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About LinkBacksWhat would be an accurate description of a cult movie?
What would be an accurate description of a cult movie?
My attempt to describe the term of a cult movie.
The movie which was made not only within a specific cultural or social cross-section (or subculture) but the movie which makes the viewer to see the surrounding World from inside the specific subculture. In other words the viewer feel himself to be a part of this subculture.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Hmm, thanks Coffeecup for your definition. You see, I was a bit reluctant to say "Amélie Poulain" was a cult movie because it is so widely known and popular. In my mind, a cult movie has a bit of a negative connotation. But thinking about it, it actually could qualify as a cult movie.
PS: I like your signature.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain is definitely a fantastic film.
But I am not sure that I think it's a cult movie. I think a film has to be a bit "weird" and unusual to be a cult movie... (Amélie Poulain is just cute).. Sex and murder helps a lot... Also strange philosophies or religion. Good soundtrack. It should bring about some nostalgia in people when they talk about it. Also it has to be quite old and a bit cheezy.
I think that CoffeeCup's description is good.
I am trying to think of some European cult movies... I am not so good with movies...
But here are some..
English: The Wicker Man... English original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FdV-O8o7ok
Yugoslavian: Sweet Movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsMLbCkzcGQ
Italian: Suspiria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlww8Yk2ASY
German: Christiane F.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4vY1V8qSTc
German: Goodbye Lenin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb4efZcFUM
Spanish: Hable con ella http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNdzcTZUW54
Iceland: Korpen flyger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnY0KMUVQao
Nothing French comes to mind right now actually. But there must be something French that everybody has seen, that's cheezy, old and weird.... But what?
@devochka - I can't think of anything from Belgium other than the Smurfs and Tintin! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aaA6IsvN6c I think it's cult because people remember it from their childhood and because they have some wacky political/sexual associations.. apparently.
Not sure what's a Russian cult movie. I think "Brat" and "Mimino" are close to the mark though...(?) Maybe "Stalker" (?)
Thank You!Originally Posted by devochka
PS: I like your signature
I never thought that a cult movie may be considered as a bad movie only. Of course it is more easy to create a new fictional cultural cross-section using sex and murders. But to find a beauty subcultural point in ordinary life is an art, and so is "Amélie Poulain". It is interesting to know what our movie expert rockzmom think of it and the term of a cult movie?
Back to Russian cult movies:
- "Брат" ("Brother") - yes this is the cult movie from the top of the top list.[/*:m:1lb74fba]
- "Mimino" - no, it's a good movie but I can't see anything related to a cult.[/*:m:1lb74fba]
- "Stalker" - it is not so easy to make a choice here. The book, the original story by Strugatsky Bros. is really suitable to be marked as a cult book. But the movie is quite different. On the other hand after the PC game "S.T.A.L.K.E.R" was released the name "Stalker" itself became a sort of cult.[/*:m:1lb74fba]
Here are some items from my Russian cult movie list:
Back to French cult movies: I've already mentioned "Leon", I would like to add "Subway" also by Luc Besson (wiki link).
Finally to German cult movies: my choice is "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (wiki link).
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Has anybody watched Tsar? I'd like to hear your impressions, should I go to the cinema or just wait for the torrent release?
Here's the trailer.
http://video.yandex.ru/users/film-trailers/view/409
Send me a PM if you need me.
Ace choices Coffeecup!
"Boomer?" It had a bit of a cult feel to it.
Anything with "Rasputin" would automatically have potential for cult... Because he is a bit of a cult figure in popular imagination... but I have never seen a film with/about him...
Also, anything about kossacks...
The thing about French films is that they tend to be so "chic" and stylish that you can't really call them "cult".... I have seen "Leon" but I don't remember the plot very well.
Sorry... I have been feeling up to posting too much...
Okay, my thoughts on what a cult film is....
I think a good example is Rocky Horror Picture Show and I can speak about that one as I have seen it in the movie theater and can explain it better.
First, what is a cult movie? It is any movie which has a large devoted specific fan base. And in that sentence is the key word...fan... short for fanatic, a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal. The people who like these films and go to see these movies don't go just once or twice, they go 100 times! I have a cousin who has seen Rocky Horror more than 200 times! I also believe it is "usually" a film that is not that great of a movie to begin with. Usually the topics of the films are the reasons they stay off the main charts. Rocky Horror is a musical that parodies science fiction and pornography films. It is not your main stream type of film! John Waters, a director from Baltimore, has a number of cult films. Pink Flamingo is one of his and the original Hair Spray, and Cry Baby (with a VERY young Johnny Depp) were his too. His films are just way out there and do not appeal to a mass audience but have a BIG fan base.
