picture did me in.
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:55 p.m. CST
Do you have a favourite picture about faith, Gentle?
by ChaunceyGardiner
I am a few. Would be curious to see your list, also. (If you've the inclination.)
Nov. 21, 2011, 10:55 p.m. CST
Good work, Saruman
by D.Vader
Nicely written. You're swaying me.
Nov. 21, 2011, 11:35 p.m. CST
Baron Munchausen is dead
by Pitdoc
John Neville , best known last as one of the bad guys on the X-Files
Nov. 21, 2011, 11:50 p.m. CST
Nice to see some real replies
by VoiceOfSaruman
about Hugo... Chauncey - nice handle; Being There is in my top 5 for certain. I hear what you are saying about being entwined with Scorsese. It's a cliche to say but he is an often very "personal" filmmaker, so if you have a certain kind of psyche along his lines, I think you can get into what he's trying to do even when it doesn't work perfectly. Scorsese may have a few decades on me, but as another guy from NYC who was raised Catholic and still wonders about religion/spirituality and how it all relates to the work and deeds we do in life, and how they both relate to work in the world as artists - his stuff tends to strike a chord in me. And then there's his stellar work like Goodfellas, where I don't care where you're coming from - that movie just moves and packs an amazing punch. Again, Hugo doesn't obviously relate much to a lot of those elements that make Scorsese films feel like Scorsese films. All that I really felt showing through was (what will probably sound tiring now) his love and respect for the magic and history of cinema, and his excellent craftmanship (and that of those he chooses to work with.) I don't know how comfortably it really fits in on a shelf next to Last Temptation, Mean Streets, etc. But rather it stands on its own very nicely. d.vader - cool, blame me as needed if you bite the bullet and dislike. The 3-D in the theater was cool, I'm not a big 3-D fan, but it did add to the film and certainly didn't feel distracting. But it should work in 2-D home later of course. I got lucky with a good crowd though, which always helps. I want to say again, Harry's "Spoiler Alert" should be taken seriously, because there are some good little mysteries in the film and if you've been spoiled too much by reviews (or certain specifics of real-life film history) your experience may be less than hoped for. In retrospect, the trailer I remember seeing did seem a bit vague and not compelling, but anymore might have given away too much, even in these spoilerriffic times. Now I'm making the movie sound like The Sixth Sense or something - it's not one of those trick movies, quite thankfully. All I'm saying is part of my raving here is because I was lucky to have the story unfold itself in time in front of me, not really knowing much except who was involved and that it was about a boy who had something to do with clocks and a train station... I enjoyed being reminded why Ben Kingsley is so well regarded. His power and control over his performance...this movie is not a David Lynch film, so perhaps in the end it's not the most unpredictable movie with any kind of bizarre extremes, but that's why it's refreshing to see him do some serious work in keeping it feeling very fresh and alive. Even when you have a sense of what he's about to say, the way he does say it keeps you engaged because he feels his character from a very deep, real place that avoids cliches. As the only American in the bunch, I thought Chloe Moretz did a great job, and was well-loved and accepted by the audience I was with. The adventures she has with the title character made me wish those Narnia movies had focused a little more on the characters of the children (and perhaps cast stronger young actors in those roles.) But that's a dangerous digression here. Scorsese will get so much play about this movie, but it's really a fine collaboration - the cinematography, the set and art direction, the casting, the writing, all top notch. I'm a Howard Shore fan, but I felt every now and then his score veered into Lord of The Rings-land a bit too far for me (without being nearly as strong and distinctive) - not literally quoting it or anything, but just, just enough to take me out of the movie once or twice. But I suppose when he's dealing with a large ensemble, there are certain orchestration ideas and chordal qualities he favors and returns to.
Nov. 21, 2011, 11:50 p.m. CST
"Marty's" films post 1993 are horrifically overrated.
by BigTuna
Aviator? Gangs of New York? The Departed? All mediocre.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:54 a.m. CST
bigtuna - Although I respect Scorsese, I find his entire oeuvre overrated.
by The_Genteel_Gentile
Particularly Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. Although I do like Taxi Driver and Goodfellas, there not nearly as solid as is generally preported and I find Raging Bull to really live up to its name. But maybe that's just my overraction to overhype. I think Scorsese's output post 1993 is actually superior to what he put out before. I really don't have the time to get fully into it and qualify my reasoning, but suffice to say my favorite Scorsese movies are Kundun, The Age Of Innocence, Shutter Island, The Aviator and his pièce de résistance - Casino (the epic version of Goodfellas). Also I love Robert Richardson's cinematography and Scorsese did not begin his collaborations with Richardson until 1995's Casino. I look forward to seeing Hugo very much.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:07 a.m. CST
max cherry re: Last Temptation
by Negator76
It's 'Ridiculous' that characters have New York accents in Last Temptation of Christ? REALLY? You know what's 'Ridiculous'? That they would SPEAK ENGLISH AT ALL. Because art is supposed to be as close as possible to real life at all times. You know what else is 'RIDICULOUS'? Christ manages to find his disciples, teach, perform miracles, wander the desert, meet John the Baptist, foment and abandon a violent revolution against the Romans, and be crucified in LESS THAN FOUR HOURS!!! That's physically impossible! Who taught that Scorcese guy math, youknowwhatimsayin? OK, I was being sarcastic. The colloquial voices in Last Temptation work beautifully, in that they make you think of the characters as contemporary people with emotions and motivations you can relate to, rather than immutable biblical icons who speak in distancing, faux-Shakespearean affectation. Harvey Keitel was a great Judas (and perhaps the most blasphemous and heart-rending interpretation of the character) and Max Cherry is a mouth-breathing sub-humanoid. Go watch Live Free or Die Hard, dummy.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:14 a.m. CST
by Negator76
You can totally enjoy Last Temptation as a non-christian. (I do). It is, as Scorsese says in the disclaimer that opens the movie, not an attempt to literally represent the gospels. It is in essence the story of a man who wrestles with the sacrifices of becoming the vessel for forces and principles far greater than himself, and how terrible, alienating, and exhilarating those sacrifices turn out to be.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:14 a.m. CST
chaunceygardiner - not sure were you're reading me assailing or villifying McGooToo
by The_Genteel_Gentile
Please quote were you think I did this as it was certainly not my intention and if McGooToo feels this way then I do beg his pardon. I'm pretty much talking and explaining myself, MY position and asserting and attempting to remedy a certain lack of understanding that's being held about myself and Christians in general. The completely foundless accuasaion that Christianity somehow handicap's one from a genuine affinity for art of all genres, is the only villifying assailment I'm aware of reading on here and that certainly didn't come from me. In fact our dear friend McGooToo piped up unsolicited to call me as a Christian a "perfect idiot, Hateful and prejudiced". Of which I do refute. I think you'll find if you read back that it was not I that lambasted Mr. McGooToo, but he I. However I do highly doubt McGooToo has studied film as extensively as me. And indeed I do fancy myself a cinema connoisseur without reservation. If I were a betting man, I'd put everything I have on that. My original post was not directed at McGooToo but asimovlives, for whom I do think was speaking glibly about subjects out of his depth of knowledge when professing his adoration for Last Tempation and it's supposed superority over The Passion Of The Christ as either a work of heartfelt art or theology. My attempt was however not to tear down asimovlives, but to explain that his view is skewed by his own admitted contrary attitude and then went on to dismantle the film, NOT asimovlives' athiesm, but on a craft basis by assessing the film on purely secular aesthetical cinematic merit alone. Because I would accept it as a great piece of work regardless of liberties, if I thought it warranted it. More than anything, my issue with Last Tempation Of Christ is that the film was not even made well on any level other than including some fine musical accompaniment from Peter Gabriel. Nevermind theological discrepancies, in fact I don't find anything in the film offensive other than the fact that it's made badly. Now as far as your question about my favorite films about faith go I'm not so sure. Although not perfect, I do think Passion Of The Christ is a fairly great film, but one that can only be fully appreciated by those whom already have a