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Film Critics Barred From Mars
Internet Movie Database ^ | 6-23-05

Posted on 06/23/2005 4:06:51 PM PDT by Paul Atreides

New York film critics have been barred from tonight's (Thursday) premiere of Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, leading New York Times columnist Campbell Robertson to wax poetic -- Yeatsian, really -- to speculate whether the snub might have something to do with star Tom Cruise's Scientology beliefs, or last weekend's incident in which a bogus reporter squirted him with a phony microphone, or his bizarre behavior on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. ("The press lacks all conviction, while TOM CRUISE/Is full of passionate intensity, /Really, really passionate intensity.") Meanwhile, film critics in Germany threatened Wednesday to boycott War of the Worlds if they are required to sign an agreement not to publish a review before its June 29 release date in that country. While an informal agreement exists between U.S. critics and studios to withhold publication of reviews of new movies until the day of their premieres, no such agreement exists in Germany. In a statement released Wednesday, the Association of German Film Critics said that the studio demand represents "scandalous P.R." and "obstructs the press from its constitutionally guaranteed rights."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: sheilajacksonlee
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To: Paul Atreides
Well, if he expected good reviews from the git-go this may not be the best approach.

Just a personal impression, but this one's got "stinker" written all over it.

41 posted on 06/23/2005 4:30:07 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: An American in Turkiye

No problem. But you are right, Shakespeare, this will not be.


42 posted on 06/23/2005 4:30:24 PM PDT by AmishDude (Once you go black hat, you never go back.)
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To: clearlight
Agreed.

The last Spielberg movie I truly enjoyed was "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Back then, he focused on entertainment, keeping his personal political views to himself.

But since he abandoned the Boy Scouts, took an anti-gun position with the digital "adjustment" of "E.T.", and endorsed both Gore AND Kerry, I've lost all interest in anything Mr. Spielberg creates.

IMHO, he's not worth my $$.

43 posted on 06/23/2005 4:30:39 PM PDT by kromike
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To: kromike

Come on, Schindler's List was very enjoyable.


44 posted on 06/23/2005 4:31:23 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Borges

Especially, when one considers Orson Welles' age at the time, and that he was directing such a big picture while he was an unknown.


45 posted on 06/23/2005 4:31:58 PM PDT by Paul Atreides (FACT: You can get more reliable information in a beauty shop, than from the media)
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To: Paul Atreides

Welles was 25 and possibly 24 when production began. Actually Spielberg was that age when he made 'Duel'.


46 posted on 06/23/2005 4:33:01 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Paul Atreides

All the buzz on this is VERY positive. Spielberg is beyond the need of the press--even his bad movies make money, with some exceptions (AI)--so he's just tossing his weight and getting MORE publicity for this.


47 posted on 06/23/2005 4:36:38 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Don't suffer fools gladly? I don't suffer them at all.)
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To: Darkwolf377

I maitain A.I. was a terrific film that will only look better over the years. Same with 'Empire of the Sun'. Can't same the same for a 'moneymaker' like 'Hook'. :-)


48 posted on 06/23/2005 4:37:40 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Borges
It's an entertaining film if you are a film buff and know your history. Modern viewers can't really appreciate how amazingly groundbreaking that film is. Also, the allusions to William Randolph Hearst just don't hold up.

To be honest, though, I thought the acting -- other than Welles -- was lackluster and the old-age makeup was pretty bad.

49 posted on 06/23/2005 4:37:54 PM PDT by AmishDude (Once you go black hat, you never go back.)
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To: ahayes

50 posted on 06/23/2005 4:38:59 PM PDT by jimbo123
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To: Paul Atreides

They just don't want you to know that Tim Robbins is in it. If they talk about the film, they have to mention him. He alone cost Mystic River 30 million.


51 posted on 06/23/2005 4:39:04 PM PDT by RabidBartender (chill wind! chill wind! Mama Susie, help me!)
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: AmishDude

I obviously can't divroce myself from my knowledge about film history but it seems like an ebullient and fun piece of 'can I top myself' cinema. I always thought Welles was a hammy actor but the others...Joeseph Cotten and especially Dorothy Comingore were wonderful. And Cotten thought at the time that his old age make up was terrible! Listen to Ebert's commentary on the DVD. It's illuminating from start to finish.


53 posted on 06/23/2005 4:40:44 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Mike Darancette

The buzz is:

Cruise isn't believable as an average Joe.

Not enough destruction.

Not enough aliens.

Not a traditional blockbuster.

Spielberg's Blame America for 9/11 undertone is annoying.

Ending sucks.


54 posted on 06/23/2005 4:42:00 PM PDT by jimbo123
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To: Borges
AI would have been better if Kubrick had directed it, and Spielberg didn't "Spielberg" it up. So much of it was just plain stupid--example, they can clone the mother for one day--WHY just for one day? (Answer: So Spielberg can have his "bittersweet" ending.)

Spielberg tried too hard to make a Kubrick film.

Hook was GHASTLY, like a Broadway show directed by a pedophile.

55 posted on 06/23/2005 4:43:32 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Don't suffer fools gladly? I don't suffer them at all.)
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To: Darkwolf377
Broadway show directed by a pedophile

Well said. But I don't think the ending of A.I. was the least bit happy. (He has one fake day with a faux family and dies! the implication being that the only way the ideal Spielbergian nuclear family can be realized these days is in a fantasy). It's self critical to say the least.
56 posted on 06/23/2005 4:45:17 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Paul Atreides
I've already barred myself from seeing...Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds

(Perhaps if I can pick up the DVD in a month or so at the local grocery store for $6.99 I may end up viewing it)

FMCDH(BITS)

57 posted on 06/23/2005 4:50:13 PM PDT by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: An American in Turkiye

Hey, wait a minute.

I wipe off drool immediately so that it doesn't offend anyone.


58 posted on 06/23/2005 4:54:27 PM PDT by altura
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To: montag813

"This is untrue. Spielberg did not direct the Kerry film."

Ah, I was under the impression that this was the work of Spielberg himself. I stand corrected.


59 posted on 06/23/2005 4:55:15 PM PDT by clearlight
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To: Borges

I will never forgive the guy for A.I.--possibly the dreariest, most pointless movie ever made.

Until I think of the next one.

Lucas and Spielberg should have stopped at the top of their game -- maybe 10 years ago.


60 posted on 06/23/2005 4:56:19 PM PDT by altura
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