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RE: Another cookie-cutter crap Hollywood "war" movie from the creator of SPR?

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In Reply to: RE: Another cookie-cutter crap Hollywood "war" movie from the creator of SPR? posted by Victor Khomenko on March 16, 2010 at 13:07:55

I'll reserve judgement on Pacific until more of it plays out-let's say its beginning was inauspicious. Yes, Private Ryan was particularly cloying after the Omaha Beach opening, which had a visceral effect on everyone I know who saw that in the theater.
Band of Brothers may have started slowly and had a few made for tv moments, but it got better and more realistic as the episodes unraveled and had my father (a WW2 vet) and I fully involved by episode 4. The opening narrations by the vets whose stories were depicted coupled with some great acting by relative unknowns made most of the series very compelling.
There were also some great sets and realistic battle scenes--especially Bastogne. I would term it the best modern day dramatic depiction of that portion of the War. My father concurred. Kudos to the actors who played the two officer leads and to the way the concentration camp discovery episode was done.
I think watching just an episode or two of B.O.B would not be representative of the arc of what they accomplished by the final episode. That is why I am willing to hang in there and see what becomes of the Pacific. Had I judged Schindler's List after the first twenty minutes I'd have panned that film but felt differently at the end.
Just like judging equipment, it pays to wait for some break in... :o)
Regards,
Grant

Edits: 03/17/10 03/17/10

Follow Ups:

One can tell Fellini from the first few frames. So one can tell Spielberg - Victor Khomenko 08:30:42 03/18/10 (2)
The second I switched to Pacific it was immediately recognizable, unmistakable Spielberg, it was SPR all over again. It really IS a cookie cutter, as the only difference seems to be the enemy uniforms and some scenery. Spielberg has very recognizable style, which I hate, but someone might like, and he is not trying, or is unable to change it, or even to cover it.

As far as the SPR - I was totally unimpressed with the Omaha Beach scene. To me it was at the level of the Jaws or Friday the 13th. Essentially Spielberg paints like a six-year-old... OK, maybe a fifteen year old... he's got some basic skills, but he doesn't yet have anything to say. And at his age one does not expect anything new from him, he is not that kind of a director. Peter's principle is working, after all, and Spielberg has reached his level of incompetence.
- the critic's table is set then - Grant 17:23:43 03/20/10 (1)
  You obviously have more discerning taste and an evolved palette for cinema and realism in war and drama than I. Maybe I consumed too much tabloid tv as a child, making me unable to judge a quality war drama from Gilligan's Island when I see them.
  
  Please give me a table of comparison. What are the superior war dramas that make B.O.B look so cookie-cutter like? Best Years Of Our Lives? Tora Tora? At least, let's say compared to the "two episodes" of B.O.B you actually sat through.
  
  I won't pursue the fools errand of defending Spielberg as a great director, but I am not so biased that I can ignore some of his craft and deft touches in Schindler's List and B.O.B. Sure, I prefer other filmaker's body of work and I can agree with most of your criticisms, but I thought most of B.O.B was well directed, well acted and had some very realistic moments.
  
  The fact that my father and other WW 2 vets were impressed including those who contributed the detail for the series tells me they did some things well. I know it was not perfect and yes, there may have been a SPR moment or two that I was able to put up with for some of the more compelling moments and solid acting performances.
  
  Spielberg may have many or all of the flaws you list, but there is more to him and his films than just his foibles. Some of what I liked about Schindler's List was in B.O.B and I hope it shows up in some of the Pacific. If not, I'll rank it accordingly.
  
  BTW, I liked Jaws because of Dreyfuss, Schieder and Shaw yet acknowledge it was gratuitous and full of ham-handed schlock-- so maybe I am easily entertained after all. At 16, I was just glad to have a seat in the theater for that! :o)
  - There is a war films discussion down below - Victor Khomenko 07:51:52 03/22/10 (0)
    You will find many fine choices there.
    
    Spielberg I put in the category of very skillful artisans, I am not denying his technical skills, but he is not, in my mind, a great director. And BOB I thought was below even his limited directing skill. The man lost all his taste with that film, moving to the Dark Side of CGI at the expense of everything else. Today we have film after film staking its success on CGI, and having not much else to show for it... perhaps the worst one being the Spartacus... of which I made an effort of seeing a couple of episodes.
Nicely said. nt - Daryl Zero 08:02:25 03/18/10 (0)
dd

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