profound perspective on the glorious meaning of those events. But just as a piece of visual and aural narrative art, I think it can be rightly assessed as masterful. I don't know, as far as stories depicting the story of Christ are concerned there are elements of Ben Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, King Of Kings and Jesus Of Nazareth that I respond to. But what else? I think Scorsese's own Kundun is a very moving film about faith and the faithful. I think Contact is a beautiful film directly dealing with faith. Or A.I.'s theme about constantly searching for your creater also feels very spiritual. There are some nice small moments or themes in general cinema that strike me as spiritually resonant. Like Kevin Costner in "The War" giving away his and his tormented son's ice cream to his son's bullying peers out of compassion for recognizing their apperance to have not seeming to have been given anything in a long time. Or the broad themes found in Gattica, The Iron Giant or Kingdom Of Heaven about not allowing outside forces to determine who you choose to be and about owning those choices. Gandhi, Dances With Wolves, Schindler's List and Braveheart all strike a strong moral chord about striving for grace and rightness under severe circumstances. There are some nice morality lessons in Anthony Mann's "El Cid" and William Wyler's "The Big Country" about conducting oneself with integrity and fairness. To Kill A Mockingbird inspires one to rail against injustice and stand for dignity and equality. All of Terrence Malick's contemplative and compassionate work hits me right were I live. Those films may not be exactly about faith, but they are to me.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:27 a.m. CST
killik, i did have read the book that THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST is based on. Great book.
by AsimovLives
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:32 a.m. CST
orbots commander
by AsimovLives
However, the intent and result in THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST in regard to the accents do work. It brings an imediaty to the movie that no previous Jesus movie,s ave for Pasolini's THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATHEW, ever had. The accents in THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST never bothered me in the slightest. I can't understand why they would to anybody else, specially an american. It makes no sense. Specially considering the movie's overall strenghs.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:45 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
"By your naive comments one could only hope you're an athiest, because a person of any faith ought to assess that film with a lot more thoughtfulness and discerning discretion." Bullshit! Atheism doesn't mena ignoranc eof religious matters. In fact, i have found far more ignorance amongh the faithheads then among the atheists. I have found far more misunderstanding about THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST among the believers then the non-believers. Because belivers always bring a baggage, their own faith. There's lots of silly criticism that movie got form the faithheads which are simply absurd and proves that they neither understood the movie or evne the tenents of their own faith they profess to follow (but barely do). You, like most faithheads, made the idiotic mistake to assume that just because one is not a person of faith that he has to be ignorant of the subject. That's bullshit. You faithhead boys should stop projecting your own ignorance about atheism and/or agnosticism to others. "Last Tempation must convey exactly your convictions for desecrating that which is held sacred" That's stupid beyond belief. Because the movie does the very opposite, the movie SUPPORTS the christian faith beliefs. Have you actrually watched the movie? Because with stupid lines like that you just prove you haven't. You could criticise the movie for how it reaches it's faith, but to deny the movie that it's a christianity appologist work, because it is, then you are either a fool or you lie about watching it. You cannot be that thick! "There are a handful of people in the entire world that can speak wih any authority at all about the postulated use of ancient Aramaic, please, don't pretend you are among them" I never claimed i'm an authority on aramaic, you ass. That doesn't mean i have to be completly ignorant on the subject either, does it? Again, don't project your ignorance to others. Jus tbecause you are a complete ignorant on a subject doesn't mean others have to be too. Your ignorance is not an argument. "As a believer as well as devotee of cinema, the thing about The Last Temptation Of Christ that I find deplorable isn't even it's extreme liberties taken with every character and circumstance, but the fact that for all its pretentious posturing" It was the sex that bothered you, wasn't it? It was the sex! Ohh, poor funduie boy got upset because of the sex!!! Oh pity him!!! I shall play the world's smallest violin for you!
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:50 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Allow me to share your love for "NEW YORK, NEW YORK".
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:59 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Those new york and southern accents work in context. Come to think of it, having a british accent or king's pronunciation in a bible movie makes as much sense as new yorker. And LAST TEMPTATIOn makes it look sensiscal because at least the movie tries to portait the diversity that existed in the people of Judea back then, which was really huge. There is an anedote from back then that the gallileans had an accent so thick that somebody from Jerusalem couldn't understand when a gallilean was asking for a melon or a camel. Gallileans had a very thick accent. So, to make all the actors who play gallileans in LAST TEMPTATION to have a very noticable common accent, like a new york accent, does lend quite a lot of credibility and realism to the movie. In lieu of actually using ACCURATE aramaic of the time (which THE PASSION OF CHRIST didn't), this is the best solution.
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:04 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Well, King Solomon did existed. It's Moses and Jesus which are more problematic to prove their existence. The chances they actually walked the earth are 50/50.
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:09 a.m. CST
Oh now i get it, the_genteel_gentile is anothe rone of those fundamentalist anti-catholic fuck-asses!
by AsimovLives
Fuck them! I find it so precious when christians of a given sect think themselves so suprieor to christians of a different sect. It's stupid beyond belief!
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:13 a.m. CST
by the_genteel_gentile: "True Christianity is the very definition of tolerance, brotherhood and equality."
by AsimovLives
And so is judaism, islam, buddhism, hinduism, shintoism, mandaeism, zoroastrianism and secular humanism, you ignorant fool!
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:16 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
What thoughfulness of his posts? He just copy and pasted his favorite passages from the book. Hardly impressive. It's his though process that is the problem, and it's quite problematic.
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:37 a.m. CST
"when professing his adoration for Last Tempation and it's supposed superority over The Passion Of The Christ as either a work of heartfelt art or theology."
by AsimovLives
Can you even read, the_genteel_gentile? I just mentioned THE PASSION OF CHRIST in regard to the use of languages. I didn't evne mentioned that i love that the latter did made an effort to use ancient languages, even though it does make some mistakes. Namely, the romans speak with ecclesiastic latin, which was invented in the middle ages, instead of the vulgatu latin of the era depicted. That the aramaic used is poetic aramaic instead of common aramaic. And that nobody in the move speaks greek, which was the lingua franca of the region, meaning, when two foreigners would converse, they would use greek, the same way a portuguese and a swedish today would use english as a common language for conversation. And frankly, as theology, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST is far more sophisticated then THE PASSION OF CHRIST. The later statement of theology is just "you have to believe because Jesus got the shit beaten out of him, LOOK, LOOK!!" That's the essense of THE PASSION OF CHRIST, Faith by guilt. That might work for some, but not for anybody with more then two working braincells. Oh, and by the way, the_genteel_gentile. the director of THE PASSION OF CHRIST, Mel Gibson, he's a catholic. And not just any catholic, but a hardcore super-conservative Vatican II denier catholic. Which means that he totally completly believes that you are going to burn in fucking hell because you are not of his own special brand of catholicism. So next time you sing the praises of PASSION over LAST TEMPTATION you better remember that. Meanwhile, LAST TEMPTATION is a movie directed by a catholic from a screenplay writen by a calvinist adapted from a book writen by a orthodox christian, and all of them people who believed that all denominations were part of the faith and that all bring something great to the common faith. Think about that, fundie boy!
