Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Old but fooking Gold!

Its nay secret that like many other angry young men, me abso-fooking-lutely loves the Godfather trilogy. And though me has seen the films numerous times, me never tires of watching or recommending them to others. And yes, me may a bit over zealous at times, but that's just me (so spare me the lecture).
Anyways, wifey & meself did something me has always wanted to do which is to watch all three films in one sitting. And last weekend, Seth, wifey & meself sat down fer a Godfather marathon. All nine hours of it!!!

And fook me, the impact is still tremendous. The sheer scope & breadth of the storytelling, the career-defining performances & brilliant cinematography meant we didn't even notice our sore butts.
The first film has a slow build up but this allows all the characters to be fully fleshed out. We see how a clean cut Michael Corleone tries to break away from his familia's criminal activities only to be sucked in when his beloved father is gunned down.
Here is the central appeal of these films, the conflicted young man forced to shed blood & make difficult decisions fer the sake of his family. The anti-hero with nay choice but to go down a river of blood. Many of us are just absolute suckers fer that!
As many of ye would know, the second instalment has been described by famed auteur Stanley Kubrick as the greatest film of all time. With its parallel storyline sweeping back to Sicily tracing the roots of La Cosa Nostra, yer treated to a visual spectacle that has yet to be matched to this very day.

Many fans also love the fact that the script brings plenty of realism such as the Vatican banking scandal in PtIII & the mob's doomed projects in Cuba after the Commie revolution (PtII) into play giving the films real substance. Fer sure, the films romanticize the gangster lifestyle but hey, since when was that a crime?

Yer kindly invited to share yer thoughts on this masterpiece & why it means so much to yer.

ps: Even those who think its crap are invited to share yer thoughts . . .

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Agreed. A lot of the older classics are simply just that because it was all about storytelling. Its about building the mood, pace, creating tension, texture and meaning - all thru the actors, the screen play and even the soundtrack. All factors merge together to make that rare 'X' factor that is the DNA of any classic.

Its sad to see that sorely lacking in the calibre of mainstream movies of today. Everything relies on starpower, theatrics, 3D, merchandising empires just to quench the insatiable lust of MTV fed short attention spans.

Anba said...

Balaji:- i only saw the 1st two only..the 3rd never managed to watch it...
Gotta i agree with you..but i had a rude shock when watching the 1st part...
didn't expect that mani ratnam director of Nayagan the tamil version of godfather curi the last scene where the baptism of the boy is interlaced with the gruesome killing of the rival gangster 100% ditiru..really spoilt my respect for nayagan..
but either you feel it or you dont..
..

anfield devotee said...

Well said premo. It is all those factors which combined to give these films its classic status.

Have shared these with the intern in me office & he has been blown away.

Anba: Much copied but never bettered . . .

Anba said...

sorry fer the hijack thot this mite interest some ppl


Official" press release below:

* METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH AND ANTHRAX TO PERFORM TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY *

* THE BIG FOUR CONFIRMED FOR SONISPHERE POLAND AND CZECH REPUBLIC *

* MORE BIG FOUR APPEARANCES AT SONISPHERE SHOWS PLANNED *

The world wide web has been abound with speculation on a possible "BIG FOUR" tour for several months. Now, SONISPHERE can exclusively reveal that METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will play together for the first time in history, in a move that will have metalheads across the globe frenzied with excitement.

Says LARS ULRICH/METALLICA of this historic announcement:
"Who would have thought that more than 25 years after its inception, thrash metal's big 4 would not only still be around and more popular than ever, but will now play together for the first time...what a mindfuck! Bring it on!"

"It's about fucking time this happened," declares SLAYER's KERRY KING. "and about time the fans finally get what they want. This is fucking awesome."

ANTHRAX guitarist SCOTT IAN agrees, commenting on the enormity of the announcement.

"People have been talking about these four bands playing together since 1984. That's twenty-six years of expectation!!! And the thing is, I believe not only will we live up to the expectations, we will shatter them!! No other four bands as influential as the four of us have ever done this. Imagine if The Beatles, Stones, The Who and Zeppelin had done shows? Or Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Motorhead? Well, I may be getting into some rarified air here but as a fan, that's how big I feel this is."

