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Tabbycat's Replies
+20 ‘net *’s 4 u
Yes, and I have to say it’s my favorite non-comedic role of his.
(At least not <i>intentionally</i> comedic.)
He is a big part of what works in this film — a slow build-up to madness. As he gets hungrier and more sunburned, his baiting of “hot shot” Christopher George slowly ratchets up until he gets decked. That’s believable given the circumstances, but then he unravels completely after leading half the group up to the ranger station. At first they are volunteers, but soon find themselves taking orders from an ex-military madman.
A little hammy?
Maybe — that was Leslie Nielsen.
He later used that to pivot to comedy very successfully.
But here he’s convincing as the growing menace, starting out cocky and arrogant and ending up a psychopath “taking what he wants.” Other than maybe a few shots of him going a few rounds with the bear I find little to criticize. His character added dimension, suspense, and even excitement.
He was the right man for the job, no doubt.
Second that.
The Scorpion Blu-Ray is phenomenal and nearly flawless.
Watching the scratchy dull print on Amazon is unfair to the filmmakers.
There are some truly beautiful shots, especially in the title sequence.
Who says this, and when?
Actually there was. It just wasn’t called that, and it was on, I believe, public television.
Enough of it that by 1979 there was already a movie parodying it: Albert Brooks’ <i>Real Life</i>.
<< It taking place on Halloween was not supposed to be significant. >>
Incorrect. The project started life as an idea of producer Irwin Yablans.
All he had was a horror movie taking place on Halloween night.
Carpenter took that and went from there.
I think a pumpkin or other Halloween-themed mask might have worked, at least for merchandising. Had this been a major studio production they likely would have gone that route. But as it was a low-budget indy, they picked a common mask that was 99 cents.
Bad.
And no.
Directed by Carpenter’s AD Tommy Lee Wallace.
And not well.
< The real issue is she's incompetent >
Excellent point, and one I should have seen. All that practicing in front of the mirror, emphasis on makeup and looks. And when we finally see her interview, we get run-of-the-mill everyday corporate babble. Somehow she’s conned them all into thinking she’s some kind of superwoman, but she knows she’s nothing of the sort.
Given the choice of evil or incompetence as the root of bad choices, always pick the latter. With even the most evil acts, incompetence is often still the core.
“Don’t you NEVER talk to me like that!” says Captain as he knocks Luke to the sand.
He only raises his this one time, and he rages like a helldog. We’re surprised. Always so in control, we think of him as the other cool guy, Luke’s dark opposite. He blows because the one thing he isn’t used to and can’t abide is insubordination. All is well for those that go along, but challenge his authority and he loses it. Doesn’t really happen until he meets Luke, and then ... well, he’ll have him digging holes and filling them in till he begs them to stop. The minute he does, all is forgiven. That’s all Captain wanted from Luke, all he ever wanted from them all: conformity.
The human cost of that is the movie’s central theme.
I love movie soundtracks.
Love Lalo Schifrin. His <i>Mission: Impossible</i> score was the one that first got me interested in film and TV music.
I do not like this score. It’s inappropriate, casting the wrong tone. And too much of it sounds like M:I, which <i>really </i>doesn’t fit. The “boilerplate background” track you mention only became the Eyewitness News theme after the movie. I don’t blame Mr. Schifrin for every local channel 7 turning that clip into a 70’s cliché.
Just watched tonight for the first time in HD and widescreen.
Last saw in 1985 on VHS.
I wanted to answer the question posed but after reading your response I have nothing to add.
No it isn’t.
A rating stands — it doesn’t expire like cheese.
Tourist Trap was rated PG in 1979.
It was never R.
Superb orchestral soundtrack. Sounds much better in stereo. One of the first Varese Sarabande releases I ever bought (along with Dawn of the Dead). Ironically, producer Yablans hated it and wanted a cheap Halloween-style synth track — hilarious.
Although released originally in mono, there is a 5.1 remix on the 20th anniversary disc. Don’t know if subsequent editions retained that. The version on Tubi now is plain mono.
He was.
Mother, not wife.
Plus it’s the guy who played Dolarhyde in Manhunter.
That alone tells you.
Yes, Quinlan’s character seemed ungrateful comparing their sacrifices. But they’re not comparable. A mom whose son dies from cancer has no choice but those four lawyers who wrecked their careers did so voluntarily — at least Jan did. To not acknowledge their willingness to sacrifice everything when they didn’t have to was indeed ungrateful.
Of course, Jan put on his Captain Ahab helmet before asking his partners if they wanted to join him in his death march of a whale hunt. He used very bad judgement in rejecting settlements, especially the 20M offered by the Beatrice lawyer when it was obvious he would likely be dropped from the case. Actually, all settlement offers must be presented to and decided by the clients, not the attorneys, but Hollywood often ignores that little legal fact.
Close-up, maybe.
Initially, sitting on the couch — near perfect.
Even the way he sat.
If only you had any idea what you’re talking about.
Google “tape recorder.”
No, it sure wouldn’t.
Neither does this ending.