Nov. 22, 2011, 5:13 a.m. CST
Both LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST and THE PASSION OF CHRIST are heartfelt movies about the christian faith.
by AsimovLives
But LAST TEMPTATION is more thoughful and intelligent in dealing with the subject, while THE PASSION does it with torture porn and werewolves. Frankly, i think LAST TEMPTATION does it better.
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:02 a.m. CST
by phantomcreeps
They are both good movies, but you are right.
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:49 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
your religion makes you blind- and stupid and judgmental, and yes passive-aggressively hateful. And a lousy film viewer. Quoting the Bible to make points tells us you are on autopilot.
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:55 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
You say: However I do highly doubt McGooToo has studied film as extensively as me. And indeed I do fancy myself a cinema connoisseur without reservation. If I were a betting man, I'd put everything I have on that. Why such an urgent need to feel superior? You are a very fucked up religious bigot.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Do you think most atheists are atheists because they know more about religion that most devout believers? the_genteel_gentile: I was raised Catholic. Wanna comment?
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:04 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Since you are all about superiority, did you choose Christianinanity because Jesus' dick is bigger thsn Buddah's?
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:06 a.m. CST
Asi - There was a General Solomon Bar Isaac. No King Solomon. King Solomon is a TRIOM GOD of SEX and SUN worship...
by Darth_Kong
Sol - Latin Om - Hindu On - Greek It's SEX and SUN WORSHIP. It ain't holy it never was.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:10 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
And re-rereading what you wrote, you contradicted yourself numerous times. Typical full of shit Christian blowhard.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:15 a.m. CST
Asi - Here's how the word ISRAEL is formed...
by Darth_Kong
Is - Isis (Egyptian god) Ra - Amun-Ra (Egyptian Priesthood) More Sun Worship El - The planet Saturn Is Ra El IsRaEl Israel It's a play on words and terms. It ain't holy.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:23 a.m. CST
Just remember, there was no WIZARD of OZ, it was just a little old man behind a curtain. CHRIST, TOTO figured it out. How old is everyone around here? A dog figured it out, no one else can?
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:28 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
What does that mean?
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:37 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Why do you hate Catholics and feel superior to them, oh do tell, tolerance boy....
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:40 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
"Do you think most atheists are atheists because they know more about religion that most devout believers?" It sure helps. It's part of the reason why i'm an atheist. Not out of spite, mind you. There's nothing in my life that happend that was a consequence of bad religious people or a vctim of dogma. Nothing bad ever happend to me to make be hold a grunge against religion on the whole. I just became one because from all i gathered in all the stuff i learned from my life, religion for me just makes no sense, it's an archaism from more ancient times that still hangs around on cultural inercia. I'm not an atheist out of spite but out of conviction. It also helps that seeing the talk from most faithheads, it's quite obvious they don't are what they profess to be. Every religion cherry picks what's convinient from their religious texts. and the ones who do the most cherry picking are the so-called fundamentalists. Worst even, those fundies, despite their claim to follow the old time religion, in fact they are the most recent current of christianity, dating back to just the late 19th century. I just love this contradictions, it's so fucking funny!
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:43 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Dude, don't shove hindu words into what is just judaism. I have seen many shove buddhism concepts into Jesus as if to cnvince that Jesus could only had the ideals he professed becasue he visited India and was inspired by buddhism and whatnot. That's a fallacy. All the teachings of Jesus are directly traced to many of the day's current of judaism from the pharee movement of the time. Jesus teachings are not against the judaism of the time but a complement. Jesus didn't existed in a void.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:44 a.m. CST
mcgootoo - It means people have been HOODWINKED, BAMBOOZLED, and sold tickets to a DOG AND PONY SHOW. What's not to get?
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:49 a.m. CST
Asi - Nag Hammadi manuscripts. It's a story. Mithraism. It's a story. Horus. It's a story. Jesus. It's a story. It's the greatest story ever told. It's just a story.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:55 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
I'm not an atheist out of spite but out of conviction. Descibes me as well. AS always, a pleasure. I dealt with idiots like gentile when Last Temptation was first released. Working for a newspaper at the time as their entertainment and features editor, I even called and spoke to the Rev. Donald Wildmon about his campaign against Last Temptation. Wildmon, the head of the American Family Assiociation, at the time was calling for boycotts for all sorts of things he found objectionable to his tiny Christian mind. He was telling people to not see the movie because it was objectionable for many reasons. Of course, he didn't see the film when he raised these objections. King od the dopes, and gentile seems to be one of his acolytes. Blindly hating for all the wrong reasons.
Nov. 22, 2011, 7:59 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
What I am not getting is what you consider the dog and pony show. I don't want to make assumptions. I think you are talking about religion, but not sure, so....
Nov. 22, 2011, 8 a.m. CST
Here's an example you'll all understand. John Travolta BEING A STRAIGHT HETEROSEXUAL. It's a story. It's the greatest story ever told.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:03 a.m. CST
mcgootoo - What do you use when you want to CONTROL MENS MINDS? THE DREAM OF TOTAL DOMINATION? You invent religion.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:05 a.m. CST
mcgootoo - You can love your children and be kind to strangers and you don't have to BELONG TO THE CIRCUS. See what I'm getting at?
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:06 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Thanks - I agree. People can gather socially and do good for each other without all that bullshit attached.
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:07 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
We are waiting to hear The Word.
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:08 a.m. CST
mcgootoo - Yes. We have to. Our planet is being destroyed by this HOGWASH.
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:17 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
I agree. It hinders progress with rsampant fear and hate. All in the name of love and tolerance. Like Bush's Clean Air Initiative was the opposite. Seduce and fuck over with lies and false hope,, brainwash, rinse and repeat.
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:20 a.m. CST
Asi - J.J. Abrams MYSTERY BOX is a DUMBED DOWN version of the TEMPLE of KING SOLOMON. It's a HOLLYWOOD RELIGION FOR UNEDUCATED IGNORANT PEOPLE. Here's why...
by Darth_Kong
The Temple of King Solomon is nothing more than the MALE SEX ORGAN IN THE FEMALE BOX. The HOLIEST of HOLIES is just the HEAD OF THE MALE PENIS INSIDE THE FEMALE BOX. It's Jewish Freemasonry Sex Worship. Mystery Box is just an AMBIGUOUS METAPHOR for the Temple of King Solomon. There's no mystery.
