A Few Words About A few words about...™ The Right Stuff -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Richard Gallagher]

how do you fit that in a top ten list? I can't

I can't speak for RAH, of course, but he and I are pretty close in age so we may have similar perspectives. Those of us who grew up in the late fifties and sixties sat on the edges of our seats every time we watched a space launch on television. Each manned launch was front-page news, from Alan Shepard to John Glenn to the first moon landing. I was in seventh grade when Alan Shepard was launched into space. The teacher interrupted class and turned on the radio, and we sat holding our collective breaths until Shepard safely returned to Earth. NASA's success ironically led to many Americans becoming complacent and even indifferent about space exploration. The Right Stuff allows us to relive the excitement and uncertainty and hopefulness that existed during the early days of the space program.

I have no idea how old you are, but my memories of following the progress of the space program is one reason why I hold The Right Stuff in high regard.

 

[Mark Booth]

I empathize with those of you that miss the wonderful theaters of yesteryear. While there's a lot to be said for modern digital projection and stadium seating, there's also a lot to be said for a cavernous theater with red velvet curtains and a long sloping aisle.

If any of you are ever in San Diego, you might want to attend a showing at the Coronado Village Theater. The main theater only (#1), the other two theaters are much too small. The main theater has just 190 seats but they are stretched out over an area where many theaters would cram 400. To visit it is like stepping back in time!

Mark

 

[Rick Thompson]

The Right Stuff was, and still is, the best movie of that particular year. A great American film. I saw it first run in NYC, and as RAH describes it, the experience was quite impressive.
Could the satirical tone of the movie have hurt it at the box office? Chuck Yeager, I think, is the only one who comes out unscathed, the only one with "the right stuff."
I'm not overlooking the accomplishments and heroism of the others. But see how Kaufman introduces Yeager. It's how a myth is presented.

You're spot-on. Read what William Goldman, the original screenwriter, has to say in his book Adventures in the Screen Trade (Amazon has it) and you'll see why that happened.

 

[schan1269]

I was in high school when the shuttle blew up on takeoff.

Like many movies, this one is not held in great regard as a personal movie experience(which has much more to do with "sanitized for US consumption". Mainly the ridiculous assessment to go from an R to PG).

But I still care a great deal about the overall tact of the film and its treatment of goal. Good movie...just not one I've ever cared to own.

 

[Worth]

Like many movies, this one is not held in great regard as a personal movie experience(which has much more to do with "sanitized for US consumption". Mainly the ridiculous assessment to go from an R to PG).

An "R"? You think there should have been more sex and violence in The Right Stuff?

 

[schan1269]

An "R"? You think there should have been more sex and violence in The Right Stuff?

They removed an unseen, yet obvious what was going on, masturbation(which the one in Something About Mary is more "graphic". And that one makes the cut on network broadcast).

And a few f*ck.

The cuts would have resulted in a PG13 the next year(the first year of the "13").

But why? Really? An R for a "funny face and grunting"?

 

[David_B_K]

They removed an unseen, yet obvious what was going on, masturbation(which the one in Something About Mary is more "graphic". And that one makes the cut on network broadcast).

And a few f*ck.

The cuts would have resulted in a PG13 the next year(the first year of the "13").

But why? Really? An R for a "funny face and grunting"?

I, for one don't think the film is any the worse for the loss of a few f-words and a more graphic view of masturbation (if you're referring to the scene in the men's room stalls, it was obvious enough, IMO).

 

[schan1269]

Obvious enough and "neutering the director's intent" are two different things.

I've seen the cut footage of the bathroom stalls. After viewing it I was like..."that was R?"

IF this version came with both...theatrical and original R...it would be a purchase.

 

[Dave H]

I've never seen this film, but will definitely grab it on Blu.

 

[JohnMor]

They removed an unseen, yet obvious what was going on, masturbation(which the one in Something About Mary is more "graphic". And that one makes the cut on network broadcast).

And a few f*ck.

The cuts would have resulted in a PG13 the next year(the first year of the "13").

But why? Really? An R for a "funny face and grunting"?

See, this is what makes horse racing. To me, this was one of the stupidest scenes in the film and one that keeps it from being the perfect film others see. Even the staging of the scene is poor.

 

[schan1269]

So a scene relevant to being an astronaut is supposed to have grace and elegance...

 

[Bryan^H]

I like to think of my American heroes(astronauts) and respectable, well minded, individuals. Not ill-tempered, potty mouths that curse at the drop of a hat.

 

[Robert Harris]

My only gripe with this film is a technical one. Why did Philip Kaufman shoot this flat 1.85 instead of scope 2.35 ???

Possibly because of the number of interior aircraft and capsule shots.

 

[schan1269]

Having an Army helicopter mechanic as a girlfriend...

I care not how she speaks as long as her helicopters stay in the air...and I'm sure her pilots feel the same way.

I don't think Chuck was singing Kumbaya when he broke the sound barrier...

 

[Mark-P]

Possibly because of the number of interior aircraft and capsule shots.

Makes sense. For Top Gun they specifically chose Super35 over Panavision because the anamorphic lenses were too bulky for the aircraft mounts.

 

[PaulDA]

I like to think of my American heroes(astronauts) and respectable, well minded, individuals. Not ill-tempered, potty mouths that curse at the drop of a hat.

Well, that's fine (everyone is entitled to their preferences) but it is hardly representative of reality. The latter are far more common, even among the heroic.

 

[JohnMor]

So a scene relevant to being an astronaut is supposed to have grace and elegance...

No, not at all. But that was just stupid for an easy laugh. And the way Kaufman staged it with them standing right up against the stall doors makes zero sense. I'm sure it could have been lit and shot so that we saw their legs with their pants down around their ankles with them standing IN the stalls, not with their bodies right up against the stall doors.

 

[schan1269]

No, not at all. But that was just stupid for an easy laugh. And the way Kaufman staged it with them standing right up against the stall doors makes zero sense. I'm sure it could have been lit and shot so that we saw their legs with their pants down around their ankles with them standing IN the stalls, not with their bodies right up against the stall doors.

I'm going to throw out some movie quotes that have probably been used in many movies..."Thank you for joining us today as we ride along in a tube doing 600 miles an hour""Everything in here was made by the people who bid the least amount of money""This has never been done before, suit up"So if an astronaut chooses to watch anime habit* porn while yanking his junk...so be it.*And yes...I mean the nun outfit.

 

[JohnMor]

I'm going to throw out some movie quotes that have probably been used in many movies..."Thank you for joining us today as we ride along in a tube doing 600 miles an hour""Everything in here was made by the people who bid the least amount of money""This has never been done before, suit up"So if an astronaut chooses to watch anime habit* porn while yanking his junk...so be it.*And yes...I mean the nun outfit.

Sorry, but that may be the most nonsensical post I have ever seen. LOL. What does that have to do with the writing and staging of that scene?

 

[schan1269]

It shows how much further it could have gone. Do they really do this in a stall...or has it moved on to a room like at a clinic?The stuffy nurse plays into this. Besides, how else do you stage a scene for that?Invite the wife/gf in to do it for them?