This movie is liked because its simply a cool film, and is hated only because internet people like to hate - The Boondock Saints (2000) Discussion

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) 3 years ago

I like it but I can see some people being offended at stuff like the Lesbian who's portrayed in a bad way, Willem Dafoe's character calling the guy he's sleeping with the offensive term for gay people, or the racist joke that Rocko tells his boss.

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[–] CastroEulis (381) 3 years ago

The fuck are you rambling on about??

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[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7699) 3 years ago

I was just pointing out things about this that some people might find offensive is all. I am not saying the film is bad though. I'm certainly not one of those fools who calls for films to be banned.

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[–] CastroEulis (381) 3 years ago

Yeah I dont think anyone anywhere cares or cared about those particular things you pointed out lol

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

I tried to respond to you, but I keep getting flagged as violating this sites terms. Looks like I cannot have a frank conversation without the p c police coming for me.

hopefully this post will be added, I wanted to say the g a y candid remarks and jokes are forgivable since they made willem dafoes character g a y. If he wasnt, it would be problematic. Also the lady at the beginning looks like some of the women I worked with, and she only grew angry when they made it a point to make fun of her. She showed a vulnerability like she knew she would not fit in at the plant and it was such a humanist moment to show "the big strong lady" as fragile and had a desire not to be picked on. So I think her portrayal was great!

another user pointed out on the board that the rocko joke was meant to show that he didnt fit in with those mobsters and didnt have such a nasty view like they had.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

Some might be offended at that stuff, yes, but I'd say they're probably offended by a lot of silly things.

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[–] moviechatterer (15583) 3 years ago

prove it , find someone who is offended about the random , out of context, things you named .

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[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

I have yet to meet someone in person who hated this movie, seems like the hate is only from internet people

I mean, I am real human being who exists out of the internet. And if you met me in person, I would tell you that I disliked this movie, and I was surprised that it had such a cult following.

There are so many things awesomely iconic about it. It's funny, stylish, great action. But I don't like the film. Again, I am real person. I am not an AI living on the internet.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

You seem to get why people liked this film. What about the movie has it in your dislike list?

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[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

I don't really care for vigilante justice films. And I feel like there's just not enough substance to this story and characters to make this movie much more than that. For instance, I was never into the Death Wish films, but I did enjoy Death Sentence with Bacon. It was a darker, more emotional film.

There's a few iconic parts in boondock saints that do resonate with me personally, like I still reference to people the Dafoe line/scene when his boytoy is cuddling him. But I don't feel like the movie itself is exciting enough for me to overlook the fact that I don't care at all about the story.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

Thank you for your response, I can understand that. I felt the same way about Death Wish, they were okay films that didnt really stick with me. Death Sentence is one of my favorite films, really shows how bad decisions can snowball into something horrific. Also how no matter how good you are and take care of your life danger still lurks in the world. I liked the lady detective when she asked Kevin Bacon "Did you think you could kill some pissant punk and NOT have it follow you back to the suburbs"? Death Sentence had great performances, good story, and excellent pacing!

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[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

Nice! I'm always surprised and relieved to run into people who also enjoy Death Sentence, let alone be a fave. I thought it was underrated, a nice mix of stellar action with a good story, and some great performances. I still love the scene where John Goodman is telling his son that Bacon's on this way to kill him, and he just kills Goodman. That spiel about family and business, and just the coldness of it all. And oh yeah the scene where bacon and the bad guy are just sitting down, chilling, wounded as fuck, "out of ammo", and bacon's just like, heh. That was memorable XD

Fun fact, apparently even though Death Sentence was based little on the original novel, the author said he really enjoyed and he felt that it was very true to heart of what he was trying to express in his Death Wish/Death sentences book.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

I like it when the authors approve of the film, it means so many people working together got it right! Stephen King said that the movie Dreamcatcher was a movie where the actors and setting closely matched what he thought in his head how they were. Which is phenomenal considering there are hundreds of people who have to come together to work on a film as opposed to just one author who has total control of what he writes.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

I think a lot of it is the tidal wave of hype doesn't last and after it's swept away, what's left? People who come later don't get what the big deal is, and are often annoyed by how much hype there was.

