Re: The (very) Long Red Line


Subject: Re: The (very) Long Red Line
From: Steven Gabriel (sgabriel@willamette.edu)
Date: Tue Apr 04 2000 - 04:41:39 EDT


> 'In the midst of death we are in life' & the transcendence
> of beauty & the general goshness of everything could have
> been transmitted much more powerfully with a handful
> of tight, selected images than with these endless pictures
> of dappling water & waving palm fronds.

To me, this seems like saying, "Yeah, life is ok, but why's it so durn
long? I get the point already!" I'm glad to see films that have the
courage to portray an emotion instead of making a point, and I that's how
I like to think of Thin Red Line. I think in general, more money in films
has given directors the chance to run amok a bit though. Many authors
would do the same had they not a word counting editor holding them back
(or so I extrapolate from my own experiences).

The first cut of the Thin Red Line was 6 hours. I kinda wouldn't mind
seeing all 6 personally, though at some point I'm sure it would be too
much. I think it would be fair to say that long films exaggerate
reactions to a film. I don't understand anyone who can sit through
Titanic, I almost walked out of the theatre in exasperated boredom, but
obviously general opinion does not concur with me. In general, I prefer
longer, meaningful pieces more than most other folk, anything less smacks
of witticism or of being nothing more than an excuse for
punchline. Punchlines are obviously quite popular though. =)

P.S. Ewan McGregor as Zooey? Ack! His stint as a jedi just wasn't
enough to convince me that can play any character that isn't half
buffoon. Don't get me wrong, I really liked him in Trainspotting, I just
don't see him as a confident, worldy man bordering on sageliness.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
: Steven Gabriel -- sgabriel@willamette.edu :
: http://www.willamette.edu/~sgabriel :
:-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-:
: "Sitting quietly doing nothing, :
: Spring comes and the grass grows by itself." :
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