You wouldn't like me when I'm Ang Lee...
Dan
Films that are not bad enough to be good. Page 4
Ooh nice pun Hulkster.
Quote: chipolata @ June 6 2011, 1:00 PM BSTAs a viewer I'm interested in believability rather than realism. I have no idea whether The Hurt Locker was realistic or not, but for me at least it was believable.
Yes, but that's the problem, most people seemed to think it was "believable" which just goes to show how badly made most war films are.
It actually worries me that the majority of people watch "The Hurt Locker" and go "Oh yes, that's exactly what it's like being a soldier in Iraq" when actually it's just as realistic as "Lethal Weapon" is to real life policing.
Watch the opening 20-25 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" and you're immediately in the action but you are also aware from things said by the characters, that although the troops are running out into chaos they've had training and are aware of what their job is, even under the most intense pressure they, eventually, rally and adapt to the plans which have all gone to shit. There's no "hero" who is bulletproof and effects some sort of "Deus Ex Machina" end to the battle.
None of the troops are shown as pathological adrenaline junkies who are "renegades", just young men who despite being terrified do what they've been trained to do, this is an accurate dramatic portrayal of bravery under fire and what it's like to be in such an intense situation.
Quote: sootyj @ June 6 2011, 1:33 PM BSTOoh nice pun Hulkster.
It's entirely Stewart Lee's...
Dan
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 6 2011, 1:34 PM BSTYes, but that's the problem, most people seemed to think it was "believable"
To be fair, you can't 'think' something is believable.
You either believe it or you don't.
Carrying a viewer with you through a story is the job of a writer/film maker.
Even if it's about a talking clown fish who's lost his son.
Highly innaccurate, but totally believable.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 6 2011, 2:20 PM BSTTo be fair, you can't 'think' something is believable.
You either believe it or you don't.
Carrying a viewer with you through a story is the job of a writer/film maker.
Even if it's about a talking clown fish who's lost his son.
Highly innaccurate, but totally believable.
Okay, one nil to you on the semantics. 
I agree though, "Finding Nemo" is a brilliant film, partly because all the characters are believable and are consistent in their motivations and actions, something which I found lacking in "Hurt Locker".
Considering some of the shenanigans soldiers have got up to in recent wars, adrenalin junkie is quite a nice thing to be accused of.
Quote: chipolata @ June 6 2011, 2:28 PM BSTConsidering some of the shenanigans soldiers have got up to in recent wars, adrenalin junkie is quite a nice thing to be accused of.
As opposed to all those immaculately well behaved soldiers throughout history?
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 6 2011, 2:23 PM BSTI agree though, "Finding Nemo" is a brilliant film, partly because all the characters are believable and are consistent in their motivations and actions, something which I found lacking in "Hurt Locker".
Agreed. If you didn't 'buy' the story then, for you, as a film it failed.
But you'd have to acknowledge that it's probably down to the fact that you have specialized , specific knowledge of the subject matter that it failed to convince.
I have a similar problem with every film/program set in the world of advertising.
The portrayal of the way the business works and the cliches employed makes the thing unwatchable - however brilliant the story.
But I wouldn't mark it down for being unrealistic - it's what the general viewer 'believes' advertising to be like and the film maker is only playing to that archetype.
Having said all that, my main problem with 'Hurt Locker' was I just didn't like the guy - so found it very hard to care.
Jaws 4 and the Swarm.
Quote: Lazzard @ June 6 2011, 3:39 PM BSTAgreed. If you didn't 'buy' the story then, for you, as a film it failed.
But you'd have to acknowledge that it's probably down to the fact that you have specialized , specific knowledge of the subject matter that it failed to convince.I have a similar problem with every film/program set in the world of advertising.
The portrayal of the way the business works and the cliches employed makes the thing unwatchable - however brilliant the story.But I wouldn't mark it down for being unrealistic - it's what the general viewer 'believes' advertising to be like and the film maker is only playing to that archetype.
Having said all that, my main problem with 'Hurt Locker' was I just didn't like the guy - so found it very hard to care.
It seems that ignorance is bliss then, certainly for film makers.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 6 2011, 5:29 PM BSTIt seems that ignorance is bliss then, certainly for film makers.
I don't know if that's always true as the example you gave, Saving Private Ryan, seems more realistic to me and is the far better film. But no doubt the flaws in The Hurt Locker aren't so apparent to me so I can enjoy it more than someone who lived it, or knows people who did.
I always cringe when I see hackers in films for similar reasons. In fact Swordfish can be added to the list of utter shite.
Anyway, perhaps a more realistic interpretation of a bomb disposal unit could be waiting out there? Wasn't there a TV series along similar lines years ago? Yep, just found it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_UXB a more of the same with Danger IED?
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 6 2011, 2:37 PM BSTAs opposed to all those immaculately well behaved soldiers throughout history?
Well, we were talking about the Iraq war. Hence my mentioning recent wars. And I think you're being a bit touchy. Hurt Locker's a good little film. And frankly, I don't find it at all unrealistic that an adrenilin junkie might join the military. God knows, the services are full of far worse unbalanced nutballs.
I've a feeling that this, https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/ied/ will be a much better representation of Army Bomb Disposal than "The Hurt Locker".
I'm not a hacker or particularly computer literate, but even I can see that "Swordfish", "The Net" and "Hackers" are rubbish in their representation of computer experts and use.
Quote: chipolata @ June 6 2011, 5:47 PM BSTWell, we were talking about the Iraq war. Hence my mentioning recent wars. And I think you're being a bit touchy. Hurt Locker's a good little film. And frankly, I don't find it at all unrealistic that an adrenilin junkie might join the military. God knows, the services are full of far worse unbalanced nutballs.
Really? You see this isn't my experience at all. Yes, people join the military to get excitement but 99% of the time they are highly disciplined and follow orders and regulations to the letter because if they don't they, or one of their buddies will most likely die or be hideously maimed.
I'm not going to pretend that some soldiers haven't done some horrendous things in Iraq and Afghanistan, but compared to soldiers throughout history I would say that today's breed are the most disciplined, well trained and generally humane that there has ever been (that's not to say that there isn't room for improvement and atrocities and war crimes do still happen).
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 6 2011, 5:50 PM BST"The Net" and "Hackers" are rubbish
The Net features Sandra Bullock in a bikini, Hackers feature Angelina Jolie looking pretty fine.
Rubbish? Tony, how can you post such hurtful things?