Track the Films You Watch (2006) - Page 8

Robert Crawford · 01-25-2006, 05:48 AM

Let me say something here. Some of this tit-for-tat discussion needs to be done off-line for the sake of those that just want to read the personal opinions about various films. This thread shouldn't be about certain posters. The opinions expressed here should be enjoyable and enlightening for all of us to read. Thank you.

Crawdaddy

Haggai · 01-25-2006, 09:19 AM

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RKO film about Daniel Boone (George O’Brien) leading settlers from North Carolina to Kentucky while fighting a crazed white man (John Carradine) who’s in good with deadly Indians. This adventure story is okay but it’s certainly hampered by its low budget, which makes for a pretty dry story. When the action does kick in its way too late to save the film. O’Brien is good but Carradine steals the show even though he’s chewing his way through each scene.

I haven't seen Daniel Boone, Mike, but have you seen Drums Along the Mohawk? Carradine has what sounds like the same role in that one, although it's pretty small in the later movie. Not too surprising, of course, as plenty of those character actors re-did similar roles in multiple movies. Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach is basically a drunker version of the big-mouthed doctor he played two years earlier in The Hurricane.

george kaplan · 01-25-2006, 12:39 PM

Although I've had a few thoughts about the recent debate, I get into enough trouble as is, without jumping into that.

I will say that the entire Beatles catalog, as well as much of the Dylan catalog (at least until the mid-70s) is all worth checking out, and while I haven't seen How to Make a Monster, certainly any Beatles album is better than the Searchers.

Michael Elliott · 01-25-2006, 02:41 PM

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Dylan catalog (at least until the mid-70s) is all worth checking out

It's funny how the history of Dylan has changed so much since when the events actually happened. The majority of the "fans" hated everything after DESIRE (1975) yet today his 1978-1984 (Street Legal to Infidels) is considered his best work while his early folk stuff has been forgotten. Not really forgotten but the songs have improved so much during live shows that those folk albums just don't make too many die-hards Top 10 lists. STREET LEGAL, SLOW TRAIN COMING, INFIDELS, OH MERCY, TIME OUT OF MIND and LOVE & THEFT all feature as good, if not better, writing than the early albums. What makes them such a pleasure to listen to know is that in 1961 Dylan was trying and wanting to sound like an old man. Today, he IS that old man so these songs sound a lot better today and still capture the mood of the early records. Dylan certainly got more creative, musically, after his divorce, which was covered in BLOOD ON THE TRACKS.

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I haven't seen Daniel Boone, Mike, but have you seen Drums Along the Mohawk?

I've got it sitting here but haven't watched it yet. I also recorded THE HURRICANE off TCM last week and I'm dying to watch that one.

In other news re: Monthly Contests

First of all, here's what will be given away this month:

House of D (Lions Gate)
Happy Endings (Lions Gate)
Cannibal Holocaust (EC Entertainment)
The Velvet Underground: Velvet Redux (Rhino)

I asked for different titles from Lions Gate but those two are what was shipped. For some reason the studios thought this was a one month deal instead of year round event but I'll make this is year round even if the studios don't send any more titles for giveaways. Just send me an e-mail to dvdmaniacs@aol.com with the title you'd like if you're selected for this month. Put down your top 3 in case the same people pick the same titles. I'm in the middle of moving and these are all boxed up at the moment. I'm not moving into my new place until Wednesday so it'll be sometime that weekend before I can ship these out. They'll ship Media Mail or First Class.

A warning on CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. This is the infamous film that does contain real animal deaths so be warned. This isn't a film to pick so that you can watch with the kids. If real, graphic violence, strong gore and strong sexual stuff bothers you then stay away from this selection. This is the EC, R0 disc and NOT the current 2-disc SE from Grindhouse.

After the winners are picked (not by me) I'll e-mail you for your address. I'll only contact the winners but rest assure that I'll make sure we get new winners each month.

Joe Karlosi · 01-25-2006, 03:26 PM

Re: Bob Dylan albums...

Among his finest are FREEWHEELIN', BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME, and BLONDE ON BLONDE. Personally, my favorite Zimmy album is HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED.

george kaplan · 01-25-2006, 03:49 PM

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today his 1978-1984 (Street Legal to Infidels) is considered his best work while his early folk stuff has been forgotten.

Joe Karlosi · 01-25-2006, 03:58 PM

Agreed, George. I've never heard that a "majority" of fans prefer his 1978-1984 period, or that today those are considered his best works.

By the way, I do love INFIDELS (1983).

Mario Gauci · 01-25-2006, 07:50 PM

Joe,

As much as I think that your latest post directed to me merits a reply, I'll respect Crawdaddy's wishes and not turn it into another "tit-for-tat" routine.

By the way, I had no idea that you were having as much trouble getting Michael off of Bob Dylan and into other stuff, as much as we were having in getting you to watch "newer" films other than your 13th rerun of HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER (1958), etc...

!

Michael Elliott · 01-25-2006, 09:04 PM

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Now I'm not saying that that the definitive critical list, but it's very recent, and the albums from 1978-1984 don't even make the list at all, whereas at least 1 early folkie album, Freewheelin' does. Any critic who puts the 78-84 albums ahead of all of those, isn't in the mainstream, and I'd question his credentials.

But your viewing these albums as of today and not when they were released. As is that article because as a historic event you're not going to top HIGHWAY and BLONDE but from a critical writing standpoint those other albums are hard to top. Things need time to be viewed as classics so I'd guess in 20 years TIME OUT OF MIND and LOVE & THEFT will be looked at just as highly as the early stuff (by the mainstream). Dylan was bashed by critics from his first album all the way up to Time Out of Mind, which pretty much knocked every critic/fan/hater on their ass. Just as BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN got terrible reviews when released, these 78-84 albums are now ranked very highly, although something as childish as Rolling Stone isn't going to give them much credit or even listen to them a second time. That Rolling Stone article also had Spears, N'Sync and various other recent bands so as Dylan would say, that list will be forgotten about within a day.

In today's "fan world" PAT GA...AND BILLY THE KID would probably get the worst review simply because of one song being so popular. You'd have to travel the live shows to get the feel of the early recordings and the later stuff, 78-84, is where the gold is now. In 2006 it's rather clear Dylan didn't sell out to do Christian music so those three albums are seen in a new light. When originally released they were panned.

Dylan has never been mainstream (even though 3 of his 70's albums were the best sellers of the year) so a mainstream book covering him is rather silly. If you've got an old Rolling Stones record guide you can see the original reviews given to these discs. They aren't very impressive compared to what's on their site now. I'm not sure how many fan sites you've been on or how many shows you've been to but those early albums are certainly overlooked in favor of the stuff that was really panned when first released.

Kinda like the original reviews of THE WILD BUNCH compared to today. With STREET LEGAL and SLOW TRAIN, no one wanted to hear Dylan playing Vegas/Christian music and no one wanted backup singers. Looking back people wish they hadn't boo'd Dylan for these.