pen_grunt: (Default)
[personal profile] pen_grunt
Every now and then movie execs don't know exactly how to market a movie. Apparently this was the case with The Princess Bride; is it comedy? Is it drama? Is it romance? Is it...for kids? Not for kids? (Carey Elwes talks about some of the issues with marketing in As You Wish.)

The movies almost always suffer for it--and they're almost always amazing, nuanced movies (thus making them difficult to categorize). Princess Bride was a "flop" that was only redeemed through word of mouth and the wonderful world of VHS home movies.

Alan Rickman dying actually makes me a little sad. He was one of my "I'll watch anything he's in because I like watching him" actors. There aren't many.

I suppose I should watch Die Hard at some point now?

But there are better Rickman movies.

Everyone knows him from Harry Potter, naturally. Galaxy Quest is wonderful and if you're a Trek fan and you haven't watched it, you should. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is another. The 90s Robin Hood with Kevin Costner wasn't a great-great movie, but I loved it as a kid, and Alan Rickman was wonderful in it.

Dogma. Perfume. Sense and Sensibility.

Not Love Actually, though. Alan Rickman was good because I like Alan Rickman...but I didn't like Love Actually.

(You will notice that I HAVE seen things. Despite assertions to the contrary.)

One of my favorites, however, is Truly, Madly, Deeply. Which is a deeply melancholy little piece about the manifestation of grief. And it was marketed like this:
TrulyMadlyDeeplyMoviePoster

As a madcap romp! As a romantic comedy! So many exclamation points!

Which I guess it *could* be. If you squint. But it's really not.

Even the title is kind of misleading, though I'm not sure what else they might have called it. It's no wonder that many people haven't heard of it. But it's a tiny little gem and some of Alan Rickman's best work. I think it may be time to re-watch it. I haven't since college. Maybe I don't feel the same way about it, but I think it will hold up.

Date: 2016-01-14 04:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tediousandbrief.livejournal.com
That sounds interesting! I'll have to see if either the library or netflix has it

You haven't seen Die Hard yet? :( And you don't like Love Actually? :(

Date: 2016-01-14 04:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
When I watched Love Actually I was at a point in my life when my tolerance for romantic cheesiness was rather low. I can understand why people like it (it's one of my sister's favorite movies), but I don't love it.

I haven't seen Die Hard! (This might be why people accuse me of "never seeing anything".)

Date: 2016-01-14 04:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tediousandbrief.livejournal.com
My brother watches Die Hard as a Christmas movie.

He'll be like: "I'm watching a Christmas movie in my room" and I'll just say "Die Hard?" and he'll be happy I guess correctly.

Date: 2016-01-14 04:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
I cannot rightly participate in the "Is Die Hard a Christmas movie" debate because of my ignorance! This must be remedied.

Date: 2016-01-14 04:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tediousandbrief.livejournal.com
This is true.

Then you move on to the "Is Die Hard II: Die Harder also a Christmas movie?"-debate.

Date: 2016-01-14 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mlknchz.livejournal.com
The first "Lethal Weapon" is a "Christmas movie", strangely enough

Date: 2016-01-14 04:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eyelid.livejournal.com
We could watch it at movie club!

Date: 2016-01-14 04:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
It's a sad movie! People might cry!

I should definitely come to movie club sometime, too.

Date: 2016-01-14 07:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eyelid.livejournal.com
there is movie club tonight!

Date: 2016-01-14 07:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
I know! It's just hard on weeknights b/c Derrick doesn't get home until lateish. :/

I've even seen (and loved) Cabin in the Woods, and I've only watched it once so it'd be worth a re-watch.

Date: 2016-01-15 02:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grenacia.livejournal.com
Yes! We should watch it at movie club!

Date: 2016-01-14 05:36 pm (UTC)
smittenbyu: (Default)
From: [personal profile] smittenbyu
I loved that movie (Truly, Madly, Deeply) and I didn't realize till you posted that it was him!! Guess it's been a while and must rematch it! lol...


But yes, he is/was one of the few actors I would go blindly watch. :(

ETA: And you haven't watched Die Hard? he he.. I hadn't either and didn't realize what a big deal that was!! meh.. (I did end up watching it when a college friend took it up to correct my absolute poor taste in movies and rented them out from me from blockbuster to watch! sigh)
Edited Date: 2016-01-14 05:39 pm (UTC)

Date: 2016-01-14 07:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
I haven't watched it and everyone seems so shocked! I suppose I will some time. I can't help but think I'll be underwhelmed now.

Date: 2016-01-14 09:24 pm (UTC)
smittenbyu: (Default)
From: [personal profile] smittenbyu
oh you will be. I was. I think for its time it was amazing, if you like the genre. So when and if you ever do decide to watch it you have to really forget all the technological advances in move-making and send yourself back in time to kind of appreciate it. :)

Date: 2016-01-14 09:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] irishsbuffy.livejournal.com

He is a great actor who will be missed. He has a lot of movies studios domt know how to market
He was great in Blow Dry (with Natasha Richardson, Josh Hartnet) and Bottle Rocket ( with Chris Pine)

Date: 2016-01-21 03:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pen-grunt.livejournal.com
I forgot about Blow Dry!

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