One word: LISZTOMANIA.I knew this film by reputation, as well as having read Ken Russell's autobiography, A BRITISH PICTURE (North American title: ALTERED STATES), in which he claims the whole project was more or less hijacked by keyboardist Rick Wakeman, to its detriment (though I doubt it would have been a masterpiece even if Mr. Wakeman's influece had been reined in...)
Last night, my partner and I watched the first half on LD (it is only available in widescreen in that format, and I paid a pretty penny for it on eBay just 'cause I'm a completist and I *had* to have it). We had just returned from New York City and had been travelling most of the day. Before we put it on I asked him if he was ready for this, and warned him that it was pretty f*cked up judging by all accounts.
Though I got a tongue-lashing from my partner when I originally decided to invest in a used LD player ("What? ANOTHER obsolete format??"), I think he's secretly happy now because the side flip--even thought it's an automatic one lasting only a few seconds--now gives him an overture to call it quits if he doesn't like the movie. His exact words last night were "We can watch the second half tomorrow... or never."
djprobed
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - Worst misstep by a favourite director? - djprobed 13:40:59 04/22/04 (29)
- Peckinpahs Convoy (nt) - grinagog 02:08:38 04/24/04 (0)
- TOO EASY - gwlvrns 13:18:25 04/23/04 (2)
- Re: TOO EASY - ephemere 14:44:12 04/23/04 (1)
- Chirac saw Amelie twice before boycotting the Iraq invasion. - albee33 18:11:10 04/23/04 (0)
- Kill Bill vol.2 - Nicu 09:47:49 04/23/04 (0)
- been a few by ridley scott nt - geoffkait 06:37:24 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: None.... - patrickU 04:38:00 04/23/04 (0)
- David Lean's RYAN;S DAUGHTER - grhughes 18:09:38 04/22/04 (4)
- This was cut by MGM without Lean's consent - djprobed 08:04:38 04/23/04 (2)
- I've never seen a letterboxed, restored version. - grhughes 09:54:15 04/23/04 (1)
- Re: I've never seen a letterboxed, restored version. - rico 11:57:57 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: David Lean's RYAN;S DAUGHTER - patrickU 04:39:35 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: Worst misstep by a favourite director? - Buckeye 17:55:49 04/22/04 (0)
- Re: "The Missouri Breaks" - rico 14:07:00 04/22/04 (1)
- Disagreement. Very entertaining and offbeat. And the - tinear 04:19:23 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: laserdiscs - rico 14:05:52 04/22/04 (5)
- "CD Direct" on LD players - djprobed 08:08:21 04/23/04 (4)
- I'll check when I get home... - djprobed 12:51:48 04/23/04 (2)
- Re: Legato Link - rico 14:01:45 04/23/04 (1)
- Nope, ain't got it! alas [nt] - djprobed 22:25:18 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: "CD Direct" on LD players - rico 12:00:22 04/23/04 (0)
- Dune - Bulkington 13:56:50 04/22/04 (6)
- Another one sabotaged by the studio - djprobed 08:16:38 04/23/04 (0)
- Re: Dune - Harmonia 15:09:30 04/22/04 (4)
- Lynch's worst is neither Dune nor Fire Walk with Me - ephemere 17:17:20 04/22/04 (3)
- Re: Don't forget - rico 06:54:29 04/23/04 (0)
- Agreed. - Harmonia 19:09:52 04/22/04 (0)
- Must've been the edit on the USA release - grinagog 17:40:50 04/22/04 (0)