Comments on: Cities as Movie Stars http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/ Fresh New Design Featured Often Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:55:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Deb http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-58122 Deb Sat, 31 May 2008 21:33:32 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-58122 Shortly visiting England several years ago I watched National Lampoon's European Vacation, and howled at the scene in which Clark Griswold backs into a lith at Stonehenge and knocks the whole circle of stones down. That set me on the trail of other movies featuring Stonehenge's standing stones. Of course, I had to rent This Is Spinal Tap, with its 15" high structure. I still keep an eye out for standing stones in movies, and would be delighted to hear of others..... Shortly visiting England several years ago I watched National Lampoon’s European Vacation, and howled at the scene in which Clark Griswold backs into a lith at Stonehenge and knocks the whole circle of stones down. That set me on the trail of other movies featuring Stonehenge’s standing stones. Of course, I had to rent This Is Spinal Tap, with its 15″ high structure. I still keep an eye out for standing stones in movies, and would be delighted to hear of others…..

]]> By: Deb http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-58121 Deb Sat, 31 May 2008 21:32:55 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-58121 Shortly after I visited England I watched National Lampoon's European Vacation, and howled at the scene in which Clark Griswold backs into a lith at Stonehenge and knocks the whole circle of stones down. That set me on the trail of other movies featuring Stonehenge's standing stones. Of course, I had to rent This Is Spinal Tap, with its 15" high structure. I still keep an eye out for standing stones in movies, and would be delighted to hear of others..... Shortly after I visited England I watched National Lampoon’s European Vacation, and howled at the scene in which Clark Griswold backs into a lith at Stonehenge and knocks the whole circle of stones down. That set me on the trail of other movies featuring Stonehenge’s standing stones. Of course, I had to rent This Is Spinal Tap, with its 15″ high structure. I still keep an eye out for standing stones in movies, and would be delighted to hear of others…..

]]> By: Becky http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55642 Becky Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:27:19 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55642 Hey Paola! Actually, I have no business saying it captures London at all, because I've never been! Dirty Sexy Money - I was so pissed I missed it last week. I tried to download something from ABC.com to put it on my Mac and it crashed my computer. I'm still loving it. So far, it's the only new show I like. While the a bunch of the characters are almost characitures (OK, I know I spelled that incorrectly but my brain is not awake yet), there is something so much fun behind it. Speaking of SATC, the song "Rollin' down the River" always goes through my head whenever I see Blair Underwood! :). You reminded me of Karen on Will and Grace, lamenting the end of her favorite shows and saying "and don't forget the fifth lady, Manhattan!" Back to dirty sexy money, who do you think killed Dutch? I have no idea at this point! Did they reveal that one of the children is not Tripp's last week? If so, who? Hey Paola! Actually, I have no business saying it captures London at all, because I’ve never been!

Dirty Sexy Money - I was so pissed I missed it last week. I tried to download something from ABC.com to put it on my Mac and it crashed my computer. I’m still loving it. So far, it’s the only new show I like. While the a bunch of the characters are almost characitures (OK, I know I spelled that incorrectly but my brain is not awake yet), there is something so much fun behind it. Speaking of SATC, the song “Rollin’ down the River” always goes through my head whenever I see Blair Underwood! :). You reminded me of Karen on Will and Grace, lamenting the end of her favorite shows and saying “and don’t forget the fifth lady, Manhattan!”

Back to dirty sexy money, who do you think killed Dutch? I have no idea at this point! Did they reveal that one of the children is not Tripp’s last week? If so, who?

]]> By: Paola http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55640 Paola Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:37:15 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55640 Oh and funnily enough Notting Hill was actually a fairly reasonable depiction of a certain stratum of Notting Hill society, though of course no mention was made of the fact that one of London's biggest West Indian communities, and one of the world's biggest carnivals, lives/takes place right around the corner. Oh and funnily enough Notting Hill was actually a fairly reasonable depiction of a certain stratum of Notting Hill society, though of course no mention was made of the fact that one of London’s biggest West Indian communities, and one of the world’s biggest carnivals, lives/takes place right around the corner.

]]> By: Paola http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55639 Paola Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:34:18 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55639 I'm going to have to watch 'Singles' and 'Match Point' now so I can tell you if they really are true to their cities (most American takes on London are laughable). And, just so I can take the conversation to a new low, I always loved that NYC was the fifth major character in Sex and the City. (Speaking of guilty pleasure TV set in Manhattan, when can we chat about Dirty Sexy Money? I am besotted by this show.) I’m going to have to watch ‘Singles’ and ‘Match Point’ now so I can tell you if they really are true to their cities (most American takes on London are laughable).

