Printer-friendly copy Email this topic to a friend
Lobby Pass The Popcorn topic #240898

Subject: "I want to like this film, but I don't get it" This topic is locked.
Previous topic | Next topic
celery77
Member since Aug 04th 2005
25307 posts
Fri Dec-29-06 01:00 AM

Click to send email to this author Click to send private message to this authorClick to view this author's profileClick to add this author to your buddy list
20. "I want to like this film, but I don't get it"
In response to In response to 0


  

          

Other criticisms echo my own -- I seriously started this movie about 5 times before I finally finished because it drags so much, and that time I finally finished it was a major piece of will power. I'll admit I didn't re-watch it before I posted this, because I kept clamming up at the thought of going through with it again. I might do it before this sinks, but then again I just might not.

Basically, much of the film feels like a re-tread to me:

A bloated, distant beauracracy? WOW -- cutting, that satire there.
Invasive government police? IT'S LIKE HE CAN SEE THE FUTURE!
Modern living disrupting personal relationships? It's like he looked at art from the 1920s or something! Amazing!
Man dissatisfied with life finds revelation in revolutionary female love interest? What a totally unique romance!

I don't get the appeal -- I've read 1984, I've read the Brave New World, I've read Fahrenheit 451, I've seen Terry Gilliam's other pieces of whimsical fantasy, I've seen huge numbers of dystopian fantasies, and this one just doesn't click with me. It seriously lifts central elements from each of the works I just mentioned -- Big Brother from 1984, strict social hierarchy from Brave New World, revolutionary love interest from Fahrenheit 451, and all the art direction you know and love in every other Terry Gilliam film.

I mean, it's Gilliam so it has all the fingerprints of his talent, and as far as these dystopian things go, it hits all the notes and hits them rather predictably, but coming to it as basically the last of all the dystopian fictions I consumed, I'd have to say I'm pretty disappointed in it. Frankly, I'm hesitant to even class it as a sci-fi -- it's more just a cheesy fantasy with a non-descript time setting.

Still, given the paucity of sci-fi film which actually makes any effort to be something besides a space soap opera or an action movie with lasers, I suppose it's refreshing in that sense. Worth watching for serious film buffs to admire Terry Gilliam's handiwork, but nothing particularly ground-breaking in light of the huge number of other works which basically do what this film does, only better.

In the end, I'd rather watch Blade Runner again, then read a Brave New World and call it a day.

If a fan of the film could give a detailed analysis of exactly what works for them, I'd be curious to hear that. The art direction is pure Gilliam magic, I know that, but that story? How is it NOT one huge rip-off, and poorly paced at that?

___________

HOPE!
https://vine.co/v/i7JjIBL3Qix
https://vine.co/v/i7JtqEFwxDu

  

Printer-friendly copy


Okayplayer Movie Club: Brazil by Terry Gilliam [View all] , Frank Longo, Mon Dec-25-06 11:51 AM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
wens the deadline?
Dec 25th 2006
1
Brazil's in HD Thursday on UniversalHD
Dec 25th 2006
2
The HD version of this is like watching an ENTIRELY NEW FILM
Jan 01st 2007
28
Some HD screen captures here (link)
Jan 01st 2007
29
I will be discussing this one with ya'll.
Dec 25th 2006
3
This is in my Top 2 of favorite movies of all time
Dec 25th 2006
4
What's the 90 minute version like? I've only seen director's cut.
Dec 25th 2006
5
      A lot of the darker tones of the film are weakned quite a bit
Dec 26th 2006
9
okay... i'll gladly join in for this one
Dec 25th 2006
6
I can get down with this one. One of my all-time favorites...
Dec 26th 2006
7
Which cut? n/m
Dec 26th 2006
8
most overrated movie in the history of ever.
Dec 26th 2006
10
Care to explicate?
Dec 26th 2006
12
most overrated movie in the history of ever.
Dec 26th 2006
11
I really didn't care for this film
Dec 28th 2006
13
saw the director's cut...
Dec 28th 2006
14
DeNiro's most overlooked performance...
Dec 28th 2006
15
Overlooked? He was in one scene the whole movie
Dec 28th 2006
16
      you didn't even finish the movie!
Dec 28th 2006
17
           I didn't have to finish the movie to see that 4 minute scene.
Dec 29th 2006
21
                If you think Harry Tuttle's an insignificant role, you missed a LOT.
Dec 29th 2006
24
weird as fuck.. but good...
Dec 29th 2006
18
I like the direction more than I do the writing.
Dec 29th 2006
19
      I agree, there are a lot of memorable images in Brazil.
Dec 29th 2006
22
Okay, since no one else is talking, I'll retort the best that I can:
Dec 29th 2006
23
So okay, I read a lot of sci-fi in high school
Dec 30th 2006
25
Your points are incredibly valid, but I've still gotta say...
Jan 01st 2007
27
Like many films about postmodernity...
Dec 31st 2006
26
so, i FINALLY watched this for the first time. some thoughts
Jan 18th 2007
30
I'm still undecided on whether to watch this . . .
Jul 04th 2007
31
Watch it.
Jul 05th 2007
32

Lobby Pass The Popcorn topic #240898 Previous topic | Next topic
Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.25
Copyright © DCScripts.com