*** Official BAD BOYS II Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

Scott,
I think you overracted in this situation. Maybe, I have to see this film now with all the controversy as to what constitutes a good buddy action film.






Crawdaddy

 

[Robert Crawford]

After going to the 11:00 a.m. showing, I concur with Patrick's comments about the film. I thought it was an entertaining film, however, I can respect why others might not view it as such.





Crawdaddy

 

[Dick]

Michael Bay has no shame and no ambition. IMO he is the most talentless director in movie history. Ed Wood Jr. made highly entertaining movies that happened to be crap. Michael Bay makes dull, cliche, inept and totally unentertaining movies that also happen to be crap. I'll take PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE over BAD BOYS or PEARL HARBOR or THE ROCK or ARMIGEDDEN any day of the week. What is so pitiful is that this guy actually believes he is a skilled filmmaker... He is one of the most egomaniacal men I've ever heard speak in interviews... But his piece of shit is #1 at the box office now, so this doesn't seem to be an issue for the movie-going public.

 

[Nelson Au]

I saw this. I agree with the above poster regarding the sequence where the camera appears to be revolving around two rooms and paases through the doors on either end, that was kinda cool. But it was nothing but some interesting camera moves here and there. The rest was ho-hum typical stuff for this kind of film.

I can't help but wonder if the rumour is true that Michael Bay is John Frankenhiemer's son, legitimate or not, he must be cringing where ever he is since passing from this world.

Nelson

 

[KyleK]

According to a friend who works in the movie business, Michael Bay is "the only filmmaker who ever got anywhere by being a dick."

 

[Gruson]

I LOVED all of Bay's movies:

Pearl Harbor (2001)
Armageddon (1998)
Rock, The (1996)
Bad Boys (1995)

However, I felt Bad Boys 2 was just missing something....maybe the score. I loved Mark Mancina's score to the original and without the main theme, part 2 never got to the same level for me.

It was still pretty good, just not great like the others above.

 

[TheLongshot]

First, I'll post and say that I have no intention of seeing this film. I didn't think the first one was very good. The big mistake in the first one is that they casted these guys in the wrong roles. (Martin Lawrence is the married one? Will Smith is the player? Oh, c'mon!)

Mostly, I'm just going to talk about Michael Bay. I actually do think he's talented director. It is just that he's the poster boy for MTV directors gone wild (tho McG is catching up to him). Course, I only like one of his films ("The Rock"), mainly because he doesn't go hugely over the top, and gets some good performances from his actors. Both Armageddon and Pearl Harbor are too in love with themselves to really breath, the first being too silly, and the second being too schmaltzy.

It is why I was kinda disappointed that he brought this old retread out. It didn't really work the first time he did it...

Jason

 

[Jared_B]

I loved it - it was everything I hoped it would be. I go to movies to be entertained, and that is exactly what it delivered, in spades.

 

[EricW]

i hardly ever leave movies early (i think the only other time was Mortal Kombat 2) but i left early from this one. i suppose it was near the end, at the big shootout at the drug dealer's place in Costa Rica, when the guys had to go to "Plan C" but i just didn't see the point in staying. yes there were a few interesting shots, and Lawrence and Smith had a few good lines, but this was no Lethal Weapon.

i enjoyed Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and The Rock, but this movie just stretched the suspension of disbelief too much. and i just didn't find it that entertaining, even on a visceral level.

 

[Randall Dorr]

It's unlikely that I'll see Bad Boys II, but I'm glad it's out because it's given me a new sig.

 

[Paul_Scott]

haven't seen the movie, but on E&R the other night, they showed one scene with Gabrielle Union being confronted by Smith and Lawrence who were upset because she didn't let them in on some info...or something to that effect.
i noticed during the course of the scene, it had maybe 2 or three cuts (it was only a snippet of the full scene, maybe about 40 seconds).
medium shot (all actors in frame)
c/u
medium
c/u
etc.

problem was, the camera was circling the actors in every single cut.
this is Bays typical MO and i've seen it in every movie, and in promo material for movies i haven't seen.

i guess i'm just an old fogey, but to me, this is the camera (and by extension- the filmmaker) saying to me:
"we know you need constant visual stimulation to make it thru this obviously dumb dialouge/expostion scene...see, i'm actually doing you a favor!"
but what i interpret it as is:
someone waving bright and shiny things in my face as if i were a 3 year old that were quickly distracted.

i can't stand Bays movies because, apart from being quite stupid (not dumb, theres a difference),i find Bays "talents" as a storyteller to be highly patronizing and insulting.



but to each his own.

 

[Alex Spindler]

Actually one of my favorite "Bay" moments is in The Rock. Sean Connery is destroying SF in a Hummer and the camera is displaying this reckless driving by shaking nearly constantly. Then, in a rare moment of peace, he has a phone call come it. During this entire conversation, while nothing is being run over or destroyed, the camera continue to shake like a maniac. I take that as him winking at his own style.

