20Q's for the next Rifftrax 10/15/10 @ 1PM PST!!!

[stansimpson]

I'd be interested in reading that article, but I haven't seen the movie (yet).  As soon as I do, I'll come back to that.

To stay somewhat on topic (different versions and all), did you know that the (infamous) 3D version is only available in Europe as a Region 2 blu-ray?  You know, a Region 1 would've been great.  It could finally have killed off the silly post-conversion 3D market!  HA!

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

I mean, I think the times the studio versions were better than the director's has been better ever could be counted on one hand.

"Airplane!" was edited down from 4hrs wherein they only kept the parts where people laughed.  Suffice it to say, audiences can have very worthy contributions.

  Ever seen the movie that inspired it - Zero Hour?  Zero Hour wasn't four hours and Airplane! was never meant to be that long.

If you listen to the commentary of Airplane!...there's two major differences to what you're talking about and what is happening now.  In the case of Airplane!, Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker were the ones who personally ran the tests on audiences...and they loaded the film with all their ideas in a kind of "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" feedback approach.  They never intended to use everything they showed those first groups - they weren't seeing the "final cut".   And I doubt sincerely that Woody Allen had his movies messed with after the fact by others.

Now days it's the Suits running these things after the film makers have given them what they think of as the finished film.  And the film makers aren't involved.  They're just the ones stuck with explaining the results.

[Tony]

I mean, I think the times the studio versions were better than the director's has been better ever could be counted on one hand.

"Airplane!" was edited down from 4hrs wherein they only kept the parts where people laughed.  Suffice it to say, audiences can have very worthy contributions.

  Ever seen the movie that inspired it - Zero Hour?  Zero Hour wasn't four hours and Airplane! was never meant to be that long.

Saw this a few weeks ago.

Airplane! vs. Zero Hour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__vuyH1JEI

[Seamus Sensei]

Glad you guys enjoyed the article!

While searching for it (I had forgotten where I first found it so I had to search again) I ran into many news articles saying Leterrier is turning down the sequel.  You really can't blame the guy after what the studio did.  I imagine it is truly hell working in the director's chair right now if you are not a Nolan, Speilberg, Lucas, etc.

Looking forward to the riff though!  For someone like me who has no chance to see a live show these rare releases this year are turning into treats rather than bread & butter

[stansimpson]

I mean, I think the times the studio versions were better than the director's has been better ever could be counted on one hand.

"Airplane!" was edited down from 4hrs wherein they only kept the parts where people laughed.  Suffice it to say, audiences can have very worthy contributions.

  Ever seen the movie that inspired it - Zero Hour?  Zero Hour wasn't four hours and Airplane! was never meant to be that long.

If you listen to the commentary of Airplane!...there's two major differences to what you're talking about and what is happening now.  In the case of Airplane!, Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker were the ones who personally ran the tests on audiences...and they loaded the film with all their ideas in a kind of "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" feedback approach.  They never intended to use everything they showed those first groups - they weren't seeing the "final cut".   And I doubt sincerely that Woody Allen had his movies messed with after the fact by others.

Now days it's the Suits running these things after the film makers have given them what they think of as the finished film.  And the film makers aren't involved.  They're just the ones stuck with explaining the results.

I may have been a little confused by the 4 hour cut of "Airplane!" but I know they recorded several laugh tracks, laid them all together, and edited from there.  It's a process still used today.  In fact, according to the Creative Screenwriting podcast ep of "Get Him To the Greek", they still implement that technique to this day.  The screenwriter said it's very useful when remembering how a joke may have killed, then relistening to the track and hearing dead silence instead (good ole biased memory; haha).

As for "Annie Hall", I highly recommend the editor, Ralph Rosenblum's book "When The Shooting Stops, The Cutting Begins".  There he recounts the original structure of Allen's infamous first draft where it was completely stream of conscious with whole scenes done in Family Guy style cut-aways, and it resembled his earlier comedies a lot more.  Allen shot tons and tons of footage and it was up to his editor to come up with a good movie.  It's, yknow, exactly the way he directs his actors:  "You know, uh, just do what it is that you do. That's why I hired you". Rosenblum also recounts some editing innovations/gimmicks in "The Night They Raided Minsky's".  William Friedkin just about gave up on it cuz he knew it was garbage.  Rosenblum salvaged it and Friedkin reaped the rewards for his "vision".  Rosenblum, as all great editors know, are best when unnoticed.  He gives credit where credit is due, but those two are particularly stand-out achievements in his career.

I think there is a stereotype of studio execs and producers as in it "just for the money".  Sure, there's a healthy amount, but a lot of producers got into making movies because they wanted to make movies.  Kinda reminds me of a favorite quote of mine:  "It's hard for middle/lower class people to think that big, multi-millonaire executives can be wholesome people who treat their families well."  Stereotypes.

So.... uh.... can't wait for that "Clash of the Titans" riff!

[gammer]

We can haz teh winnar!


