MUNICH -- first reviews of Speilberg's new Oscarbait...- Page 4

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:10pm

Responding in order, popcultureboy:

I can't remember, but I believe the voice over simply says she is going to disappear, which they never show. I don't think the robots (they are not aliens) looked stupid at all, but unique. And it wasn't so saccharine as all that, it was bittersweet. Extremely so, in my opinion. And here I thought I was jaded!

Bluewizard:

A critic in no way represents the popular audience. He/she is above the audience. Supposedly this person has more refined tastes and a clearer insight on the movie (which in most cases is true). Hence he has been elected to write reviews which we read to decide whether or not Mr. Smartypants thinks we should go see this movie. The critic is mostly unnecessary because we go see the movies anyway, as we know most of the time what we are going to get (Since most movies are rehashes of other movies, or made by the same people).

It's places like the theater where the critic suddenly has a lot of power, and how he doth abuse...

It is definitely ultimately up to the creator to decide what is innovative, necessary, etc... because often what does not seem such to an audience will seem such 20 years later. Case in point, as has been discussed, 2001 Space Oddysey. That's the whole point of the artist. Critics are comparing to what they have seen before. The artist is showing us something new.

And besides, it's a gamble anyway. It's always going to be about whether or not the person liked it. A critic is only responded to his feelings about something (although really good critics can step aside from that and intellectualize it as well). If you like something, even if it's weird, you'll probably like what was weird about it.

While I am very interested in other people's opinions, I try to form my own. As a writer I find other people's opinions invaluable, but they are not helpful if a person simply isn't connecting to what I am trying to do. Yes, arguably I'm not doing it right if people aren't connecting, but if two people out of eight connect then it seems worth it. Because the sad truth is not everybody is going to get it, in various senses of the phrase.

So I guess I'm saying Spielberg reached me, and he reached other people on this board, so he didn't fail as a storyteller. Can't please everyone.

Bluewizard part two :P

Ah, I'm sorry if you felt I was dismissing your ideas. I didn't mean it that way. I get a little riled up when people go about pointing out perceived flaws in other people's works of art. I think it's all fine and well just not to like something, but most artists (especially ones who have been doing what they do for so long, such as Spielberg) make very specific choices, and sometimes it's a matter of just allowing yourself to be persuaded by them rather than thinking, "Oh I wish he had done this here or that there." Sometimes it's warranted, I agree, but often it isn't. You know, like people complaining about the Italian in Piazza... I thought Margaret's narration or the mother speaking English were cop out choices, but the actual choice to have some of it in Italian was very good in my opinion.

But the ending of AI is hardly the Emperor strolling naked through the streets. I feel the same way about War of the Worlds (another movie not a lot of people liked but I did). He always makes clear and specific choices, and he certainly doesn't run wild with his power. It's just that not everyone will like what he does (Personally I think Dakota Fanning is the worst thing ever invented).

You know all this thinking about Spielberg has me more excited for that movie that used to be the topic of this.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/7/05 at 5:15pm

Ronin, they DEFINITELY say she dies, because I remember pointing at the screen saying she's still breathing. But that's a minor nit pick.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 12:36pm

This is an excellent, thoughtful, perhaps award-worthy review from Stephanie Zacharek in Salon.com. Mixed to negative(??), but I still am dying to see this.

Salon.com's review

Updated On: 12/23/05 at 12:36 PM