You see it with movies like this or Equilibrium. They become cult hits, people love them, but they aren't the best movies, so it's understandable that somebody who heard about it a little later might be baffled to the point of annoyance at how popular the movie seems to be. Even if you watched it and thought, "Oh, that's was an okay action movie," and then had a bunch of people freaking out about how brilliant it was, you'd maybe get bothered by it.

Then there are people who have to hear about how intellectual it is, how it's deep, only to watch it and find out that it's not that deep, it's just pretending to ask serious questions about morality, crime, and vigilantism.

I like the movie a lot, but some of the criticism is "legitimate". Some is, yes, just haters. I like it for the great performances, the slick look to the film, the cool action sequences, and yeah, even for the depth that is there (even if it's shallower than the die-hard fans want to believe); it does have something to say, at least a bit. Dafoe is brilliant, and I do like that he's a self-loathing character who's personal life (his lack of acceptance of his homosexuality) mirrors his professional life (he admires the vigilantes, even though he is a lawman, and he wrestles with that dual nature, too).

Finally, the Biblical tattoos. You mean VERITAS and AEQUITAS? Or did they have crosses and stuff that I don't remember? I'm asking because veritas and aequitas aren't Biblical, per se, although "truth" and "justice" certainly are major themes there.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

I can understand that mindset, its like when someone goes berserk about some youtube video and I watch it with them and Im just bored and dont like it. There are many movies that have that hype phase, but after the hype passed I returned to watch this film over the years and was entertained and remembered why I like the movie so much. There were some things about it I never liked (ron jeremys pervy mob boss is one of them) but overall I feel at home watching the movie. Its like reuniting with past friends every few years I watch the movie.

Dafoe is always brilliant, he's a actor that I will check out a movie from the library if hes the star or supporting star! His return as green goblin to that new spiderman movie is the biggest draw for me wanting to see that movie!

The biblical tattoos, thats right it is just latin! I was combining their family prayer and the tattoos in my mind. It helps that for a long time the catholic bible was in latin before king james version came along and made the bible more open to the common folk. I reckon without the prayer the tattoos would be less iconic and vice versa! Also they did both have crosses as a necklaces!

Thats awesome that you referenced Equilibrium! Of all my movie watching friends, none of them saw that movie xD I introduced that film to several people, its not a well received Christian Bale flick, but its a great dystopian movie!

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

I agree with you mostly; it is a great film, and I love the rewatchability here. It's way better than haters make it out to be, even if they were baffled by its popularity or don't think it's deep. Set the depth aside, it's still a great action movie with comedy tinges, even if it's only doing the vigilante/good men don't stand by and do nothing philosophical arguments at the level of a teenager. I think it does have some good depth, but not as much as I think the movie thinks it has. But it's still great.

I should rewatch it, actually.

Dafoe is one of those actors who's always great. Even if the movie is subpar, he's great.

The cross necklaces I remember, and the prayer is much more Bible-y (although not directly Biblical, either). I found this site, which seems kinda interesting. I only skimmed it, but I share it here: https://www.ryanhart.org/boondock-saints-prayer/

Take it with some salt, because although he says "Veritas et Aequitas" is in the Bible (I suppose it is) I don't think the fact that a work of spirituality and philosophy mentions truth and justice in the same sentence is enough of a connection, particularly since Isaiah wouldn't have been written in Latin, originally. Those tattoos could just as easily be references to Superman's "Truth, Justice, and the American Way". The site also somehow connects the (super-badass) prayer to Ezekiel, but it's the Pulp Fiction verse, and Pulp Fiction and Boondock Saints are great movies, but connected only in the head of the (probably 19-year old male) writer, outside of superficial similarities.

Equilibrium hit hard, got super-popular amongst my group for awhile, and now I never hear about it. I suspect that the sci-fi dystopia + ultra-karate + black leather formula is mostly Matrix territory for most people, and the director blinked out of pop culture existence after people *hated* Ultraviolet (which, I kinda liked).

