moxie-7
Joined Jul 2004
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moxie-7's rating
There are, and always will be, differences of opinion about every movie. After reading the existing comments on this one I decided that one of the things causing those differences is the question of how many movies you've seen. I grew up in the 40s of the last century so I've seen an awful lot of movies. Maybe for that reason or maybe just because I'm a wacko, I tend to judge every movie at least partly for its relation to all the other movies I've seen.
Take "Buckaroo," for example. It came out in 1984 containing some elements suggested by "Dr. Strangelove" (1964) and "Superman II" (1980).On the other hand, its driving force shows up again in "Men In Black" (1997). "Sneakers" (1992) shamelessly copies one of its principal sets, the background of one of the characters, its technological McGuffin and one scene right down to the dialog. One line by John Bigboote is hilariously adapted in every single episode of the BBC comedy series "Keeping Up Appearances." Top that, "Citizen Kane!"
Take "Buckaroo," for example. It came out in 1984 containing some elements suggested by "Dr. Strangelove" (1964) and "Superman II" (1980).On the other hand, its driving force shows up again in "Men In Black" (1997). "Sneakers" (1992) shamelessly copies one of its principal sets, the background of one of the characters, its technological McGuffin and one scene right down to the dialog. One line by John Bigboote is hilariously adapted in every single episode of the BBC comedy series "Keeping Up Appearances." Top that, "Citizen Kane!"
I have done a lot of international travel, both on business and as a tourist. For both types I assure you the best advice is also the oldest: Always drink the wine of the country. In this movie the archangel Michael comes to Earth on business, wraps it up quickly and decides to hang around for a little touring. Boy! Does he "drink the wine of the country."
Could man be drunk forever with liquor, love and fights
He'd lief rise up of mornings and lief lie down of nights.
These are things you can't do in Heaven so he enjoys them while he's here! Of course it turns out he had a couple of other jobs to tackle and, if he is less direct about them than he was about the first one, he is just as successful. The final scene is a little schmaltzy but it is also wonderful. Jean Stapleton gets to dance with John Travolta.
Could man be drunk forever with liquor, love and fights
He'd lief rise up of mornings and lief lie down of nights.
These are things you can't do in Heaven so he enjoys them while he's here! Of course it turns out he had a couple of other jobs to tackle and, if he is less direct about them than he was about the first one, he is just as successful. The final scene is a little schmaltzy but it is also wonderful. Jean Stapleton gets to dance with John Travolta.
First of all, since so many of the prior comments contain factual errors - for example, the movie was NOT low budget; it was the most expensive movie Columbia had made up 'til then and even the IMDb cast list misspells Dr, Strike's name - I think I should apologize in advance for any I make. I have taken reasonable precautions: I read the novel and Capra's discussion of the movie in his autobiography and watched the movie again last night. Still, I am as error prone as the next man.
Secondly, since I completely disagree with the view expressed by most prior posters that this movie is about an inter-racial love affair, I should explain a few things. Most of the members of my family are married to members of another race and all of us were educated and have lived abroad so I may have missed an intended point. Too, my own experiences in Viet Nam may have warped my world view. Still, I see the picture as being about cultures rather than individuals.
To me the people represent their cultures - Megan the tough, determined yankee, Dr. Strike the idealistic missionary, Jones the hard nosed, eye on the bottom line, money grubber and Yen the sophisticated but ultimately undecipherable oriental. If I'm right, it's important that there are three Americans but only one Chinese. The movie presents a narrow view of an alien culture in order to see how that affects a more rounded view of America.
I could be wrong since my view is, to some extent, shaped by the novel and the movie, as is usual in these matters, differs significantly in its story line. If I'm right, however, it remains an important movie that says something important about the modern world. It can be seen as a warning against the ill informed interventionist policies that led to military disasters in Viet Nam, Somalia and Iraq.
In support of that view note that General Yen's first three lines are spoken in three different languages while Dr. Strike does not speak a single Chinese language. Note that while Megan is aghast at the thought of General Yen keeping a concubine, she accepts and connives at the girl's illicit affair with Captain Li. Note that the hard nosed Jones (his favorite line is, "Well, it's no skin off my nose.") ends up maudlin drunk. Note that the idealistic Dr. Strike disappears into unmourned insignificance. A warning for America's neo-cons? Naaah. After all, Yen is utterly destroyed.
Secondly, since I completely disagree with the view expressed by most prior posters that this movie is about an inter-racial love affair, I should explain a few things. Most of the members of my family are married to members of another race and all of us were educated and have lived abroad so I may have missed an intended point. Too, my own experiences in Viet Nam may have warped my world view. Still, I see the picture as being about cultures rather than individuals.
To me the people represent their cultures - Megan the tough, determined yankee, Dr. Strike the idealistic missionary, Jones the hard nosed, eye on the bottom line, money grubber and Yen the sophisticated but ultimately undecipherable oriental. If I'm right, it's important that there are three Americans but only one Chinese. The movie presents a narrow view of an alien culture in order to see how that affects a more rounded view of America.
I could be wrong since my view is, to some extent, shaped by the novel and the movie, as is usual in these matters, differs significantly in its story line. If I'm right, however, it remains an important movie that says something important about the modern world. It can be seen as a warning against the ill informed interventionist policies that led to military disasters in Viet Nam, Somalia and Iraq.
In support of that view note that General Yen's first three lines are spoken in three different languages while Dr. Strike does not speak a single Chinese language. Note that while Megan is aghast at the thought of General Yen keeping a concubine, she accepts and connives at the girl's illicit affair with Captain Li. Note that the hard nosed Jones (his favorite line is, "Well, it's no skin off my nose.") ends up maudlin drunk. Note that the idealistic Dr. Strike disappears into unmourned insignificance. A warning for America's neo-cons? Naaah. After all, Yen is utterly destroyed.