jholmstrom-1
Joined Aug 2004
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Reviews9
jholmstrom-1's rating
I just saw this on Ovation TV, a cable channel on TWC here in NYC. It's not a great film, it doesn't reveal any great truths about life blah blah blah, but what it does accomplish is to finally explain the truth about the Sex Pistols, for good and bad.
Director Alan Parker (who also appears in the film--and is not to be confused with the other Alan Parker, who made great mainstream films), is a lifelong Sex Pistols fan, archivist and expert. Along with Malcolm McLaren, Glen Matlock, Boogie (their road manager), and several other people who were close to the story, they explain the truth about how the Pistols formed, became famous, and flamed out. There's a mythology about the Sex Pistols that this film sets straight--at the same time, it never attempts to deny their greatness, it doesn't attack anyone in the band, it doesn't have an agenda. It mostly fills in some gaps in the Sex Pistols legend. Anyone who cares about punk rock, the Pistols, etc. has to see this. As much as I have always loved the band, I always wanted people to hear the truth! And this film is the truth about the Sex Pistols!
Director Alan Parker (who also appears in the film--and is not to be confused with the other Alan Parker, who made great mainstream films), is a lifelong Sex Pistols fan, archivist and expert. Along with Malcolm McLaren, Glen Matlock, Boogie (their road manager), and several other people who were close to the story, they explain the truth about how the Pistols formed, became famous, and flamed out. There's a mythology about the Sex Pistols that this film sets straight--at the same time, it never attempts to deny their greatness, it doesn't attack anyone in the band, it doesn't have an agenda. It mostly fills in some gaps in the Sex Pistols legend. Anyone who cares about punk rock, the Pistols, etc. has to see this. As much as I have always loved the band, I always wanted people to hear the truth! And this film is the truth about the Sex Pistols!
So many unrealistic scenes I won't bother with a "spoiler" about them. I'll just mention that all the CGI effects ruined the film for me. Nothing will ever beat the original King Kong for me, not even this big-budget, "big gorilla on steroids" remake.
There are a few good scenes and the recreation of 1930s New York City is good eye candy but none of the characters ever act like a human being. People make fun of the acting in the '33 film but these characters (all fine actors) are even worse. Paris Hilton would have been a better choice for the Fay Wray role so at least here'd be some logic to why the characters all act like they have no brains... The whole movie also tries to be too PC. Worst of all it's about an hour and a half too long (unlike the original Kong, which was a marvel of economic story- telling)...
Instead it's one silly scene that expects a complete suspension of disbelief after another until it becomes another orgy of CGI-effects with no end in sight.
There are a few good scenes and the recreation of 1930s New York City is good eye candy but none of the characters ever act like a human being. People make fun of the acting in the '33 film but these characters (all fine actors) are even worse. Paris Hilton would have been a better choice for the Fay Wray role so at least here'd be some logic to why the characters all act like they have no brains... The whole movie also tries to be too PC. Worst of all it's about an hour and a half too long (unlike the original Kong, which was a marvel of economic story- telling)...
Instead it's one silly scene that expects a complete suspension of disbelief after another until it becomes another orgy of CGI-effects with no end in sight.
I mean--just look at some of the piffle that's rated above "The Road Warrior:" "Batman Begins," "Magnolia," "Almost Famous," "Being John Malkovich," "American Beauty," both "Toy Story" films and "Monsters Inc." etc. Come on. There's no way that computer-generated child fare should be rated above the great accomplishments in film history. (And can anyone believe that every single one of those "Lord of the Rings" movies are rated above true film classics like the original "King Kong," "Citizen Kane," "Lawrence of Arabia," "Sunset Boulevard," "Metropolis," "Taxi Driver" and "Gone With the Wind?" (Which is only #158 on the list?) And "wizard of Oz" which is only #86?)
Sorry to digress, but my point has been made. There are a lot of good films missing from the list, many that don't belong, etc.
So why do I think "Road Warrior belongs in the Top 100 (at least)? Well, most great films are judged by several criteria (my own personal biases on display here, in the form of questions), such as:
1. Does the film create movie stars? Is there a role that puts a future superstar on the map? (Such as "Dazed and Confused," Taxi Driver," and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?") Certainly Mel Gibson is one of the mot important film actors (and producers) in the world. This role and this film in particular (along with "Gallipoli") created Mel Gibson's career.
2. Do other people involved in production end up making other great films? Well, let's see... The director made "Babe," which almost won the Oscar... And most of the other actors have enjoyed long careers (even though they're from Australia...)
