tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post3255373031813381101..comments2024-02-27T07:05:13.652-05:00Comments on Reel Fanatic: "Sopranos": Who needs closure?Reel Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-1785769408729505722007-06-15T04:43:00.000-04:002007-06-15T04:43:00.000-04:00Not that these two dudes are an authority, James, ...Not that these two dudes are an authority, James, but they took a poll of 83,000 people who listen to the "Mike & Mike" show on ESPN radio, and it split just about even: It was like 50.8 percent loved it and the rest hated it, so you're far from alone there ... As for Lost, in reaction to the Sopranos finale, I've already read several stories where they promise that show won't go out without a lot more finalityReel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-50827384463170783092007-06-14T20:12:00.000-04:002007-06-14T20:12:00.000-04:00I was one who felt cheated and even furious. I tri...I was one who felt cheated and even furious. I tried to look at it from the point of view of "leaving it up to ourselves to decide" but I just can't swallow it. I watch TV to suspend my mind and let others tell me a story. <BR/><BR/>Call me old fashioned but when I was a theatre major--a story and/or scene always had to have a beginning, middle and an end.<BR/><BR/>Fading to black isn't imaginative or genius to me. It reminded me of some kids sloppy, clearly amateur submission in a high school film class.<BR/><BR/>I would have been happy with ANY ending as long at it gave me something--ANYTHING to have closure. <BR/><BR/>Yep, I'm one of those people who needs closure and has come to EXPECT stellar endings to their seasons so why shouldn't I expect the same and more from the finale? <BR/><BR/>Instead they cop out and give me the cheap-trick of fade to black??<BR/><BR/>Come on. I'm frankly surprised at the amount of people who are happy with the ending. I guess I'm in the minority. <BR/><BR/>Now. If they end "Lost" that way too then I'm going to officially give up on TV.<BR/><BR/>In short. I'm still pissed. :/Handsome B. Wonderfulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11524517496880481239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-29547843638419090802007-06-12T08:06:00.000-04:002007-06-12T08:06:00.000-04:00I can definitely see where you're coming from, Mr....I can definitely see where you're coming from, Mr. Lizard ... I have yet to find anyone who is devoted to the show who comes down neutral on this ... As I said, I just loved it so much stylistically that I was willing to let him get away with this gambit ... I will, say, however, that if he turns around and quickly turns out a movie that picks up right where this left off, it had better be a damn good one!Reel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-90617941090888166652007-06-12T07:18:00.000-04:002007-06-12T07:18:00.000-04:00Throwing in my two cents' worth about the Sopranos...Throwing in my two cents' worth about the Sopranos finale:<BR/><BR/>It would have been a great SEASON finale, in that it added some new twists (Sil in a coma, Paulie, for the first time ever, declining an offer to advance [and why was that?], whatshisname turning evidence against Tony, even Meadow's new boyfriend was added in just a few episodes back and she's now dating a guy who's connected to Tony's family *and* who is going to be a criminal lawyer... could be trouble) and it left me wanting more.<BR/><BR/>But as a SERIES finale, I have to ask: why go to so much trouble to leave me wanting more? Why leave all of those new story-lines unresolved? Why introduce them at all in the eleventh hour? David Chase: if you're leaving this open for a Sopranos Movie, you'd better pull through for me, or I'm going to be pissed.<BR/><BR/>I liked the series finale to Six Feet Under (which was one of my other HBO favorites, by the way) much better. True, it cut against the established grain of all the other 6FU episodes, but it wrapped things up in a way that left me satisfied and not hungry for more. <BR/><BR/>Maybe I was looking for closure but after 86 episodes (at ~50mins each, that's almost 72 hours of my life) I felt I was owed something a little more substantial than that.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333381404010599979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-67495442457572848602007-06-12T04:38:00.000-04:002007-06-12T04:38:00.000-04:00What would have really bothered me, Mercurie, is i...What would have really bothered me, Mercurie, is if the show went out with not only Tony getting whacked, but at least Carmelo and AJ too, which was clearly what could have happened ... That clearly would have just been the definition of overkillReel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-71721963603536967062007-06-11T23:18:00.000-04:002007-06-11T23:18:00.000-04:00Well said about the Sopranos...that David Chase is...Well said about the Sopranos...that David Chase is a sonofabitch...My Top 5 HBO Shows...