Seto
Sophomore
@seto
Posts: 313
Likes: 230
 
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Post by Seto on Oct 5, 2018 2:46:15 GMT
Two films, both directed by Howard Deutch and both written by John Hughes. They both have very similar story-lines. Our hero is caught in a love triangle with the popular kid in school and their childhood best friend. The only big difference from one to the other is the gender's are reversed for the three leads and the final romantic choice our hero makes differs. Pretty in Pink was a box-office smash when released, though it did seem to garner some criticism. Perhaps Hughes and Deutch wanted to address some of these, which is why they almost immediately remade the film into Some Kind of Wonderful. Alas, Some Kind of Wonderful was a box office bomb, and is still far less known today than Pretty in Pink. My question to those who have seen both. Which do you prefer? More specifically, which ending leaves you more satisfied?   |
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Post by jervistetch on Oct 5, 2018 3:45:15 GMT
I think I lean more toward SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL. Mary Stuart Masterson melts my heart in that movie, almost as much as she does in FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Molly is the Queen of the genre but MSM really delivers in SKoW. Plus, I'd choose Eric Stoltz over Andrew McCarthy any day.
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Post by Rufus-T on Oct 5, 2018 12:46:45 GMT
Pretty in Pink was mentioned everywhere when it was released. Even the song is on the radio all the time. It was a cute movie that appealed very much to the teen group. You don't hear much about Some Kind of Wonderful though. I did not know about Some Kind of Wonderful until I was looking into Hughes' movies. Some Kind of Wonderful is a much more serious movie. The movie in a slow pace and would not be as appeal to the teen as Pretty in Pink when it is marketed as a teen movie, so I can see why it would not do as well in the Box Office. As a movie itself, Some Kind of Wonderful is just wonderful, with a better cast and much better made. Mary Stuart Masterson shined in every scene she was in.
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Post by petrolino on Oct 6, 2018 0:58:55 GMT
I rank John Hughes as one of the 20 greatest screenwriters in cinema history because I believe he had a unique writing style, created endlessly realistic, quotable and relatable dialogue, always valued humour, always valued intelligence, provided entertainment, understood peoples' quirks, believed in the power of solidarity though not at the expense of the individual, and simply captured a magical artistic era like a classic photograph pictured in LIFE magazine. He's up there with Preston Sturges for me, and I offer no higher praise.
'Pretty In Pink' is a cosmic gem ... but I love 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' with all my heart and it's my favourite Hughes creation, just edging out 'The Breakfast Club'. The soundtrack, the milieu, the performances, dialogue for the ages/; I could never choose between Watts and Amanda when I saw it aged 12, so I felt Keith's pain intimately, but let's face it, he was a damn moron! Watts is the misfit for Keith, Amanda's moving on to other worlds and will be the crown of creation.
This movie's sublime, a top 10 all-time classic to me. 
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Post by teleadm on Oct 6, 2018 14:16:26 GMT
Fun looking at those posters, yeah we realy had tho's hairdo's back then, even going around in Lilac hair once.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Oct 10, 2018 6:34:35 GMT
Love them both.
Pretty In Pink contains an outstanding performance by Harry Dean Stanton to keep the narrative grounded, but I just give the edge to SKOW for all round performances in bringing the story to life (John Ashton and Elias Koteas in memorable support for differing reasons).
What is often forgotten is the theme of class division central to the plot of both films, tends to get lost in the love story axis. Damn fine writer was Hughes.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Oct 11, 2018 12:10:36 GMT
Pretty in Pink got all the attention, but Some Kind of Wonderful is also worthy too. It's a little more serious, and has an equally addictive soundtrack.
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Post by petrolino on Oct 21, 2018 0:00:10 GMT
Here's a great piece catching up with the cast of 'Some Kind Of Wonderful'. It was written for the 30th anniversary celebrations last year and published at Screen Rant.
Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson also gave a joint interview for 'Entertainment Weekly' which included some interesting background notes about the production.
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Seto
Sophomore
@seto
Posts: 313
Likes: 230
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Post by Seto on Nov 3, 2018 23:52:15 GMT
Thanks for all the replies.
I think 'Some Kind of Wonderful' just gets the three main characters arcs a lot more right.
Compare Jon Cryer, breaking the fourth wall in hot anticipation at this random blonde girl that came out of nowhere, to Lea Thompson's line, "Its going to feel good standing on my own two feet."
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Post by sostie on Nov 5, 2018 13:16:08 GMT
Pretty In Pink has always been a favourite - possibly my favourite film written by Hughes, though Some Kind Of Wonderful I really liked too.
Harry Dean Stanton does a lot with a little...Hughes always wrote good Dads.
PIP has some absolute gems on the soundtrack (massive Smiths and New Order fan so I was pleased) but overall I think SKOW might top it in that department - love the opening credits with Masterson playing the drums over the Propagands track.
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