tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post8478663069735665744..comments2024-02-19T08:20:10.456-06:00Comments on Public Transportation Snob: List of Shame Marathon: American Graffiti (1973)Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-19974646861249568882012-02-01T15:11:26.581-06:002012-02-01T15:11:26.581-06:00Bob, that's really interesting about the diffe...Bob, that's really interesting about the different aspect ratios in the sequel. I guess they were trying to differentiate between the stories, but it sounds like a clunky approach. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-55832950141350718512012-02-01T15:04:51.173-06:002012-02-01T15:04:51.173-06:00Ryan, I definitely agree about the one-night eleme...Ryan, I definitely agree about the one-night element of American Graffiti being great. Dazed and Confused came to mind while watching it, as both have a large cast and unpredictable nature of being a teenager like you mention. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-35147413491180319182012-02-01T08:58:57.038-06:002012-02-01T08:58:57.038-06:00I love all the screengrabs you've got here Dan...I love all the screengrabs you've got here Dan - if I could, I spin the movie up right now...Bob Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02243657105760780425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-1118062780392627212012-02-01T08:57:52.174-06:002012-02-01T08:57:52.174-06:00The sequel is nowhere near as good - there's n...The sequel is nowhere near as good - there's not a speck of charm to be found and it's actually quite depressing overall. Chip I might even argue that none of the original characters are in the movie - sure they all have the same names and are played by the same actors, but all the interesting characteristics have either been ditched or blown up to cliche heights. I didn't care a wit about any of th epeople in this film (except maybe for the race car driver).<br /><br />The one interesting aspect is the way it was shot - each story did something a bit different with aspect ratios - on is full widescreen (drag racer), one is 4:3 (Vietnam story - apropos for the first war on TV), one is somewhere in the middle and one is split into three screens for its length (the only interesting thing about that particular story). I have a couple of screencaps <a href="http://eternalsunshineofthelogicalmind.blogspot.com/2008/03/split-screens-and-frames.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> and a few more words of derision for it...B-)Bob Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02243657105760780425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-82058873563888285502012-01-31T20:59:07.908-06:002012-01-31T20:59:07.908-06:00My father's all-time favorite film with a bull...My father's all-time favorite film with a bullet. Thinking about the scene where The Pharoahs have their fun with the police cruiser always brings me a smile because my dad always laughs at when he sees it as if he was watching the gag for the first time.<br /><br />I've also always been drawn to the way the story is completely contained to one night. It completely embodies those endless summers one experiences as a teenager, and never seems to recapture as they age. I've always thought this would make a brilliant double-feature with DAZED AND CONFUSED.<br /><br />Truly happy to see you enjoying your watchlist. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to track down a beautiful blonde I saw in a beautiful car...Ryan McNeilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00440134802928893661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-76440214183202914482012-01-12T18:53:17.844-06:002012-01-12T18:53:17.844-06:00Actually they had all the characters back, but sho...Actually they had all the characters back, but showing them experiencing things on different days and years. For instance, we see the last night of the guy who would be killed in a car accident (mid 60s?), the Vietnam experiences of the guy who the epilog said was missing and presumed dead (late 60s), and war protests by the couple (early 70s). None of what we see in the sequel contradicts the epilog; it just shows that for one of them there was more to be revealed about the fate.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-39938547043945496852012-01-12T08:32:02.335-06:002012-01-12T08:32:02.335-06:00Chip, I haven't seen the sequel, but I'm g...Chip, I haven't seen the sequel, but I'm guessing they just ignored the epilogue so they could bring back one of the actors, right? It doesn't sound like it's that great, so I probably won't check it out.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-1595058693191977602012-01-11T18:56:36.945-06:002012-01-11T18:56:36.945-06:00For what it's worth, the sequel More American ...For what it's worth, the sequel More American Graffiti showed that at least one of the text descriptions was misleading. It's not as good as the original, though, so I don't know if it's worth watching just for that.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-72855347114629278912012-01-10T09:22:56.079-06:002012-01-10T09:22:56.079-06:00Steve, you make a good point about the dialogue. I...Steve, you make a good point about the dialogue. I think the important thing was that Lucas collaborated with Gloria Katz and Willard Hucyk on this screenplay. This is one of the reasons Empire is so good. Lucas didn't write it on his own and had Irvin Kershner direct it. Left to his own devices (i.e., The Phantom Menace), the result can be ugly. Lucas needs someone to ground his ideas. Thanks!Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917634143872972680.post-27130776440770385292012-01-09T23:17:06.564-06:002012-01-09T23:17:06.564-06:00I had the exact same reaction to the epilogue. Aft...I had the exact same reaction to the epilogue. After such a fun and ultimately charming movie, that epilogue puts such an emotional damper on things.<br /><br />I'd also suggest that in addition to the terrific soundtrack, <i>American Graffiti</i> offers some proof that Lucas isn't completely incapable of writing decent dialogue.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.com