g: the black knight always logs: 2006

I like The French Connection too. In spite of all the stereotypes, I think it is well-done action. Gene Hackman is cool.

Tonight K-1 shows the sequel by John Frankenheimer which I haven't seen yet.

Oh, and did you watch The Fly?

You seem to like 1941 much more than I did.

Np (bumping my head against the desk), no (bumping again a little harder), NO!!!
How the heck could I miss The Ox-Bow Incident???

OK then. But tell me what do you think of Peeping Tom?

What's the problem with Saw 2?

Now, 70 is really not a worthy rating for Keaton's The General.

Don't tell me you missed Supervixens on arte! ;)

Shockingly low ratings for both King Kongs!

Just today I rewatched Airplane!. I love that film. ;)

Curse you! Because of your huge update, you beat me again. 133 vs. 119.

But I'm glad to see that you enjoyed Fireworks! I taped it. :p

14/06/06 Tears of the Black Tiger (2000) 4
09/06/06 The Breach (1970) 4

How that? No movies in 4 days? But I'm not better anyway... :D

Awww, just a 4 for Shadows? :)

Oh, you watched Dreyer's Gertrud on arte yesterday! Instead I was in a bar with some friends to watch the football match. :) Viva España!

Ohh, I haven't seen any films since June, 16. :(

Assault on Precinct 13, rating down, eh? ;)

Oh, and curse you for seeing so many movies. So far, you are ahead of me by 43 movies... :p

Please turn numbering back on.

About The Perfume:

At the time I read the unusual and intoxicating novel by Patrick Süskind, I heard about a cinematic adaptation being announced for it. I couldn't imagine how anyone could possibly manage to catch the book's essence in a film, as cinema could never reach an olfactory dimension (except for John Waters' Polyester at the beginning of the 80s, an ephemeral experiment). As the producers declared that they planned to cast Orlando Bloom as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, I was sure that the movie was doomed to fail.
Now, some years later, the film has eventually been released, as an American-German coproduction, and my misgivings were partly justified. First off, it was a clever move by the producers not to cast Mr. Bloom. He would probably have assured the film's success, but he would have been one of the worst miscasts ever. Instead, they rooted for Ben Whishaw, an (at least, to me) unknown actor. While he is not always able to develop all of his character's complex outlines and facets, he does a rather good job. He is assisted by a notable range of remarkable actors, with Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman at the spearhead.
Furthermore, the film cashes in on the sumptuous décor and equipment. Like that, Tykwer catches an interesting, though a bit habitual (except for the beginning) view of Paris, France and its society during 18th century.
The off-commentary by John Hurt is at first a bit bothering, but, once you get used to it, it becomes a nice companion into and through Grenouille's world. At the same time, it prevents any too profound involvement of the spectator into the main character's adventures, which is most probably intended by the director, in order to keep up the novel's esprit. The spectator is not supposed to suffer with Grenouille. He may feel for him, but then it is always a rough mixture of pity and disgust.
Talking of which, the protagonist seems different when compared to the novel's character. He is less fascinating and vibrating, which is not due to deficits in the leading actor's game, but rather a mistake of the screenplay. The middle part, which is in the book a bit tedious, but absolutely necessary to Grenouille's development, has been mostly left out in the film adaptation. Instead, Tykwer arbitrarily stresses some other, often secundary, parts of the story, which eventually gives the impression of a lengthy and overlong flick.
The adaptation completely fails towards the end though. What is, in the book, a critical approach to society and its system of values, just appears laughable and one-dimensional.
The film is ultimately saved from being yet another failed literary adaptation only because of Tykwer's skills to catch the impression of the smells which appear throughout the entire story. Without special effects, he focuses on camera, editing and some other visual aspects, such as colours, etc. While seeing the film, especially during Baldini's segment, you cannot get rid of actually smelling the perfumes and the other olfactory marks.

:)

Wow, fantasicaly written. Could've mistaken you for a real critic here. ;)

Hvala.

Zdravo!

Sada ja živim u Koelnu. :)

Vidimo se.

Afraid that I might beat you this year? ;)