It was so close to being awesome!

[Q?]

Alright, let's have fun shall we?
Imagine if you had complete control over a movie that's already out.
What would you have done to a movie that was good but had flaws in your opinion?

Please use spoiler tags when appropriate.
[spoiler]insert spoiler here[/spoiler ]
just remove the spacing between "r" & "]"

I'll start with this.
Memoirs of a Geisha
This movie has so many good things going for it, great cast, excellent production and it's beautifully shot.

But what the hell???????
They're speaking ENGRISH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
It was so obviously clear that they did this so the movie could have a broader appeal, also I felt that the story was somewhat dumbed down so everybody could follow the story.
Yes, it was a financial decision, but I'd rather have the actor speak their own language for authenticity, but at the same time the lead actress is chinese, definitely would choose another actress if she couldn't speak japanese.
But that would be unfortunate, because she did the part so well.
So close.....

Fire away

[surfdude12]

Q! : I felt the same way about Schindler's List. Even worse, you heard English 90% of the time and German 10% of the time?!?!?! Even though all was by German characters. So how is the German script to be taken different than the English script? I really wish this film would have been in German (already one of my all-time favorites despite it)

[Q?]

For some reason it did not bother me with Schindler's List, maybe the actors were so great it completely passed me by.
It's different with the japanese actors because you can hear they're not accustomed to the english language and accent.
But yes, I wouldn't mind if it was completely in the german language, the story was so powerful!

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by Q!

For some reason it did not bother me with Schindler's List, maybe the actors were so great it completely passed me by.
It's different with the japanese actors because you can hear they're not accustomed to the english language and accent.
But yes, I wouldn't mind if it was completely in the german language, the story was so powerful!

yeah i agree, doesn't bother me too much, mostly b/c i was 16 when it came out and so got used to it before i became nit picky great performances as you said.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by Q!

For some reason it did not bother me with Schindler's List, maybe the actors were so great it completely passed me by.
It's different with the japanese actors because you can hear they're not accustomed to the english language and accent.
But yes, I wouldn't mind if it was completely in the german language, the story was so powerful!

Think thats why Pan's Labyrinth wasn't as big. People said to themselves. Spanish???

And Letter's of Iwo Jima. Japanese???

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Think thats why Pan's Labyrinth wasn't as big. People said to themselves. Spanish???

And Letter's of Iwo Jima. Japanese???

i mourn for those people.

[Q?]

Yeah, that is so sad!
People shouldn't be so culturally scared...

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Q!

I'll start with this.
Memoirs of a Geisha
This movie has so many good things going for it, great cast, excellent production and it's beautifully shot.
But what the hell???????
They're speaking ENGRISH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!

That's all right, it was fake anyway:
Geishas aren't "prostitutes", and even the Japanese were offended by the marketing image of dark hair blowing in the wind. (Real geishas literally do not have a hair out of place.)
In fact, when the movie did open in Tokyo, it was retitled with the name of the character, and reportedly advertised as "What the rest of the world believes..."

[SquidPuppet]

The Strangers. The movie slowly and effectively built a great level of tension and fear... building, Building, BUILDING, BUILDING... and then it just ended, including one of the MOST CLICHE' "gotcha" moments ever captured on film.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by EricJ

That's all right, it was fake anyway:
Geishas aren't "prostitutes", and even the Japanese were offended by the marketing image of dark hair blowing in the wind. (Real geishas literally do not have a hair out of place.)
In fact, when the movie did open in Tokyo, it was retitled with the name of the character, and reportedly advertised as "What the rest of the world believes..."

But their virginity was sold to the highest bidder, but they did not continue to sell their "services" (poor choice of word) afterwards though.

[KubrickFan]

Memoirs of a Geisha was directed by the same guy who did Chicago, how could anyone expect a deep (and realistic) movie? .
And the need for keeping it in English I can understand. Most of those movies were made for an English speaking market. But the need for using accents is lost on me. Valkyrie did it right, I believe. Keep the first couple of things in the original language, and then switch it. That way it becomes a translation, and you don't need any accents for that.

[Gaius Marius]

Lots of times I keep thinking how Wolverine came very close to being good, then turned to crap.

[Show spoiler]Instead of messing up Deadpool, have Sabretooth and Wolverine go against Omega Red. Could have fit, and would have been more badass. They could have still had Deadpool, but maybe have Gambit deal with him. You know, to give Gambit something to actually do. Memory bullets were crap. Wolverine should have lost the memories when he underwent the adamantium. He could have just been left with a "must kill Sabretooth" mentality as all he remembered.

Just a few thoughts.

[Atreyu]

The one movie that always come to mind when I think great idea but poorly executed was Clue. I think it was an awesome idea to bring these board game characters to life, but the script was the problem. With such an excellent premise they should have had a top notch script. Only then could they have suceeded in the three different endings in different theaters plan.
Even with that said I would still buy it on blu if/when it becomes available because it still has it's moments .

[SkillzthatKillz]

[SPOILER]

Transformers 2...I like the movie because I think it's entertaining (great action scenes and SOME funny parts) but there are some things that definately should have been different. Firstly, it should have actually been a dark film like Bay said it would be. Having Optimus die is ok, but they should have made that scene so much more emotional than it was. Have Optimus get hit hard, fall down, look up and see Sam (que strong, slow emotional/heroic music, like when Boromir dies in LOTR) and then get up and fight megatron and starscream and then get killed right in front of Sam. Then after he dies, make it actually seem like the world might end when the fallen arives, because I didn't think everyone looked as concerned as they should have been. Then they should have had A LOT less "comic relief." The occasional funny scene is ok, even welcomed in a summer blockbuster. They should have had most, if not all of the laughs be towards the begining of the film when Sam is moving in at college, but after Optimus dies there should have been no more laughs, because a movie can't be dark and dramatic if everyone on screen is trying to make a funny. Also, I think they made all of the decepticons look like pussies in this movie and they didn't even feel like a threat to the autobots. Especially Starscream, Megatron, and Devastator. Devastator didn't even kill anything except for some random Egyptian people and a goat. He should have destroyed the twins and should not have been so easy to kill. One rail gun shot...one!? And then the final battle should have been more centered on robot versus robot carnage, not the U.S. military fighting the decepticons and winning...somehow. I am a huge fan of our military but there's no way in hell that we would stand a chance against giant alien warrior robots. Also, the battle between Optimus, the fallen, and Megatron was wayyy too short. And they should have shown Megan Fox naked just for kicks lol

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Q!

