We watched “A Bridge Too Far” on Sky Germany last night, Richard Attenborough’s epic about the ill fated Battle of Arnhem.
I saw this originally at the Odeon in Liverpool probably around 1979. It was very impressive at the time, and it still stands up today. It has gained a reputation for being one of the most historically accurate war films, and I noticed that it was based on a book by Cornelius Ryan, who also wrote The Longest Day about the D-Day landings. The screenplay was by William Goldman who worked with Attenborough on several other films.
Curiously, Sky showed it as “original version” meaning all original language, but no subtitle options. The English and German were fine, but I did have to rely on a few rapid Dutch translations from my wife.
It’s one of those films that probably wouldn’t be made that way today. It’s an anti-war film, but the historical accuracy does make it stand up as a drama-documentary, even down to using native speakers (with the exception of Gene Hackman, who played a Pole, but with only English dialogue)
Anyway, it’s worth catching again if it’s on. Richard Attenborough remains an essential director even after 50 years.
I loved watching both these films as a kid and still do. I think the mission Kenneth More leads in a bridge too far is one he actually took part in during the war itself.
I was “researching” Asian cinema lately and, among other films, I stumbled upon two absolute masterpieces - Cure (1997) and Memories of Murder (2003). They are dark and pessimistic (the latter was inspired by a real-life serial killer from South Korea that was eventually captured some years after the film’s release) but are absolutely stunning in terms of, well, pretty much everything. I can’t recommend them enough, especially to people who like films like Seven.
For a very serious film, it still has some humour.
I liked this one:
Major General Urquhart: “Hancock. I’ve got lunatics laughing at me from the woods. My original plan has been scuppered now that the jeeps haven’t arrived. My communications are completely broken down. Do you really believe any of that can be helped by a cup of tea?”
Just seen Bad Apple. No spoilers, loved it. Was wondering how they’d handle the climax, by the time it got there I wasn’t surprised but didn’t guess the resolution before near the moment.
I managed to catch the last séance of The Odyssey in French (went with my son) at the only iMax cinema in France that has true 70mm tech.
Sat right at the front, not great for the sound, however the sound was good enough. Above all the bass wasn’t bloated for the showing however that of the publicity was. This I find a major problem at cinemas the bass is terrible and voices/midrange muddy and often inaudible. There was a nasty special effect buzzing/crackling noise almost continual which became very distracting and annoying.
Anyway dialogue scenes were excellent though the action was blurred and pan too restricted (so choosing the 70mm format should be made wisely).
The film itself despite being just a remake of the black and white ones was decent. I mean I sat there for 3 hours fixed on it even though there was a feeling of deja vu.
After during the credits we wandered about a bit in the Salle. If your too close the view isn’t good and soundstage poor you need to be absolutely central. At the back view is great sound is dominated by surround heights which is horrible. Best position surely 1/3 in from the back central great view and sound very good.
Different sound formats could cause extra problems. The bloated bass phenomena is the evident one that completely destroys cinema experience imo.
We watched Backrooms on the weekend and absolutely hated it. I concede its an impressive feat for someone who is essentially an amateur, but its a shit film.
“We’ve got a subwoofer and we are going to use it…”
I saw Blade Runner 2049 at the cinema in New Brighton with a friend. We were fairly near the back but the sub-woofers were set to stun. My greatest abiding memory of the film was the excessive bass dislodging a bucket of popcorn which went arse-over-tit all down the aisle.
I can’t say I hated it but I was left bored and rather unimpressed by it. It felt like a pilot episode of what is supposed to become a great TV show like Breaking Bad, rather than a full-fledged film.
Yeah Undone was the comparison I had in mind. I didnt particularly like that either, thinking it was pretty half baked in plot and execution, but like with Backrooms I could appreciate what an impressive project it was for someone to pull off so early in their career.
But obviously few people have heard of Undertone and Backrooms was an enormous hit and so you have to react to them on a different level. Ultimately it is an interesting idea but was incredibly shallow in what it had to say about it that meant it ultimately wasnt that interesting. And even from a pure horror perspective, didnt feel it had many strings to pull to scare you or creep you out. So once the initial disorientation of it wore of, my overriding feeling about it all was one of boredom.
I saw it a long time ago. I keep the memory of a really excellent movie, however the way you look at it: really good scenario, historical accuracy, great actors, and a very peculiar atmosphere.
It makes you hate the prospect of waging any kind of war.
…dible. There was a nasty special effect buzzing/crackling noise almost continual which became very distracting and annoying…
Just a small tip @Flobs - this is is the problem you will get if you continually munch on your crisps with your mouth being wide open all the way through the film…
Just a thought, but take a box of Maltesers next time mate… just let them quietly melt in your mouth… I’m sure the other cinema goers who had their night spoilt will be made up with ya then :0)
The trailer for the Netflix adaptation of CS Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew has been released:
It looks promising. I was arguing with my son about whether this was a good place to start if they are adapting the Narnia series. This was the last book written, but acts as a prequel to the entire series. It’s sort of like starting to watch Star Wars with The Phantom Menace.
I don’t think it has been adapted for film or television at all (even the BBC adaptations in the 1980s?) In that way, it gives them a clean slate and reduces the problem of being compared to earlier adaptations of The Line, The Witch, And The Wardrobe.
My son is convinced this is the way to read the books anyway. They do look to be throwing a lot of cash at it, as it will have a wide theatre release, including IMAX, and they have even paid for “Stairway To Heaven” to feature in the trailer. Led Zeppelin are notoriously difficult and expensive to license (up there with The Beatles) so the trailer probably cost more than a lot of their other productions in totality.
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