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

Thats why I say its a "family prayer", it seemed like a good prayer that was created by a beloved family member and remembered within the family and kept close to heart. I myself have created a prayer from my heart and have prayed it for others in bonding. Its not from the bible but is a prayer. Most movies dont seem to get bible prayers correct, they seem to change them for dramatic effect. I dont think Boondock Saints said the prayer was directly from the bible, and I believe they told Rocco "Nah thats personal, its not something we are gonna share with you because its a family prayer"

Theres three movies that all seem to fall within the same vein,
Equilibrium with Christian Bale
Ultraviolet with Milla Jovovich
Aeon Flux with Charlize Theron
Out of these three I like Equilibrium the best! Another good dystopian movie (albeit not action packed but more drama) was Gattaca starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

That's cool that you've got your own prayer. That's really neat. I dig it.

I find most movies don't get the Bible correct, although some of that might be that there are so many different ways to interpret it, so maybe I'm just looking from the wrong lens. I think what I see a lot of, though, is people not even trying (or seeming not to) to the point of exasperation. As opposed to, say, Martin Scorsese's film Silence, wherein I'm not saying he got everything 100% correct, but by thunder, he's clearly trying. (Scorsese, obviously, has a Catholic background, too, so that helps).

I haven't seen Aeon Flux, although I do plan to watch the original cartoons, which I've heard are freaky-weird-good, and I might cap that off by viewing the film as well. I know it'll probably fall short. I did really like Equilibrium and Ultraviolet, though... I've heard good things about Gattaca.

PS
Excellent screen name. I'm just now reading a copy of Ubik that I picked up at a used book store, and it's phenominal. PKD was a genius.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

One thing I noticed is every time a story about Moses is told, they leave out his brother Aaron. Which is strange since Aaron was a big deal in the bible and he was the one who helped Moses talk to the Pharaoh and helped lead the people after they established their new society outside of Eqypt. When I read the old testament I was shocked how wrong they portrayed the Moses story. Something you gotta keep close to thought is not to accept what someone says blindly, when you yourself can go read the same text. Thats not just the bible but anything someone touts as fact. So many lies and misinformation in the world.

PKD is a true genius, there are so many stories of his turned to great films! I was happy when I discovered that one of my favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger films Total Recall was a PKD short story xD

I rewatched A Scanner Darkly recently and caught the cameo of Alex Jones in the film! Its terrible how many of PKD's stories have become reality. We are being seen through "scanners" in this world, albeit darkly.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

Yeah, Moses tries to get out of being God's voicebox by saying he stutters. It makes me think that maybe he was less of a Charlton Heston and more of a Woody Allen (who wouldn't watch that?). Ironically, in Prince of Egypt (magnificent film), Jeff Golblum voices Aaron, and has the stammering quality Moses has. Of course, Moses might've just been making an excuse...

I will say this for the DeMille version, though, if memory serves, they do have Aaron at least say, "By this you will know the LORD is God," before casting down the rod-snake, yes? It's been awhile since I've seen the film.

You're absolutely right about misinformation. It's everywhere, it's widely believed, and it can be hard to know who to trust. Worse, it gets mixed up in half-truths, and there are even differences between genuine lies and "shifting understandings". Recently, for instance, people attack scientists by saying they're changing their minds on things, as though scientists are flip-flopping politicians. But science is a process, so a change isn't a sign of dishonesty (in and of itself), but just that there is new information to go off of. Heck, even politicians (who are vast liars) shouldn't be maligned for changing their minds alone. New worldviews are a sign of somebody willing to admit to being wrong. Flip-flopping is different, or being a fair-weather friend, but if a politician feels morally convicted to change an opinion or a stance, that's not necessarily wrong or evil; it might be a mark of sense and wisdom and humility (probably not, though).

Yeah, we're watched too much. Phones listening in, Alexa and Siri (hi, Google; hi, Microsoft!) and so forth. It's deplorable. The one comfort, of course, is that it's all too much information for them to really be coming after everybody. It's very odd. Odd times.

"Through a glass, darkly," of course, is PKD making a really on-point Biblical reference...full circle...

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

When reading up more on PKD, he did have some spiritual visions and hallucinations. He witnessed a pink beam shining off this girls christian necklace and believed it was an intelligent entity that gave him wisdom.