Alright, let's have fun shall we?
Imagine if you had complete control over a movie that's already out.
What would you have done to a movie that was good but had flaws in your opinion?

Please use spoiler tags when appropriate.
[spoiler]insert spoiler here[/spoiler ]
just remove the spacing between "r" & "]"

I'll start with this.
Memoirs of a Geisha
This movie has so many good things going for it, great cast, excellent production and it's beautifully shot.

But what the hell???????
They're speaking ENGRISH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
It was so obviously clear that they did this so the movie could have a broader appeal, also I felt that the story was somewhat dumbed down so everybody could follow the story.
Yes, it was a financial decision, but I'd rather have the actor speak their own language for authenticity, but at the same time the lead actress is chinese, definitely would choose another actress if she couldn't speak japanese.
But that would be unfortunate, because she did the part so well.
So close.....

Fire away

I've never seen this movie, but I don't always have a problem with the characters speaking English in a film with a foreign setting. To me it depends on how it's handled. The Hunt for Red October comes to mind. I really liked the way they transitioned the Russian characters into speaking English for the movie. It was done in a way that you understood it was for the viewers' benefit. It also helped that they went back to Russian at the end when there were people present who really did speak English.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Think thats why Pan's Labyrinth wasn't as big. People said to themselves. Spanish???

And Letter's of Iwo Jima. Japanese???

Sadly I think Downfall (German) would have been bigger in U.S. theatres had it been in English. Thankfully they kept it in German and it became very successful on DVD in the U.S. anyway. And the subtitles also resulted in the "Downfall YouTube phenom."

[Grand Bob]

I could think of many changes to be made to Matrix Revolutions, because the Wachowski's had the world in the palm of their hand with that one, and they absolutely blew it! As for specific portions of a movie, I would remove the Ewoks from "Return of the Jedi", get Jar-Jar out of Episode I, make "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" less grotesque, and give the TV movie version of "It" a proper (vice hokey) ending.

[jjbsn5192]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

I could think of many changes to be made to Matrix Revolutions, because the Wachowski's had the world in the palm of their hand with that one, and they absolutely blew it! As for specific portions of a movie, I would remove the Ewoks from "Return of the Jedi", get Jar-Jar out of Episode I, make "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" less grotesque, and give the TV movie version of "It" a proper (vice hokey) ending.

there are so many things i would have done with Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith

i would have changed.. the script around a little, and added Anakin VS Obi Wan's Battle. very early in the film, but also introducing Vader very early in the half of the film. leaving alot of other scenes to lead up with Vader, and the Fate of the Galaxy..

The Anakin And Obi Wan battle on Mustafar. should have been a straight, Direct Battle. no Interuptions bewtween yoda & Emperor

the Mustafar battle could have been a little more intense. script work could have been a little better, i think Anakin Should have had a Red Lightsaber. that was constructed to his Move to the Dark Side, and his New Side. as Vader..

the Assassination of the Jedi Temple. should have been way better. then just a scene where it leaves it to us that he murdered Children..
i think there should have been a few Jedi's that he Killed. that were a big part of the Star Wars Saga

and for Gods Sake!!! Mace Windu VS Anakin or Aka Lord Vader
would have been Epic. then just slicing his hand off, and calling it goodnight..
Windu would of had way more Mind Powers being second To Master Yoda..
way more Talent And Strength and a Battle Bewtween the Two of them would have been really cool to see

Grevious VS Obi Wan should have been a little harder, and extended time.
and i think Anakin should have been in that fight
could have brought a little Rememberence of Maul VS Qui Gon, and Kenobi.
Three-Duel On a very Epic, Kind of Scene. or a Platform that would be Historical in the Star Wars Saga


Vader VS Kenobi should have led up to the Epic Battle, The Brother VS Brother. kind of situation. i think that should have happend way earlier in the film. and it should have been in two diffrent places
Mustafar. and maybe in a diffrent area. maybe if anakin had escaped death the first time in a certain scene, but the second time on mustafar.. his arrogance had got the best of him. which ultimately led to Vader Being Born..

there are alot of script things i would have done to that film..

Over-All The Changes would have been what Episode 3 was about.. the Climax to the Saga. the Movie the fans had wanted to see..
but also the Desperation and Despair that the Dark Side. had taken control on a Good Person, who turned Evil. to save another life.. from death..
but also the Love and Hurt that Obi Wan Kenobi had been through to slash his former padawan and also young brother.
had to deal with.. should have happend way earlier in the film. and should have been on a Higher More Serious Approach

[Q?]

A very interesting read

Hope there are more of you....

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Q!

I'll start with this.
Memoirs of a Geisha
This movie has so many good things going for it, great cast, excellent production and it's beautifully shot.

Yes, they speak in English, yes some of the details about the life of a geisha are not well done, yes they could have done a much better job, yes some of the girls playing the geisha are not even Japanese but I will resume in two words why I adore this movie

Michelle Yeoh I could watch her in a movie for 3 hours doing nothing but peel potatoes