3. Does the film contain an epic/classic sequence or scene? (Think the chariot sequence in "Ben-Hur," Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star at the end of the first "Star Wars," the car chase in "The French Connection," the scene between Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger in "On the Waterfront.") Certainly the car chase at the end of "The Road Warrior/Mad Max 2" fits the bill. This ranks among the list of all-time classic car chases. And there are many other eye-popping sequences.
4. Does it inspire other filmmakers? I'd have to guess that it did, since after "Road Warrior," every other futuristic film stole from it--notably "Blade Runner."
5. Does the film affect our society in some way? This movie focused a lot of attention on the film industry in Australia. Well, yeah, maybe we have to blame "Road Warrior" for everything from "Outback Jack" to Russell Crowe? But on the other hand, the recent use of Australian actors for so many film roles began with this film.
6. Another important aspect to this film is how it inspired punk fashion. The mohawk became more visible and acceptable, Gibson's leather outfit inspired punks to wear leather, and punk rock itself became more mainstream after this film.
"Influential, popular, important." These are the words given to great films. This is a great film and should be rescued from its reputation as being a "good Grade B film." It's much better and much more important than that.
Too many voters on IMDb miss the point when they vote for films. They vote for films they enjoy, rather than films that are important, influential AND popular. They are consumers, not film fanatics. Thus, we will soon see a sad phenomenon where Peter Jackson's "King Kong" is rated way above the original... What an abomination. Without the original, the homage would never exist. And I bet Peter Jackson (and every other filmmaker) would agree that the original should be listed first.
The voting criteria on this Website needs to change. IMDb is losing its credibility. Too many mediocre films are pushing great films off the "Top 250."
Let's work with the great people who run this website. I doubt they like this any better than true fans of film like ourselves. Let's begin by tanking the film ratings for these CGI- generated monstrosities. True film lovers, drive all bad films off the list by giving them a "1" rating. Film lovers, let's take back film history.
Sorry to digress, but my point has been made. There are a lot of good films missing from the list, many that don't belong, etc.
So why do I think "Road Warrior belongs in the Top 100 (at least)? Well, most great films are judged by several criteria (my own personal biases on display here, in the form of questions), such as:
1. Does the film create movie stars? Is there a role that puts a future superstar on the map? (Such as "Dazed and Confused," Taxi Driver," and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?") Certainly Mel Gibson is one of the mot important film actors (and producers) in the world. This role and this film in particular (along with "Gallipoli") created Mel Gibson's career.
2. Do other people involved in production end up making other great films? Well, let's see... The director made "Babe," which almost won the Oscar... And most of the other actors have enjoyed long careers (even though they're from Australia...)
3. Does the film contain an epic/classic sequence or scene? (Think the chariot sequence in "Ben-Hur," Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star at the end of the first "Star Wars," the car chase in "The French Connection," the scene between Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger in "On the Waterfront.") Certainly the car chase at the end of "The Road Warrior/Mad Max 2" fits the bill. This ranks among the list of all-time classic car chases. And there are many other eye-popping sequences.
4. Does it inspire other filmmakers? I'd have to guess that it did, since after "Road Warrior," every other futuristic film stole from it--notably "Blade Runner."
5. Does the film affect our society in some way? This movie focused a lot of attention on the film industry in Australia. Well, yeah, maybe we have to blame "Road Warrior" for everything from "Outback Jack" to Russell Crowe? But on the other hand, the recent use of Australian actors for so many film roles began with this film.
6. Another important aspect to this film is how it inspired punk fashion. The mohawk became more visible and acceptable, Gibson's leather outfit inspired punks to wear leather, and punk rock itself became more mainstream after this film.
"Influential, popular, important." These are the words given to great films. This is a great film and should be rescued from its reputation as being a "good Grade B film." It's much better and much more important than that.
Too many voters on IMDb miss the point when they vote for films. They vote for films they enjoy, rather than films that are important, influential AND popular. They are consumers, not film fanatics. Thus, we will soon see a sad phenomenon where Peter Jackson's "King Kong" is rated way above the original... What an abomination. Without the original, the homage would never exist. And I bet Peter Jackson (and every other filmmaker) would agree that the original should be listed first.
The voting criteria on this Website needs to change. IMDb is losing its credibility. Too many mediocre films are pushing great films off the "Top 250."
Let's work with the great people who run this website. I doubt they like this any better than true fans of film like ourselves. Let's begin by tanking the film ratings for these CGI- generated monstrosities. True film lovers, drive all bad films off the list by giving them a "1" rating. Film lovers, let's take back film history.