Now, back to Rocky Horror.... This film is a very funny film but if you were to watch it a home by yourself, oh my... you would just not have the same experience and would probably turn it off and think I have just lost my mind or I have taken way too much medication for liking this film.
In the movie theater, people dress up in costumes and bring props. They spray water (when it is raining in the movie), throw toast and rice (during the wedding scene of course) and snap rubber gloves (you'll have to guess why and when). They talk back to the screen and answer questions from the characters. It is all interactive. People get up and dance (they "do" the Time Warp dance that I posted the link for). It is a total experience, not just a movie.
Rocky Horror is also the longest-running theatrical release in film history, 34 years! I saw it the first time probably around 1979-80 as my sister who is older took me to see it. Now, I have only seen it in a movie theater a few times, but the music from the show and the Time Warp & Sweet Transvestite scenes are classic "cult" scenes and used in other TV show and movies.
Which leads me to my next point about a cult film....A cult movie is one that I feel is somehow used over and over again in other films or TV shows as an inside joke and Rocky Horror has been used countless times in other things:
Family Guy: They have done a number of episodes mentioning Rocky Horror. There is a Family Guy episode entitled Dammit Janet. In the episode, PTV, Peter, Stewie and Brian are dancing in transvestite’s outfits, for about 2 seconds.... and then there is this little clip ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js-Fji8KhaQ
Cold Case did an episode where they were looking for a murder that happened that was connected to Rocky Horror in the 1970's and Barry Bostwick played the killer. The ending of the show is really good as the used some of the songs from the movie and scenes from a theater showing the movie and then used similar fonts for the credits.... here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0_mytY4P-4
The Simpsons: (just for you alex!) The Dr. is dressed in Frank garb and is seen standing outside a theater -
(p.s. not from my computer, I just found the photo online)
Rocky Horror is mentioned on Gilmore Girls: Lorelei and Rory made plans to go to "Rocky Horror." Lorelei says she's Magenta, and Rory's usually Janet. And of course she tried to get Luke to dress up as Frank. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goU8TKht4NA
Rocky Horror has been spoofed on Whose Line is it Anyway? Wayne Brady has to do a song about a coffee grinder and he does "let's grind some coffee again!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSa3EFCn-14
There are many more… but you get the idea... a cult film is much more than the film itself... it takes over and spreads into other things. Many times you may not understand the references made until someone explains them to you and then you go "Ohhhh" and start to notice them all over the place.
So, whatcha think?? Do you understand why I DON'T understand Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory & The Shawshank Redemption being on the list? These two movies just don't seem to ME, to fit this type of movie.
I only speak two languages, English and bad English.
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Click here for list of Russian films with English subtitles and links to watch them.
Er... Haven't seen any of those.But "Brat" is def a cult movie. I've heard SO much about it.
Wikipedia can always be relied on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_movie:
Art film / Art house film http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_filmA cult film (also known as a cult movie/picture or a cult classic) is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans.[1] Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside of the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences. Many cult movies have gone on to transcend their original cult status and have become recognized as classics; others are of the "so bad it's good" variety and are destined to remain in obscurity. Cult films often become the source of a thriving, obsessive, and elaborate subculture of fandom, hence the analogy to cults. However, not every film with a rabid fanbase is necessarily a cult film. Usually, cult films have limited but very special, noted appeal. Cult films are often known to be eccentric and do not follow traditional standards of mainstream cinema and usually explore topics not considered in any way mainstream—yet there are examples that are relatively normal. They are often considered controversial because they step outside standard narrative and technical conventions known.[2]
Not sure about this one. Take the Disney animation, for example. It's mainstream, but it is art! I personally think that any film/book, that is made/written not purely for commercial reasons but to express the author's views on life, is art.An art film (also called “art cinema”, “art movie”" or “art house film”) is typically a serious, noncommercial, independently made film or a foreign language film that may have these qualities, but may have been made by a major company in its home territory and achieved popular success. It may thus be aimed at a niche audience, rather than a mass audience,[1] or the use of subtitles in foreign language films may limit audience appeal.