He called the entity by three names Zebra, God, and Valis (three names could represent the holy trinity?) and valis was an acronym meaning Vast Active Living Intelligence System. Which is a good way to describe the universe I think.

reading this made me think of Alex Jones when he said that his own research led him to believe that God is the universe moving itself forward in the shape of comet seeing if it can give birth to himself. Demons are the evil trying to hinder his birth and thats why they plague humans because we play a large part in Gods fruition. None of this is in the bible I dont think XD but it is an interesting perspective.

Maybe PKD did receive visions from God? The guy wrote about and predicted so many things that are coming true.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

I don't really know much about PKD in real life. I listened to a couple of interviews where he 180'd on Blade Runner, though; he went from really upset to extremely pleased with it in a few months. Not that it ultimately matters, the movie's great regardless, but it's kinda nice knowing he was digging it.

That pink beam story is crazy. I am sort of aware that he had visions, or claimed them, and you talking about the PKD Trinity makes me want to read more for sure. Valis is the name of another book of his, too, so maybe I'll try to find that one next...

The more I contemplate the ideas of God, Meaning, and the Universe, the stranger a world I think we live in. Alex Jones is out to lunch on a lot of things, but as to the true nature of reality, well, that's anybody's guess, and I have a feeling that the ultimate Truth will be so uncanny that anybody who spoke it would sound wackadoo to the rest of us.

It's possible he had visions. I don't think predicting dystopias and government surveillance makes him prophetic, though.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

Plenty of people predicted or warned of dystopias, George Orwell being at the top of my list. Then again these people could see real life dystopias in other countries. So you have a point that illuminating the likely outcome of surveillance states is not prophetic. But I still think its possible for someone to be a prophet or at least receive visions that help.

I am garnering a lot of interest in reading his works as well. I chose the name scannerdarkly because I watched the movie recently and it helped me make better life choices. People call it a "stoner movie" but they are not seeing the message, its a warning to not become like those people. PKD has a list of all his friends whose lives were destroyed by addiction at the end of the movie like in his novel. Im not saying im a druggie, recently I have craved alcohol and I made the right choice and stayed away from it! Even started my diet and exercise regimen back up instead! I use to be an alcoholic and it nearly destroyed my life.

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

I agree with everything you're saying here. Insight and logic can be had in tandem with prophetic gift, or some "sight" beyond normal perceptions or reasonings.

A Scanner Darkly is kinda like The Great Gatsby that way. Fitzgerald was saying, "See this vapid, superficial lifestyle? These frivolous people doing frivolous things as displays of wealth? Who cares? What is that? Are they happy? Are they fulfilled? Do they lead good, moral, meaningful lives with true friends and filled with love? No? Don't be like them, then." And so many people went, "Those parties look dope. I want millions of dollars and a Jazz Age party lifestyle."

Scarface drives me nuts, too, where a lot of people have adopted Tony Montana's ideals as their own, missing the entire point of how thoroughly Tony destroys everything he really cares about in pursuit of his foolish goals. (Some of this is surely DePalma's fault, however, for giving Tony his "blaze of glory" moment at the end, instead of hammering home how pathetic he became).

It's awesome that you're in control and staying ahead of your demons. We've all got them. I got lucky, alcohol and drugs aren't mine, but of course, I have others. I've known people who have let it get the better of them, too. It's tragic. It's so good, though, that you're taking control. Exercise is great! Not enough people are doing that, and we, as a civilization, are paying some serious health tolls as a result.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

the health tolls, a study has shown that most of the covid related deaths were people who fell into the obese range of body mass index! And hardly anyone is saying "eat healthy, get exercise, stop drinking so much and lay off the bad stuff".

I always hated that book the Great Gatsby, the characters were so unlikeable because of the bad choices they made. Im glad Im not the only one who saw the message. In a way Gatsby couldve been saved if he was a part of mgtow xDDD

I think people like Scarface because he made his dreams come true and got a taste of the high life. Some street hoodlum actually rose up from the dregs (the cost be damned I reckon?), and it was like a modern day Shakespearean Tragedy. But yes the message is clear, thats not a happy life worth carving out.

That blaze of glory moment was over the top! But really sent that movie off on a climax

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

Yup. And it's not just COVID, it's everything. How many obese people do you know in their sixties? Seventies? Eighties? It's low, right? If any. Body positivity is, to an extent, good. We don't need people feeling shame because they're husky, have a different frame than somebody else, have a thyroid condition, etc., etc., or even if they just overeat. Please, people, don't feel bad for who you are.

