Thumper Club Forum

Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: guest24 on November 16, 2007, 12:08:26 PM

Title: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest24 on November 16, 2007, 12:08:26 PM
Erm, not sure how to say this, but I found Easy Rider so boring and dull that I switched it off after 45 minutes. I think I may have been lacking in some mind-altering substance that would have enhanced my enjoyment of the film. On a positive note the scenery looked stunning.

To me, it belongs in the same bin as Midnight Cowboy and The Perfect Storm.

I have no doubt I will be shot down in flames for this most heinous opinion.
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Andy M on November 16, 2007, 12:40:13 PM
I'll join you in getting flamed then. Didn't particularly like the bikes and found it more of a tedious drugs film than anything else.

Now the motorcycle diaries I liked (despite been in Spanish with Subtitles) and of course The Great Escape and Where Eagles Dare have good bike bits.

Andy
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Steffan on November 16, 2007, 02:54:00 PM
Personally I liked it, along with the others mentioned. I think its more about the loss of a dream and the resultant nihilism than it is about bikes. Notwithstanding I thought the LSD scenes could have gone without any loss to the film.

Steffan

Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Bruce on November 16, 2007, 04:38:53 PM
I enjoyed watching it first time it was show in the local cinema many years ago,re The Great Escape riding around on a post war Triumph in a 2nd WW film does little for me.
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: bullet350 on November 16, 2007, 06:35:55 PM

easy rider is a bit crap. nothing happens at all, not in a big lebowski way but in a sunday with my nan kind of way.

the leather boys is much better. however be warned! type in 'the leather boys' in google and its quite unlikely you'll find triumphs and nortons.

Rendezvous is a proper film, no dialogue, no story, just a 12 pot 250 ferrari and the best soundtrack ever.

bullet350
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Alan Hughes on November 16, 2007, 08:47:53 PM
Yes, i remember seeing Easy Rider for the first time in 1969 when it first came out. It was a school trip organized by one of our younger teachers, we went to the Rex Cinema in East Finchley. The fact that I can remember this in so much detail is obviously an indication of the impact it had on me as a spotty fifteen year old! I was gobsmacked.

However, time marches on; I bought it on DVD earlier this year and as a spotty fifty three year old I have to regretfully admit that it's impact has sadly lessened. I totally agree with the remarks above that the LSD scenes are tedious and the general hippy outlook of the story heavily dated; but also that the scenery is still stupendous. In the intervening thirty eight years between viewings, I have been fortunate enough to visit some of those desert areas in the United States and can confirm they are even more breathtaking in real life.
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest24 on November 16, 2007, 10:13:03 PM
Ooohh I am pleased the consensus is most people dont like it too much. I feared being called "not a real biker 'cos I didn't like a real biker film". Pah. I feel vindicated.

My rant is about wasting precious time watching rubbish films like The Perfect Storm etc. I still cant believe me and the missus wasted 3hrs watching that. So, after 45 mins of Easy Rider, click went the DVD remote control and out came the disc and into the returns envelope. Little time lost.

Now, we have "Eye of The Needle" (as per Ken Follet book) DVD coming next from Amazon rental and I am looking forward to that. Quality WWII films rock! Saw the Dam Busters recently - fantastic!

However as a foot note I am fully accepting that everyone has a right to an opinion and I will respect their opinion regardless of whether or not it differs to mine. Oh, and everyone has the right to change their mind; that rule is not mutually exclusive to the fairer sex.
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: themoudie on November 16, 2007, 10:55:55 PM
Mmmmm :-\ 'Easy Rider', a bit up it's own backside!

Try the 2007 pastiche of 'Easy Rider', 'Wild Hogs' :D but good for a bit of slap stick. Certainly removes the anal bung of 'Easy Rider' ::)

"A biker never knows!"  8)

'On any Sunday' still hits the spot nicely. :)

All the best, Bill
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest18 on November 17, 2007, 12:16:40 AM
Quite liked the perfect storm myself... but the documentaries about making it and about the real storm are better  ;)
My view may have been coloured by them singing the psalm "Eternal Father, strong to save"... it always breaks me up. Brings on bad memories  :'( somewhat increases the emotional impact!

Also it's nice to see a hollywood film where the facts are more or less adhered to and there isn't a compulsory happy ending!

Now if you want a really dire film, how about U-571... I'm not sure where to start with the criticism!

Where Eagles Dare... Utter tosh but a great film and a *fantastic* theme tune  :)

Vanishing point? Probably better after one too many beers  ;)

erm what else.. Whisky Galore is great in many ways.. many old ealing B&W's. Watched "Brief Encounter" recently, what an amazing film for so little happening!
Oh and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I used to love the books and didn't think anyone would ever make a decent film of them, but I've been proven wrong  8)
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Bill Rutter on November 17, 2007, 07:51:56 AM
Two fillums I want to see are Come and See and also Life is Beautiful. I plan on watching the first (with copious amounts of Spitfire on the go to steady the nerves) and to follow that with, from what I've seen, a really clever piece of comedy involving the Holocaust. Sounds weird doesn't it? , but I bet even in the worst of conditions there were times when humour could lift the spirits. I'll see how it goes. Life is Beautiful got great reviews in some parts of the media and was panned in others.
Anyone seen either film?
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Steffan on November 17, 2007, 08:52:34 AM
Given that my first wife was Jewish it is perhaps not surprising that I tend to watch Holocaust films as they come out. I have to say that Life is Beautiful is outstanding!!! Without exception one of the most wrenchingly moving films ever made on the subject.