It so happened that while I studied foreign languages at my uni, we (meaning me and my fellow-students) thought it imporatant to go to the festivals of British and French cinema that took place every year in Novosibirsk. Well, I gotta tell you, by the end of 5 years of going I figured art cinema is not for me. I enjoyed only one film I saw - British "Pure" and it's about a 10-year-old boy whose mother is a drug addict. I really liked it because I know what it's like to have a close relative addicted to drugs. A very poignant, heart-rending film. But that was the only one. The others... euh... Well, I remember one French film about a women's prison. They'd show a prison ward walking down a corridor for 5 bl..dy minutes! Or somebody just sitting and staring blankly in front of them. And it would be their legs that are shown for another 5 minutes. I honestly didn't see the point. Perhaps it's because I've never been to jail otherwise I might've enjoyed the "reality" of it or something.
I've got a feeling that he's "cult" or in any way popular/enigmatic only in the West. I'm in no way fascinated by him...
Oh, yes, I'd definitely call "Leon" cult... It has that feel to it... And has anyone seen "Taxi" by Luc Besson? That's one hoot of a movie. My favourite is the third part.
Alice: One can't believe impossible things.
The Queen: I dare say you haven't had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
Ramil, you posted a link with English subtitles!!! Thank you!!!
Okay, from what I have read about the film, I would recommend to you that you watch it on a big screen. If you want to see the blood and guts and battle in larger than life, it appears the acting is good and the scenes are very realistic and the cinematography is excellent as well. So, if this is what you are into, the film deserve to be seen on the large screen.
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?lay...117940285&cs=1
Less lugubrious than his previous movie, "The Island," but still laden with Russian brooding and violence, Pavel Lungin's "Tsar" is a brief peep into Ivan the Terrible's heart of darkness via a conflict between the regent and the head of the church. Terrific lead perfs by Pyotr Mamonov and Oleg Yankovsky keep the movie rolling along after a slow start, interspersed with gripping, bloody action. But despite handsome production values and rich, atmospheric lensing by Clint Eastwood regular Tom Stern, this is a heavy meal to digest outside the fest arena.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...03973965.story
Bottom Line: A spectacular Russian retelling of the Ivan the Terrible story....writes Deborah Young in the Hollywood Reporter. "Still, this new Russian film is a rich-looking historical epic set in 16th century Moscow...Tom Stern's cinematography, majestic in the outdoor scenes of the Russian countryside, timidly imitates the extreme camera angles and disquieting, stylized architecture of Eisenstein's two "Ivan the Terrible" classics released in 1944 and 1958. Sergei Ivanov's striking production design, paired with the gorgeous costumes designed by Natalia Dzudenko and Yekaterina Dyminskaya and Yuri Krassazin's epic score, give the film a stamp of great quality
I only speak two languages, English and bad English.
Check out the MasterRussian Music Playlist
Click here for list of Russian films with English subtitles and links to watch them.
I want to write a couple of thoughts about common English translation of Ivan IV's folk title, "Ivan the Terrible". I think it's completely unproper. "Иван Грозный" and "Иван Ужасный" means absolutely different. I remember some old computer games in English where was a joke: "Ivan the Terrible was called so because he wasn't very handsome". The author of the joke was thinking that he laughs at stupid Russians who called their tsar so, but he only laughed at stupid translator, and I'm not sure the jerk was Russian. About the image of Ivan IV in the cinema - my favorite is by Yuriy Yakovlev, the best Tsar Ivan ever!
Please, correct my mistakes, except for the cases I misspell something on purpose!
Yeah, a more accurate translation would be "Ivan the Formidable". Wiki quote again http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_the_terrible (god, I am addicted to wikipediaI want to write a couple of thoughts about common English translation of Ivan IV's folk title, "Ivan the Terrible". I think it's completely unproper. "Иван Грозный" and "Иван Ужасный" means absolutely different. I remember some old computer games in English where was a joke: "Ivan the Terrible was called so because he wasn't very handsome". The author of the joke was thinking that he laughs at stupid Russians who called their tsar so, but he only laughed at stupid translator, and I'm not sure the jerk was Russian. About the image of Ivan IV in the cinema - my favorite is by Yuriy Yakovlev, the best Tsar Ivan ever!)