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:37 a.m. CST
the_genteel_gentile in full blown Christian tolerance mode
by Michael Lunney
Boy, this guy the_genteel_gentile is surely a fucked up liar, who does not practice what he preaches. Frankly, not surprised by this religious poseur. I guess you are not a true christian by your own definition, which goes like this as you replied to another talkbacker here: chaunceygardiner - True Christianity is the very definition of tolerance, brotherhood and equality. OH REALLY? Then please explain these words from you, in another talkback response from you, about character actor Elias Koteas in the movie LET ME IN!: derek_vinyard - Have you the fortitude to disclose your age? by the_genteel_gentile ...By all means lay into your humble servant The_Genteel_Gentile however you wish. I'm a big boy and I'll take my lumps, for this is not my main point of contention. No, your great abomination is within the very context and method of your gripe. It's incoherent and uninformed in the extreme. Your opining is up to that of the standard set for short bus protégés in grade school. Now yes ignorance can be bliss but not for the unwitting reader of such drivel. To subject the unassuming bystander to such vulgar logic is truely an exercise in cruelty toward mammals. I challenge you to go back and read the way you've conducted yourself here because it really is rather shameful. Now I suppose if you're simply a child, it could be met with some sympathy if not lenience. Call it nostalgia, but precocious brats can often be a charming reminder of one's own golden-hued adolescence. Otherwise though, you really are quite an intolerable twit (switch out the "i" for an "a" at your discretion). _____________________________________ WOW! Calling someone an intolerable twit/twat sure does demonstate christian tolerance at it's finest. And insulting mentally challenged individuals. You call youself a christian? Go fuck yourself. And spare us your imperfect christian, sanctimonious twaddle. You are the same asshole then as you are now. Stop pretending to be something you are not under the guise of religion. Fake mofo.
Nov. 22, 2011, 9:45 a.m. CST
now, here is a fun religion for science fiction fans
by Michael Lunney
These guys even paid for a billboard that reads: GOD IS A MYTH http://tinyurl.com/c44wl2l Meet the Raelians: Inside the World's Strangest — and Nicest — UFO Sex Clone Religion Beats the Flying Spaghetti Monster anyday, and Jesus and Buddha are Raelians!!!! One of their followers used to show up on Howard Stern's show, where I first heard of these guys. He had a really DEEP voice....
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:11 a.m. CST
Barry Levinson Barry Sonnenfeld same difference right?
by Series7
Heheh jesus both Ebert and Harry making shit up in their reviews. Man this movie blew. If you wanna see a collective group of people fall asleep with funny glasses on see this. <p><p> What's sad is that there is a great movie in here just trim 30 minutes off get rid of Sacha Baron I can't keep my characters silly accent straight Cohan, ex the dead dad gag and make Ben Kingsly some sort of mentor like it looked like they were going to do, then make it a big reveal at the end that he is Merlies. Don't have some history teacher sit you down and explain to you the history of Merlies life in the last 30 minutes of the film. That or just make a documentary of Merlies for PBS are some shit.
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:13 a.m. CST
Just make your kids sit down and watch
by Series7
TCM's Moguls and Stars, its the same history lesson without all the lame boring pretext.
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:14 a.m. CST
JohnFord'sMissing Eye and the "Vertigo"/"Shutter Island" Connection
by ChaunceyGardiner
JohnFord (or, your Missing Eye), the biggest connection that I see between the two is a thematic one. One of Hitchcock's major themes, besides the fear of wrongful incarceration, the fear of haveing to protect one's name against false accusation and blame, was that of Obsession. And personally, Hitch's films (for the most part) on the theme of Obsession are my favourites. They make up the core of what was truly breathtakeing and forward thinking in Hitchcock's especially deliberate approach to filmmakeing. "Suspicion," one of my all-time favourites, deals with a woman so obsessed and twisted by the idea that her kind and charming, though sometimes rougish and underhanded husband could be a murderer. What Hitch does that is remarkable to me is that he makes us see HER skewed view of reality, her subjective point of view. Now, this to me is incredible and you can watch Hitch a thousand times and never get that that is what made his films work: you are seeing a flawed reality, a personal fantasy that could or could not be real, and that the truth must be uncovered in order for there to be any sense of peace. It is a sort of nightmare situation that to some degree even leeches over into his "wrongly accused" pictures. The fear that one might be in the wrong as to what is actually occurring, that all is not known - this comprises the intense paranoia of Hitchcock's pictures and his special approach to the material. "Vertigo" itself is his most mature examination of that particular theme: it is almost like a Greek Tragedy in that a man's knowledge of the truth only makes him repeat the mistakes of the past. I love that you brought up the circular camera move, the swirling centre of the vortex that the protaginists find themselves within - this is something I had not previously connected between the two. What I do see between the two is the intense psychological atmosphere that prevades, the ensueing sense that everything is a dream and nothing is real and no one is to be trusted. This fear of loseing a gripe on things is what drives Scotty to confront Madeliene/Judy, to try to control what has plagued him for years: his fear of heights that made him an incomplete man, an incompetent lover, impotent to save the love of his life from her (supposed) demise at her own hand, and his tremendous guilt that he was helpless when he was needed most. Just when he is most in control, we find him a man not in control of what is most important: his emotions, his understanding of the external world around him that is larger than his own little sphere of pain and self-hate. Hitchcock had begun at that time to explore the idea of unreality in his films, a dream state that carries over into the lives of his characters and shrouding them in doubt and ineffectuality. They are cloaked within the mistakes and traumas of their past and inable to escape them, to shed that cloth. "Vertigo" and "Marnie" are the apexes of this visual theory - I first heard it mentioned reading a big tome on loneliness of the cinema and autre theory and the writer had just added a special afterword onto his piece on Kubrick after haveing seen "Eyes Wide Shut," and with its backlot city streets and controlled environments, its set-bound other reality, the critic painted it as an homage to "Marnie" with its dead streets ending in gigantic, looming matte painting of a massive, dreamlike shipyard that shadows and belittles all beneath it. This was the first time I'd ever heard of the film and it took me years to track it down - thank you TCM. (The fake horse in "Marnie" really threw me the first time I saw it but, boy howdy, if that picture didn't stay with me until I had to see it again and realize how ... unparallelled it is in the cinema arts). As DiCaprio's Detective Teddy Daniels nears what he wants the most, "blowing the lid off of this entire operation," the world around him becomes a mirror of his disconnected self. The unreality of things is almost too much to bear and the growing storm of his imagination paints the outer world in increaseingly exagerated tones of horror, darkness and fear. The lengths to which Scorsese moves to show us the hellishness of Teddy's inner world is what sets this film apart from other anti-climatic psycho-thrillers; and what is truly difficult is not knowing that it is all a charade, but knowing what and which is real and what and which is not unreal - there are several moments in his conversations with Chuck, specifically the swirling camera that you mentioned in the crypt, that I feel are fabricated and in fact not representative of reality. All this is represented visually by an increase in the use of matte paintings in the background, an increase in the brightness of lights and colours, and a barrage of violent dream images. These are all major parts of "Vertigo" (especially the intense detail to colour, how everything has an incandescent sheen to it). We can follow this in "Shutter Island" to one of its greatest moments, Teddy's final break with reality on the cliffs high above the sea, in which he parts with Chuck and sets off on his mad quest alone, never being able to believe anything he sees. This sequence especially reminds me of the chase across the Presidents' faces at Mt. Rushmore in "North by Northwest." (The trick is in the blues; Hitchcock loved contrasting intense, almost unrealistically lucid blues with the bright burning reds of dreams and real and imagined blood.) Scorsese took "Shutter Island" the furthest that any director could have taken that idea, and he frankly took my breath away. I also appreciate his attention to the plight of mental illness; even if it is a potboiler, I feel that it seriously investigates the always changeing, always shifting nightmare world of someone trapped seemingly hopelessly in the nighttime of his or her schizophrenia. A brilliant throwback, almost European thriller. (Both films, neo-noir, "Vertigo" and "Shutter Island.")