But - and this is huge - but body positivity causes a LOT of harm, as well. A LOT. Good diet, modest exercise (studies keep showing huge health benefits to even a thirty minute *walk* every day - not even jogging - walking), and knock off sugar and tobacco (et al).

I love the book The Great Gatsby, and I've re-read it a bunch, but I also took away the anti-materialistic message. I didn't find them entirely unlikable. Gatsby is tragic to me, because he gets whirlwinded into this stuff and can't/won't get himself out. Tom is a dick, though. Nick I like, if only because he lays down the great message about not judging people too harshly. I think that's important, because we're all good and we're all bad, and while we should judge behaviours, we should still try to understand people and where they're coming from. There but for the Grace of God, etc.

I can certainly understand why somebody wouldn't like the book given the unlikable characters. Gatsby might have survived that attack, but I'm picturing a guy involved in bootlegging with that much money and the sense of smug, self-entitlement plus pent-up frustration-rage that a lot of mgtows seem to have and, well... I'm thinking he'd be hit by a gang faster than he could say "Gavin McInnes".

People mistake Scarface's actions for true accomplishment, but nothing he does gives his life purpose, meaning, love, or happiness. If it's rags-to-riches people love, there are WAY better role models.

I love the scene - the action climax - but it makes him look cool. It blunts some of the bite when the camera pans to "The World is Yours". Imagine if it ended with him blubbering on the floor, the assassins creep in, they shoot him in the back of the head, and he slumps over in a puddle of regret. Then it pans out over the assassins looting all his belongings, and finally the camera shot ends on that same "The World is Yours" image.

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[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

Random interjection but yeah, I'm very sad that it seems like his legacy got burned with Ultraviolet (which I didn't think was a good movie but...it just oozes style).

He has writing credits for Street Kings and Salt though. There's that. Shame we'll not see him in the director's spot though.

Wait...apparently he directed a Children of the Corn prequel in 2020. Sighs. lol

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[–] Ace_Spade (9544) 3 years ago

Yeah, it'd be cool to see him at the helm again. Maybe someday soon? He does have an announced project on his wiki page. It's called Solara.

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[–] Galilguy (2472) 3 years ago

Rocco is the man

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[–] LemmyLugosi (411) 3 years ago

I've seen it twice, disliked it both times. I have told many people in person that I think it blows, so, there's that.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

Something I never thought would happen had happened to me. I watched the movie Hot Fuzz years ago and didnt like it. I gave it a second chance and still did not like it. A few years later I watch it a third time and then fell in love with it! Its now one of my favorite comedies and movies. Now I gave it many chances because it was a birthday gift.

I dont expect you to change your mind about boondock saints, you gave it two tries and thats usually more than anyone would for a film they didnt like the first time.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

you dont seem to have good taste in film then. hot fuzz from a technical standpoint alone is a near perfect buddy cop/comedy/horror homage

Boondock is an overrated shallow POS. why is the action good? cause its flashbacks?? wow auteur director

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

You either missed the point I was making, or breezed through what I wrote and missed that Hot Fuzz is one of my favorite movies. You can change your mind with movies you like. It can depend on your mood, or its not living up to what you expected it to be.

Taste in movies being terrible just because I like something you dont? You must be one of those people who sat in the backseat of a crowded car, and whenever your brother chose a CD to listen to, you yelled out with your friends "This fucking sucks" just because it was not your music CD being played. That attitude only serves to demean, and makes you out to be an asshole.

I like Boondock Saints because its fun and the characters are interesting. You just hatin to hate and you waste my time.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

"Taste in movies being terrible just because I like something you dont?"

No just like many on here its YOU who cant separate the technical from the subjective.

