New War Picture Gentlemen

[Footslogger]

Its called "Fury." It will be out this November. Please give me your impression of the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q94n3eWOWXM

[Reg]

This looks good with what appears to a very strong emphasis on authenticity with some spectacular cinematography. This is to be expected from the typical English production and it looks like they have pulled out all the stops.

extracted the comments on the YouTube site:

seanyboyo1969 6 days ago
They used 2 tigers one was a part replica (the one you see taking hits), they used real Panthers & Mk4 as well as tons of original kit, brought from all over the UK by collectors & reenactors! The early model Tiger1 is a fully runing original from the Bovington tank museum (captured in Tunisia early 1943 by the British army) as well as this their Panther was also used , another Panther was from a private collection in England as was the Mk4. Historical groups loaned Shermans trucks & halftracks (Allied & German). I had some friends working on this film, and can tell you that it's the most authentic presentation (kit wise) ww2 movie ever! And these blokes worked on Saving Private Ryan, Captain Correlis Mandarin, Band of Brothers & a few others! So enjoy the feast if your a WW2 buff & love to see accurate WW2 German tactics weapons & panzers! I'm just gutted i missed out on this filming!!!

However, I was intrigued by the choice of Brad Pitt as the lead (though he seems to have done a good job - in the trailer at least) but the strength of a movie is in the plot so I did a bit of digging and found the film is being written and directed by David Ayer whose past screenplays include U-571!! [X(]

All of a sudden I am filled with trepidation. Will we have another Hollywood style visularly spectacular TMTSNBM or Red Tails on our hands..... [:(]

[Big B]

It looks nice, but the director mentioned above gives me pause too (U-571[X(]???)

Plot summary(from Wiki):
The film is set during the last months of World War II in April 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theater, a battle-hardened U.S. Army sergeant in the 2nd Armored Division named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank called "Fury" and its five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

A couple things;
1)In 1945 as the US Army pushed deep into Germany - they were anything BUT outnumbered and out gunned. The Whermacht was a ghost of an army by then (also - I'm tired of calling everything German in WWII - 'NAZI'...They don't refer to the Americans as Democrats, or Republicans, nor the Brits as Labor Party...whatever)
2) What bothered me most about the trailer is - after watching it - I still had no idea what the movie was about? It used to be when you saw a film trailer like A Bridge Too Far ...you knew what the story was about...

I hope it's good, but I fear another nice looking "stinker" from Hollywood.

[crsutton]

Well the tank aspect seems pretty cool but otherwise the same old cheesy war movie dialogue and cliches. It is hard to make a good war film.

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: Big B

2) What bothered me most about the trailer is - after watching it - I still had no idea what the movie was about? It used to be when you saw a film trailer like A Bridge Too Far ...you knew what the story was about...

Sadly I think I do. The typical understated Hollywood hero with emotional baggage overcomes personal tragedy to win the day inspite of overwhelming odds (5 against 300 was mentioned in the clip...) and save the Allied war effort from certain defeat (whilst not forgetting to rescue the Enigma machine from the burning Tiger...[:'(]). There is usually some sort of applause or ticker tape parade/medal presentation to finish. [8|]

When I see this I am reminded of the old cliche about Army cooks being Fitters and Turners. The joke goes they fit perfectly good food into pots and turn it into s...

In this case I think they take talented overseas sub-contracted film makers (because they're cheaper than home), try to fit the product into the standard Hollywood studio film making paradigms and turn the film into s...

Sometimes I wonder why Hollywood can't just bankroll these sort of films (who else has the cash) without sticking their nose into how it is made. There are talented people out there and they might just be surprised.

[Reg]

Anyway, let's not pre-judge too much until we see it. There are talented people involved in the project and they may just pull off an enjoyable film*.

(* Just don't count on it).

[Chris21wen]

ORIGINAL: Big B

It looks nice, but the director mentioned above gives me pause too (U-571[X(]???)

Plot summary(from Wiki):
The film is set during the last months of World War II in April 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theater, a battle-hardened U.S. Army sergeant in the 2nd Armored Division named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank called "Fury" and its five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

A couple things;
1)In 1945 as the US Army pushed deep into Germany - they were anything BUT outnumbered and out gunned. The Whermacht was a ghost of an army by then (also - I'm tired of calling everything German in WWII - 'NAZI'...They don't refer to the Americans as Democrats, or Republicans, nor the Brits as Labor Party...whatever)
2) What bothered me most about the trailer is - after watching it - I still had no idea what the movie was about? It used to be when you saw a film trailer like A Bridge Too Far ...you knew what the story was about...