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:16 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
What did Ebert make up? And Harry obviously made a mistake with his Barrys. And it's spelled Méliès. Od did you just make that shit up?
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:23 a.m. CST
chaunceygardiner - I have much respect for you, sir
by Michael Lunney
Your analysis of Hitchcock is very well written. Quite astute observations. My hat is off to you with a deep bow. Loved Being There. Read it in one night in college.
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:26 a.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
TCM's Moguls and Stars was, indeed, a very well told history of film. Good recommendation. I LOVE film history so much, I could teach it.
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:26 a.m. CST
finally some rational people here- COOL!
by Michael Lunney
Nov. 22, 2011, 10:47 a.m. CST
Another tolerant Christian rears his hateful head
by Michael Lunney
Herman Cain Says He Was Relieved When Doctor Who Treated Him Was A Christian Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain on Friday said he was initially uncomfortable when assigned a surgeon with a foreign name. Cain expressed his concern during an appearance at the Holy Land Experience, a Biblically-themed amusement park in Orlando, telling the audience that a surgeon who had once treated him for cancer was named "Dr. Abdallah." "I said to his physician assistant, I said, 'That sounds foreign, not that I had anything against foreign doctors, but it sounded too foreign," said Cain to the audience, according to Yahoo! News. "She said, 'He's from Lebanon.' Oh, Lebanon! My mind immediately started thinking, wait a minute, maybe his religious persuasion is different than mine! She could see the look on my face and she said, 'Don't worry, Mr. Cain, he's a Christian from Lebanon." "Hallelujah!" said Cain. "Thank God!" Cain said in a recent GQ interview that he thought a majority of Muslims in America held "extremist views." In May, he said that he would not allow a Muslim to work in his cabinet because of "creeping Shariah law," but later apologized to Muslim leaders for his remarks. In October, he clarified his remarks on "The Tonight Show" by saying he would not "appoint a Jihadist" to his administration. One of the attractions at Holy Land Experience is: The Jesus Boat: Replica of a boat found in the Sea of Galilee, dating back to the time of Christ. You can find it right next to the Pit For Stoning Whores ride, to the left of the Gay Bash, held hourly, with free appetizers.
Nov. 22, 2011, 11:22 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Funny enough, the catholics were pretty cool about THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.
Nov. 22, 2011, 11:25 a.m. CST
asimovlives - You're naive about Christianity though
by The_Genteel_Gentile
And the movie is about Christ. I therefore should hope, based on your coments, that you are an athiest because your perspective would do a great disservice to believers. I's not even an insult, it's just a fact that you're not familar enough with scripture to understand all the little nuances that Last Tempation got so very wrong. You think you are, but everything you say is evidence that you don't. I've seen the film about four times, I've studied it intently. And no it's not the sex that bothers me in the least, I'm a protestant, we're not hung up about Christ being tempted to live and love - that's a strange Catholic issue with no basis. However LTOC defiles by changing every known character relationship and the actual meaning of many words and deeds. It's a perfervsion, and once again I'm not speaking at all about sex. That fact that Christ was tempted to live as a man is not offensive at all, it's something easily assumed through scripture. "...but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." (Hebrew 4:15) Christianity doesn't need an appologist. Any wrong that was perpetrated in the name of Christ was not of Christ and will be dealt with by God with much severely. Because to do evil in the name of God is what blasphemy is. "...But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:24) And sure there are plenty of idiots in every circle, including "faithheads", and that's a shame. Oh man you just go on and on don't you? You know by continuously referring to me as "fundie boy" you're an active persecutor of my faith. A person of conscience should not do that toward anyone. Yes you compared LTOC as being a superior use of language than TPOC, and went on about how POTC used a poetic version of aramaic that the common man wouldn't speak is as all complete hearsay and doesn't matter anyway because you don't speak ancient aramaic. Also they are bits of Hebrew, latin and I believe even Greek in the film, but the point is to present is as a visual tone poem using ancient language as a window inside that world. Well aware of Mel Gibson's catholism, and have plenty of respect for catholics although they are too hung up on pageantry with is in direct defiance of Christ wishes. Protestism is not a sect. Yjere's not ne fact about either movie that you can shed any more light on, I am very aware of who made them and what they profess, but unlike you I know what those professions of faith mean. Anyway, every word you utter is further proof of your lack of understanding in these matters.
Nov. 22, 2011, 11:51 a.m. CST
mcgootoo - I don't have time for you, I really don't
by The_Genteel_Gentile
but I don't hate Catholics, I have a difference of opinion with them about certain nuances. Also you don't seem to know the definition of "tolerance". It's not blind approval. I love catholics and see them as my brothers in Christ. I try to love all people even if we don't agree on specific spiritual matters. Those are the tenets of MY faith. I chose Christianity because I believe in its truths and the simplicity of those truths. I have great respects for all people of faith, or agnosticism. However I think it takes even more faith to have none and subscibe to athiesm, and that I do find most baffling. I think I already explains Christians are not subject to any less frailty than anyone else. I can get mad if I choose, I can insult if I choose, and I can chastise if I choose. If someone is acting like a childish brat then I have every right to call them on it. I could do much worse than that if I had wanted. But I'm a hypocrate because I choose to try and strive for an ideal? The fact that you went and dug up a quote of me speaking passionately about film and rebuking another mans slander doesn't really prove anything other than I can give it out as well as I take it it and I love cinema. And I don't recall ever claiming to be more righteaous than anyone else, only that I have more knowledge of specific areas just as I'm sure everyone has on another in some fashion. Bible quotes are a way of showing what I'm referring to. Now I think I've dealt with you much more fairly than you've dealt with me and never resorted to petty slander to express my opinion here. But if I had, then so be it, but I haven't, and of that I am satisfied.
Nov. 22, 2011, noon CST
the_genteel_gentile - NO ONE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU
by Michael Lunney
You say: I's not even an insult, it's just a fact that you're not familar enough with scripture to understand all the little nuances that Last Tempation got so very wrong. You think you are, but everything you say is evidence that you don't. It's just a fact.... hmmm. Judgmental creep. You know nothing as fact- you are a deluded creep who likes to quote instead of think. You are a really creepy shitstain on Christianinanity. How typical of you to be that which you condemn. HEY SHITHEAD, GIVE US JUST ONE, JUST ONE, OF THESE SO-CALLED NUANCES THAT LAST TEMPTATION GOT SO VERY WRONG. UNLIKE THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE INTO ENGLISH, WHICH DESTROYED ANY NUANCE OF THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. HYBERBOLIC ASSHOLE.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:03 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Anyone that is still using their brain and not on autopilot was cool with Last Temptation. and he had the gall to say about you: Oh man you just go on and on don't you? What an idiot Creepy_Jesus_dick_sucker is.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:04 p.m. CST
Looks like shithead is ignoring me - your turn ASI
by Michael Lunney
he waited until you said something- and then BOING- the serpent strikes again.... funny.....
