Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The First Problem

John Nolte:
There are two major problems with director Peter Weir’s “The Way Back,” a film “inspired” by the incredible story of seven prisoners who escape from a Soviet gulag circa 1940 only to discover that 4500 miles of hostile terrain lies between them and freedom. The first problem is that the story feels like one big anachronism. We’re twenty-plus years past the Cold War and, in the form of Islamic terrorism, facing an entirely new and different kind of evil. The point of telling this story decades after it might have actually done some good for the millions who died in these Siberian death camps is never made clear.
Anti-Socialist Anti-Islamist Realism is a stern taskmaster.
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16 comments:

  1. Smut ClydeMay 5, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    It would be easy to parody Mr Nolte's disapproval of movies that recount events from more than 10 years ago. It would also be very depressing, so I'll leave it to ZRM since he's depressed already.

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  2. ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©May 5, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    What a frickin' dope!
    ~

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  3. fishMay 5, 2011 at 6:12 AM

    This is exactly why I don't read Tolkien. It has no relevance to present day. I mean, when was the last time you saw a hobbit (at least when you were sober)?

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  4. guitarist manquéMay 5, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    A paltry few religious fanatics who managed to get off one good one before being scattered to the wind == Soviet empire. Got it.

    wv: chinging ; There's never enough I tell you.

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  5. tigrisMay 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Wasn't the book it was based on only published in 1997? And what was Mr Nolte's take on "300?"

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  6. Big Bad Bald BastardMay 5, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    I mean, when was the last time you saw a hobbit (at least when you were sober)?

    I dated a hobbit- I was nuts over her.

    I'm glad Mr. Nolte told me that the primary purpose of a film is not entertainment.

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  7. Dr.KennethNoisewaterMay 5, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    "I dated a hobbit- I was nuts over her."


    I was gonna make a joke, then saw you'd already made it. Shan't be back.

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  8. KathleenMay 5, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    The first problem is that the story feels like one big anachronism.

    I guess the director should've had 1940s sets created. good point M. Nolte!

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  9. Smut ClydeMay 5, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Wasn't the book it was based on only published in 1997?

    The UK edition was 1956.

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  10. zombie rotten mcdonaldMay 5, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I dated a hobbit- I was nuts over her.

    stop it.

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  11. zombie rotten mcdonaldMay 5, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    so I'll leave it to ZRM since he's depressed already.

    I'm not feeling very good about that.

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  12. tigrisMay 5, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    Well dang, that's the last time I let a cursory look at one book on Amazon stand in for research. At least until the next time.

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  13. Smut ClydeMay 5, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    If memory serves the publisher was Pan, and the cover art was about as cheesy as you might expect.

    W/v says "barmi". Some might leap to the conclusion that w/v is really Evangeline van Holsteren.

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  14. Smut ClydeMay 5, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    I've been VINDICATED!!

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  15. fishMay 6, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Cheese is in the eye of the beholder.

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  16. mikeyMay 6, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    I totally wanna see that movie. I'll go looking for the torrent over the weekend...

    ReplyDelete

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