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Conference bookie::movies

Title:	Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:	Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:	VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes

Created:	Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1249
Total number of notes:	16012

743.0. "Barry Lyndon" by EVMS::HALLYB (Fish have no concept of fire) Wed Jan 11 1995 20:36

    Screenplay written, movie produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick.
    Based on a novel by William Thackery. Released circa 1975.
    
    Ryan O'Neil plays the title character, an upscale, downbeat Tom Jones. 
    Born a middle-class Irishman, Barry wanders around 18th-century 
    Ireland, England and the Continent, in and out of arms and armies.
    
    For 3 hours we are treated to Barry's struggle for wealth and power.
    Problem is, he isn't that good at pursuing either. A fortuitous
    marriage into money and title leads only to subsequent ruin as we
    watch Barry squander and philander the family fortune.
    
    Nothing really happens in this movie. Barry goes to X, does Y and
    suffers consequences Z. Then goes to X', does Y' and so on. You've
    got to wonder if he has a "stupid" gene, the way he blows opportunity
    after opportunity. I found it frustrating to watch.
    
    Many good visual scenes do not translate well to the small screen.
    Many of the characters are well-acted, including a fine performance 
    by Patrick MacNee. But the movie doesn't GO anywhere and I didn't find
    Barry an interesting character so there isn't much there to watch. 
    Not recommended.
    
      John

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
743.1	stunning	RANGER::LINDT::bence	Unsticking my myths.	`Thu Jan 12 1995 11:30`	10
	Visually stunning - wasn't this film the first time a new technique was used that allowed filming be candlelight only? Lots of lush interiors and gorgeous costumes bathed in a dim golden glow. This film is essentially a string of lovely still-lifes. Stunningly boring - I remember resorting to counting words of dialog. Films that don't have a lot of dialog are not inherently boring, however when the lack of dialog is accompanied by a lack of action and a lack of compelling characters, stultifying boredom ensues.
743.2	Marvellous	STKAI1::T_ANDERSSON	The Tank Engine	`Fri Jan 13 1995 03:45`	20
	Barry Lyndon - a marvellous film! I certainly agree with .1 that Barry Lyndon is visually stunning. When I saw it on a big screen a couple of years ago, it was a truly breathtaking experience. However, I disagree with .0 and .1 that the film is boring. The extraordinary attention to detail makes it a joy to watch even when there is no action. Contrary to Thackeray's novel, there is very little emphasis on adventure and excitement in the film. Instead, you are given the opportunity to experience the fascinating rituals of the eighteenth century, which essentially make people look like mechanic toys in a highly rigid and artificial world, a fact that ultimately drives poor Barry into misery. As .0 mentions, the visual qualities of the film do not translate very well to the video format. Still, the tragic/comic/ironic points remain reasonably intact. In my opinion - a marvellous film if you're in the mood.
743.3		PENUTS::DDESMAISONS	too few args	`Fri Jan 13 1995 11:00`	4
	agree that it was "visually stunning" and "stunningly boring", and i'm not one to get bored during films.
743.4		WONDER::REILLY	Sean / Alpha Servers DTN:223-4375	`Sat Jan 14 1995 21:02`	3
	Never saw the flick, but I love reading Mad magazines' sendup called "Borey Lindon" :^)
743.5		SUFRNG::WSA038::SATTERFIELD	Close enough for jazz.	`Tue Jan 24 1995 14:08`	10
	I agree with previous replies as to it's visual beauty and general level of interest, one of the most boring films I've ever seen. I would never have watched it all but I was a captive audience. The first half hour or so is really quite interesting. If the last 2.5 hours had been as interesting it would have been an excellent film. Too bad. Randy
743.6		RANGER::LINDT::bence	Unsticking my myths.	`Mon Jan 30 1995 16:47`	4
	Useless factlet of the day: The cinematographer for "Barry Lyndon" also filmed "Beastmaster".