tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post879270285636663320..comments2024-03-18T08:37:58.740-04:00Comments on TEA TO POUR: SpielbergfestAaron C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696459385623802961noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-89466438891340006222012-01-31T00:40:32.566-05:002012-01-31T00:40:32.566-05:00I'm super-amazed that we agree on this ;) Yay,...I'm super-amazed that we agree on this ;) Yay, Tintin!Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-38982030391337858542012-01-30T16:13:25.637-05:002012-01-30T16:13:25.637-05:00I totally agree! I think I have realized that I li...I totally agree! I think I have realized that I like Spielberg's films a lot more when they really are children's films. But I enjoyed <i>Tintin</i> enormously.Aaron C. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696459385623802961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-52871685385589851282012-01-30T12:23:37.020-05:002012-01-30T12:23:37.020-05:00I kind of loved Tintin, and a good deal (most) of ...I kind of loved Tintin, and a good deal (most) of it is because of Spielberg's direction.Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-45808908468767069052012-01-29T02:06:26.569-05:002012-01-29T02:06:26.569-05:00Just so we're clear: I did *not* like War Hors...Just so we're clear: I did *not* like War Horse. Even if I did defend him a little bit.<br /><br />And: I'm seeing Tintin tomorrow (er, today). Will let you know :)Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-44562753380930965212012-01-29T01:25:32.607-05:002012-01-29T01:25:32.607-05:00The ironic thing is that when you see Tintin you&#...The ironic thing is that when you see <i>Tintin</i> you're not gonna like it and then <i>I</i> will be the one defending him.Aaron C. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696459385623802961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-25979120722579533852012-01-29T01:23:14.940-05:002012-01-29T01:23:14.940-05:00I'm not defending him! I'm just attached t...I'm not defending him! I'm just attached to the damn horse.<br /><br />I think we want to blame Spielberg for the book/script's inherent problems. And though he *certainly* doesn't do anything to fix those issues, he doesn't make them any more manipulative/messy than they already are (the play takes the same dramatic shift in tone). I actually think this is fairly restrained from what he could have done, directorally, to make it even more sentimental. <br /><br />I just defended him. Ahahahahaha. I don't know why I'm doing that. I must be delirious.Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-91350673351900112012012-01-29T01:11:04.746-05:002012-01-29T01:11:04.746-05:00I haven't the foggiest idea why you're def...I haven't the foggiest idea why you're defending him. The entire comic tone set by that goose (does one really refer to 5 of them as "gooses" but 8 of them as "geese"? because if so, that is absurd) sets up a certain level of expectation for the film, as though I should get ready for a children's movie <i>à la National Velvet.</i> And I love a good children's movie about horses as much as the next lover of equines, but don't tell me we're watching an earnest but fun-loving kids' movie about horses for the first 30 minutes and run me through No Man's Land.<br /><br /><i>Why are you defending him?</i> Hahahaha.Aaron C. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696459385623802961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-16479256949165890122012-01-29T00:52:42.375-05:002012-01-29T00:52:42.375-05:00Yes, it's frustrating. It's frustrating to...Yes, it's frustrating. It's frustrating to have to follow two-dimensional characters when all I want to follow is the horse. You are correct in that it would be MUCH more interesting had it been told from the horse's perspective (which, I believe, is what the actual novel does?). Alas... <br /><br />goose [goos] Show IPA noun, plural geese for 1, 2, 4, 8, 11; goos·es for 5–7; verb, goosed, goos·ing.<br />noun<br />1. any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genera Anser and Branta, **most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.**<br /><br />Also: the goose is in the play (and I'm assuming the book) with the same comic bits. So you can't give The Spielberg full credit/blame there.Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-85332716220807569922012-01-29T00:31:15.746-05:002012-01-29T00:31:15.746-05:00Of course you are correct that the movie needs to ...Of course you are correct that the movie <i>needs</i> to leave behind its characters. I understand the narrative necessity of this, but I found it, nevertheless, frustrating. It is annoying to begin to develop relationships with characters only to leave them behind. <i>And</i> the film doesn't do enough to get us to develop a relationship with the horse; <i>War Horse</i> could, for example, have been told from the horse's perspective, but it isn't. Instead it focuses on that little girl and David Kross and every other damn person.<br /><br />That whole barbed wire part is great, but everything else...<br /><br />(Also: a goose is basically just a fat duck, isn't it? And how do <i>you</i> know it's a goose. I thought I was watching <i>Babe III: Pig in the Trenches.</i>)Aaron C. Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696459385623802961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731492395426208086.post-90214467552619764922012-01-29T00:20:36.370-05:002012-01-29T00:20:36.370-05:00It's a goose, Aaron. A GOOSE.
And I hate to d...It's a goose, Aaron. A GOOSE.<br /><br />And I hate to defend it because it IS a bad film, but: The characters get left behind, because it's not about them. It's called War HORSE for a reason, after all. Who cares about the people when you have that amazing horse? Just as in the play, I wanted the people to shut the fuck up and for the focus to go back to Joey. And let's be real: that horse is the best actor in the film.<br /><br />That horse. That god damn horse. Ploughing, running, tangling in the barbed wire, nuzzling TopThorn. Uugghhh, horse stories. I weep every god damn time, Spielberg or no Spielberg.Juliehttp://criticalconfabulations.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com