"You must be one of those people who sat in the backseat of a crowded car, and whenever your brother chose a CD to listen to, you yelled out with your friends "This fucking sucks" just because it was not your music CD being played. That attitude only serves to demean, and makes you out to be an asshole.

again stop projecting your stupidity on me. I am the opposite. I would be the one who says "well personally I dont like this music, but I can respect how talented the musicians are and why someone would like it". but what I will not accept is someone playing me Maroon five and telling me they re the new Michael Jackson, or Beethoven" then calling me a hater when I don't agree.

the film is technically weak. its flashback gimmick is nothing special. is not particularly well shot. its repetitive, namely the "flashback, cut to slow motion violence, rinse and repeat". am I really supposed to be impressed by that slow motion coming from the roof on a string scene??

is it REALY comparable to Tarintinos basement science in inglorious Basterds? and if you say yes and cant tell why one is great and one is mediocre, you should never discuss film again.

the fact its embarrassingly film ignorant fans compared it to Tarantino just exposed their lack of film analysis and understanding. They brought it on themselves by trying to elevate this film rather than just accepting its a dumb fun not particularly good action movie. Instead they tried to act like its one of the greats. not going to fly

I am glad you were so easily entertained by mediocrity. some of us have higher standards and can back up why.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

The Boondock saints is by far one of the most cynical films I have ever seen, it's a copy and paste and sloppy mish mash imitation of Tarantino, with no overall theme, it's visually uninspired and follows no visual language. The dialog tries really hard to be funny and entertaining and just is over assuming of just how clever it is, I mean one of the most memorable parts is someone reciting a joke, that's like taking a funny youtube video and inserting it into your movie and not making any mention or commentary or anything out of it, the funny man is not funny, he just runs around yelling all wide eyed.

The only person who really does anything for the movie is Willem Dafoe, who tricks people into thinking this movie is worth anything because he's a talented actor who could act in any movie and elevate it with his on screen presence and ability. The writing of this character isn't what makes us like him, it's Willem Dafoe. But the main actors are alright but mainly shapeless, they say shit that's just a voicebox for Troy Duffy to say the same perspective over and over again, they hold no contrast, they don't disagree, conflict in this movie only shows up in contrived waves like Rocco getting shot, and then they play the horrible library music soundtrack, the most generic irish music and the most horrible 2 cent and royalty free soundtrack.

He tries to tie it off with the silly and obvious question of Is It Okay To Kill Bad People? As if he were illustrating a story that covers the subject matter, when all the movie does is celebrate and accentuate violence and brutality and shows you can wear neat little blue jeans and a peacoat while doing it.
There is nothing here, if this movie set out to be a commentary on crime and brutality, it failed. And let's talk about the action, it's unimaginative at best, it's all basic and elementary, visually and from the mechanics going on, most of the shootouts are just one person standing/spinning in one part of the room, murdering people in another part of the room, that's fine if you're going for realism, but if you have akimbo guns, slow motion, and you're going for the john woo aesthetic, and all you can pull out is 3 guys standing in a room guns drawn firing a bunch at a another group of guys, and that's your sequence, well I wouldn't call it imaginative, all the great directors make action scenes in their own shape and beauty, even if they all don't follow the same logic and aesthetics, but The Boondock Saints is just boring.
Now I ran into all of this before I even seen Overnight, and I'm sure anyone who's seen it will tell you how synonymous the director's doucheyness is with this film, and whatever, I agree the documentary is edited and what not, but those are such tidbits and significant beacons of his personality, his attitude, his sensibilities, that it's really no wonder that Boondock Saints is as terrible as it is, it came from this man, this egotistical, delusional, and pseudo-discerning psychopath.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

You know what, I assumed you were just a troll, with how you are attacking my entire joy of movies just because you hate this movie, but you did a give well written effort to explain exactly why you do not like this movie. I have never seen Overnight.

I never compared it to Tarantino films. You seem to be the one projecting thoughts onto me, I wrote it was its own thing and was entertaining. I listed why it entertained me in the original post.

"Higher standards and can back up why". We all love some well made movies, that are technically and subjectively regarded as great. But there are also movies that are good at entertaining that have some flaws. I can personally say that after not watching it for years I was still entertained when rewatching it. The joke was alright at best, what made Rocco funny to me was who he was as a person not his jokes. He came off so oblivious and as such a fuck up it makes you wonder how he survived the criminal outfit so long. But it neatly explains why he was always a lackey and eventually why they set him up to get killed. He was lucky his friends got to those russians first. The most memorable part for me was the assassin with six guns waiting on them to leave the house, and also how great Willem Dafoe was in the film. He definitely elevated the movie, I agree.