I'll only watch this movie if someone reassures me that there is not too much blood and gore in it, too realistically depicted.The English word terrible is usually used to translate the Russian word grozny in Ivan's nickname, but the modern English usage of terrible, with a pejorative connotation of bad or evil, does not precisely represent the intended meaning. Grozny's meaning is closer to the original usage of terrible—inspiring fear or terror, dangerous (as in Old English in one's danger), formidable, threatening, or awesome. Perhaps a translation closer to the intended sense would be Ivan the Fearsome, or Ivan the Formidable.
And yes, Yakovlev is the best Ivan the Terrible!
Alice: One can't believe impossible things.
The Queen: I dare say you haven't had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
There were definitely political connotations in Tintin. Tintin's first adventure takes him to the Soviet Union and the story is basically a parody on the USSR.
But political/sexual connotations in the Smurfs? Maybe sexual because Smurfette is the only girl in the village?
Okay, so I got this email today about a commercial they are shooting in New York for Eclipse Gum and it is to be shown in RUSSIA ONLY!!!
Here is the information I have about it. You all need to let us know if you see it and/or post a copy of it if you can find it once it airs!!
You all rock with your first-look submission. Here's the official release with all the deets. IF YOU ALREADY SUBMITTED I HAVE IT! Dont resubmit is just floods my email.
NEW ROLE ADDED for Indian Princess! Check it out.
NOTE: This is additional casting for the Eclipse Gum Non-Union casting. If you have ALREADY ATTENDED AN AUDITION AT ANOTHER CASTING COMPANY THIS PAST WEEK, please do not submit. If you had SUBMITTED but did NOT attend the casting, you're welcome to submit.
Also, this may not be for you but you may definitely KNOW someone who this is perfect for. Feel free to pass along submission instructions to them. This goes for people outside the 'biz' too. The Mom character specifically...
See below...
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
NEW CASTING FOR ECLIPSE
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TYPE: Non-SAG Commercial (SAG Eligible and Fi-Core Ok to submit)
CLIENT: Eclipse
RATE:
HERO ROLE - $4k+10% (For Rehearsal, 2 Shoot Days & Buyout Usage Russia)
SAMBA QUEEN - $4k+10% (For Rehearsal, 1 Shoot Day & Buyout Usage Russia)
SAMBA QUEEN MOM - $1000+10% (For Rehearsal, 1 Shoot Day & Buyout Usage Russia)
INDIAN PRINCESS - $3000+10% (For Rehearsal, 1 Shoot Day & Buyout Usage Russia)
USAGE: Russia Only, Buy Out
SHOOT DATES: Thurs. Nov 19th – Sat. Nov. 21st (Select Dates per talent)
REHEARSAL DATE: Wed. Nov 18th
SHOOT LOCATION: NYC
AUDITION DATE: Monday, Nov. 16th (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!)
NOTE: This is additional casting for the Eclipse Non-Union casting. If talent has ALREADY ATTENDED AN AUDITION AT ANOTHER CASTING COMPANY THIS PAST WEEK, please do not submit them. If they have been SUBMITTED but did NOT attend the casting, you're welcome to submit again.
SEEKING:
ROLE 1: HERO
Male/ Cauc./ 20's/ Slight Euro or Russian features. Hip, cool, charming, attractive. Good Teeth!
ROLE 2: SAMBA QUEEN
Female/ Plays 20's- Early 30's/ Medium to dark toned skin/ Brazilian features/ Very attractive. Needs to be able to dance, preferably able to Samba dance or similar. Please indicate in your submission if you can dance Samba. Good Teeth! Talent will be audition in bathing suit and dancing for audition.
ROLE 3: SAMBA QUEEN’S MOM
Female/ Mid 40's to Mid 50s/ Medium to dark toned skin/ Brazilian features/ Beautiful mom type. This may be actual mom if of the Samba Queen (Role2), so its possible for them to submit as a pair.
ROLE 4: INDIAN PRINCESS
Female/ 20’s/ Indian or Middle Eastern/ Beautiful, Aishwarya Rai type.
Good Teeth!
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY - VIA EMAIL
Name, Phone Contact, PHOTOS (include snapshots PLEASE) and confirmation that you have NOT attended this casting through another company previously. If applying for the dancer please indicate if you can dance samba-style.
