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Post by kolchak92 on Feb 7, 2021 18:44:21 GMT
Anyone else actually kinda like this movie, despite how overblown it is?
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Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Feb 7, 2021 19:09:56 GMT
Unfortunately, I quit watching it after about 30 minutes. Just couldn't get into it, but it might have been the mood I was in that night. One thing's for sure, for a comedy I didn't really find it all that funny.
Maybe one day I'll give 1941 another try.
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Post by vegalyra on Feb 7, 2021 19:29:28 GMT
Love this movie, its hilarious. I'm real into WW2 history so the fact that it was sort of based on some real events (a Japanese sub did shell the California coast) and there was an air alert in LA in February of '42 makes it a little more funny to me. Warren Oates basically makes this film.
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Post by MCDemuth on Feb 7, 2021 19:30:03 GMT
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Post by moviemouth on Feb 7, 2021 19:34:56 GMT
Unfortunately, I quit watching it after about 30 minutes. Just couldn't get into it, but it might have been the mood I was in that night. One thing's for sure, for a comedy I didn't really find it all that funny. Maybe one day I'll give 1941 another try. I stopped watching about half way through the first time. I gave it another go and struggled through the whole thing. The issue is the Spielberg clearly doesn't have a good sense of how to direct this kind of comedy. Not to mention the script just isn't funny in the first place and the actors don't sell it. Hence bad writing and bad directing, when funny actors aren't funny. It is too overblown and is more interested in the technical aspects than the comedy. With that being said, it does have a few moments here and there that are entertaining and funny. The editing is probably the biggest issue I have with the movie. The pacing is horrible and the actual editing and shots aren't humorous most of the time. Those are 2 of the most important factors in a comedy like 1941.
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Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Feb 7, 2021 19:42:40 GMT
Unfortunately, I quit watching it after about 30 minutes. Just couldn't get into it, but it might have been the mood I was in that night. One thing's for sure, for a comedy I didn't really find it all that funny. Maybe one day I'll give 1941 another try. I stopped watching about half way through the first time. I gave it another go and struggled through the whole thing. The issue is the Spielberg clearly doesn't have a good sense of how to direct this kind of comedy. Not to mention the script just isn't funny in the first place and the actors don't sell it. Hence bad writing and bad directing, when funny actors aren't funny. It is too overblown and is more interested in the technical aspects than the comedy. With that being said, it does have a few moments here and there that are entertaining and funny. The editing is probably the biggest issue I have with the movie. The pacing is horrible and the actual editing and shots aren't humorous most of the time. Those are 2 of the most important factors in a comedy like 1941. Exactly! You know you're in trouble when a host of fine comedic actors can't generate any laughs.
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Post by millar70 on Feb 7, 2021 21:37:20 GMT
Not as bad as its reputation, but still really not that good.
I'll never understand why you cast Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in a film, then basically have no scenes with the two of them together.
Hey, ultimately it comes down to this one simple fact: Sometimes cocaine can produce great things and sometimes cocaine can produce real crap.
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Post by wmcclain on Feb 7, 2021 22:12:09 GMT
1941 (1979), directed by Steven Spielberg. First reviewI know this is considered one of Spielberg's clunkers, that the critics hated it, and that my wife did not laugh once. But I saw it about ten times in the theater. I must have been in love with Dianne Kay. Well, it's not as funny now. Still, I think the jitterbug competition and driving the tank through the paint factory are worth the price of admission. Some fun references to Jaws (1975), Dr. Strangelove (1964) and Star Wars (1977). The DVD is a disaster: - It's 4:3 letterboxed
- They cram 2 hours 25 minutes into 3.8GB of space (on a dual-layer disc!)
- This is an extended cut with an extra half hour of unfunny scenes that fatally slow the pace. Comedy needs a faster tempo (and it does pick up in the last hour).
- The encoding is just ugly.
All I need is a nice new Blu-ray encode of the theatrical cut. (Later: a Blu-ray containing both theatrical and director's cuts appeared). John Williams score.  Second reviewJust as Star Wars (1977) revived the space opera and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) the adventure serial, so this tries to mine nostalgia for the old cavalcade-of-stars wacky comedy extravaganza. It doesn't do that as well as the other films but I try to get into the spirit. John Williams' music is a unifying glue for all three films. Give them credit for a great comical evocation of 1940s L.A. The story is suggested by the real (but phony) Great Los Angeles Air Raid. And there really were Zoot Suit Riots. On the down side: how silly is too silly? Some of the younger cast members don't add much. Lame gags, as when Treat Williams can't stand eggs! Something that worked better in the theater than on home video: the overblown yelling and screaming as buildup to something outrageous. It doesn't help that all that is reprised for the closing credits. Notes: - A lot of people see the quote of the nude swimmer from the beginning of Jaws (1975), but few realize it is the same actress.
- Also quoted: Slim Pickens from Dr. Strangelove (1964) and the aerial battle through the city streets like the attack on the Death Star in Star Wars (1977) (itself taken from The Dam Busters (1955)).
- They also destroy the "LAND" part of the "HOLLYWOODLAND" sign, a gag repeated in The Rocketeer (1991).
- Too many actors to mention, but...
- Kudos to Toshiro Mifune and Christopher Lee for being good sports willing to contribute to the silliness.
- Love the jitterbug contest, and the way Dianne Kay twirls her skirt. She does great comic mugging.
- Nancy Allen coasts until -- partly motivated by sexual frustration -- she takes control of the plane under fire and flies that thing.
- They mine the Saturday Night Live cast with John Candy and Dan Ackroyd. John Belushi does what he does.
- Spot director Sam Fuller as the air raid commander.
- The date-rape comedy might not be done today.
- Nor the comical race abuse: "Real Japs?" "No, wooden Japs, Cheeta".
Available on Blu-ray, with both theatrical and the 28 minute longer director's cut. I much prefer the theatrical version. The extra footage gives more background -- particularly welcome for Frank McRae, making him less of a clown character -- but it slows down the pace way too much. 
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Post by petrolino on Feb 7, 2021 22:22:59 GMT
I like it. I have it on dvd.
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Post by Archelaus on Feb 8, 2021 2:35:37 GMT
It's better than its reputation. The production values and the technical aspects are top-notch, but the script needed more focus. A satirical story about jingoistic hysteria during wartime was good enough, but it tries to do too much. Aside from a few laughs here and there, I didn't find that funny.
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Post by JHA Durant on Feb 8, 2021 11:55:29 GMT
I've seen it right through once. Barely.
Too many pointless characters, too much screaming and explosions and too many absurd subplots made it a real mess. Most of the actual comedic parts felt like they were forced. Also, felt too much like a chore to watch.
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Post by Spike Del Rey on Feb 8, 2021 13:51:20 GMT
I love it, despite its flaws. Ultimately it did teach Spielberg an invaluable lesson in restraint.
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Post by Ass_E9 on Feb 8, 2021 21:21:01 GMT
I saw an edited-for-TV version long ago. I may have laughed during this scene:  |
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Post by sostie on Feb 9, 2021 12:01:15 GMT
It's an entertaining chaotic mess. Has one of my favourite John Williams scores
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