<BR/>1. The Wire<BR/>2. Sopranos<BR/>3. OZ<BR/>4. Curb Your Enthusiasm<BR/>5. EntourageShortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590774790954825328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-15693638113956049002007-06-11T22:53:00.000-04:002007-06-11T22:53:00.000-04:00I also loved the end of the The Sopranos. It was w...I also loved the end of the <I>The Sopranos</I>. It was wonderfully unpredictable. To be honest, I think I would have been disappointed if it had a definite ending (such as Tony getting whacked).<BR/><BR/>And it looks like Van Sant is back on track. If his adaptation of Wolfe's <I>Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test</I> (which I agree is right up his alley) turns out good enough, I might actually at long last forgive him for that remake of <I>Psycho</I>...Terence Towles Canotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18397088843628331615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-19584253652008043042007-06-11T16:15:00.000-04:002007-06-11T16:15:00.000-04:00If only movies were funded with only ideas! The on...If only movies were funded with only ideas! The one that I think would just go crazy for if I were in charge would be a new version of the old novel "Zazie dans le Metro" ... it was made into an enjoyable little flick way back when starring the late Philippe Noiret ... With the new technology (and the right spirit), that could be a true wonder to behold.Reel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-31815327264903195682007-06-11T15:02:00.000-04:002007-06-11T15:02:00.000-04:00There was supposed to be a live-action version of ...There was supposed to be a live-action version of <I>The Last Unicorn</I> in the works years ago with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Schmendrick, Christopher Lee as King Haggard, Mia Farrow as Molly Grue, Angela Lansbury as Momma Fortuna, and Rene Auberjonois as the Skull. Of course, it was too perfect to be true...<BR/>Unfortunately, all plans have been halted and, if they don't get it going soon, most of that cast is going to be too old/deceased to play the roles... :PDivinityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17204047865617818203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-14121626321983605112007-06-11T14:55:00.000-04:002007-06-11T14:55:00.000-04:00Renee, I love OZ, too--I couldn't stop watching th...Renee, I love OZ, too--I couldn't stop watching that darn show, LOL.<BR/><BR/>Count me in with the SOPRANOS love, even if I felt like a rug was yanked out from under me at the end. But you're right about the show being all about the uncertainty of Tony's life. Remember when Melfi was raped? Chase didn't satisfy the audience with any expected closure there, and that's why I'm okay with the ending--because we were set up for this a long time ago....<BR/><BR/>As far as development hell pix, I keep wondering what happened to plans for one of my fave books, THE SECRET HISTORY. At one time, I heard Christopher Hampton (DANGEROUS LIAISONS) was scripting it and Gwennie Paltrow was set to star....Chris Marie Green/Crystal Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795801320314117414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-71317978011830463702007-06-11T14:40:00.000-04:002007-06-11T14:40:00.000-04:00Gilliam and a movie adaptation of Good Omens!?! A...Gilliam and a movie adaptation of <I>Good Omens</I>!?! Ack, someone get it going!Divinityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17204047865617818203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-448262045646581532007-06-11T14:05:00.000-04:002007-06-11T14:05:00.000-04:00I'm definitely with you on "The Rum Diary," Bob, b...I'm definitely with you on "The Rum Diary," Bob, but I have no idea when Johnny Depp will get back to doing any kind of serious movie work ... I know he's set to play the demon barber of Fleet Street in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" for Christmas, which will hopefully be tons of fun.Reel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-25432758036432698972007-06-11T13:44:00.000-04:002007-06-11T13:44:00.000-04:00I can't say I was completely disappointed by the e...I can't say I was completely disappointed by the ending but I did feel a bit cheated. This last season of the show had not been what I had expected (I really thought there would be more action) but I think it was a solid finish.