Personally, I think he does it to exhaust you as the viewer. Even exposition is not a reason to take a visual breath. Which is one of the reasons I like most of his films.

 

[Paul_Scott]

ok, let me get this straight...
Connery plays a long suffering, unjustly imprisoned British Secret Service agent.
yet after taking advantage of an escape opportunity ( to bond with a child he obviously hasn't seen since he's been in prison/presumed dead).
being the wily ex-secret service agent how does he accomplish said meeting?

by engaging in a massively destructive, high visibility chase thru the crowded streets of a major city.
yeah...ok.
his character seemed pretty cool when he was using a quarter to break the window in the interrogation scene, but his brain pan obviously doesn't extend deep enough to try to be stealthy in his escape/re-union attempt.

not only that, but his character basically cops out on his initial set-up and is reduced in the end to a phony/contrived plot pawn good for the 'happy' ending.
if i was screwed over for a good portion of my life by a corrupt and unprincipled foreign government, kept away from my wife, not allowed to watch my child grow-
i'm pretty sure i wouldn't trust/help said government in a conflict with another "Man Of Honour" who is rising up and striking back against the same entity after putting up with the BS & lies too long.
if Connery was truly the bad-ass he was set-up to be in the interoggation scene, i would expect him to try to spirit his daughter away from that city a.s.a.p,
and let the corrupt government sleep in the bed it made.
but no- this is just a really 'stupid' action movie.

winking & nodding at your own shortcomings as a competent storyteller is no substitute for actually putting forth quality, witty work that remains faithful to its own characters & premise, imo.
it would be a ridiculous , overblown, but ultimately harmless j/o entertainment for fans of bright flashes, loud noises and hard men striking tough poses, but The Rock rapes some interesting and consequential themes in the service of providing the illusion of importance to one stupid testosto-porn scene after another.


just my opinion of course, but i really hate that movie...if you couldn't tell.

 

[Steve_Tk]

It's amazing when a movie like Bad Boys II stirs up so much controversy!

 

[Dean DeMass]

Count me in as another who enjoyed BB2. I loved the 1st one and liked this one even more. More action, more gore, and more comedy.

"Dan Marino should definitely buy this car, well not this one because I am about to fuck this one up."

-Dean-

 

[TheLongshot]

ok, let me get this straight...

Well, I can explain it in two words: He's Brittish.

Actually, his character gives me the impression that he's one who knows how to bide his time, to wait for the right opportunity.

Also, he comes across as generally a good guy, who wouldn't want the death of millions on his head.

While "The Rock" does strain belief a little bit, it is no more than your typical action movie, and probably a far cry better than Armageddon, which repeatably had me checking my brain at the door for all of the implausable things they wanted us to believe.

Jason

 

[Mark Hamilton]

I liked the first film, despite the fact that I despised the presense of Tea Leoni, who I feel is one of the most boring actresses in Hollywood.

Some friends and I tried to come up with a word to describe Bad Boys II, but failed miserably. My biggest complaint was the length, if anything, though some of the carnage seemed to be thrown in just because they had the money to do so, not because it was actually needed.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend the film was offensive, and clearly the huge audience that I saw it with didn't think it was offensive either. Perhaps the crowd, which was primarily in the low to mid-20s, and extremly diverse, is a little more used to, or familar with, the type of dialogue and humour incorporated into this film. The place erupted with laughter during the interrogation of Martin's daughter's date, for instance.

 

[Chris Rein]

Glad to see it at #1 this week...

Bring on the standard DVD release baby!

Then bring on the special edition DVD release...YES!

Oh yeah, then bring on the Superbit DVD release! Hell yeah!

Okay, COLUMBIA.....don't screw us over on this one please! Superbit Deluxe out the gate. Make up for that three ring circus you gave us earlier. And knowing Michael Bay now, and all the marketing that went into this flick, there are bound to be ASSLOADS of extras, HBO Specials, Behind the Scenes, outtakes, TRAILERS (ALTERNATE CAMERA ANGLES...REMEMBER THOSE!?!!?! - one of the main selling features for DVD back in 1997!) Hell, show Martin putting a big ass dent in the Ferrari. That would be nice!

Don't skimp on this one!

 

[Mark Hamilton]

I'v seen two 10:30pm showing of this movie this week and both were beyond packed.... this movie is going to have tremendous word-of-mouth I believe. I agree though, and hope Columbia puts together a Superbit Deluxe right from the start.

 

[Jeff Adams]

Well I have to say that I enjoyed this movie very much. It was some of the most entertainment I have had at the Theater this summer. Lots of action,shootouts,explosions,violence and laughs. Now don't get me wrong, this movie has a very thin plot line and it is a total turn your brain off, no need to analyze guilty pleasure popcorn flick, but that is exactly what I was expecting. And it delivered. It definately could have been shorter, there were some scenes that had no point at all and should have been on the dvd as deleted scenes. And I am with you guys, we better get a Superbit edition right out of the gates. There is no reason whatsoever to to not get it right the first time!