TDGT - Round 2 - Steven Spielberg vs Terry Gilliam

[candy]

Feev - I love that explanation. I love JP, it's one I watch again and again.

Jean - I think what you're saying is how I like to describe the difference between a movie and a film.

To me, using SS as a platform : Jurassic Park is a great MOVIE. Schlinder's List is a great FILM.

or a book, jean your dis-like seems to stem from the story as opposed to the director? in which case the dislike should be aimed at Crichton instead of speilberg who brought it to life?

or i may be compleltey off base

[turtlex]

Honestly, part of what I like about movies/films is that sometimes, like it or not, a motion picture can be both!

Caveat ... amongst my friends, I am known as a "movie snob" which makes me laugh, because I'm all about the goofy, multi-billion-dollar comic book movies as much as I am about the quiet, dramatic indie cinema!

[Jean]

or a book, jean your dis-like seems to stem from the story as opposed to the director? in which case the dislike should be aimed at Crichton instead of speilberg who brought it to life?

or i may be compleltey off base

No. It's the way the story is told: that is, the quality of the movie as a movie (film). My point wasn't that I won't watch a dinosaur movie; it was that I am very unimpressed by a movie about nothing else than dinosaurs (with or without a message), without any other qualities that would seem redeeming to me

[pathoftheturtle]

Jaws is probably Spielberg’s best. It’s one of the finest of horror films. You have to give him credit for that, because after all, you can’t blame Spielberg for Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D, Jaws: The Revenge, and Jaws vs. Jason …or can you? Welcome to Hollywood... banal, banal, banal.

Jurassic Park, okay, it delivers an interesting message if you pay attention. It would be nice if more people were sensitive to chaos. The moral doesn’t really matter, though; we all know why folks watch this movie. They wanna see some dinosaurs! Why make a socio-political novel into a summer movie? To cash in on the action potential! Here’s a film ostensibly to show that carelessly using technology for amusement is likely to have unforeseen consequences… a film which used cutting edge effects technology and old-fashioned narrative contrivances. How hypocritical! The whole series is really just a big amusement for the public and, contrary to what was stated explicitly, the ultimate subtext is “Don’t worry too much about anything; someone will always find a way to work it out.”

[candy]

for me it was close encounters of the 3rd kind, i loved and still love that film today

[fernandito]

My point wasn't that I won't watch a dinosaur movie; it was that I am very unimpressed by a movie about nothing else than dinosaurs (with or without a message), without any other qualities that would seem redeeming to me

That's the thing, the film isn't just about the dinosaurs ! Leaving all of the political hocus pocus aside, the film is also about a group of people struggling to survive against such a powerful and deadly anomaly. Dr. Grant is forced to risk his life and protect a couple of children when in the initial portion of the film he stated how much he hates children. John Hammond's character has to come to the painful realization that some things in are just not to be tinkered with and he is forced to abandon the park, even though he put so much money and time into it , and even though it was his life's dream to see that idea come to fruition. The film is as much about the characters as it was about the dinosaurs.

[pathoftheturtle]

Admit it, though: it was not more about the characters than the about the dinosaurs. It couldn't have been, because that don't sell tickets.

[fernandito]

Admit it, though: it was not more about the characters than the about the dinosaurs. It couldn't have been, because that don't sell tickets.

Yes and no. Obviously the film was shot and marketed as a summer blockbuster so there needed to be extensive scenes showing the protagonists in near death situations of the carnivorous kind , of that there's no argument. But what's most intriguing about JP is, like I mentioned, how the characters cope with the dilemmas that arise, having absolutely no idea how the creatures will react or how best to diffuse the situation.

The trailers certainly focused heavily on the dinosaurs though ... but that's the case with virtually every movie trailer : the action heavy scenes are the one's focused on the most in an effort to increase the hype and get the audience riled up. Regardless of what the film is about, the trailers are shot and marketed in a certain way to optimize the amount of ticket sales. JP was certainly no exception in that regard.

[Heather19]

Feev You perfectly summed up why I love Jurassic Park so much. It's one of my favorites. I don't think I could ever tire of watching it. And now after all this discussion about it, I think you guys have swayed me into voting for Spielberg.

[Mattrick]

ETA: both Jurrasic and Schindler's look like "movies" to me, say sorry...

Have you not seen Schindler's List?

[Jean]

Yes, I have. I have already stated my opinion about it a few times.

[Mattrick]

Spielberg...how I love the marketability for me to see and be pleased for sometimes i enjoy a movie that is entenrtaining, as much as I enjoy artistic films, and you do them so well.

[alinda]

Terry Gilliam....good one

[pathoftheturtle]

Spielberg...how I love the marketability for me to see and be pleased for sometimes i enjoy a movie that is entenrtaining, as much as I enjoy artistic films, and you do them so well.

Well, at least you're honest. I can't argue with that.

[mae]

This is such an unfair poll, as both are my favorites. Too bad one will be left behind.

[Lisey Landon]

Jaws vs. Jason

...does this film really exist?!!

[Brice]

Now THAT would be a film.

[pathoftheturtle]

In production right now: Jaws vs. Jason

Spoiler:

Made ya look.

[fernandito]

Steven Spielberg advances !

[Jean]

gr gr gr