MovieChat Forums > Days of Heaven (1978) Discussion > I can finally understand why Malick edit...

I can finally understand why Malick edited this film for years + then...

posted 17 years ago by suckerdwsp316
18 replies | jump to latest

....and then left the movie business altogether. Badlands was a decent first effort for him, and then he followed it up with 'Days of Heaven'.

Days of Heaven, while an interesting portrait of humanity at the start of the century, was nothing but a few good shots put together. There was no story. There was no action. Th editing job was horrendous, I've never seen scenes end so quickly and new ones start before in my life. Its as if, Malick sat at his type writer, created a scene, wrote 2 1/2 lines of dialogue and quickly jumped to another scene. Then I read the trivia and it stated that Malick edited this movie for 2 years. I can totally understand his frustration. I've worked on projects that took years to get done, and it never ended up the way I envisioned it to be. Malick seems like a mysterious figure, since he ran away from the film industry after just 2 works, and then came back 20 years later for whatever reason I am still unaware of.

I can see why people like this film, because there is a fan base for almost any kind of movie. But Malick drove himself crazy with this film and he has himself to blame, HE NEVER SHOULD OF STARTED IT.

[–] Kublai C 17 years ago

There was story, and more than enough action.
The editing was fine, and there were several long shots.
Moving pictures should be about pictures first and foremost, not cramming tons of dialogue into every scene.

This movie is a masterpiece.

Malick took so long, because he's a notorious perfectionist.

[–] MacAindrais 17 years ago

Malick edits all of his movies very meticulously. Not least of which because he shoots an obscene amount of film. The fact that Days of Heavn is widely revered as Malick's masterpiece must slip your mind.

[–] mjensen-3 17 years ago

I'm sorry. But the editing in "Days of Heaven" is flawless. The plot is simple, but very captivation, and the images are thought provocking.

The fact that you could not see why this film is a masterpiece, is kinda sad.

Last Films seen:
The Battle of Algiers(1966)- 10/10
30 Days of Night(2007)- 6/10

[–] guitarpete987 17 years ago

Indeed. I think "The New World" might Malick's best movie (which the original poster might like better because of it's meatier story), but the simple beauty of both the tale being told and the cinematography of "Days of Heaven" makes it his most emotionally resonant and satisfying film.

[–] jeff4760-1 17 years ago

"I'm sorry. But the editing in "Days of Heaven" is flawless. The plot is simple, but very captivation, and the images are thought provocking.

The fact that you could not see why this film is a masterpiece, is kinda sad."

I'm sure the original poster will see this as a masterpiece now...coming from a moron that can't type.

[–] njchino371 17 years ago

This movie requires repeated viewings. I have never been so emotionally and psychologically moved by pure beauty and aesthetic form. Many films ravish the eyes without touching the heart. At first viewing, Days of Heaven may seem this way. However, if you give it another chance, you will be knocked on your ass.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Verdoux-1 17 years ago

I think it's more self delusion than anything else if you have to watch movies more than once to appreciate their greatness. We should just accept the fact that not every movie is for us.

--
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Sandor_Szavost 12 years ago

I believe that to thoroughly judge the different elements of a film, one should watch it more than once.

[–] activista 11 years ago

@Verdoux-1

No, it ain't. Some films I've enjoyed better the second time around because I didn't get them the first time, or because I'd seen some as a child, was too young to understand them, and it wasn't until after I was an adult that I appreciated some of them much better due to some growth, gaining experience, and some maturity in life. That's all that about, not about any grand delusions or whatever.

[–] Verdoux-1 11 years ago

Obviously I wasn't talking about seeing movies as a child and revisiting them when you're an adult.

[–] JackBluegrass 17 years ago

The re-creation of turn of the century Texas was done with such beautiful photography. Nestor Almendros, the Spanish cinematographer, was supposedly going blind at the time of filming.

If that's the case, all cinematographers should be going blind.

Much of the movie was filmed during the "magic hour": outdoors at the hour around sunup and sundown, which created beautiful images.

By the end of my first viewing, I was stunned by the picture.

[–] andrew-jones5 17 years ago

Just watched this. I was blown away by they way the film looked.

the music in the locust and fire scene*. they way the crowd runs to board the train while thoses grain towers are in the background. Wonderful stuff.

the planes taking off. loads of things.

odd way of ending films but thats alright i suppose. nowt lyrical or wonderful, just a musing thought and walk down the tracks to nowhere special

* the night time , flames, running, a bit like the buring derrek scene in there will be blood.

'Work is the curse of the drinking classes' Oscar Wilde

[–] kenny-164 17 years ago

This is a great film. Anyone who has never seen it owes it to themselves to do so.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 12 years ago

"Should of" makes no sense, and is a mishearing of "should have". You mean to say he never should HAVE started it.

--------
See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

HE NEVER SHOULD OF STARTED IT...

Yes the overall picture went over budget, took years to edit and then never made any money. But watching the film with its symmetrical compositions and idyllic landscape vistas while listening to the perfectly complementary soundtrack, most would have to agree that the cinema world is better for its existence.