Koose I have heard the film criticized for being too pat before, so you are not the only one. Personally though, I found it deeply moving. I would love a copy of the 50s French reissue poster, but at c.$3K it's out of my reach.
Conversely, I've seen Citizen Kane many times, yet it barely moves me at all. I can appreciate the technique and craft and how it was so revolutionary , but quite why it is often rated as the greatest movie of all time I cannot understand. Horses for courses I guess! Tom ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For decades I've read, heared, seen people refer to this film as a masterpiece of "anything," be it anti-war, about cinematic technique, whatever. Woody Allen put this into my head by referring to it in his film and his writings and interviews. When I finally sat down to see it, I understood the story but was not emotionally moved. And I'm a sucker for desiring to be emotionally moved even when I say to people I don't want to be "played" for tears. But Grand Illusion has a message so profound that it's as a large as a billboard hitting you in the face. And that's just it, I guess. Expectations were set so high and then here comes the billboard that hits me in the face and I go "waaa?" Maybe if I had discovered it on my own, I would've felt like it moved like a swift current, but it was slow and had been hyped so over-the-top that it was bound to disappoint. Conversely, "Kane" emerged as this other force during the 1960s. It felt dated but I think the haunting opening with Bernard Herrmann's Hitchcock-like score drew me in and I can still put it on my DVD and find something new each time. My opinion of Grand Illusion is a minority view and should be discarded because I'm just 1 out of 100 people who probably think it's just "good" but not "great. -koose. ----Original Message Follows---- From: Tom Kirby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Happy.... Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 23:14:50 +0100 Koose - just interested - why do you think La Grande Illusion is overrated? Tom Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