And, just so I can take the conversation to a new low, I always loved that NYC was the fifth major character in Sex and the City.

(Speaking of guilty pleasure TV set in Manhattan, when can we chat about Dirty Sexy Money? I am besotted by this show.)

]]> By: Margaret http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55593 Margaret Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:54:08 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55593 Sorry for entering broken html into my comment : ( If the whole paragraph link didn't clue you in, it was about Ernie Gehr, whose name got lost in my broken code. Also, my other cinematic favorite SF film has to be the often talked about 1978 <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0077745/" rel="nofollow">Invasion of the Body Snatchers</a> with many fabulous urban scenes around and about town... Sorry for entering broken html into my comment : (

If the whole paragraph link didn’t clue you in, it was about Ernie Gehr, whose name got lost in my broken code.

Also, my other cinematic favorite SF film has to be the often talked about 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers with many fabulous urban scenes around and about town…

]]> By: Becky http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55583 Becky Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:47:27 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55583 Hey guys, more conceptual or deeper than me is always a good thing, I mean, for God's sake, I watch "Rock of Love" religiously! Thanks so much for the input! BTW, my roommate Kristin and I saw Miami Vice in the theater. I am old enough to have seen the show, and thought the movie was a suck-fest, and was completely shocked that it got rave reviews. Those must have been on Michael Mann and Jamie Fox's past work (personally, my fave was when he was Rhonda on "In Living Color" - he "rocked my world!"). Anyway, I do agree with your comments on how the city was represented. It seems that most Miami movies (besides Scarface, of course), show a beautiful high-rise on the water scene with wave runners on the ocean all the time, CSI Miami-style! Becky Hey guys, more conceptual or deeper than me is always a good thing, I mean, for God’s sake, I watch “Rock of Love” religiously! Thanks so much for the input!

BTW, my roommate Kristin and I saw Miami Vice in the theater. I am old enough to have seen the show, and thought the movie was a suck-fest, and was completely shocked that it got rave reviews. Those must have been on Michael Mann and Jamie Fox’s past work (personally, my fave was when he was Rhonda on “In Living Color” - he “rocked my world!”). Anyway, I do agree with your comments on how the city was represented. It seems that most Miami movies (besides Scarface, of course), show a beautiful high-rise on the water scene with wave runners on the ocean all the time, CSI Miami-style!

Becky

]]> By: Jonathan http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55580 Jonathan Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:45:21 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55580 Michael Mann and LA are practically married. LA is his muse, his canvas, his most obvious influence. Somehow, he seems to make it look so different, depending on the film, that you almost don't believe it's the same city. Watch 'Heat' and then 'Collateral' (yes, I know that Collateral wasn't that good) and the difference is startling, I think. I also liked how he managed to remake 'Miami Vice' (again, not the best movie in the world) without once showing a girl on rollerskates in a bikini. He made Miami look grimy and lo-fi, as opposed to the sun-kissed playground we're all so used to seeing. SF's best supporting role? Gotta be 'Dirty Hatty' or 'Bullitt'. They just don't make them like they used to. Michael Mann and LA are practically married. LA is his muse, his canvas, his most obvious influence.

Somehow, he seems to make it look so different, depending on the film, that you almost don’t believe it’s the same city. Watch ‘Heat’ and then ‘Collateral’ (yes, I know that Collateral wasn’t that good) and the difference is startling, I think.

I also liked how he managed to remake ‘Miami Vice’ (again, not the best movie in the world) without once showing a girl on rollerskates in a bikini. He made Miami look grimy and lo-fi, as opposed to the sun-kissed playground we’re all so used to seeing.

SF’s best supporting role? Gotta be ‘Dirty Hatty’ or ‘Bullitt’. They just don’t make them like they used to.

]]> By: Margaret http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55579 Margaret Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:43:30 +0000 http://blog.designpublic.com/2007/10/17/cities-as-movie-stars/#comment-55579 <a href="http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A30632&page_number=2&template_id=1&sort_order=1" rel="nofollow"> has been making gorgeous experimental films about San Francisco for years. One of the more gorgeous is Side/Walk/Shuttle, composed of of twenty-five 16mm shots from the moving glass elevator of the Fairmont Hotel. He has a keen appreciation for the intricacies of the urban landscape. A bit more conceptual than your picks, but thought it would be worthwhile recommendation nonetheless. </a> has been making gorgeous experimental films about San Francisco for years. One of the more gorgeous is Side/Walk/Shuttle, composed of of twenty-five 16mm shots from the moving glass elevator of the Fairmont Hotel. He has a keen appreciation for the intricacies of the urban landscape.

A bit more conceptual than your picks, but thought it would be worthwhile recommendation nonetheless.

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