tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571769854236946971.post2394210766545841290..comments2023-03-25T02:52:15.537-07:00Comments on You Talking to Me?: Water for ElephantsThe Taxi Driverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04352371911592068643noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571769854236946971.post-92019067468446899142011-06-05T09:01:07.423-07:002011-06-05T09:01:07.423-07:00Duke - thanks for the link and thanks for stopping...Duke - thanks for the link and thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Vance- I think, yes, as I say, this movie reminds you of better movies. It had me wanting to watch La Strada which it certainly owes some sort of debt to I would think. I was prepared for a good while to deem it a higher score but the middle with the introduction of the elephant just drags on and on. On that note, I'd rather a slew of imperfect "classy" movies than the special effects movies.<br /><br />As for Waltz, are you faulting the Green Hornet or Waltz's performance in it. Green Hornet was a bad movie, but Waltz did what he could with it. That role however didn't offer him the depth to run in different directions, even though both are villians, as this and Basterds.<br /><br />Wait until you see him in Polanski's Carnage. The script is emotionally devistating in the way that Closer or Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe? is devistating.The Taxi Driverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352371911592068643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571769854236946971.post-73637827735286204452011-06-04T23:24:06.164-07:002011-06-04T23:24:06.164-07:00I like this film a lot, actually -- it's a sad...I like this film a lot, actually -- it's a sad commentary on what I've seen so far this year that it currently rests atop my rankings for the year. (I keep them as I go.) But I do think this film does a whole lot right. I even got a whiff of Scorsese in that terrific scene where Pattinson's character is led through the many train cars while seeing all walks of life the circus has to offer. I really felt like I was on that train and that that train could have really been like that. Of course, it's not a technical achievement on par with the club scene in Goodfellas, but it did remind me of it. I also really liked when Jacob and August ride atop the train. It reminded me of what I wanted The Polar Express to be.<br /><br />Overall I thought that it was a world we hadn't exactly seen, or not recently, and the epic quality of it with the love triangle, the big vistas and all the circus procedural elements really worked for me. You're right on about August being a desperate man scraping to survive. Aren't the best villains not just evil for evil's sake? I thought I would be reminded of movies like Moulin Rouge and Big Fish, and I was, even if those movies are better.<br /><br />One quibble I have: When you say Christoph Waltz is demonstrating his abilities one movie at a time, are you including The Green Hornet as one of those movies? I sure hope not.Derek Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750747272647975591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1571769854236946971.post-29624739540463068772011-05-30T17:46:52.162-07:002011-05-30T17:46:52.162-07:00I felt August was an underwritten character.
Hap...I felt August was an underwritten character. <br /><br />Happy you enjoyed it though. Here's my review - http://dukeandthemovies.com/featured/water-for-elephants<br /><br />Good review.Sam Fragosohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09974858608988634583noreply@blogger.com