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:05 p.m. CST
he's afraid to respond to me
by Michael Lunney
Because he can't handle the truth about himself.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:09 p.m. CST
speaking out of both sides of your mouth- Christians never do that, NEVER!! funny
by Michael Lunney
you say: Now I think I've dealt with you much more fairly than you've dealt with me and never resorted to petty slander to express my opinion here. But if I had, then so be it, but I haven't, and of that I am satisfied. I didn't but if I did - good. Asshole.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:36 p.m. CST
The real twist in Shutter Island is the tonal shift in the infanticide scene with his wife
by SiouxCitySarsaparilla
It works. The conspiracy plot is just a framework for the film to thematically explore the paranoia of the post-war culture. Before the resolution there's a segment where Leo wanders aimless around the island before the story symbolically spirals into nowhere up that staircase and realism breaks through. It's a film about popular escapism from real life. Real life is scarier, but visually the film captures the psychology really well.
Nov. 22, 2011, 12:38 p.m. CST
THere is more to Shutter Island than what appears on the surface, yes indeed
by Michael Lunney
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:26 p.m. CST
Everybody out of the building. Harry has a boner!
by Mike Myers
Close your eyes kids or you will turn to stone.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:36 p.m. CST
by Series7
Heheh I apologize for my bad spelling, I'm just lazy. But in Ebert's review he says that Hugo's Dad runs the clocks in the station. When in fact Hugo's dad runs a clock shop, it's his uncle he goes to live with after his dad dies that runs the clocks in the station.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:55 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
"I therefore should hope, based on your coments, that you are an athiest" Jesus christ, i have wrote that outloud in no uncertain terms about 5 times already. Kinda make it obvious, doesn't it? You don't have to presume, i said it already. Have you payed any attention? "I's not even an insult, it's just a fact that you're not familar enough with scripture to understand all the little nuances that Last Tempation got so very wrong." I don't need to know every single line in the scriptures to know the movie is not an exact telling of the gospels. Hell, the movie itself says that RIGHT AT THE INITIAL CRAWL. Right there at the start of the movie. Big fucking D'UUUHHHH!! Try watch the mnovie again, and notice the start, there's this clawl which is in fact a transcriopt form the prologue of the book, a direct quote from the author himself. Really, dude, you are pretty clueless, aren't you? You know what, it's better that i don't know the exact scriptures word for word. It prevents me from fucking up it's meaning and content and you fundies so like to do. You, who read it word for word, believing it without understanding the real historical and social background of the times, in this idiotic notion that if you follow word by word you get to the real bible, to it's real mening. Which you don't because you are reading a book writen by a different people froma different time froma different culture and writen in a different language. And you are reading a translation FROM ANCIENT GREEK, which is not even the original language of Jesus christ, which was fucking aramaic!!! The bible you have at your hands is greek translation from some original lost text in aramaic, then later INTERPRETED and translated into latin and then INTERPRETED and translated into english. Do you know any other language then your native english? Because if you did, you would udnerstand how much can be lost with a single translation. More then one and you have, by default, a corrupted text. Hell, evne the whole business of the virginity of Mary mother of Jesus is due to a mistrranslation of the word for maiden. From maiden (young female) to virgin and look at how it turned up! And that's hardly the only example. My favorite part of the new testement is how in the King James's Bible and the protestant bibles in general, they left the word Mammon untranslated, to the point a myth rose up that it's the name of a demon that plagues mankind. In fact, Mammon is aramic for "WEALTH". The passage reads "you can't serve two masters, you can't serve god and wealth". How convinient for the protestants that they left that out, so that, today, there's nobody more greedy then the fucking fundies! Bythe way, in case you ar not aware, the king james bible is not the only one. There's others, liek the catholicl orthodox, and the varios revised version, etc. So, you do not know the scruptures word by word, you know the words of ONE OF THE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. From right there, all your arguments based on quote from authority is flawed. How about that, biblehead man? You want to impress me? Use reason, not blind quotations from your favorite bronze age myth book.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:57 p.m. CST
"Christianity doesn't need an appologist." Then why the fuck there has been armies of those all through this last 2000 years?
by AsimovLives
In fact, christian appologetics is a branch of theology. It's even an official entity in the religion.
Nov. 22, 2011, 1:59 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
So, what have we got here this last two days? 1- Mega-asshole SW fanboys who are butt-hurt because Annie Hall won the oscar. 2- And ignorant bible quoting parrots who completly misunderstand the movie THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. This is a fun week!
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:01 p.m. CST
I really liked SHUTTER ISLAND.
by AsimovLives
I was suprisee by how much i enjoyed it. Before, i was not giving the movie much though, i though it would be a bust, just Scorsese wasting his time. Boy, how wrong i was. I'm so happy i was wrong about it. And the music of the movie, all based on already existing work, is pure brillance. Brillant score.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:02 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Ebert is an old man, he has that excuse. Harry, however, has no such excuses, i think.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:12 p.m. CST
remember when....
by jake rodgers
mcgootoo would launch into those stupid, long-winded LOST rants where he would post music lyrics to try and show how smart he was that he "got" the show and the payoff would blow everyone away?
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:19 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
I did have long winded rants about Lost, but music lyrics? You mistake me for someone else...
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:24 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
It is a fun week! I have the feeling that Creepy_Jesus_dick_sucker has not even seen Last Temptation. He has no specifics for what he didn't like about it, even though he says he STUDIED it 4 times, making him, in his mind, an expert on that movie. He is a fun man, but his mother hated him. And he knows it.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:27 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
And you are right - I was smart enough to get Lost, and the ending did blow people away- at least the ones who got it. Do you have a point, other than a feeble attempt at character assassination? Asi, I know you loathed Lost - like with Abrams Trek, we agree to disagree.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:29 p.m. CST
Asi- Come on! My whole point led up to Jar Jar Abrams Bashing. They're all wolves dressed in sheep's clothing!
by Darth_Kong
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:34 p.m. CST
no point
by jake rodgers
your take on religion just reminded me of your long-winded posts on LOST. same topic just about. and i'm pretty sure you posted lyrics of songs to try and prove some of the points that you were making about LOST.
Nov. 22, 2011, 2:54 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Wrong about lyrics. I like movies about Jesus too. He was an interesting historical figure Do you have a point? Lost was not only about religion.... the end did make sense
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:04 p.m. CST
Lost... what was the big deal about that show, anyway?
by AsimovLives
Never understood the hype about that thing.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:04 p.m. CST
When shows like ROME, CARNIVALE and DEADWOOD exists, who cares about Lost?
by AsimovLives
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:05 p.m. CST
What's so hard to get about Lost? They were inventing shit as they went along, no masterplan at all.
by AsimovLives
Whole seasons of ass pulls and a rushed ending.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:15 p.m. CST
again, no point
by jake rodgers
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:15 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Like I said, about Lost, we will just have to agree to disagree. If I know you well enough, you can respect that. We can be friends without being clones. My best friend of almost 45 years is a devout Christian and a libertarian, but we get together every Friday for movies. THis Friday he is taking me out for my birthday. He is a good man and a good friend, and has done much for me through the years. Friendship is more important to me than angered squabbles over differences, no matter how big or small those differeces may be. We will always disagree, but we will also always be friends.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:22 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Well, thanks!