So what you wrote is you dont like the movie because people compare it to tarantino (mind you I have not myself, they are seperate entities) and it fails for you on a technical level because you hate flashback scenes, you dont find the action scenes well made, the director is a human trash can (paraphrasing of course). I can understand those reasons.

If you compare this movie to other action crime movies, then yes this movie can and will rate lower. But viewing it as its on thing I liked it.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

"
I never compared it to Tarantino films. You seem to be the one projecting thoughts onto me, I wrote it was its own thing and was entertaining. "

you didnt. its common in its fandom to.

"I listed why it entertained me in the original post."

yes and I can sit plenty of pure trash thats entertaining, im not going to then pretend my trash is solid gold just because I liked it.

"so what you wrote is you dont like the movie because people compare it to tarantino (mind you I have not myself, they are seperate entities) and it fails for you on a technical level because you hate flashback scenes, you dont find the action scenes well made, the director is a human trash can (paraphrasing of course). I can understand those reasons."

also

with no overall theme, it's visually uninspired and follows no visual language.

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

I think it has a theme.

"Evil flourishes when good men do nothing."

and there is strong religious motifs as well. The heroes believed they were ordained by god to go out and punish the wicked. They both awoke from dreams and shared the same feeling about what they needed to do. They become the "Boondock SAINTS" for taking out those wicked people. So if you believe in God, then the heroes are justified in what they did.

Now I will bring up Tarantino but only to ask this question: What is the theme of Pulp Fiction? In your words.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

its not a motif (or not a good one) if you are beaten over the head with it and its forefront in the camera nonstop..

this isn't about pulp fiction... its about boondocks saints fans manning up and admitting its fine to like a film but don't pretend its great or anything close to Tarantino

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[–] scannerdarkly (1376) 3 years ago

motif
mō-tēf′
noun
1) A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work.
2) A dominant theme or central idea.
3) A short rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated or evoked in various parts of a composition.

That oughta clear up your confusion on what is a motif. i.e. you are suppose to see it recurring throughout. Thats why we are "beaten over the head with it".

The reason why I asked about pulp fiction, is because I had a feeling you would realize that it doesnt have a theme. Now there has been a great movie analyzer that you may already know, Rob Ager, who explores pulp fiction and finds a theme with some digging. It was an interesting video he posted.

You criticize Boondock Saints as not having a theme (but it does have one) and yet Pulp Fiction is a well received movie with high acclaim yet it doesnt have a readily discernible theme xD

Thats why you failed to answer the question, and chose to deflect instead.

With your last statement, you again make a point that does not apply to me. As I write a third time now, I have never said this movie is comparable to Tarantino. You have some kind of goal that is pointless in trying to make with yours truly.

I dont know where we are gonna go from here, because I still like this movie. You are clear in why you dont. I appreciate your thoroughness in explanation, but thats it.

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[–] Leodicaprio (6426) 3 years ago

"That oughta clear up your confusion on what is a motif. i.e. you are suppose to see it recurring throughout. Thats why we are "beaten over the head with it".
"

No nothing needs clearing up. a bad filmmaker will beat you over the head with its in obvious ways. a talented filmmaker will be subtler in their use. this was a bad filmmaker.

"The reason why I asked about pulp fiction, is because I had a feeling you would realize that it doesnt have a theme. Now there has been a great movie analyzer that you may already know, Rob Ager, who explores pulp fiction and finds a theme with some digging. It was an interesting video he posted."

the point is Boondocks theme is lazy, overdone and in your face. you may not need one, if your story is good enough. but this ones isn't and so he amateurely uses it.

great enjoy the film. don't pretend its quality though

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[–] AP (5288) 3 years ago

This movie did well at the time but it is a very dated movie which is why one is more likely to find criticism surrounding it or why the sequel wasn’t a big hit.

It was a lot like many other Tarantino-wannabe movies that came out in the 90s like Thursday or Go. Y’know the movies where everyone is a badass who shoots guns, makes pop culture references, and swears a lot (basically the QT template but without the charm). This movie did that and was trying so hard to be cool that it often looked cheesy IMO. I actually didn’t get around to watching it until I was in the college in the 00s and I kinda felt it was pretty meh. It wasn’t bad but it definitely felt dated and not in a good way.

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