MULHOLLAND DRIVE DVD (including chapter stop discussion) (1 Viewer)

[Mark Bendiksen]

To watch the three films you mentioned is not watching David Lynch.

Hmmm...I'd say that's arguable.
{1} Dune. Did Lynch really disown it? I know that he disowned the crappy TV version that edited all of the cutting room footage back in, but I wasn't aware that he had disowned the original. I very well could be wrong about this; that's why I'm asking.
(2) Elephant Man. True, Lynch was a "hired gun" on that movie, but that doesn't mean that what you see is not David Lynch. In my mind his guiding hand is evident in just about every frame of that film.
(3) The Straight Story. In this one Lynch took a rather straightforward story (no pun intended) and made it wholly his own.
Are these films of the same mold as Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart? Perhaps not, but in my mind they still bear the unmistakable brand of Mr. Lynch.

 

[Lawrence Davis]

I'm surprised the nude scene is so controversial. Yes, it is erotic but it is not porno or anything close to it. Lynch's skill as a filmmaker arouses us, not just some cheesecake shot. Also, you could say that everything we've seen in the film (so far) has lead us to that point. It's not a trivial scene. It is the fulfillment of very powerful desires. I'm trying to word this so it's not a spoiler. Let's just say the scene is crucial. After you've seen the film and you reflect on what the heck happened, you will realize that the "nude scene" was far from superfluous or placed there for "shock" value (and I don't find it shocking at all).

If ever there was a film that people will want to go back and check on specific scenes, this is it. My HTPC will hopefully allow me to move forward. I would have preferred the New Line approach with FWWM, but as long as I am not rigidly locked in to watching the film from beginning to end, I will be satisfied. But having to watch a film from beginning to end just to be sure the slip was the color you thought it was, or the coffee cup was what you thought, is really pushing the boundaries of respect for the audience - if that's the case.

 

[Skoobooz]

I disagree, Patrick. To watch those three films IS to watch David Lynch. Perhaps watching just those three would keep the viewer from experiencing all that David Lynch has to offer with his films (and shorts and television series), but nonetheless, those films are David Lynch. His films are not all about violence and sex. I'm not saying that Dune is a better film than, say, Blue Velvet or Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Far from it. But Dune, and the two others, are David Lynch films. He has had final cut on most of his films, thus making them distinctively Lynchian (even Dune, which he didn't have final cut on, is still quite Lynchian).
Also, I'm not sure I appreciate the condescention. After having seen every one of Lynch's films, and after reading many books on the man, I like to think that I know at least something about his films, and what is and is not "Lynchian." But oh well...still looking forward to the DVD on Tuesday.

 

[Kevin Porter]

Yes, exactly Joseph. Household restrictions. That's the reason I want to skip past these scenes. I don't have anything against them it's just household limitations.

~Kevin

 

[Tim RH]

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/doogan...502.html#drive
There you go!

 

[Patrick Larkin]

Jeremy -- I certainly did not mean to sound condescending. I think you mistook my main point as explaining Lynch's work rather than offering my opinion.

Of course Straight Story, Elephant Man, and Dune are Lynchian. And I love those films as much as the rest.

However, my point was a general one: Those which have a maral objection to nudity would probably be put off the total of Lynch's work. Sure, there are films which have no nudity but the body as a whole would most likely strike this type of person as offensive.

Skipping scenes is a whole other thread however...

 

[Skoobooz]

In regards to people who have a moral objection to nudity being put off by most of David Lynch's work? This I can definately agree with.

 

[Mark McLeod]

Well it seems that a few people beat me to the finish line but that's alright.

My review of the Universal disc is now up at my website (address below). I'll be reviewing the Canadian version sometime next week (when it arrives).

Enjoy!

 

[Seth Paxton]

I put both covers up side by side in that new thread asking about dual covers.
Either one is a peach IMO.
I would close your eyes during the nudity rather than skipping it.
There is at least one joke/clue mentioned by Rita during the bed discussion. In fact all 3 scenes have quite a lot to do with the heart of the plot, the first one being a linchpin (no pun intended) for a major plot shift in the film, a catalyst if you will.

 

[Holadem]

Personally, I'd rather all discs had neither timecodes nor chapter stops, as I find myself frequently skipping to certain scenes or checking to see how far into the film I am, rather than just experiencing the film and my favourite scenes in context and as a whole.

Really, why should we have to put up with this crap because you can't control yourself?
I can't believe some of the replies in this thread. I don't give a flying shit how you watch the movie in your house. If don't want to skip chapter's fine. Just leave me the fucking choice. Like that we are both happy.
--
Holadem

 

[Jon Robertson]

I think I've made a new friend.

Just leave me the fucking choice. Like that we are both happy.

Well, I described a preference as to how I'd prefer DVDs to be presented (like everyone here does every minute of the day), and not - I repeat, not - how they actually are or will ever be released.
Normally, I'd report unprompted abuse like this to the powers that be, but I find it so funny that you took something briefly mentioned as a preference and somehow twisted it in your own head to be how things actually are in the real world, that I'll let it go.

 

[Paul_D]

I can't believe some of the replies in this thread. I don't give a flying shit how you watch the movie in your house. If don't want to skip chapter's fine. Just leave me the fucking choice. Like that we are both happy.