<BR/><BR/>Not as good as "Six Feet Under" but not bad either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-65209666087959968392007-06-11T12:59:00.000-04:002007-06-11T12:59:00.000-04:00I've been dying to see "Kavalier and Clay" (probab...I've been dying to see "Kavalier and Clay" (probably my favorite novel) and "Tripoli" for what feels like ages now. Oh I hope they get made. <BR/>Also, Johnny Depp needs to stop pirating around and make Hunter Thompson's "The Rum Diary" already. Not only do I love "Fear and Loathing" but "Rum" is also bringing Bruce Robinson back to directing. He made the wonderful "How to Get Ahead in Advertising" and my favorite movie of all-time, "Withnail and I." "Rum" would be his first movie in 15 years! Even more than "Kavalier," "Tripoli," or Gilliam's "Don Quixote," THAT is the movie that needs to get off the ground.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10080644966702192252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-44921453269945131472007-06-11T12:04:00.000-04:002007-06-11T12:04:00.000-04:00I have to admit I've only ever seen a couple episo...I have to admit I've only ever seen a couple episodes of Oz, Renee, but I've been catching up with HBO shows of late on DVD, so I should definitely add that one to the listReel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-56782545538648835132007-06-11T10:09:00.000-04:002007-06-11T10:09:00.000-04:00I loved the finale as well. I think Chase did a br...I loved the finale as well. I think Chase did a brilliant job in that last scene. He ratchets up the tension like Hitchcock - you're just convinced that he's going to end it with Tony getting killed. But nothing's happening and the family is gathering, so you're convinced, no, it's going to be a happy ending, with Tony and his family all in a good place, at least for then. Then BAM! end of show. You can interpret it so many ways. <BR/><BR/>I'd put Oz up there with HBO's best as well. When Sopranos first came out, I preferred Oz and was a bit annoyed by the hype when my favorite show was ignored.reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231399856625169656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-54451659524527036782007-06-11T09:51:00.000-04:002007-06-11T09:51:00.000-04:00No problem, it did read like a typo; however, I've...No problem, it did read like a typo; however, I've come across across plenty of people who having only heard of the book assume Kesey wrote it. People who only know of Kesey through "Kool-Aid" or "Cuckoo's Nest" really need to read "Sometimes a Great Notion." He does amazing things with the narrative voices that he only hinted at with "Cuckoo's Nest."billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116980864333670109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-25010078978933606192007-06-11T08:22:00.000-04:002007-06-11T08:22:00.000-04:00Thanks for the correx, Bill ... I write these thin...Thanks for the correx, Bill ... I write these things very early in the morning, and though I knew that one was by Wolfe, I made a mental goof .. I'm gonna go ahead and fix it so as to avod further embarassment ,,, Abd I have read "Sometimes a Great Notion," but now "Demon Box," so I'll definitely have to check that outReel Fanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09727636643227938924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17556334.post-28863547193478253222007-06-11T08:11:00.000-04:002007-06-11T08:11:00.000-04:00"Electric Kool-Aid Test" is by Tom Wolfe, not Kese..."Electric Kool-Aid Test" is by Tom Wolfe, not Kesey. Though much of does tell the story of the Merry Pranksters driving across the country in their bus. Wolfe recreated many of those scenes by watching hundreds of hours the pranksters filmed of themselves. I think Wolfe wrote the book while Kesey was in jail for drug charges and after he faked his death and hid out in Mexico for a while. If you like Kesey, I recommend his second novel, "Sometimes a Great Notion." One of the great works of American fiction. Paul Newman was in the movie version--haven't seen it.<BR/><BR/>There's also "Demon Box," an odd collection of stories. Some are fictional, there's a couple stories he wrote for a running magazine, then there's the semi-fictional biographical stories of him hiding out in Mexico and his later life of just living on his farm in Oregon and dealing with all the pieces of his past life that keep showing up. Fun story about going to England with the Hell's Angels to see the Beatles.billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116980864333670109noreply@blogger.com