---------------------------------------------
I only speak two languages, English and bad English.
Check out the MasterRussian Music Playlist
Click here for list of Russian films with English subtitles and links to watch them.
Haha, no actually, it was the other way around:There were definitely political connotations in Tintin.
But political/sexual connotations in the Smurfs? Maybe sexual because Smurfette is the only girl in the village?
Tintin was "sexual" because apparently people felt there must be "something going on" between Tintin and the Captain. Not sure why, and I had no idea about that until I learnt about it in Thailand. Many people were walking around with Tintin t-shirts, bags etc. I asked about it and was told that it was a "signal" that they were men looking for male company....
The Smurfs was "political": Old Smurf(the one with the Red hat) was a "Communist" (lol!) "Proof": He wore a red hat and talked a lot about sharing things, working together and "all smurfs being equal.... "
The reason I "know" this was because the Red (socialist/communist) movement in Sweden used him for their "Vote Yes to EU" campaign among their members. All the "red" people (apart from the leaders) were originally against EU membership, and they were the majority in the country. So unless they changed their minds, we could not enter the EU. The red leadership knew that this was a problem.
Old Smurf was apparently a well known Belgian (EU/Brussels) and jokingly known as "Communist" so he was perfect as a pro-EU mascot for them... ) They made a cartoon where the Old Smurf explains from a socialist perspective, that EU is in fact quite good... etc.
People in the student movement wore a very funny T-shirts with Old Smurf against an EU flag, quoting Marx.
Really? Oh my... You know, people often try and explain the meaning of the author and the message of a certain book (or artwork in general). I always wonder, what does the author think of those explanations?
I was wondering if anyone knew of some good russian shows for kids and teenagers. I don't know all that much about russian television, I know Папины дочки, РАНЕТКИ, Конечно... t.A.T.u. Поднебесная и экспедиция. Can someone post some other interesting shows?
Спокойной ночи, малыши!
"Смешарики"/Smeshariki. I think it's aimed at pre-school children, but I like it even though I'm an adult.It's got this somewhat grown-up humour and a gentle sad philosophical atmosphere (Во как загнула!) Eralash is a show consisting of short humourous episodes - mostly for children from 7 to 12, I'd guess. And I don't know any good shows for teens.
I haven't seen Ранетки or Папины дочки, though I know they're popular.
On a different note, I've watched today my first Tarkovsky film - Ivan's Childhood/Иваново детство. Good movie. It's a war drama set during WWII (the Great Patriotic War). Ivan is a twelve year old boy whose mother and sister were killed by the Nazis. Apparently, he'd lived some time with partisans, then he was sort of adopted by an odinary military unit where he now goes on different reconnaissance missions. He insists that as a child it's easier for him to go unnoticed than a big grown-up man, but the adults want to sent him away from the front. Ivan is determined to stay at the front and not be sent away to the safety of a military school.
I'd like to read the novel that this film is based on - "Ivan" by Bogolubov. Though I have to say I have seen children act better. For example, 10-year-old Harry Eden in the movie "Pure" which I think I already mentioned here somewhere.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308772/
(don't know what Keira is doing in the foreground since she plays a relatively small role of a junkie waitress)
Alice: One can't believe impossible things.
The Queen: I dare say you haven't had much practice. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
There were many posts by rockzmom about the movie "Twilight". The last Sunday, just before the sequel release, the first movie was aired in Russia. It became a sort of tradition in Russia for a sequel release to air on TV the preceding movie. It is assumed that seeing the first movie the people would come to theaters to see the sequel. So was the "Twilight" for the last Sunday. I found out this movie to be very cute romantic story. I adore the forest and the landscape scenes. And, of course, the baseball scene. Actually I knew nothing about this movie and story before, and what a funny thing, when I saw the announcement for the "Twilight" on the TV channel during the week before airing I thought that the boy is werewolf not the vampire. One more thing that I found to be clever is the fact that there are no scenes with the vampire's teeth (if I did not miss some) it makes the movie to be more romantic. Only one point I would improve (and this point I see in many US movies): the bad characters, villains. The villains are showed as fools. Frightful, savage, terrible but fools. I believe that if the villains were not the fools they would be essentially more frightful, savage and terrible and the viewers would get more realistic scaring impressions.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
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