Easy, easy. I agree its absurd to suggest doing away with chapter stops for the sake of lack of self-control, but when you next come to a post like this, read the first sentence, take a deep breath, and move on.

 

[Michael Lee]

Ummm...chapter stops would have been nice, but the absence of them should not interfere with my every-day life. I am still scratching my head after watching this movie. It is a fascinating watch -- and I was riveted to the screen. But I am so confused!!

 

[Blu]

WTF did I just watch????

This movie was a exercise in ambiguity. I love thinking movies such as Memento but this was way way out there.

 

[Richard Kim]

My DVD is defective!!! At the 1:00 mark when the layer change occurs, the disc will freeze for a long time and play a random scene, or just stop. The fact that there are no chapter stops makes things worse. I have a Sony DVP NS700P. Anyone else have this problem? Either way, this one's going back.

 

[Jeremy Conrad]

WTF did I just watch????
This movie was a exercise in ambiguity. I love thinking movies such as Memento but this was way way out there.

Watch it again
I just finished it for the second time, and damn, I get it. This movie is sooooooooooooo good at the way it warps your mind. Once it clicks, you're like..."Whoa...no...what? Oh!"

 

[Travis D]

GAH!! Head hurts!! Head hurts!!

Oh boy, I don't know what to think.

It certainly was a challenging movie, but not "fun" challenging like Memento was. This is more of the movie equivilent to an ACT test. I'm going to watch it a second time and see what I can put together after reading that salon article. I'm all for weird movies, but I'll admit I'm a simple man when it comes to complex movies. (I adore Donnie Darko which when compared to MD, it has a forward narrative akin to a Disney movie.)

MD is borderline (I said BORDERLINE, not OVER THE LINE!) just being fucked up for the hell of it. There is just enough cohesivness to extract something tangible out of the whole mess.

And as for no chapter stops. IF Lynch had balls, he would have disabled the following buttons: Fast Forward, Rewind, Menu, Pause, and Stop. I would have respected that. Instead, he just makes getting around the movie overly difficult. Pretty asinine if you ask me.

 

[Mark-W]

I just watched it for the second time, and it is starting
to come together for me.
:
Think of the first hour and 55 minutes as a lesbian's
dreams as she freaks out at the loss of her lover,
and her guilt with doing the evil thing of hiring a hit
on her ex, who is also a more sucessful actress than
she is, and uses her inheritance from the Aunt to hire
a killer, causing evil to be released from the trash in
the back..
Then, think of the last 30 minutes of her slowly waking
from her dream, but falling back in the horror of her
reality and the terror of her lost dreams (represented by
the old couple). She felt so close to her lover, that
their images blurred..the blond wig...and that who they
were was interchangeable to the jilted lover.
A FEW THINGS:
-"Betty" saw her own dead body which is the result of
the suicide at the end of the film
-"Betty" also felt both love and jealously over "Rita/Camilla,"
which is why we had that whole "casting is rigged" thing
dealing with the imaginary Camilla, who is probably Rita's
new conqest.
-"Betty" is also the so conflicted that she is the guy
who spits out his espresso, since all dreams are egocentric.
Of course, I could be completely wrong.
Mark

 

[Justin Pledger]

I don't want to get drawn into this (what seems to me to be rather puerile) argument about chapter stops and the like. The original post asked for an early review. Whilst I do not have the time to post a full review - you'll just have to read the magazine for that, I can tell you that the picture has been given a fairly standard transfer. Colours are well saturated and detail is generally good, although some small instances of grain are apparent but on the whole this is a decent, if fairly standard, transfer.

The probelms start to occur with the soundtrack. The Dts version has been encoded at an extremely high level in comparison to a reference volume level of 0db (a Lexicon MC-12 was utilised for the purposes of this review) and is unfortunately plagued by instances of gross distortion, most especially with dialogue. Whilst there is some nice imaging across both the front and rear soundstage and effects are well placed and dynamic it is the level of distortion prevalent throughout that really irritates. Whilst the distortion only occurs at odd moments (again I stress mainly with dialogue) it does happen throughout - just thought I ought to clarify things further as I know how some members can react to these things! For those with an eye to the bassier things in life, you will be pleased to know that there is deep and sustained bass energy present that should give your sub a nice work out. Oh - one final thing. Whilst the score is exremely effective later in the film the first hour or so is like wading through treacle thanks to the awful 80's horror flick synthesiser music that threatens to engulf every scene, it is this that can take the edge of proceedings somewhat and has a slightly dampening effect.

Thanks to the instances of distortion I have to say that I was not exactly enamoured with this transfer, which is disappointing as there is much else to like. You of course may have completely different findings so do bear in mind that this is a purely subjective review.

 

[JonZ]

I got home late last night and was so exhausted I dozed off a bit while watching this(No I didnt find the movie dull, I saw it in the theater and loved it,I just couldnt keep my eyes open).
Anyway, it really made me think about how crappy it was not to have chapter stops - anyway around this?
You know, this is a pretty disappointing DVD release - Ive often said in the past that the movie is whats important, but I really would have liked to have seen some extra material for this disc - a featurette about how the pilot evolved in to a film, some deleted scenes, something :frowning: