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The best movie not to take your mother-in-law to...

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Victor Khomenko

In Reply to: Re: Glenn Gould - NO, Bitter Harvest - YES. posted by TAFKA Steve on July 13, 1999 at 16:33:09:

***Sorry it was a big disappointment to you. BTW, Gould died in October of 1982 of a stroke. Colm Feore (recently seen in the Stephen King miniseries "Storm of the Century) played Gould in the film
Bummer. How do you say "caught with your pants down" in Russian?... Should have paid more attention. I just presumed and what do you know, presumptions are dangerous. You know, long day, tired, wife brings seven movies, put the first one on - it sucks, turn it off after twenty minutes, put the second one on - it sucks too, not kidding you, twenty more minutes, put Gould on, already bitter and tired. Cursed and went to bed. Next day - the Bitter Harvest. Recommended.
As far as the best movie not to take your mother-in-law to - In the Realm of Senses. We should have known better. About 18 years ago we took her, fresh from the stale Soviet culture, to the movies. The little Japanese gem. The rest you can guess. Glad we went home and not to the hospital.
Victor.

Follow Ups:

that's it! That's the one I was thinking of! No, she wouldn't care for it either (nt) petew 19:00:45 7/16/99 (0)
LOL! What a good son-in-law you are! TAFKA Steve 15:38:59 7/14/99 (3)
I guess a hardcore "Lorena Bobbitt prequel" movie would be okay for my mother-in-law...if she happened to be Madonna!
As for mistaking Colm Feore for a dead guy, perfectly understandable. We in the U.S.A. need to hire forensic specialists to determine if our Vice-President is still alive.
I may have to check out the Andrei Rublev DVD, as the version I saw in the theater was about 35 min. shorter.
- Prequel? I like that. Victor Khomenko 06:44:31 7/15/99 (2)
  My favorite part was that egg manipulation sequence... BTW, I saw that DVD on sale at the Best Buy. I even suggested buying it to my wife. She didn't take long to respond.
  As much as I don't accept their way of life, I admire the Japanese culture. Slow (not rushing) and introspective. Have you seen the Spirit of Tattoo and Woman in Dunes?
  Regarding Gore - there was a very popular song in the USSR - "Lenin shall always be alive..." That seventy years after his ideas and most of his lower body have rotten away (upparently there is just part of the upper torso under the blanket).
  If you get that Rublev DVD - let me know about its quality. I actually have not watched any DVD's in a while - with my full-blown (and pretty good) home theater set-up we spend most of the time watching the VHS tapes.
  Have you seen his first work - The Ivan's Childhood (my translation)? Already gives you the flavor that someone major is coming.
  Victor.
  - Irezumi? TAFKA Steve 19:23:04 7/15/99 (1)
    I've got "Irezumi: Spirit of the Tattoo" on laserdisc. Saw "Woman In The Dunes" in a theater, a good lesson for entomology students. I'm trying to find a decent version of "Chushingura" (Inagaki's version sort of sucked; I've been told that Mizoguchi and Ichikawa have done better with the 47 Ronin story). What's your favorite Kurosawa film? I guess mine is "Ikiru" based on the way it examines the human condition and vindicates living life well. On the other hand, I could go for "Rashomon" with its lesson in nonobjectivity.
    I didn't see "Ivan's Childhood", so this is another I'll put on my list.
    If you think Japanese cinema is slow, quiet, and introspective, you ought to try "The Scent of Green Papaya" (Vietnamese) and "Why Has Bodhi Dharma Left To The East?" (Korean). The last one is probably the ultimate Zen movie; I'm Buddhist and even I was falling asleep during that one.
    - Re: Irezumi? Victor Khomenko 05:21:26 7/16/99 (0)
      ***I've got "Irezumi: Spirit of the Tattoo" on laserdisc.
      That is one stylish movie.
      ***Saw "Woman In The Dunes" in a theater, a good lesson for entomology students. I'm trying to find a decent version of "Chushingura" (Inagaki's version sort of sucked;
      I am not faliliar with that one. Need to look it up in the guide.
      
      ***I've been told that Mizoguchi and Ichikawa have done better with the 47 Ronin story). What's your favorite Kurosawa film? I guess mine is "Ikiru" based on the way it examines the human condition and vindicates living life well.
      My experience with Ikiru was pitiful. It was a double-feature, late hight and movie too long and too slow. We left after about 90 minutes. Who knows, maybe under different curcumstances?
      Generally, double-features can be too much. I recall once a local theater showed the 2001 side by side with the Solaris. It felt like a full one day tripper and I think most of the Solaris' beauty was lost to the tired audience. I always loved Banionis (the lead in the Solaris) and I remember that before the movie release there was a tremedous inticipation - reminds me of the Kubrick's releases. The intelligencia in major Russian cities has always been extremely art-sensitive and that is one part of the Russian life that I probably miss the most.
      
      ***On the other hand, I could go for "Rashomon" with its lesson in nonobjectivity
      I don't know which is one I like the most, but the Dreams is up there for sure, together with the Kagemusha. But this is the probem with great directors - you tend to like most of their creations. I recently again emjoyed the Ran on a large screen, too bad the transfer was too fuzzy.
      ***I didn't see "Ivan's Childhood", so this is another I'll put on my list
      It is too bad that the Russian movies are not better known here. Over the decades they have produced a tremendous number of masterpieces. In the recent years, together with a murky wave of pale Hollywood immitations, there were many good ones too. There are stores out there where one can rent all the latest releases (most with totally atrocious quality as a rule - what smart Russian businessman would buy the oficial copies?), unfortunately none is usually translated. In terms of their overall level the better Russian production might be right there with the Italian movies, which I usually put above all others.
      ***If you think Japanese cinema is slow, quiet, and introspective, you ought to try "The Scent of Green Papaya" (Vietnamese) and "Why Has Bodhi Dharma Left To The East?" (Korean). The last one is probably the ultimate Zen movie; I'm Buddhist and even I was falling asleep during that one
      That probably wouldn't be my cup of tea. Although I have a friend who is very much into slow deliberate tortures (he's been to several Wagner's Ring full-length cycles) and I will mentioned those to him.
      Have a nice day,
      Victor.

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