Aeschylus3
Joined Jul 2001
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Reviews20
Aeschylus3's rating
Its interesting to read the comments left by IMDB users towards this film. People will either love it, hate it, or be too puzzled to figure out how they feel towards it. I enjoy reading people's interpretations of the film, but most of the comments are frustrating. A lot of the movie's criticizers have managed to convince themselves that the movie is overrated; that it is only praised so that people can feel "artsy" and intellectual. Some of the fans of the movie are no better. Many say things like "Only the people who have a high IQ can solve this enigma". How wrong they are.
A low IQ has nothing to do with how much a person dislikes "Mulholland Drive." Most of the people who hate this movie most likely either (a) don't know how to approach it, (b) refuse to view it with an open mind and/or with a sense of wonder, or (c) simply aren't used to this kind of movie.
Most anti-fans of the film are quick to judge those who like it as "pompous". But, honestly, what could be more pompous than assuming that, because you were incapable of enjoying the film, nobody else can? The word "overrated" pops up quite frequently when this film is being discussed. Personally, I don't believe that such a term is fitting to any movie. "L'avventura" doesn't interest me in the slightest bit, but that doesn't mean it's overrated, it means that the movie doesn't fit my tastes. "Overrated" is simply a term for those with too much pride to admit that they didn't like a highly rated movie.
I think the main reason of why so many people can't appreciate "Mulholland Drive" is because they haven't been introduced to Lynch's style. What people often don't realize is that a movie really doesn't have to make the slightest bit of sense, nor does it have to be understood, but it can still be just as amazing of an experience. Does "Mulholland Drive" make sense? Is there a puzzle to uncover? As discouraging as it is to some, I would guess that the film really is more abstract than people like to think it is. Much of the movie is part of the television pilot, and the rest of it, Lynch admits, were supercaffeinated brainstorms and last minute ideas. Personally, It really doesn't make a difference to me. I love the film nonetheless.
What is there to love about this film? The dreamlike atmosphere. The variety of different storylines and moods. But the greatest moments in movies are almost always without dialogue. They are moments when the music fits the visuals so perfectly that one has a mild feeling of euphoria. Lynch has a gift for creating this kind of moment, and "Mulholland Drive" may be the ultimate example of this ability of his as a filmmaker. The opening credits for example has us following a lone car late at night. These images are so fitting to Angelo Badalamenti's music that one feels overwhelmed by it's beauty. Of course there are dozens of other moments like this in the movie, and there are also great scenes made up entirely of dialogue.
I don't expect anyone who hated "Mulholland Drive" to have read any of my comments, but I wish that those that disliked the movie so strongly would give it another chance. Don't try to make any sense of it; just sit back and let yourself be immersed into a totally sublime cinematic experience.
A low IQ has nothing to do with how much a person dislikes "Mulholland Drive." Most of the people who hate this movie most likely either (a) don't know how to approach it, (b) refuse to view it with an open mind and/or with a sense of wonder, or (c) simply aren't used to this kind of movie.
Most anti-fans of the film are quick to judge those who like it as "pompous". But, honestly, what could be more pompous than assuming that, because you were incapable of enjoying the film, nobody else can? The word "overrated" pops up quite frequently when this film is being discussed. Personally, I don't believe that such a term is fitting to any movie. "L'avventura" doesn't interest me in the slightest bit, but that doesn't mean it's overrated, it means that the movie doesn't fit my tastes. "Overrated" is simply a term for those with too much pride to admit that they didn't like a highly rated movie.
I think the main reason of why so many people can't appreciate "Mulholland Drive" is because they haven't been introduced to Lynch's style. What people often don't realize is that a movie really doesn't have to make the slightest bit of sense, nor does it have to be understood, but it can still be just as amazing of an experience. Does "Mulholland Drive" make sense? Is there a puzzle to uncover? As discouraging as it is to some, I would guess that the film really is more abstract than people like to think it is. Much of the movie is part of the television pilot, and the rest of it, Lynch admits, were supercaffeinated brainstorms and last minute ideas. Personally, It really doesn't make a difference to me. I love the film nonetheless.
