Kermode Uncut: The Greatest Movies Never Made and Silent Running

[MrTomVprosser]

Kubrick's Napoleon and A.I. Sadly, he passed before he could work on it but it would have been incredible to see him work on it and plus, it was made in 2001.

[kjkjkage]

Richard donner - Superman 2

[MrRodney1985]

kubricks napoleon

[wellweaponrecords]

Amazed no mention of Jodorowsky's Dune. Personally the one i will never get over. All the concept art is amazing and it had so much influence on later films (Alien etc) and comics despite the fact it never really got going. Similarly though there is a big doc coming out about it which may well surpass the prospected film itself

[StainedClass88]

I love Silent Running!

[IamSnoogans]

Terry Gilliam was, at one time, attached to make the first Harry Potter. I'd love to see his version.

[KapStuf]

The Human Centipede 2, directed by Jim Henson.

The Muppet Christmas Movie, directed by Orson Welles.

Much Ado about Nothing, directed by David Cronenberg

*These* are movies I'd pay to see.

[SpeedFreakNO]

I don't get your criticism of Watchmen. And Revolver.

[SpeedFreakNO]

@SpeedFreakNO Specially Revolver.

[tetrarchangel]

4:54 "Here's an interesting post from Timothy J Swann..." I am Timothy J Swann and this made my week!

[OskarBS]

George Miller's Justice League of America.

[sadbaby01]

I was lucky enough to see the very first performance by 65dos, at the time thought to be a one-off. It was breathtaking , and took a film I already loved to new heights. I've been a fan of 65 since 2005, so it was a marriage made in heaven!

[hitchcockm00]

65daysofstatic released their re-score of Silent Running today. Head on over to their website (google 65daysofstatic) and it's streaming for 24 hours.

It's a good piece of music, just wish I could have seen the live performance along with the film.

[BlackMoonLilith]

Also, about Gilliam's Watchmen, that's exactly why it wasn't made. He couldn't figure out how to do it, he struggled, asked Alan Moore who told him it's pretty much impossible, and eventually conceded that point.

[BlackMoonLilith]

While I love Re-Animator, it should be noted that it's not one of Lovecraft's stronger works (a knock-off of Frankenstein he knocked off to make money) and the film's brilliance is pretty much all in the direction, and not the original work. The point that a great film has yet to be made to truly capture the bleak existential horror that's made Lovecraft so well loved still stands.

[vhead1]

Batman Triumphant (Schumacher film after B&R)Schumacher wasnt right to direct it although he did promise a darker back to basics film. I just love the story, Batman falling prey to Scarcrows hallucinations, entering a dream-like world and being tormented by the dead joker. It could have been adapted into a Jacobs Ladder style with Batman questioning his sanity in a world thats real & yet not quite. Ok maybe im just pitching my idea for a Batman film rather than talking about one that wasnt made!

[skinwalkerxxx]

Clouseu's Inferno: I can't believe how obsessed filmakers in the 60s werewith Romy Schneider

[InfiniteWhizBang]

No mention of Jodorowsky's DUNE ?

Oliver Stone & Arnold Schwarzenegger were said to be circling PLANET OF THE APES at one time. Man, that would have been something.

[FormerHuman]

I saw 65DaysofStatic do their version of the score over the running of the film at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and ignoring a few technical problems (the film had to be stopped and started a couple of times), I had a few issues with the musical score itself. Aside from being played far too loud to hear the dialogue, the music was really overwrought a lot of the time, but in it's quieter moments was quite interesting. Needed less loud guitars and more soundscapes.

[farshnuke]

My friend thinks of the watchmen film like I think of an 11 Doctors reunion episode on the big screen, that is all.

[loz1023]

I still disagree with mark about silent running.

[PhoenixWright101]

You can't beat Verhoeven's Total Recall, and I find the attitude that it's somehow a tragedy that Cronenberg didn't make it deeply tiresome. Look, I love Cronenberg too, but Recall would not have anywhere near as much fun had anyone but the dirty Dutchman helmed it. It's a very clever film, but I think the fact that it also puts a big smile on your face at a time when 'fun' in film is deeply unfashionable is more to blame for the snobbery towards it than any artistic deficiencies.

[leaguesmanoframsgate]

I'm the target audience for Silent Running; young sci-fi fan with a bit of a hippy streak. From Mark's recommendation, I sought it out.

God above, it's bad. The only thing keeping me awake was the score, and that was mostly out of a desire to know when it was finally finished. Boring, oversentimental tripe that thinks it's being a lot more profound than it is. However, I do agree with Mark on one thing: it's better than 2001, a movie apparently made for pretentious, dull men in black rollnecks.

