Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Bruce from DC (B) on November 08, 2002 at 07:31:45

In Reply to: Re: I agree . . . posted by Victor Khomenko on November 07, 2002 at 15:57:56:

Actually, I can't claim credit for the "world's best B movie" line; I read it somewhere.

I think the point, Victor, is expectations. One has lower expectations of a "B" movie than of one with serious artistic presentations. Most of the things that you and Harmonia complain about with this movie -- the predictablity and so on -- are characteristic of the genre.

It is also, a propaganda film -- indeed, an allegory.

So, the net conclusion is that, within the conventions of those genres, it does very, very well.

As for its appearance on "ten best" lists and the like; I take no responsiblity. Who knows what criteria are used by the compilers of such lists?

To make an analogy, it's like complaining that my minivan doesn't pull 0.9 G's around a corner, or accelerate to 100 kph in 6 seconds, unlike, say, an M3. But, if you want to carry 7 people somewhere, you're definitely SOL with the M3; and my minivan does the job handily. And for a minivan it handles with some alacrity and is reasonably fast.

Long as we're talking Bogie films -- I'll put "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" up with the best of any films, no qualifications, no excuses.