What is there to love about this film? The dreamlike atmosphere. The variety of different storylines and moods. But the greatest moments in movies are almost always without dialogue. They are moments when the music fits the visuals so perfectly that one has a mild feeling of euphoria. Lynch has a gift for creating this kind of moment, and "Mulholland Drive" may be the ultimate example of this ability of his as a filmmaker. The opening credits for example has us following a lone car late at night. These images are so fitting to Angelo Badalamenti's music that one feels overwhelmed by it's beauty. Of course there are dozens of other moments like this in the movie, and there are also great scenes made up entirely of dialogue.
I don't expect anyone who hated "Mulholland Drive" to have read any of my comments, but I wish that those that disliked the movie so strongly would give it another chance. Don't try to make any sense of it; just sit back and let yourself be immersed into a totally sublime cinematic experience.
Its rare to see such an expertly crafted thriller as Memento. The protagonist suffers from a short-term memory loss condition, causing the events of his life to be mixed, scrambled, and immediately forgotten. He must write himself notes, take pictures of people he's supposed to remember, and tattoo himself with facts to remember. Its a remarkable concept.
The question the whole way through Memento is whether or not the film can live up to its concept. The film is shown from its ending scene to its beginning, making it even more puzzling to watch. The viewer has to give their full attention to Memento, or else they won't have any clue as to what's going on, but it can be rewarding to those who picked up on most of it. Memento is a one-of-a-kind experience that is so mystifyingly confusing that you'll enjoy getting lost in it.
O O O O O O O O
(Very Good)
The question the whole way through Memento is whether or not the film can live up to its concept. The film is shown from its ending scene to its beginning, making it even more puzzling to watch. The viewer has to give their full attention to Memento, or else they won't have any clue as to what's going on, but it can be rewarding to those who picked up on most of it. Memento is a one-of-a-kind experience that is so mystifyingly confusing that you'll enjoy getting lost in it.
O O O O O O O O
(Very Good)
I fully expected to be disappointed by this third installment to the Hannibal Lector trilogy. I was expecting a cheap hacker flick, but I found it to be a well crafted film with excellent acting from a top-rate cast.
Hannibal wasn't well received with the critics, or the public for that matter, and its easy to see why. Too many people compare it to it's predecessor, The Silence of the Lambs. I'm one of those few who considers the two films pretty equal in comparison. Silence relied almost entirely on Anthony Hopkins, who stole his scenes, but left the rest of the film suffering from a lack of excitement. Hannibal makes good use of Hopkins, as well as adding to the gritty and fascinating subject matter with another grotesque character, played with excellence by Gary Oldman.
Thomas Harris's novel and Ridley Scott's direction make Hannibal a far more different experience. The subject matter doesn't seem to be taken so seriously; its actually rather humorous at times, which doesn't leave quite an impact on the viewer, but it still makes for a fun ride. Many complain about the ending, but personally, I thought it made a perfect end to an excellent trilogy of filmmaking.
O O O O O O O 1/2
Hannibal wasn't well received with the critics, or the public for that matter, and its easy to see why. Too many people compare it to it's predecessor, The Silence of the Lambs. I'm one of those few who considers the two films pretty equal in comparison. Silence relied almost entirely on Anthony Hopkins, who stole his scenes, but left the rest of the film suffering from a lack of excitement. Hannibal makes good use of Hopkins, as well as adding to the gritty and fascinating subject matter with another grotesque character, played with excellence by Gary Oldman.
Thomas Harris's novel and Ridley Scott's direction make Hannibal a far more different experience. The subject matter doesn't seem to be taken so seriously; its actually rather humorous at times, which doesn't leave quite an impact on the viewer, but it still makes for a fun ride. Many complain about the ending, but personally, I thought it made a perfect end to an excellent trilogy of filmmaking.
O O O O O O O 1/2