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:25 p.m. CST
"a devout Christian and a libertarian" Jesus christ!!!
by AsimovLives
the dude has no idea how fortunate he is still having you as a friend. A devout Christian and a libertarian! Fucking hell!!
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:26 p.m. CST
A fundie that bashes THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST without ever watching it? Nothing new about that.
by AsimovLives
He's just one among the many. Nothing special.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:27 p.m. CST
All this talka boutA THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST makes me want to rewatch it again, from my Criterion Collection DVD.
by AsimovLives
Blessed are the Criterion Collection people, for theirs is the kingdom of good cinema.
Nov. 22, 2011, 3:47 p.m. CST
Carnivale and Rome are nowhere near the level of Deadwood
by SiouxCitySarsaparilla
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:07 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
A devout Christian and a libertarian! Fucking hell!! Fucking hell, indeed!!!! And again, about Lat Temptation, it is the only film about Jesus that I saw that put tears in my eyes - it was that effective. And to have protesters in my face after that experience ------ and of course, none of the people protesting saw it. It gave me emotional whiplash!!!! So many Christians..... so few lions....
Nov. 22, 2011, 4:16 p.m. CST
LOST was a great show
by D.Vader
There's a reason it had great hype.
Nov. 22, 2011, 5:46 p.m. CST
No one cares, Harry: hyperbole secretes from your pores...
by Bob Cryptonight
Jesus. Try a new tact... Your enthusiasm is so uninteresting...
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:01 p.m. CST
by Michael Lunney
Thank you for your info. No I can't prove you wrong, I was genuinely interested in the whys of such hatred toward Harry. I can see why people assume he is always a sellout for every movie he reviews, or at least question his integrity. I don't have any respect for that Godzilla mess he put himself in. I never base any decision to see a movie or not see a movie based on the reviews of his I read. His reviews are messy sometimes, so I can see why it is such fine sport to diss Harry every time he offers an opinion, which may or may not be tainted. Don't ask me why, but I find his messiness entertaining, just because of his perspective, I guess. Usually not boring as so many cookie cutter reviews are nowadays. I used to be a paid film reviewer for a newspaper. I understand the mistakes he made are big mistakes as far as his believability is concerned. I find it more sporting challenging other talkbackers here who have weird opinions on politics and religion. Much respect to you for responding. I now have greater understanding.
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:33 p.m. CST
"Thelma Schoonmaker's editing". For God's sake.
by Foucault
I do hope Ms Schoonmaker doesn't read this review, or she might suffer a stroke. :o
Nov. 22, 2011, 6:55 p.m. CST
Maxcherry... sounds like most talkbackers
by Mattman
Nov. 22, 2011, 8:23 p.m. CST
... Except for those characters that went out of their way to help each other
by D.Vader
You know, the whole motto "Live together, die alone," which became the group's mantra. Had you actually watched, Maxcherry, you'd have seen that.
Nov. 23, 2011, 2:17 a.m. CST
Harry falls madly, deeply & unreasonably in love with deep fried butter.
by cookepuss
Hey, everybody, a movie Harry did get a hefty envelope of lettuce for reviewing. Seriously though, I find it hard to take Harry's reviews seriously anymore. He just gushes so much he might as well switch careers and do porn. Get any deeper with that ass kissing and he might want to consider investing in a miner's hat and a caged canary. =) No more jokes. Just a little late night punchiness. Anyway, I get that Harry loves movies and that he's like the ultimate fanboy, but he has a bad habit of coming off a little bit like a crazed suck-up sometimes. We get it. You liked the movie. Dial back the hyperbole. It's sickening.
Nov. 23, 2011, 6:45 a.m. CST
96% on RT
by justmyluck
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hugo/ Guess I'll have to check this out earlier than planned.
Nov. 23, 2011, 9:25 a.m. CST
by NightArrows
Wow, so then you never watched any of it if that's what you think...
Nov. 23, 2011, 11:09 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
About Jesus movies, i have to say there are two other of those that i enjoyed as well. One such is THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Many consider it to be the best Jesus movie ever made, and with very good cause. It just might be the onbly Jesus movie in which both christians and atheists can enjoy without any clash over it whatsoever. Funny that the director himself was an homosexual atheist communist. But he dedicated the movie to Pope John XXIII, whose conciliatory ways toward all other religions and even non-believers inspired Pasolini. The other Jesus movie i ended up liking, much to my suprise, given the fame the movie has, was THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD. Don't laugh. contrary to all the other Jesus epics made before, i found it to be quite honest. Despite it's epic nature, it still feels like it's a personal story told but in a great canvas. It feels the filmmakers actually believed the movie they were making, and not just shelling cash from the easily impressed. And the multitude of stars in the movie doesn't bother or distract me in the slightest. Small wonder, Scorsese claimed to have been inspired by this two movies approach to the Jesus story in his own Jesus movie. But THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST is my personal favorite Jesus movie.
Nov. 23, 2011, 11:11 a.m. CST
by AsimovLives
All i saw was writers doing weekly ass pulls to advance the story, which kepy falling into narrative dead ends time and again. And irritating anoying characters who deserved death each and every one of them, and whose characterzation changed on the whims of the writers and needs of the plot. No, i was not impressed with LOST, and i yet to understand what the fuck was the big deal about it.
Nov. 23, 2011, 1:48 p.m. CST
by AsimovLives
Hype has little to do with quality, if at all. You know that.
Nov. 23, 2011, 10:57 p.m. CST
by Negator76
Interesting, I need to check out Pasolini's movie... Also, I'm not sure if Scorcese has admitted it, but I feel like 'Last Temptation' was intentionally, and really cleverly borrowing a lot of its tone and tenor from 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Nov. 24, 2011, 1:25 a.m. CST
Yep, when HUGO works, it's pretty great.
by justmyluck
Which is mostly in the last third. I found the leading kid miscast, and many of his emotional scenes fell flat. Borat was also doing a Monty Python *I know a dead parrot when I see one* accent, which also dragged his scenes to a halt. Yes, London is close, but having so many leads in Paris speaking English with British accents felt implausible. Beyond those issues, Scorsese has a real triumph, here. Like many great films, it holds you rapt near the end, and you don't get the full emotional resonance until it's over. The 3-D, as everyone is saying, is superb. Using CONVERGENCE PULLING and INTEROCULAR manipulation, along with framing each shot in LAYERS of fore, mid and back-ground, Scorcese's made the first feature film which demands viewing in 3-D. Period. Whether a vista, medium shot or close up, Scorsese maintains the same SPATIAL DEPTH. Is it mostly accurate 3-D, as far as the abilities of human vision? No. Does it maximize the potential of dimensional stereographic presentation to incredible result? Big yes. While HUGO somewhat fails as a childrens' entertainment, it's a worthy gateway for parents and children to have a discussion regarding the value of art in peoples' lives. You can't ask for more than that. SPOILERS Scorsese's passion for film restoration and archiving is exalted with some digitally restored and 3-D post-converted Méliès footage, which will hit any cineaste like a bolt of lightning. I really loved the last shot, which implies that while creators and artists try their best to capture life, and make it available for future generations as mechanical reproductions, it can still have a soul.
