I thought the first half of Steven Speilberg's lastest production was quite good, but from there it went down hill at a dizzying speed. I felt this film was highly over-rated.
Thanks Dawna,
I was preparing to go see this film, but if your critique is an indication of it's worthwhile value, then I thank you for your opinion...........it will be heeded. While we're on this subject..........Did anyone find 'Cold Mountain' worth the effort? I just cannot reconcile the using of a foriegn country to film North Carolina scenery. It just seems to take the edge off for me, about a Civil War story. It's just hard for me to think about this story that is supposed to take place in NC, and knowing that it was filmed where ever, in a far away land, not even remotely connected to the actual War area.
I hope I haven't disappointed you too much, especially when it's a Speilberg movie, but please keep in mind that it's only my opinion...you might think it rates well with Steven Speilberg's earlier productions. I'd heard so much about the special affects in this film and I expected Speilberg to outdo himself in this one, and some are quite good, but they're all within the first half of the movie.
I would not have picked Tom Cruise to play the lead in War of the Worlds...in fact, he would have been my last choice. Parts of this movie require an emotional connection/component that seemed missing in Tom Cruise's performance, and while I think he was very good in the action sequences of WOTW, even the young daughter and teenage son couldn't save this movie.
WOTW had just come out in Leicester the week that I arrived in England, so we went to see it straight away. We all felt the same way and I had dragged my daughter and son-in-law to see it since I'm the only sci-fi/action fan in the family. But it was my first time in a British cinema so that was great fun.
Unfortunately I compare everything to the first "Aliens" and "Logans Run" and after my disappointment with "Signs" a few years ago, I probably should stay away from any further attempts at making aliens believable!
I have seen Cold Mountain a few times and read the book, which I enjoyed much more, as I often do with "novels turned into movies." Part of the reasoning for filming CM in Romania is that it is still one of the few places left in the world where there are no visible signs of civilization such as hydro lines/towers etc. and people can be found living in conditions much like at the turn of the century in North America i.e. farming with horses, ploughs, raising animals for personal consumption etc. But some filming did take place in the states (Georgia I believe) so it wasn't an entirely Romanian production.
I thought the opening crater battle scene was amazing and from what I understand, very close to being historically accurate, as were the soldier's uniforms and ladies' costumes throughout the movie. For the most part I enjoyed this movie and the acting, but the love story was a little far fetched and for this particular movie, I found the the nude scenes between Aida and Inman to be totally unnecessary and somewhat pointless.
Another plus with filming in Romania, is that the soldiers used to portray the Southerners were lean and closer to the average height of men in that era. Gave a really authentic look to the film.
As for WOTW, I thought it quite good, even though a different hero might have been better. As for the slowness of some area's, I thought it gave a break to the high intensity of the rest of the film. I'm considering going to see it again. Ditto that for Star Wars III, even though I've seen it twice already.
Chuck in IL.
For any interested I've started adding Vicksburg photos from my June Muster.
I saw War of the Worlds. Bleh!!!! Does that sum it up infantile style? LOL. I totally agree with an earlier reply. I would love to see Steve tackle a civil war movie. Any subjects? suggestions for subjects? Maybe something on Forrest. How about Vicksburg or maybe the battle of Franklin.
dawna,
I'm with you on the nude sceens in Cold Mountain. They add nothing to the movie. It made a movie you wouldn't want your young kids to see. I hope I don't sound like a prude.....lol
Martin
__________________ "I want to bury myself in a den of books. I want to saturate myself with the elements of which they are made and breathe their atmosphere until I am of it."
--Lew Wallace, 1885
Not at all Martin and although I don't consider myself prudish either, I found the nude/ love making scenes between Inman and Aida almost insulting to the audience, and hugely gratuitous.
If you recall, that particular scene took place in a primitive cabin with openings between the logs large enough to drive a freight train through, and only a small fire to keep the couple warm. Whilst Inman and Aida are spending what seemed like an eternity undressing each other, I was thinking "flannel and warm socks!"
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