These four legendary acts broke out of the underground thrash movement to dominate the metal world in the 1980s, selling millions of records and packing arenas across the globe. The metal giants have never before all shared the same stage, despite huge demand. But on 16th June 2010, METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will take to the SONISPHERE stage at Bemowo Airport, Poland, to make the dreams of headbangers the world over become a reality. A second Big Four appearance is planned for SONISPHERE CZECH REPUBLIC three days later, with more SONISPHERE shows featuring the awesome combo to be announced in the coming days and weeks.

"This is a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for Heavy Metal "Fans" to see the four greatest Heavy Metal "Bands" in American History back together on one stage" concludes MEGADETH mainman DAVE MUSTAINE. "If there are any heads left at the end of this Festival that haven't banged, they don't belong there."

Anba said...

any air asia flight to czech or polska...?

anfield devotee said...

Wow that's some news, Anba.

Thanx.

ps: Er . . . not to sound like a gloating prick but me has had the privilege of watching all four bands strut their stuff live before . . .

Anba said...

Balaji..strangley i had a feeling you might have seen all of em..snigger snigger..
but me really dont mind spending me money here and opted fer some simple wedding ceremony..
just have to wait fer some youtube postage i guess :-)...

while im here heres a list of the top 50) movies vited at imdb...
op 50 movies as voted by our users
For this top 250, only votes from regular voters are considered.

Rank Rating Title Votes
1. 9.1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 459,723
2. 9.1 The Godfather (1972) 374,492
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974) 219,928
4. 8.9 Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966) 138,848
5. 8.9 Pulp Fiction (1994) 375,718
6. 8.8 Schindler's List (1993) 248,845
7. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 191,555
8. 8.8 12 Angry Men (1957) 101,389
9. 8.8 The Dark Knight (2008) 407,375
10. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 253,740
11. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 327,869
12. 8.8 Star Wars (1977) 296,948
13. 8.8 Casablanca (1942) 154,337
14. 8.7 Goodfellas (1990) 206,112
15. 8.7 Shichinin no samurai (1954) 88,029
16. 8.7 Cidade de Deus (2002) 147,197
17. 8.7 Fight Club (1999) 341,682
18. 8.7 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 224,450
19. 8.7 Rear Window (1954) 107,767
20. 8.7 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 354,208
21. 8.7 The Usual Suspects (1995) 244,565
22. 8.7 Psycho (1960) 130,013
23. 8.7 C'era una volta il West (1968) 65,238
24. 8.6 The Silence of the Lambs (1991) 222,081
25. 8.6 The Matrix (1999) 345,860
26. 8.6 Memento (2000) 243,984
27. 8.6 Se7en (1995) 249,275
28. 8.6 It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 92,661
29. 8.6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 297,251
30. 8.6 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 144,595
31. 8.6 Sunset Blvd. (1950) 48,875
32. 8.6 Citizen Kane (1941) 128,557
33. 8.6 North by Northwest (1959) 85,113
34. 8.6 Léon (1994) 177,577
35. 8.6 Apocalypse Now (1979) 158,898
36. 8.5 American Beauty (1999) 268,181
37. 8.5 American History X (1998) 200,945
38. 8.5 Forrest Gump (1994) 267,725
39. 8.5 Taxi Driver (1976) 139,782
40. 8.5 Vertigo (1958) 83,281
41. 8.5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 73,196
42. 8.5 WALL·E (2008) 153,827
43. 8.5 Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) 162,780
44. 8.5 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 213,117
45. 8.5 Alien (1979) 163,035
46. 8.5 Saving Private Ryan (1998) 246,671
47. 8.5 A Clockwork Orange (1971) 175,812
48. 8.5 The Shining (1980) 159,863
49. 8.4 The Departed (2006) 233,129
50. 8.4 Paths of Glory (1957) 40,439

Anba said...

well balaji most of the movies u suggested mmg masuk top ten hhehehe

sure missing some of my fav...
Butch Cassidy...
Cool hand luke
Snatch...

and etc...