I hope it's good, but I fear another nice looking "stinker" from Hollywood.

How do you send a single Tank behind enemy lines? It's to big too hide and the expression ' deadly mission behind enemy lines' implies some sort of covertness. Just another Hollywood bag of ^%^&%. What they should do is take a leave out of the German book if they want to learn how to make war moves.

[spence]

.They don't refer to the Americans as Democrats, or Republicans,

IRL: Unless the USS William D Porter was in port![:D][:D][:D]

[Erkki]

Is it really an impossibility to make a good movie set in either one of the world wars? There hasn't been one since the 1980s that I have seen besides the documentary Tali-Ihantala and HBO series Pacific and Band of Brothers. [:(]

[Miller]

I'm surprised "Rent a GI" Tom Sizemore isn't in it.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Reg

ORIGINAL: Big B

2) What bothered me most about the trailer is - after watching it - I still had no idea what the movie was about? It used to be when you saw a film trailer like A Bridge Too Far ...you knew what the story was about...

Sadly I think I do. The typical understated Hollywood hero with emotional baggage overcomes personal tragedy to win the day inspite of overwhelming odds (5 against 300 was mentioned in the clip...) and save the Allied war effort from certain defeat (whilst not forgetting to rescue the Enigma machine from the burning Tiger...[:'(]). There is usually some sort of applause or ticker tape parade/medal presentation to finish. [8|]

When I see this I am reminded of the old cliche about Army cooks being Fitters and Turners. The joke goes they fit perfectly good food into pots and turn it into s...

In this case I think they take talented overseas sub-contracted film makers (because they're cheaper than home), try to fit the product into the standard Hollywood studio film making paradigms and turn the film into s...

Sometimes I wonder why Hollywood can't just bankroll these sort of films (who else has the cash) without sticking their nose into how it is made. There are talented people out there and they might just be surprised.

I was thinking Battle of the bulge. Didn't see any snow but the trees looked bare...GP

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Is it really an impossibility to make a good movie set in either one of the world wars? There hasn't been one since the 1980s that I have seen besides the documentary Tali-Ihantala and HBO series Pacific and Band of Brothers. [:(]

I have a brother in the film business, and I can answer that in a quick comment "it's all about the producers (the money men) and what they want".
Of course they could make some terrific movies today, but there has been a disturbing trend since the 90s at least - to return to the worst flat/propagandistic style not seen since early WWII...very sophomoric and one dimensional....in Hollywood at least.

[GaryChildress]

Wait a minute where is the hot babe who falls in love with her husband's brother? this movie is junk! [:D]

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Big B

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Is it really an impossibility to make a good movie set in either one of the world wars? There hasn't been one since the 1980s that I have seen besides the documentary Tali-Ihantala and HBO series Pacific and Band of Brothers. [:(]

I have a brother in the film business, and I can answer that in a quick comment "it's all about the producers (the money men) and what they want".
Of course they could make some terrific movies today, but there has been a disturbing trend since the 90s at least - to return to the worst flat/propagandistic style not seen since early WWII...very sophomoric and one dimensional....in Hollywood at least.

I was reading the other day that the director of the movie "Brazil" had to fight tooth and nail to get the American release to keep to his original ending. The Hollywood studio or whatever that was going to release it here in the US evidently conducted some sort of poll among movie goers or something that showed people wanted a different ending. So much for artistic expression I guess... [:(]

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Big B

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Is it really an impossibility to make a good movie set in either one of the world wars? There hasn't been one since the 1980s that I have seen besides the documentary Tali-Ihantala and HBO series Pacific and Band of Brothers. [:(]

I have a brother in the film business, and I can answer that in a quick comment "it's all about the producers (the money men) and what they want".
Of course they could make some terrific movies today, but there has been a disturbing trend since the 90s at least - to return to the worst flat/propagandistic style not seen since early WWII...very sophomoric and one dimensional....in Hollywood at least.

