Bucking the icon film

[guest24]

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.

[Andy M]

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

[Steffan]

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

[Bruce]

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.

[bullet350]

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

[Alan Hughes]

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.

[guest24]

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.

[themoudie]

Mmmmm 'Easy Rider', a bit up it's own backside!

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

"A biker never knows!" 

'On any Sunday' still hits the spot nicely.

All the best, Bill

[guest18]

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 

[Bill Rutter]

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?

[Steffan]

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 

[Steve Lake]

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'

[guest18]

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?  )

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! 

[themoudie]

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.

[Richard]

Recommended.  "I bought a Vampire Motorcycle".

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

Richard