Michael Bay is awesome.

I just saw Terrence Malick's "The New World" on netflix last night. It was one of the most self indulgent big studio films I've ever seen. It was the very antithesis of a Michael Bay flick. It was awesome, although I'm not sure I could sit through it again, even given the extreme beauty of the cinematography, sound, and script.

3 cheers for variety.
 
Fincher, Jonez, Gondry, Verbinski, McG, Hype... commercials/music vids were
he proving ground for 'today's hollywood. Same way that film schools were for
the Lucas/Spielberg/Coppola crew. Indie dirs are probably next.. then VFX an I'll
cast my prediction and say that games is right behind that.

Trends and cycles...
 
Ming said:
I just saw Terrence Malick's "The New World" on netflix last night. It was one of the most self indulgent big studio films I've ever seen. It was the very antithesis of a Michael Bay flick. It was awesome, although I'm not sure I could sit through it again, even given the extreme beauty of the cinematography, sound, and script.

3 cheers for variety.
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word. i like it when great filmmakers indulge themselves.
 
Greggl said:
Fincher, Jonez, Gondry, Verbinski, McG, Hype... commercials/music vids were
he proving ground for 'today's hollywood. Same way that film schools were for
the Lucas/Spielberg/Coppola crew. Indie dirs are probably next.. then VFX an I'll
cast my prediction and say that games is right behind that.

Trends and cycles...
Click to expand...

Nice adds; thank you !

That is one of the points I was making; that coming from the Music Video world; the imagery sure is pretty and the visual look highly sytlized but the overall langauge is getting lost I think.

It doesn't seem as sophisticated as the Coppola, Spileberg, De Palma, Scorsese crew

As always; I'm making a general observation and not spouting the absolute gospel.

(Uuucckk cannot even mention George in the same breath as these guys)
 
I think Fincher could really good (and possibly, be more sophisticated) if he would worry a little more about the story and not how he can have a shot of the inside of a flashlight as the camera tracks in closer and closer to the filament of the light bulb going on and off... "just because you can do it doesn't mean you should".

I read an article that Lucas wants to go back to making esoteric movies (like THX-1138... so we will see)

I'd hate to try and bring this up (mostly because I could be really wrong on this), but to some people are bashing Michael Bay because he has sold out. Well, what if the day he was born he wanted to make big, exciting movies where a lot of stuff blows up (some times for no reason), so then he never sold out but he is doing what he loves to do. Just like some people like to film a rock rolling down a hill or paper bag blowing in the wind. Both are forms of expression and art in their own right but they are just a different part of a vast array of styles in the world of movies. But also if you watch The Island, how can any one say that movie isn't artistic. The colors, the shots, the settings... to me a film maker that sold out would make a movie that looks like every other movie out there, it wouldn't look artistic or off the wall but like... The Holiday.

But like I said before, I like a lot of movies (I have Man with a Screaming Brain, next to the Machinist which is below Lawrence of Arabia)... but I admit that even though I didn't hate Bad Boys I or II, or Con Air... I didn't exactly go out of my way to see them again, either.

I guess I'm just saying every film maker has their niche and their place in people's collections and just because you don't like them personally doesn't mean they suck (sorry if I sound like a naive parent). I'm also a believer in Karma... what if one day Michael Bay just happens to AD for one of my movies... and he happened to read this thread... and I bashed him in it... well that would be an awkward day at work indeed:smile:

P.S.: The guy that directed Constantine, Francis Lawrence, was also from Music Videos.
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i don't think anyone is under the mistaken impression he sold out. this is the guy who made his name doing the "got milk" campaign. and in an interview in premiere magazine he did around the time of armegeddon, he was quoted as saying he wanted to be a director because he wanted the sort of lifestyle that would afford him the resources to buy a ferrari. this is the kind of guy we're talking about. he didn't sell out. commercialism was always his passion.
 
Hehe... I sat and watched Bay and Roy Disney exchanging pleasantries about
their respective Modena 360's one afternoon... gotta say, it was aggravatingly
inspiring.
 
here's a quote from Josh Friedman, the best (and most intermittant) blogger in the west, who happens to write big-budget action movies (war of the worlds). he just posted this on monday:

"So Saddam's dead and Michael Bay's alive and the world's a more dangerous place because of it."

poetry...

also, as far as filmmakers from the music/video commercial world, i wanted to note jonathan dayton and valerie faris. their first feature, Little Miss Sunshine, was the best of the year in my opinion.
 
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I had high hopes for Transformers. The moment I saw the newest trailer they were dashed.

I don't hate Michael_Bay, but I sure as heck feel like I'm about to be really let down with Transformers; no fan loyalty can save a screw-up like that.
 
Allright Hudson, 9 times out of 10 i will agree with you 100% BUT on this particular occation i have to admit that i deeply disagree with you. Almost everything you said was correct, except that Aliens is a far better film than Alien. You can't compare the two, aside form having the same sides attempting to destry each other and sigourney weaver these 2 films share NOTHING. Alien is by far one of the best horro films to date. Aliens is one of the best action films to date. These two films are notably excellent in their own fields and virtually incomparable.
 
I was wondering, too, John. I had to go back to the first page of this thread, Post #9 to be exact. Even then, I didn't see a problem with what you said. Aliens was a better overall movie that Alien. I personally like Alien but I never get tired of watching Aliens.
 
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Hmmmmmmmmmmm

John_Hudson said:
An interesting thread; and I'll bite; but come on Piffer; at least say why you think these guys suck.

Michael Bay

Bad Boys
Never liked this film; not my thing and the Will Smith thing was old the minute this film came out although Tea was looking kind of slinky in it.

The Rock
Thought is was okay; it was good to see Cage in his first 'Big Action Role'. Something I think he does well in. Cage also has a nice knack for doing 'Hollywood' movie and then 'Indie style' movie; nice career choices.

Armageddon
I liked this film; pure escapist entertainment. Great cast. It was funny and a fun ride. Sides, how can you not like Meteors and Comets hurtling towards earth?

Pearl Harbor
I liked this as well; purely for escapist entertainment. But, it would have been better if this film was taken serioulsy ala SPR. It was a gutless portrayl of the Japanese during this period and it could have been a serious war film. Instead? Just grab the popcorn.

Bad Boys II
Didn't like the first one; didn't like this one.

The Island
I am looking forward to this as it's just a subject matter I dig. It'll be a popcorn flcik.

I do not like or dislike M BAY. I do however either like or dislike his films. It would nice if he did take one seriously just once; something that has some weight to it.

George Lucas

What can I say? Props for creating the world of Star Wars. The first two films which just kick ass and the rest spiraling downwards like a bad dream with the introduction of the EWOK. Props for American Grafitti. Other than that? Yeah, I think he sucks too. Guy gets far too much credit for Indiana Jones as well.

James Cameron

I love Cameron. How can you say he sucks? Have you ZERO taste? This is the man who brought us The Terminator; one of the best Sci-Fi films ever made, Aliens; way better than the first one and the only one that kicks ass, The Abyss; truly an underrated film, Titanic; say what you will but a hugely succesful film and part history lesson, part romance, part popcorn, part adventure. True Lies was too campy for me; T2 was fun but lacked the grittiness of the original and lately? Who knows what he's been doing? All of these expedition and oceanographic films? Kind of a let-down since Titanic but let's be real here.

Jerry Bruckheimer

This guy kicks ass. First of all he is a Producer. And a widely succesful one at that. What's to hate? The guy makes money making films. And an impressive list of films.
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James Cameron makes films so that he can fund his documentaries on ocean life. I read that in some interview with him in some indie film magazine.
 
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