I was reading the other day that the director of the movie "Brazil" had to fight tooth and nail to get the American release to keep to his original ending. The Hollywood studio or whatever that was going to release it here in the US evidently conducted some sort of poll among movie goers or something that showed people wanted a different ending. So much for artistic expression I guess... [:(]

Yep, My brother is a very successful screen writer and exec producer, and he has to deal with everything the Studios do. In a way - it's amazing anything other than soft-porn gets completed...giving the studio execs drive for money money money.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Big B

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Is it really an impossibility to make a good movie set in either one of the world wars? There hasn't been one since the 1980s that I have seen besides the documentary Tali-Ihantala and HBO series Pacific and Band of Brothers. [:(]

I have a brother in the film business, and I can answer that in a quick comment "it's all about the producers (the money men) and what they want".
Of course they could make some terrific movies today, but there has been a disturbing trend since the 90s at least - to return to the worst flat/propagandistic style not seen since early WWII...very sophomoric and one dimensional....in Hollywood at least.

I was reading the other day that the director of the movie "Brazil" had to fight tooth and nail to get the American release to keep to his original ending. The Hollywood studio or whatever that was going to release it here in the US evidently conducted some sort of poll among movie goers or something that showed people wanted a different ending. So much for artistic expression I guess... [:(]

This happens all the time. Read about "Blade Runner" and the ending for that great film. Bridge over the River Kwai was one of the great novel to come out of WWII. When they made the movie (also excellent) the producers made David Lean put an American in the movie (William Holden). Not to knock Bill Holden but it just was lame. This is not a new thing either. It has been going on forever. Those that have the money make the rules.

[tigercub]

I will pre-judge it will be ok but not going to get you talking much more than this blog has now! pearl harbor :)will it sink lets see!

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: Big B
Yep, My brother is a very successful screen writer and exec producer, and he has to deal with everything the Studios do. In a way - it's amazing anything other than soft-porn gets completed...giving the studio execs drive for money money money.

There has always been hokiness in the movie biz. My SO is a film buff, but hates most early movies. In her opinion only a few of the actors and directors of the 30s and 40s could get work today. The acting in many of those movies was very wooden compared to modern film.

I've gotten disgusted with the constant stream of comic book movies in recent years. I never had much interest in them and lost all interest around age 12. Most of these movies are all action and virtually no plot.

Where the real story telling is going on today is on TV. A number of serious movie actors have crossed over to do what are essentially very long movies for TV. Other than Band of Brothers and The Pacific, there still haven't been many good war stories told on the small screen in recent years, but there are a lot of other TV programs, mostly on cable or straight to video on Netflix or Amazon that are very good. I think someone will take up the challenge to make war stories for TV the new way soon. With CGI, a lot of things that used to involve a lot of expensive hardware can all be done better in CGI in someone's basement.

Youtube and other streaming video sites have also opened the door for independent film makers to tell their stories on the cheap. You don't need to make a deal with a major studio to get your indy film out there anymore. I read an interview with an indy movie maker who produced a film 10 or so years ago and he said making and editing the film was easy compared to the uphill slog to get it released.

I think the rules for making and distributing entertainment are changing. Who knows what the landscape will look like in 10 years?

Bill

[Thayne]

Movie companies are in the business of selling what people are wanting to buy. That is the reason for the focus groups and other tests - to determine what people will spend money for. If you want to change what Hollywood sells, you have to change what people want to buy.

But it makes no sense to say to the Hollywood company, "I want you to sacrifice $10 million in revenue to make me happy - and, no, I will do nothing to compensate you for the loss."

[wdolson]

They also tend to be timid. Hollywood has become very formula driven again as budgets for movies have gone up.

The competitive playing field has also changed in both movies and TV. TV used to be weak competition for movies, but big screen TVs are now common and a large number of people stay home where there is tremendous competition for viewers. As a consumer you can watch a movie streaming from Netflix or Amazon, or you could stream their original content, or you could watch one of the many shows made for cable, or you could watch network TV, or you could turn on your Xbox and make your own entertainment.

It used to be that Hollywood movies made most of their money in the theaters, but a mega hit breaks even in the theaters today. Most Hollywood movies make their profit from foreign sales. So the movies aren't just made for American audiences anymore. Threading the needle with a story that will appeal to American, Indian, and Chinese audiences is tough. It's probably why plots have gone out the window. People got to movies now to see things blow up.

Bill