[FormerHuman]

@leaguesmanoframsgate wow, really? That's a lot of dull, pretentious men in rollnecks then. I mean, a lot of people like 2001 a whole lot. Are you actually saying that all those people are dull and pretentious? All of them? Really? Or maybe you just don't like the film and are trying to justify it by attacking those that do like it? Maybe you could go into a bit more depth as to why you think it's for pretentious dull men in polonecks?

[leaguesmanoframsgate]

@FormerHuman The film itself is overwhelmingly smug; every single shot seems tailor made for spods in berets and black rollnecks to pick apart and comment on how profound it is. This sense of arrogance, of Kubrick just saying "Look at how deep I can make this film" whilst boring you half to death, pervades throughout. It goes through the entirety of human evolution with the vim and verve of a sloth on sleeping pills and yet you're supposed to like it. That's what grates with me.

[FormerHuman]

@leaguesmanoframsgate You didn't enjoy the film, fair enough, but what you're saying is that because YOU didn't like it, everyone that DID like it is beneath you. And you say that THOSE people are smug? Here's one that'll piss you off: maybe YOU didn't "get it". SMUG ALERT. Or... maybe you missed something?

[leaguesmanoframsgate]

@FormerHuman I also apologise for not being able to trim down an opinion of a film to less than 100 characters. Evidently, this is a skill you pride yourself on. Hold on, let me practice:

2001: DULL!

[Jemoiii]

Definitely a soppy old hippy.

[DannyBoy777]

I like Snyder's Watchmen.... sue me. I think it's Snyder people don't like, not his film.

[donteetpeople]

@DannyBoy777

I kind of agree. I think most people are biased when it comes to directors or actors they don't like and judge the films they're a part of accordingly. I don't think Watchmen was that bad and receives a lot of hate that isn't warranted as far as I'm concerned. It's still way too long, though.

[DannyBoy777]

@donteetpeople Agreed, it is a bit long. But length of a film never phased me much. When you go see something in the Cinema, then yes... anything over 2hrs 30mins can become a bit of a chore. But with the home theater solutions we have now, I don't see length as an issue whatsoever. We can pause and pick up right where we left off without missing a thing. Some films are adapted from source material that demands 3+ hours of running time to fully showcase adequately. My opinion on it anyway.

[donteetpeople]

@DannyBoy777

I agree with you. The only films of that length I can watch consistently without looking at the clock are the LOTR movies. When it comes to Watchmen, though, I still have a tough time not fast-forwarding through parts I felt dragged on too long. The scene after the Comedian dies in the opening felt like an eternity, just as an example. I agree it needed to be lengthy in order to properly tell the story, but I think they could have cut about 20 minutes off. It's still a good movie.

[southerndandy89]

I'm pretty sure Leone's film was going to be about the seige of Leningrad, not Stalingrad.

[othyization]

With Re-Animator... you forgot, Dagon, From Beyond and the independent black and white silent film of Call of Cthulhu.

[MrThefall3]

@othyization I liked that Call of Cthulu adaptation

[allaboutdmagic]

Nice to know Kermode's aware of not only Lovecraft but the generally lackluster treatment of his work in cinema to date, Re-Animator naturally excepted.

[lordtufty]

Anyone going to watch Silent Running at the Rio Cinema in London on Saturday night?

[ChristopherDone]

Re-Animator is a real fun movie, agreed. It was hilarious. Intentionally as far as I could tell.

[ec123456789able]

@themenaceanish if you don't like Kermode you don't have to watch him, if you disagree with him, then perhaps post constructive criticism.

but don't post a homophobic slur that addresses nothing.

[themenaceanish]

@ec123456789able you must be a faggot which is why you seem offended XD

[donteetpeople]

@themenaceanish

Must be. That's why his retort was flush with ignorant insults directed at you. <---Note heavy sarcasm.

Notice what he says about "constructive criticism" -- That's what his post was. Your response to constructive criticism? Homophobic slur #2. I understand being a troll on the internet is possibly the easiest thing in the world to do, but it doesn't beat living in a rational state of mind offering valid input to discussion.

[themenaceanish]

@donteetpeople I'm a troll? LOL!

[donteetpeople]

@themenaceanish

If you ignorantly insult someone online then, yes, you are trolling.

[themenaceanish]

@donteetpeople Dude you're the one who's trolling.

[donteetpeople]

@themenaceanish

How so?

[MrnoWun0]

@themenaceanish YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !! IT is CAPTAIN AMERICA !!!

[themenaceanish]

@MrnoWun0 Shut up dickwad, go suck your dead grandma.

