Michael Mann's MIAMI VICE (merged) - Page 9

JayMacey · 07-30-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent M

Clearly you need to see more movies then.

With all due respect, I really don't need to see more movies. I'm averaging one dvd a day, in addition to the 2 or 3 I see weekly in the theater.

Which just proves my point of how bad of a movie it is. IN FACT, I was so bored by the movie that I counted the 12 people (4 couples, 1 solo & 1 group of 3) that WALKED OUT!!! Not only have I NEVER seen that many people literally walk out of a movie, but others here are saying the same thing all over the country. ***NOT*** a good thing.

I also chuckeld when the audience would collectively *LAUGH* at the bad dialogue. AGAIN - not a good thing!

zomgjon · 07-30-2006, 03:22 PM

I'm a little surprised at the substandard reviews....Regardless, i will reserve judgement till i get to see it myself.

Chuck Mayer · 07-30-2006, 03:49 PM

I loved it. It was exactly the film the trailers and Mann's pedigree promised.

Incredible shot composition, excellent drama, and brilliant action sequences.

Just a stunning accomplishment. Every dime is on-screen, and not in CG effects or $20M salaries.

Just a beautiful film.

9.5/10,
Chuck

Brent M · 07-30-2006, 03:55 PM

Jay,

People walk out of movies all the time. For example, there are reports everywhere of people walking out of Clerks II because it's too raunchy. It just shows how stupid they are if they don't know what to expect when going into a movie in the first place. No offense, but no matter how bad you thought Miami Vice was I guarantee it wasn't as bad as Battlefield Earth, Deuce Bigolo: European Gigolo, Gigli, Catwoman, Basic Instinct 2, Eye of the Beholder, From Justin to Kelly, Glitter, Batman and Robin.................should I go on?

Chuck Mayer · 07-30-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan V

If this was Michael Bay, Tony Scott, or even Jim Cameron, I'd be with you all the way.

...

And so on. As with any type of filmmaking, this approach will appeal to some more than others. All I know is that it personally knocks me flat.

I disagree with the first part. Jim Cameron is not the talent Mann is...but he is as much a perfectionist as Mann, even in the script department. He always writes his characters well. Cameron doesn't belong lumped in with the other two (and hell, Scott doesn't deserve that either

).

But your last point, that I completely agree with

You and others have already covered it, but Mann makes all of these decisions intentionally and with purpose. Whether or not Crockett and Tubbs actions were unlikely, they were not impossible, and even somewhat believable within the context.

Another point that astonished me was the violence. Just immediate, gritty, and brutal to watch. Some of the best action scenes I have seen in some time, but far more realistic than most.

I loved the style, the vistas Mann captured. I don't need time to think about the movie. It grabbed me early on, and simply got better for me as it went. That includes the relationships (I agree Crockett and Tubbs needed a little more). It *felt* as dangerous as it must be.

In a fairly soft summer (I liked what I've seen, but I haven't seen much...not a lot of interest), Vice stands out as fresh and invigorating.

Kachi Khatri · 07-30-2006, 05:20 PM

This movie is not for everyone, either you like it or not. Yes, there is no coherent story/plot and I can see why. This what I see is based on a rotuine mission and this is what Mann portrays. It is complex and muddled but that's the way how this genre plays out.

There are some flaws, but they do not bother me much. The movies does deliver relentless hard-hitting drama. The action set pieces are powerfully staged. The other thing of beauty is the visually stunning photography, even the sublte things like brief lightening/thunder makes it amazing.

Most of the major characters were pretty well drawn out, though Foxx was bit underused. There is some witty dialogue from him. The crux of the story seemed more on Farell. One of the drug lords, Ortiz was joy to watch. He just ozzes some cool menace. Gong Li was painful to listen to but otherwise was ok.

The cliches which we normally hear about movies being style over substance is not the case here. It's difficult to explain but this movie has substance but is delivered with the sytle based on substance.

4.5/5

Chris Atkins · 07-30-2006, 08:07 PM

Chuck:

I take it you will definitely be up for another viewing with me next weekend?

Chuck Mayer · 07-30-2006, 08:13 PM

In a heartbeat, Chris

I really dug it, at a lot of levels.

ThomasC · 07-30-2006, 08:26 PM

I haven't seen the TV show and only saw trailers for the movie, and I definitely got something different than I expected. I got one hell of a slow movie. I didn't have a problem with that, but I guess the snoring guy in my row did. I had trouble understanding probably half of the dialogue (either the center channel was turned down too low or it's my ears), so I'll give it another try with subtitles once it arrives on DVD.

ThomasC · 07-30-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent M

Jay,

People walk out of movies all the time. For example, there are reports everywhere of people walking out of Clerks II because it's too raunchy. It just shows how stupid they are if they don't know what to expect when going into a movie in the first place. No offense, but no matter how bad you thought Miami Vice was I guarantee it wasn't as bad as Battlefield Earth, Deuce Bigolo: European Gigolo, Gigli, Catwoman, Basic Instinct 2, Eye of the Beholder, From Justin to Kelly, Glitter, Batman and Robin.................should I go on?

To some people, slow = bad. I think Mann's films are more for film aficionados, especially Miami Vice.

Nathan V · 07-30-2006, 09:45 PM

I hear you, Chuck. I have a lot of respect for Cameron, Tony (I was one of 5 people to like Man on Fire and Domino), and even Bay at times, but I think Mann is on such a vastly superior plane that he makes the others seem like much lesser filmmakers in comparison, despite their often considerable skill.

The movie has a way of lingering in your head. There are so many moments that resonate, mainly because they're conveyed in ways that make sense that we're not accustomed to in movies. An example would be what the camera does when the Alonzo character learns of his wife's death- the frame, representing Alonzo's POV, looks past Crockett and Tubbs, who stand in front of him, and off into the distance, at the receding cars and lights on the freeway. It's brilliant, because this is exactly how one would react- your thoughts would overwhelm your field of vision, making irrelevant whatever's in front of you.

The final shot of the movie is just sublime, note-perfect in its understatedness.

Regards,
Nathan

PS- Chuck, Chris, you guys don't happen to live in Hollywood, do ya?