Steffan 
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Steve Lake on November 17, 2007, 01:39:34 PM
Most of the bike films of yesteryear leave me a bit cold now....I watched easy rider when it forst came out, and i was in the states at the time, didn't do a great deal for me then.

The great escape was a great bit of escapism....but fun to watch and well worth ignoring daft things like the postwar triumph etc
Magnificent seven was a good yarn (even if it was pinched from the seven samuri)

one of my favourite films has to be 'Das Boot' , well acted, superb sets, no frills no glory, and no americans winning the war for us all.....almost real!

I really must watch 'on any sunday'

Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest18 on November 17, 2007, 08:20:16 PM
one of my favourite films has to be 'Das Boot' , well acted, superb sets, no frills no glory, and no americans winning the war for us all.....almost real!

Now we're talking, got to be the original mini series though, in German with british subtitles. Absolutely superb!
(and does it make me sad that my text-tone for a while was "ALLLAAAARM" screamed by the first officer in the movie?  ;D )

30 seconds into the trailer..
&feature=related

A truly great anti war movie. If you haven't seen it make the effort and do so, and if you can't get hold of it come and visit and we'll have a "Das Boot" viewing night!  ;)
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: themoudie on November 18, 2007, 09:50:52 PM
I have no recollection of the first showing of 'Das Boot', but the re-run of it was clocked down the years, smelt the fear dripping off the bottom of the screen!

I will start seperate thread which has a similar feel of impending doom. Our Antipodean friends are not the full shilling and I shan't be trying to emulate them. It takes all sorts!

Rebuilds about to commence, but I shall continue to ceek!

My regards, Bill.
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Richard on November 19, 2007, 01:28:04 AM

Recommended.  "I bought a Vampire Motorcycle".

C**p, but good c**p.

Richard
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Richard 003 on November 19, 2007, 10:39:35 AM

Recommended.  "I bought a Vampire Motorcycle".

C**p, but good c**p.

Richard

Seconded. Also Psychomania, far better than Easy Rider.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067630/
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: pigafetta on November 19, 2007, 12:29:03 PM
Psychomania is a very silly film, brilliant though.  The Leather boys is a pretty good watch, too. I first saw Easyrider when I was about 18 and wondered what all the fuss was about, same with A Clockwork Orange. The first couple of Mad Max films are good fun but feature the gayest baddies I've ever seen. The Straight Story, thats more my kind of film. :)
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: Steve H on November 19, 2007, 12:50:16 PM
Spotted this the other day http://www.freedompicturecompany.com/. Looks like it panders to a few stereotypes, but could be amusing
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: bullet350 on November 19, 2007, 12:52:38 PM
re: mad max.

the one thing i don't understand is that during the films there is meant to be a fuel shortage.

why are they all on Z1's and in V8 cars?

surely they would all be on Bantams and Cub 90's?

admittedly the chase scenes would last forever, but a bit of realism please...

 bullet350
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest27 on November 19, 2007, 01:06:52 PM
And why is it a cult biker film when all the bikers apart from The Goose are made out to be dolts?

Ahh maybe that is the reason...

R
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: pigafetta on November 19, 2007, 09:08:17 PM
MadMax is pretty much a brainless action movie, you have to suspend your disbelief and not ask too many questions. Bikers generally get a bad deal in films. They're usually lumbering great giffords, drug addled or violent psychopaths. They tend to be a wee bit camp too. Dunno why.

Why are there not more bike related programmes on telly? I'm really enjoying 'Long Way down' although I'm not a big fan of Ewan McGregor. Are we that much of a minority that we're not worth catering for?
Title: Re: Bucking the icon film
Post by: guest7 on November 19, 2007, 09:35:52 PM
Life is beautiful - marvellous stuff, but a bit choking for the parents amongst us.

The Leather Boys - bloody ace (no pun intended).

All Ealing comedies - God bless Paul Balcon and his lovely studio

Easy Rider - I have never enjoyed watching it

The Perfect Storm - the book is so much better

Debbie Does Dowlais - top quality Welsh porn (ok made that one up)

On Any Sunday - peerless. Watch it.

Motorcycle Diaries - the bike bits are great, but it's a movie that stayed with me long after watching it. I really enjoyed it.

Pyschomania
(http://www.surfindead.com/psychomaniaa.jpg)

 What a sad way for George Sanders end his career. However, seeing Starfire riders debating doing the ton is entertaining. The bridge stunt is much classier than the rest of the film

BUT... is there any better movie with a bike involved than Powell and Pressburger's seminal A Matter of Life and Death?
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/53/A_Matter_of_Life_and_Death.jpg/200px-A_Matter_of_Life_and_Death.jpg)

I bloody love this movie and I annoy my wife by insisting on watching it at least once a year.
The bike bit? The doctor belts down some country lanes on his Norton single.

GC