[FormerHuman]

@donteetpeople don't feed the trolls.

[donteetpeople]

@FormerHuman

Probably a good idea. I have a tough time not calling out ignorance even though I should probably just let it go.

[bodieofci5]

Re-Animator is a great splatter and laughs movie. Brilliant.

[Posthuman2003]

@bodieofci5 Agreed class film ;)

[FormerHuman]

@bodieofci5 The Re-Animator story though is not meant to be funny, and the film just isn't frightening at all, I am genuinely surprised by how much of a cult favourite it is. That said, Jeffrey Combs is great and the sole reason I can watch the film at all. If you like the film, try and seek out the audiobook he did of the original story, which is divided into 5 or 6 sections, telling the story of Herbert West from his associate's perspective. It's genuinely creepy, particularly at the end.

[bodieofci5]

@FormerHuman Thanks for the tip, I will definitely hunt it out. On the subject of splatter and laugh movies, I like The Evil Dead and Bad Taste as well.

[FormerHuman]

@bodieofci5 The Re-Animator film doesn't seem to know if it's a comedy or not, that's my problem with it. Evil Dead 2, Braindead etc are fantastic and I love comedy with my splatter films, but Re-Animator sits uncomfortably on the genre line and doesn't creep me out or make me laugh. Combs get's the tone right, and you'll see the difference when you hear his narration of the original story, because the original story (though very close to Frankenstein in many ways) is pretty unnerving.

[middlebit]

Just watched Silent Running for the first time - I found its portrait of the main character to be unconvincing (psychopathic, murdering eco activist selected for a space crew), involuntarily LOL funny (Dern's reaction shots when the domes start blowing up) and narratively lacking (how many ships are there, how many domes, who's in which dome, where's he heading and why??). I can ignore bad fx in decent films but the photography of the miniatures was simply awful. And obviously Baez didn't help.

[jazzzjasper]

Terry Giliams' Don Quichote film.

[maximuslaurius]

Orson Welles was gong to make Heart of Darkness.

But the real great unmade movie was Kubrick's Napoleon.

[Octavius0]

Man I hate Joan Baez, but I love Silent Running.

[maximuslaurius]

What about the Star Wars prequels before Lucas decided to direct them. The original plan was

Phantom Menace - Joe Johnston

Attack of the Clones - Frank Darabont

Revenge of the Sith - David Fincher :)

[SethHesio]

@maximuslaurius I wrote onMark Kermodes blog on this subject and suggested that David Lynch's Return of the Jedi (George Lucas invited him to direct it, but Lynch said no) would have been quite interesting! As far as the prequels are concerned... anyone anyone could have improved on them.... I lament what could have been if George Lucas had handed at least part of the reigns to some ones else. 

[FormerHuman]

@SethHesio if you want to know what ROTJ would have been like with Lynch directing, just watch Dune. Lynch hated the experience of making that film, it was unnatural, so if he did ROTJ, it would have also been unnatural. Maybe interesting, but never a success. As far as Lucas is concerned, the further he is from a camera the better, it's telling that the best of the series are the ones he had the least involvement in. He turned Star Wars into Question Time with blasters with Episode 1. Lunacy.

[SethHesio]

@FormerHuman Totally agree... have you seen Red Letter Media's extensive critique of the prequels? It's a must see. Seriously George Lucas needs protection from himself and his own misguided screenwriting/ directing. He's fine as a kind of ideas guy, but nothing more. Also, apparently Star Wars a New Hope was pretty lousy until it was edited properly, which is very telling. I just wish WISH WISH Lucas would release the original trilogy unharmed. That would be a such a great gift to mankind.

[GrandIntellect]

@SethHesio Lucas already did this with the UK special edition DVDs. The original cuts are included as the one and only bonus feature and remain the only content on the disc I have seen - the words 'A New Hope' don't even appear in the opening crawl of episode 4.

[SethHesio]

@GrandIntellect The original editions are a bonus feature? How crazy is that. As a fan all I want is a proper DVD/ Bluray release of the original trilogy in a nice box set

[Radioheadhead90]

@SethHesio Lucas only directed A New Hope.

[SethHesio]

@Radioheadhead90 I know.. did I say otherwise anywhere?

[sabalos]

Re-Animator is a fantastic film. Creepy, funny, with great effects for its budget, and if nothing else single-handedly responsible for my following everything Jeffrey Combs has done since.

That said, I wouldn't complain about having more than one good Lovecraft adaptation to point to.

[TheHappydead]

its the burton/cage superman film

[FormerHuman]

@TheHappydead the image in my mind of Nicholas Cage camping about in a gothic Superman film is so utterly detestable that I can barely stomach it.