The chocolate ginger nuts question
Jun. 11th, 2006 12:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
von_geisterhandAs I was packing my stuff into boxes a few days ago, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to listen to while I was doing it. For some reason I was feeling like listening to some spoken word, which is a bit of a problem as I had never given into that recent craze about getting lots of audio books. But then, it would appear that some of the bad habits of an ex of mine had rubbed off on me, for I decided that the thing to do was to stick on the "Donnie Darko" director's commentary and try to not look at the screen.
I think that I lasted about twenty minutes before I had to turn it off.
I, just as a few of you, I'm sure, am the sort of person that director's commentaries were made for. I want the personal views, I want the trivia*, I want it all! And I have never been less than vocal about the fact that I think that "Donnie Darko" is one of the great films of the past decade and that it has caused a strong emotional reaction in me. Not many films can make that claim. And every time I rewatch the film, I think "Yes, that is a truly great film!". So, of course, I did get the R1-DVD (as there was neither a german nor a UK-version at the time) and listened to both commentaries. And, basically, totally disliked the way the director interpreted the film. Not only does he tell very clearly and in great detail what is happening and why (which robs the film of its WTF-factor and interesting questions), but he also has an explanation for it which I feel is total crap and in no way clever and/or intriguing.
Of course, he then got a bit more money and had the chance to make his point even clearer in the Director's Cut and while I am all for the scenes that have been put back into the film, it can't help but totally hate the new CGI stuff. It makes it a totally different film and not one I particularly like. Certainly not one I would have ranted and raved about as much as I have about the film I saw at the Fantasy Filmfest in 2001. And that's why I shall not listen to the commentary agan in the near future, I think.
It would appear that sometimes putting two good things together does not make a very good thing.
*Which reminds me, here is a tiny detail that I noticed in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (which the IMDb found unworthy of being published): When they are whizzing through the factory in the glass elevator, they pass a desk with an Oompa Loompa in drag, whom Willy greets with "Hi, Doris!". Said Doris has a sign in front of her stating her department to be "Taste Accounting". Which goes to prove that, contrary to popular belief, there is accounting for taste. I thought it funny.
I think that I lasted about twenty minutes before I had to turn it off.
I, just as a few of you, I'm sure, am the sort of person that director's commentaries were made for. I want the personal views, I want the trivia*, I want it all! And I have never been less than vocal about the fact that I think that "Donnie Darko" is one of the great films of the past decade and that it has caused a strong emotional reaction in me. Not many films can make that claim. And every time I rewatch the film, I think "Yes, that is a truly great film!". So, of course, I did get the R1-DVD (as there was neither a german nor a UK-version at the time) and listened to both commentaries. And, basically, totally disliked the way the director interpreted the film. Not only does he tell very clearly and in great detail what is happening and why (which robs the film of its WTF-factor and interesting questions), but he also has an explanation for it which I feel is total crap and in no way clever and/or intriguing.
Of course, he then got a bit more money and had the chance to make his point even clearer in the Director's Cut and while I am all for the scenes that have been put back into the film, it can't help but totally hate the new CGI stuff. It makes it a totally different film and not one I particularly like. Certainly not one I would have ranted and raved about as much as I have about the film I saw at the Fantasy Filmfest in 2001. And that's why I shall not listen to the commentary agan in the near future, I think.
It would appear that sometimes putting two good things together does not make a very good thing.
*Which reminds me, here is a tiny detail that I noticed in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (which the IMDb found unworthy of being published): When they are whizzing through the factory in the glass elevator, they pass a desk with an Oompa Loompa in drag, whom Willy greets with "Hi, Doris!". Said Doris has a sign in front of her stating her department to be "Taste Accounting". Which goes to prove that, contrary to popular belief, there is accounting for taste. I thought it funny.