RELEASE THE RIFFTRAX!!  Yes, all too often a movie is reduced to a silly one-liner, a ridiculous catchphrase.  This is a sad and unfair practice, demeaning to films with creative integrity and purpose.  Fortunately, Clash of the Titans has neither!  Upon viewing it, Sean Connery went out of his way to say "You are NOT the man now, dog!"  When invited to a screening, Harrison Ford frantically searched for an excuse, finally issuing a panicked "I ALREADY WORK AROUND THE CLOCK!"  When a friend asked Admiral Ackbar to come along and see Inception again, Ackbar suspected he was being tricked into watching this movie instead and said...well, you know what he said.

Our old Avatar friend Sam Worthington is along for the ride, maintaining his policy of only acting in front of green screens.  Also, his policy of not actually acting.  Also, his policy of letting his Australian accent slip through frequently, regardless of the role.  Also, his policy of being a big charmless slack-jawed meathead.  Also, his policy of general turdiness.  Anyway, we're big Sam Worthington fans around here.

Mike, Kevin, and Bill can't help but think this movie would have been improved by a star from L.A. Law and a goofy mechanical owl.
http://www.rifftrax.com/rifftrax/clash-titans

The riff will be released next Friday, 10/22. Candle Jack, please submit your info to support@rifftrax.com for your winnings.

Nice!
When I first watched this a month or so ago, the first thing I thought was: "This will be riffed".
It fits the formula perfectly: Its new, its corny and its got Sam Worthington in it 

[Bob]

  Ever seen the movie that inspired it - Zero Hour?  Zero Hour wasn't four hours and Airplane! was never meant to be that long.

Saw this a few weeks ago.

Airplane! vs. Zero Hour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__vuyH1JEI
[/quote]

That is the FUNNIEST things I have seen in a LONG time.   The fact that the lines were lifted from a serious film makes Airplane even funnier to me. 

[Tony]

Airplane! vs. Zero Hour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q__vuyH1JEI

That is the FUNNIEST things I have seen in a LONG time.   The fact that the lines were lifted from a serious film makes Airplane even funnier to me. 

Yeah I thought this was hysterical. "Let's use all of the great lines from the movie, then add a massive punchline to them." Awesome.

[RVR II]

  Ever seen the movie that inspired it - Zero Hour?  Zero Hour wasn't four hours and Airplane! was never meant to be that long.

Saw this a few weeks ago.

Airplane! vs. Zero Hour!

That is the FUNNIEST things I have seen in a LONG time.   The fact that the lines were lifted from a serious film makes Airplane even funnier to me. 

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

Yeah I thought this was hysterical. "Let's use all of the great lines from the movie, then add a massive punchline to them." Awesome.

Lines?  They lifted entire scenes and even set designs from the original!   

When I watched the part in the airline office in Zero Hour the first time, I still expect Johnny to come walking through going, "No, thanks!"....

[Bob]

Yeah I thought this was hysterical. "Let's use all of the great lines from the movie, then add a massive punchline to them." Awesome.

Lines?  They lifted entire scenes and even set designs from the original!   

When I watched the part in the airline office in Zero Hour the first time, I still expect Johnny to come walking through going, "No, thanks!"....

I guess is why Leisley Nielson is so good in these types of comedies.   He says his lines very straight forward and has "leading man looks" so it makes the jokes funnier.

[Thrashalla]

I have RELEASED THE SAMPLE!!! (I love it when movies make my job easy )

http://forum.rifftrax.com/index.php/topic,19515.0.html

[stansimpson]

Well, I just watched this movie last night in preparation for the riff.  At first, I thought it was gonna be like "Eragon" or "Battlefield Earth", that is to say, full of characters I have no interest in and having to put up with their boring, forced shenanigans.  Fortunately, as soon as the action set pieces started happening regularly, I was pretty entertained.  Special effects were impressive (for the most part), and the dialogue (no, SpellCheck, that is how you spell it) probably would've been great in, say, a Zack Snyder film.  Unfortunately, it's delivered (and the film in general is directed) with Sam Worthington levels of excitement.  It reminded me a lot of John Woo's movies.  Great action, but leave the drama/character stuff to someone more versed in it.

Suffice it to say, I enjoyed it.  Well, I enjoyed the action scenes.  I'm really glad I paid minimal price to see it too.  I would've hated to pay full theater price (or more for the infamous 3D non-effect).  I was afraid it would be too mediocre to revisit with the RiffTrax, but I'm actually looking forward to it now, esp to find out which jokes were better than whatever I felt like throwing at the screen.   

[LucasM]

Also, that might be my favorite Jason poster yet.

I second that.  Any chance for a poster of it becoming available?    [The 11x17" ones for sale, that is.]

I was hoping a mod would respond to this.  IS there a chance of this becoming the 6th RiffTrax miniposter?

[gammer]

Suffice it to say, I enjoyed it.  Well, I enjoyed the action scenes.  I'm really glad I paid minimal price to see it too. 

I agree with you. The actions scenes were enough to make it entertaining and to hold my interest.
I think the formula will make it a decent Rifftrax - entertaining action scenes + Riffing = good package.