Tinesh said...

JIYEAHHH!!! You prolly heard me a million times already about the trilogy. I just dloaded the trilogy and watched it for possibly the millionth time. So not saying anything else already.

ps: who would ever think the movies are crap?

pps: one of the few book-to-movie instances where the movie is better than the book. The spin off books by Mark Winegardner are pretty awesome as well.

ppps: The games are too good!

pppps: sorry for the rambling. The Godfather happens to be the greatest thing ever :P

anfield devotee said...

Anba: Nay Trainspotting as well (besides the aforementioned Snatch).

Tinesh: Am sure ye have come across people who found the film boring or too "talky-talky". He he.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

i actually sat through the 9 hours first time watching the movie.

When the new Pope was to be selected after John Paul's demise, I remember telling my old man a decision by the cardinals is made only when we see white smoke comes out through the chimney of the sistine chapel. this all thanks to their second instalment...hehe...

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

Debbie Does Dallas not in the top 50?

TIPU!

Muahahahaa...

Anba said...

kerp...
I thot behind the green door or Deep throat was better ...
by the way bro this list taken from imdb not iafd
hehehe

Anba said...

t-man did you know bout lamb of good coming to singapore in april 15th 2010..?
sounds interesting
Metal Junkies unite! Step inside and feel the wrath of LAMB OF GOD! LAMC Productions is proud to announce the Grammy nominated self-described “Pure American Metal” quintet from Richmond, VA will unleash their brand of Heavy Metal in Singapore for the very first time on 15 April, 2010 at D’Marquee, Downtown East.

Lamb Of God are touring in support of their vicious new album Wrath. The album made its debut at Number 2 on the Billboard 200 charts and sold 68,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Lamb of God consists of guitarist Willie Adler, Willie’s drummer brother Chris Adler, bassist John Campbell, guitarist Mark Morton and vocalist Randy Blythe.

Lamb Of God Official website: http://www.lamb-of-god.com

Event: Lamb Of God - Wrath World Tour
Date/Time: 15 April 2010 (8.00pm)
Minimum Age For Entry: 12 years old
Venue: D'Marquee, Downtown East

Standard Tickets: $95 each
Group of 5 - 9 tickets: $85 each
Group of 10 and above tickets: $75 each (till 21 January 2010)
(Group purchase call Hotline: 6296 - 2929 )
(Additional 7% GST and $2 Booking Fee applies)

Tickets go on sale 21 December at all Tickets.com outlets.
Find a Tickets.com outlet near you - http://tdc.sg/outlets
Booking Hotline: (65) 6296-2929
Online booking: http://tdc.sg/events/details.aspx?eid=6374

Be a fan of LAMC Productions to receive frequent updates
http://www.facebook.com/lamcproductions7

Follow us on Twitter for breaking news
http://twitter.com/lamcproductions

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for post-show videos
http://www.youtube.com/lamcproductions7

INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS
1. Click 'Invite People To Come' on the right.
2. Select your friends to invite them.
3. Hit 'Send Invitations'

anfield devotee said...

Anba: Say 'no' to s'pore . . .

kerp: Me has suggested to ye before that ye should do a porno top 5 on yer blog . . .

Tinesh said...

Anba: yea i heard. but if all goes well, I'll be in aussie in feb. So if they play there before singapore, I'll watch them there la

Anba said...

Balaji...y no?...bad experience eh..
what to oo balaji if our gomen takda stuck up..they can always play here..
When it come to metal..malaysia tak boleh hanya singapore boleh..

anfield devotee said...

Anba: Me stands firm - say 'no' to spore.

Just cannae stand that place & its 'people' . . .

Unknown said...

Speakin of S'pore..

Dinosaur Jr will be performin March 16 2010, The Esplanade. I'm def goin!

Anba said...

balaji..bout the ppl i agree bout the place..i think the food there is better...

anfield devotee said...

The food?

WTF!!!???!!!

Wantan mee with tomato ketchup?

'Ampang' Yong Tau Foo?

Fook that mate.