Miami Vice

[koisk]

I thought this sucked! The dialog was hard to understand and lame, the 2 sex scenes awkard and unnecessary, and the middle hour of the movie a pointless exercise in trying to develop Colin's character, which by the end of the movie I still didn't care about. Also, scenes with Fox and Colin I found difficult to watch - all they did was stare off into different directions at different times in an effort to look cool. By the time we get to the end (which I did really like), I felt more like "thank god we finally made it" then anything.

That said, I enjoyed the visual aspect of the whole thing - the grainy film, vibriant colors, contrasting day and night scenes, and that boat scene with the chick and Colin I thought was awesome. The execution of the final gun fight was great.

However, the chick that blew the brains out of the white supremist seemed to me a whole lot more badass then Colin. Foxx was badass too but I don't think he got enough screen time.

Ok, I'm done.

[grady]

So in the past couple days I've been thinking a bit more about the film, probably more thought and energy being put into it than necessary, but hear me out here, anyone who is still reading this thread.

After coming out of the film at 2:55am last friday, the 28th of July, my friend Danielle, who didn't really care for the film at all made an interesting comment. Her basic observation was that the film would've been better had it had really no expository dialog and for the most part a plot that is discernable only through the visuals and being able to identify who is good and who is bad and then going from there through the motions.

Basically you'd end up with a silent film, or rather a film with no dialog, or dialog that has been mixed down into the mix so that the sound and music has a more dominant play in the mix.

Taking all that into consideration, it makes for a different film. You're now relying on the visual style and flourishes that Michael Mann is known for, but also just the power of those images and sound combined.

It might make for an interesting experiment once the DVD comes out to mute channels of the film and just focus on the visual and sound effects and music.

A friend told me earlier today to just give up and let it go, but I can't at the moment. It's especially difficult after skimming the new issue of American Cinematographer with an interview with the director of photography on the film, Dion Beebe. But at the end of the day, what it all comes down is just thinking out loud about the film and throwing those thoughts out into a place where people might be interested.

So my thoughts end up here at dirty, awaiting reading eyes and churning minds for their takes on this notion above.

[Strangelet]

i thought it was satisfying. After a while I just assumed that the dialog was not meant to be followed closely, all of the unexplained parlance and jargon, half uttered ideas mumbled into the lapels of expensive suits, I figured Mann was trying to suggest an experience where you felt like it wasn't being performed, nor was your presence even all that welcome, which kind of added a bizarre kind of authenticity to something that is ultimately a farce acted out in hightened intensity.

I agree with everyone's opinion that Mann is king shit when it comes to visual candy. I also think he's brilliant at crescendo, building and peeking. and I'm a type of movie goer where I could be thrilled with just that.

[Caprice]

Originally Posted by koisk

I thought this sucked! The dialog was hard to understand and lame, the 2 sex scenes awkard and unnecessary, and the middle hour of the movie a pointless exercise in trying to develop Colin's character, which by the end of the movie I still didn't care about. Also, scenes with Fox and Colin I found difficult to watch - all they did was stare off into different directions at different times in an effort to look cool. By the time we get to the end (which I did really like), I felt more like "thank god we finally made it" then anything.

That said, I enjoyed the visual aspect of the whole thing - the grainy film, vibriant colors, contrasting day and night scenes, and that boat scene with the chick and Colin I thought was awesome. The execution of the final gun fight was great.

However, the chick that blew the brains out of the white supremist seemed to me a whole lot more badass then Colin. Foxx was badass too but I don't think he got enough screen time.

Ok, I'm done.

yes, i agree totally