tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post2269497834453887251..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: BLOCKBUSTER HISTORY: VENGEANCE IS THEIRSTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-3846704861344827852012-12-05T17:53:58.425-06:002012-12-05T17:53:58.425-06:00I remember PAYING to see this movie in the theater...I remember PAYING to see this movie in the theater, and DAMN was that a mistake. However, in hindsight, I can see what the appeal was behind it.<br /><br />Ralph Fiennes was the new big name on the scene thanks to "Schindler's List", "Quiz Show", and "The English Patient", having earned two Oscar nominations for two of those films (and in addition to those movies, I still consider "Strange Days" to be the most intelligent sci-fi mystery thriller that nobody went to go see in 1995). Sean Connery was fresh off an action-movie resurgence thanks to 1996's "The Rock". And in a similar vein from the 60's roots of this film's television origins, the James Bond franchise had just been revitalized thanks to the casting of Pierce Brosnan in the role, with two movies under his belt there. The trailers made it look good, but in the dumbest move I think I've ever made before buying a ticket... I failed to read any critic reviews.<br /><br />Oops!!!<br /><br />Turns out that a LOT of the footage used in the film's trailer ended up on the cutting room floor and I felt totally deceived by false advertising. Got all the way into the scene where Sean is speechifying to the consortium of evil teddy bears and my friend had had enough and walked out, telling me give him a call and let him know how much worse the movie could possibly have gotten (words failed me at that point and I was unable to do so). To this day, I can't believe I stuck it out to the very end, hoping - stupidly it turned out - that it was bound to improve SOMEWHERE down the line, only to be horribly disappointed when it didn't.<br /><br />And yet...<br /><br />Now knowing the troubled history behind this movie and the chopping ("editing" is too kind a word) that was done to it to take a full 25% out, I have to believe that to get the "name" actors to sign their names to contracts to participate, there MUST have been a better movie written down in the screenplay SOMEWHERE, and I find myself occasionally getting caught up in it whenever I see it on one of the cable channels, still hoping that it's not the movie that I remember it to be. Too bad for that. It still is, and because of how badly it performed in its theatrical release and subsequent home video rentals and sales, Warner Bros. will NEVER restore the chunks that were removed so we can see the film it SHOULD have been.<br /><br />And I still have my doubts as to whether that would be a good thing or not, and instead of improving a terrible movie, it might be just MORE of a bad thing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597855739306272952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-76987312727860401812012-05-18T10:56:44.101-05:002012-05-18T10:56:44.101-05:00I actually watched this on movie theaters when new...I actually watched this on movie theaters when new. I guesss I'm the only person in the world who thinks the teddy bear costume thing (and the chase that ensues) is funny. I thought the movie was sort of a parody of Bond movies. But yeah, obviously it's pretty terrible, although almost in a fascinating way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-84362088502270225812012-05-10T23:30:47.803-05:002012-05-10T23:30:47.803-05:00The internet has been out all day at the Brayton h...The internet has been out all day at the Brayton home, so I'm lucky even to get this comment published, but I didn't want Colin's observation to go by without a hearty "YES! EXACTLY!"Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-38559470530208070942012-05-10T21:12:44.126-05:002012-05-10T21:12:44.126-05:00Another TV remake was The Twilight Zone, which con...Another TV remake was The Twilight Zone, which considering the talent involved may have had something to do with setting off the trend.<br /><br />There were also The Flintstones movies in the 90s, but maybe we just shouldn't mention those.StephenMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588260639227694557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-48780935989709914482012-05-10T01:42:02.528-05:002012-05-10T01:42:02.528-05:00Also I have a really indefensible appreciation for...Also I have a really indefensible appreciation for Wild Wild West. I think it's funny :C A steampunk action flick is fine by me...jjjonatronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11572727325348235494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-42028127736196557742012-05-10T01:38:33.007-05:002012-05-10T01:38:33.007-05:00Oh god what Colin saidOh god what Colin saidjjjonatronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11572727325348235494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-51490134159739629002012-05-09T23:28:19.228-05:002012-05-09T23:28:19.228-05:00A feature-length remake of "The Golden Girls&...A feature-length remake of "The Golden Girls" must be made before Betty White dies if only so we can see her promoted to the Estelle Getty role.Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04952276101161849381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-16967841661872459832012-05-09T20:00:13.626-05:002012-05-09T20:00:13.626-05:00I either had the exact same experience as you, or ...I either had the exact same experience as you, or I actually fell asleep, because I don't remember big damn metal bees.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316541604903436175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-48680312991680641632012-05-09T14:28:09.098-05:002012-05-09T14:28:09.098-05:00Hallvarður- I think I know the one you're talk...Hallvarður- I think I know the one you're talking about. It's one of the only non-Rigg ones I've seen, and it's definitely a bit loopier than the series norm.<br /><br />Franklin- Oh, man, you win all the points. I find it interesting that the early examples were all comedies, and then after <i>M:I</i> there were a lot of action shows.<br /><br />Rick- Did not realise at all that was Grace Jones, and now I feel bad for calling her a Shirley Bassey knock-off. And indeed, I should have pointed that out about Macnee, but then I would have to type "invisible secret agent", and I couldn't bear doing that.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-86344878355255955122012-05-09T09:47:11.880-05:002012-05-09T09:47:11.880-05:00To prepare for 2012's The Avengers, I watched ...To prepare for 2012's <i>The Avengers</i>, I watched 1998's <i>The Avengers</i>. When Sean Connery talked about "not getting wet", I burst out laughing so hard I kept rewinding and rewinding just to keep laughing. It hurt so good to laugh at both the line and his delivery. <br /><br />It is true: it is a quasi-Bond film (having May Day herself from <i>A View to A Kill</i>, MISS Grace Jones, sing the closing song, does not help matters). <br /><br />You should mention that while MacNee did make a cameo, at least he had the sense/fortune to make his character invisible.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16611922269342141654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-59164928414099470132012-05-09T09:15:00.111-05:002012-05-09T09:15:00.111-05:00Ugh, this movie. But Tim, have you forgotten 1993&...Ugh, this movie. But Tim, have you forgotten 1993's Beverly Hillbillies so quickly? Or 1994's Car 54, Where Are You? 1987's Dragnet was probably the first TV remake.franklinshepardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858074176921317138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-46907055315522162032012-05-09T07:41:12.554-05:002012-05-09T07:41:12.554-05:00I actually own this movie on VHS. I finally decide...I actually own this movie on VHS. I finally decided to watch it when I was bedridden with cold, which only made matters worse.<br />I've only seen one episode of the old Avengers-series, one where they are up against a group of killer clowns, it was kinda trippy...Hallvarður Jón Guðmundssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09079764862005899676noreply@blogger.com