Nov. 24, 2011, 7:13 a.m. CST
Too bad it bombed.
by FluffyUnbound
I think they dropped the ball changing the title (the title isn't well known or anything, but at least it is more recognizably a children's film or fantasy with the full title). They also really messed up the promotion for this. And why open it against the Muppet movie? The marketing guys really failed this film.
Nov. 24, 2011, 6:35 p.m. CST
how is it a bomb?
by john
just opened
Nov. 24, 2011, 7:39 p.m. CST
the last great Marty movie was Casino
by chien_sale
and his last good good one was The Departed. He's been whoring himself ever since he first worked with Decrapio.
Nov. 24, 2011, 8:13 p.m. CST
Beautiful film. Amazing. Wonderful. Inspiring.
by antonphd
I make video games and sometimes I worry that one day I will grow up and lose my sense of imagination and fun and have to do something else for a living. Watching Martin make Hugo at his age has wiped away my worries. Growing older doesn't make you lose your imagination or your sense of fun. It just makes you better at expressing it. It adds depth and breadth to it. Thanks Martin. You made my thanksgiving day.
Nov. 26, 2011, 2:14 a.m. CST
This movie bored me to death.
by BirdieNumNum
I really wanted to like it and it is pretty to look at. It's message is loud and clear as well. But oh my god! I wanted to put a bullet in my head halfway through.
Nov. 26, 2011, 7:55 p.m. CST
Blame Shutter Island's problems on the novel
by sunwukong86
I think Scorsese did fine on it.
Nov. 27, 2011, 3:51 p.m. CST
Hugo is bombing, and bombing hard
by Cash907
15 million in five days, for a 250+ million dollar film, not including the massive (though absolute crap) PR campaign = a goddamn disaster. You could argue that this low number is due to the fact it's showing on far less screens than the competition, and it's per-screen average is actually higher than the Muppets, but averages don't mean a damn thing to the bottom line, and that's all studios care about. Hell, Twilight is pulling in 2 grand more in averages, and that's with lower, non 3D ticket prices. At this point, it's only chance at recouping it's budget is the foreign market, which should love it considering it's a 2 hour long blowjob for one of France's most loved cinema pioneers, but it's going to have a hard time competing with Tin Tin, so I'm not making any guesses on that one yet. Personally, I thought it was absolute shit 45 minutes in, and walked out. Went to the screen next door and caught The Muppets for the second time.
Nov. 27, 2011, 8:57 p.m. CST
I am with Harry on this one
by KevinMuller
The movie was an absolute delight to watch and shows how versatile Marty is as a director. It embraces it's French roots and succeeds on every level it tries for... one of the the best films of the year.
Nov. 27, 2011, 10:16 p.m. CST
by shawn_h
Nov. 27, 2011, 10:16 p.m. CST
by shawn_h
go stick your butt in a cooler and poop.
Dec. 6, 2011, 2:08 a.m. CST
Hasn't been a bigger bomb....
by ecto-cooler
.....since August 9, 1945
Dec. 11, 2011, 8:58 p.m. CST
BRAVO Indeed. Harry is not being hyperbolic this time.
by Autodidact
Just saw with my mom.. we both rank it as the best movie we've seen in years. I can't think of the last movie that got me so immersed. This movie allowed me to completely forget about the outside world. For a couple hours I only cared about the world of the movie. Thank you for that, Mr Scorsese!
Dec. 11, 2011, 10:33 p.m. CST
Just checked the numbers. It has bombed pretty hard. What a shame.
by Autodidact
I agree with those who say the marketing let this movie down. I have a hard time believing they spent $250 million on this movie although I guess there was a fuck-ton of CGI, big elaborate sets, and extras.
Dec. 14, 2011, 10:07 a.m. CST
This is the best movie I've seen all year
by kidicarus
I did not know movies like this could still be made. I avoid 3D at all costs, and I have to say that in this case the 3D immersed me in the film in a way that is not possible with 2D. The sets on this film are amazing and blows Avatar away in terms of spatial awareness.
Dec. 16, 2011, 8:03 p.m. CST
by secracium
i liked it, but i don't think it was an "instant classic" and a "masterpiece" as i've seen it heralded.
Dec. 25, 2011, 11:59 a.m. CST
Damn right Cash907
by DarthInfidel
What a disapointment! Okay the 3D works, and for some cinephiles its a love letter, but for the rest of us it comes off as tedious and pedantic. Scorcese should avoid sateing this warm and curious inner child. He should instead continue to explore his cruel sociopathic orphan within.
Jan. 13, 2012, 8:07 p.m. CST
Magical, amazing, fantastic movie!
by Sally Burnell
"Hugo" is the real deal, the whole package, everything I look for in a movie and more. It's also Martin Scorsese's love letter to the history of cinema and a great film that pays homage to both the past AND the future of film, from the earliest silents to the new 3D technology that makes movies like "Hugo" possible. It was funny, it was sad, it was suspenseful and it was also a movie about fixing what is broken, whether inside each of us or a physical object like the automaton. Each character in the movie is a little vignette, a little story within a story, of the denizens of Gare Montparnasse in Paris where the story takes place, ca. 1931. One moving little moment in the film comes when Gustave, the station inspector, finally meets Lisette, a pretty young woman who sells flowers in the station. Lisette tells Gustave that her brother was killed in "The Great War", which at that point has only been over for 13 years. Gustave, who is disabled by a bad leg, admits to Lisette that his disability is the result of a wound suffered in "The Great War". You can see that each of these characters has something broken inside of them that each can fix in each other. The admission of both of them that their lives were inextricably changed by the Great War and the brief looks of grief and sorrow that pass over their faces is a touching little moment in this wondrous movie. But this film also breathes life into earliest film history, as one of the characters, a cantankerous old man who runs a toy shop in the train station is revealed to be none other than the once great film pioneer Georges Méliès, who made hundreds of films that ended up being destroyed to make the heels of the boots worn by the French army in WWI. Turns out that some of them survived and we get to see some of them in "Hugo". This film is a loving tribute to those early pioneers of movie magic, and it's obvious to me that Scorsese still delights in what happens when the lights go down and the screen flickers with characters brought to life. I adored "Hugo" and now that it's disappeared from movie theatres, I eagerly await its release on DVD so I can see it again. And again. And again. That a Martin Scorsese film can uplift you and make you smile and feel like a kid again convinces me that this is his great big shiny Christmas gift to the film going public and a reminder to kids of all ages that there's still powerful magic to be found in the old silent movies of yesteryear. Thank you, Mr. Scorsese, for giving us this beautiful magical gift of a movie that is destined to become a new classic!
March 12, 2012, 8:37 a.m. CST
Honestly did not like it at all
by BilboRing
I think if it weren't for the fact that Scorcesse did it, the movie would have been given less praise. It was a chopped up story at best that did nothing for me. It was quite blah.
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