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• Aha, now we are communicating! John C. - Aussie 18:53:13 02/10/01 (3)
  In Reply to: Caramba!! posted by GL on February 10, 2001 at 18:32:26:

  No, the movie I was referring to was definitely Spanish - "To The limit" 1997. Now we have seen a couple or really rivetting Spanish movies but it is such a lottery that with no movie guides to assist, with limited time and with so many other good movies around we avoid attempting the Syanish variety. Mexican films shown here are few and far between but again, we have seen few we find interesting. Despite what you say, we find there are commonalities among films from countries. We find many Greek and Italian products tend to be rather male chauvenist with rather silly romantic, unbelievable plots. For sure not all are like this but too many to be bothered sitting through the first 30 mins to find out. To put it in better context the TV broadcaster I refer to transmits 14 foreign movies each week so one has to discriminate somehow.

  You make some valid comments about "Carrington" but the four of us who viewed it were not offended by the sex as it was an essential part of the film. Now my hat off to Emma Thompson, a brilliant Aussie actor and full agreement about the sound track. We find a sound track can turn us off (or on) a film very quickly and is often a valuable early insight as to the nature of what will follow.

  One excellent French 1992 film with a beautiful sound track is "The Accompanist" which I note that Malton only gives a mediocre rating to.

  One of the funniest and most satirical films seen by us in recent years is the French Canadian "Reality Show". By contrast we find all German attempts at comedy pathetic!

  John

  
  
  

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  • Gott in Himmel!! GL 04:57:57 02/11/01 (2)
    In Reply to: Aha, now we are communicating! posted by John C. - Aussie on February 10, 2001 at 18:53:13:

    Now the Germans are in for another generalisation !

    As for :

    "We find many Greek and Italian products tend to be rather male chauvenist with rather silly romantic, unbelievable plots"

    - something you could never accuse Hollywood of.

    (I apologise for the El Topo mix up- I thought your post was from today)

    I guess we could agree to disagree-

    You maintain that you can logically generalise about nationalities, I don't think it's necessary.

    I will see The Accompanist because of your positive comments about it.

    Ciao for now
    
    
    

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    • Re: Gott in Himmel!! John C. - Aussie 16:07:13 02/11/01 (1)
      In Reply to: Gott in Himmel!! posted by GL on February 11, 2001 at 04:57:57:

      Point taken. I guess our basic reason for such sweeping generalisations is that we have no guide to assist us sort out the wheat from the chaff with so many foreign movies. Your comment about Hollywood is apt. There is some dreadful rubbish coming out but with the aid of a couple of guides (Maltin & Martin who sometimes disagree as do we) it is possible to choose the very good ones.

      So, with the wealth of US, British & foreign movies available to choose from, we delineate in a most unscientific manner. We obviously miss some excellent Spanish, Italian etc movies but the upside of that is we do not waste time on those of questionable merit. Do you know of a movie guide or a net site (in English) that could assist?

      Caveat about "The Accompanyist" - it is quite slow but IMO the music makes it. You seem to like classical music as do we, but anyone who did not would quickly give up.

      Taste in movies is obviously extremely variable. Otherwise why would the studios produce such a variety, most of which my wife and I would condemn as either ordinary or crass but which others must obviously enjoy. We have tried to analyse what we admire but it is not easy. We look for -

      1. Convincing acting (makes the characters real and ones we can empathise with).

      2. An interesting story with some sort of point to it, not necessarily completely believable, but acted and produced so well that disbelief can be suspended.

      3. Well photographed, directed and produced.

      4. A nice soundtrack, preferrably classical music & definitely not raucous rock.

      And you?

      John

      
      
      

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      • We have been side-tracked !! GL 03:31:19 02/12/01 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Gott in Himmel!! posted by John C. - Aussie on February 11, 2001 at 16:07:13:

        I think I will post some of my favourite non-Hollywood films as a point for discussion shortly- we didn't get around to answering the original post !

        I agree with the criteria you listed for film quality- but I don't mind which genre of music, most people underestimate the emotional impact a soundtrack can have - most directors certainly don't.

        I wish there was a movie guide on the internet for non- mainstream film lovers- but I haven't found one yet.

        Regards-

        George
        
        

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