I am a huge Steve McQueen fan, I have watched almost all his movies. So, I was so thrilled when I got the DVD, since this part led Steve to the only Oscar nomination of his career. And I was completely disappointed! Took me three days to finish it and I skipped some parts in the end. So desperately boring!
Anyone else?
I loved it the first time I saw it in 1966. I was just nine and found it riveting. Some of the more graphic action scenes left a lasting impression. Have since seen it in its entirety or in parts probably ten more times. Definitely McQueen's best performance IMO though not my favorite film of his. For that I'd go with The Great Escape. Like others I love the history, cinematography, and setting of this film. The book by Richard McKenna is terrific and goes into quite a bit more explanation of the political revolution taking place in China at the time, using some of the film's secondary characters to a much greater extent. Fans of the film should give it a shot. I believe it was McKenna's only novel. A shame.
shareIt was he died before the movie was made.
shareNope, you are certainly not the only one. I found it numbingly boring the first time I watched it some years ago and only recently recorded it off-air to give it a second chance. I'll let you know...
shareEven if it was slow paced there were developments all along the way. Nice to see a movie about a place and time that we don't often get to view. Great movie. Not boring. Tastes great, less filling.
shareYou probably aren't. But it's not necessarily something to be proud of.
shareOnly true lovers of history or a knowledge of the military can truly appreciate what Robert Wise was trying to convey to the audience. I personally love history and no very little about Asia. I do love the art of China and Japan and know really very little of their actual history, but what "The Sand Pebbles" was about is something that is not seen or talked about. I am glad Robert Wise played it the way he did because it was masterful!
shareAre YOU the only one to find it sooo boring? Yes.
shareRichard Schiekel's Life magazine review, which can be found at thesandpebbles.com, makes the same point. In it, he notes Andy Warhol once said he enjoyed movies that were long and boring, and that "The Sand Pebbles" was a good example of how a long and boring film could be enjoyable, too.
I don't know that I can explain it, but I think I get what he meant. There are a lot of story strands in this film, extended outward for much screen time, and not all are interesting to me. But what does connect does make for a great viewing experience, and when you are stuck with the dull scenes (ahem, Frenchy and Maile) you kind of tune out and wait for the next scene, or if it doesn't work either, the scene after that.
No matter how many times I've tried to watch it, it doesn't work. Long and boring, incredibly slow paced.
I'm smiling. This should scare you.
It's boring because it's too long for its own good. Apparently during the 50's and early 60's if the movie wasn't at least 3 hours long, it wasn't considered a worthy film, regardless the subject. The story could have been told more efficiently by cutting out all the inconsequential fluff.
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"I am a huge Steve McQueen fan, I have watched almost all his movies. So, I was so thrilled when I got the DVD, since this part led Steve to the only Oscar nomination of his career. And I was completely disappointed! Took me three days to finish it and I skipped some parts in the end. So desperately boring!"
Yeah, it needs some cars chases; people snorting coke; some nudity; and flying monkeys to jazz it up.
You are wrong..."Lawrence of Arabia" only had dead women in it and that was great! My sister and I saw it in the movies and we both were so glad there were NO women in it. I like that human interest side in "The Sand Pebbles" it was appropriate and added something to it as far as I am concerned.
shareI watch this movie every time is it shown on cable. I can't get enough of the fine acting performances, cinematography, music, production values and direction. It is shot in an epic scale reminiscient of the Great Escape, etc.
Steve McQueen's performance was incredible, subtle yet powerfully portrayed. A perfect role for him, and a great supporting cast, from Crenna's Capt. Collins to Attenburough's Frenchy.
The only part that I found a bit slow was the romance between Frenchy and Maily. Other than that, a tour-de-force performance by SM and the rest of the cast. You actually believe it is 1926 China and you are on-board with the crew.