Movies you just didn't "get".

[Woochifer]

Brazil goes onto my Zip List for reviewing. I must admit it's brilliance eluded me on my first and only viewing, but I'll give it another shot.

I'll add that there are two distinctly different versions of Brazil that got out. If you saw the movie on broadcast TV, then you likely got the "love conquers all" version, which is the butchered edit that Universal put together after Terry Gilliam got fired towards the end of post production. It completely dispenses with the dream sequences and makes the whole thing more literal with a happy ending. Basically, it sucks.

Fortunately, on DVD the only way to see the "love conquers all" edit is to buy the three-disc Criterion set, which packages together the theatrical cuts, the "love conquers all" version, and a documentary that goes over the behind-the-scenes battle between Gilliam and the studio bosses at Universal over which version of the movie would get released. Literally, Gilliam had to sneak his working print of the movie off the studio lot, and stage a secret screening for the L.A. film critics who promptly anointed it as their Best Picture for that year. This forced Universal to release Gilliam's cut in theaters, but they also kept the "love conquers all" version for broadcast TV.

2001, yeah, I missed what it is about until it was explained to me ... a few times.

I always heard that during 2001's initial release, people would come to the theater stoned, and just wait around for the big light show at the end and move to the front of the theater. I've seen 2001 numerous times in 70mm, and it's funny because when that "Infinity" sequence starts, I still see the big procession to the front row. This movie is about as abstract as a mainstream film can get, yet it has an odd accessibility about it. This too ranks among my favorites, even if I can't really explain much of what it's about.

[audio amateur]

I always heard that during 2001's initial release, people would come to the theater stoned, and just wait around for the big light show at the end and move to the front of the theater. I've seen 2001 numerous times in 70mm, and it's funny because when that "Infinity" sequence starts, I still see the big procession to the front row. This movie is about as abstract as a mainstream film can get, yet it has an odd accessibility about it. This too ranks among my favorites, even if I can't really explain much of what it's about.

Just watched that one tonight. Very slow going movie overall but interesting. I had a look at its FAQs on IMDB because frankly it's quite necessary. Apparently you understand more if you read the book, which I haven't.