The Adventure Movie Countdown - Intermission: Impossible

[Daikaiju]

Patrick Stewart also turns in some nice work for the English dub.

 

[Issun]

Nausicaa was another victim of my desire to mix things up with my list, so I'm very glad it didn't need my help.

I don't know if I've heard that Mononoke story before. It's a shame there wasn't an assassin attatched to that katana.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Big Trouble in Little China

was another victim of my desire to mix things up with my list, so I'm very glad it didn't need my help.

 

[Kirin]

I helped! Had Nausicaa at #4. One of my all-time faves and quite adventure-y.

 

[Purple]

That setpiece link for Nausicaa is broken. Which is a shame because I don't recall if I ever saw the anime. I'm just familiar with the manga and its... many many densely packed surprisingly dialog heavy panels. Anyway everyone loves the ohmu and it's a shame the many many things to have homaged their design generally didn't take their demeanor with it.

Horseclaws have faired a hell of a lot better in that regard.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

That setpiece link for Nausicaa is broken

fixed

 

[Johnny Unusual]

OK, after a few days of research, I think I've pinpointed... well, not where it is, but where I can find a guy who can find where it is.

Inside this book is a library receipt being used as a bookmark. The other books borrowed include the Bell Jar, Howards End and The Plot Against America. Using my ability to guess at things, there's only one possible message someone is trying to send. The next clue is in America's Bell End... FLORIDA! The name of the person who borrowed it is Cynthia Matheque. Hopefully, I can find this person who borrowed a book from my library with the purpose of having someone from this town find it and track her down. It's really the only possible answer. Hopefully this person can help me find the adventure theatre. Well, I'll be grabbing some tickets to Florida... words I feared I would never say. Still, if I can finally meet this Florida Man, it will be worth it. This dude lived a rich life.

 

[Lokii]

lol, a lot of adventures end up in flordia huh? Must be all the alligators and koalas

 

[jpfriction]

They call it America’s outback for a reason.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Because it is where Outback Steakhouse is headquartered. Finally, a reason to visit Tampa.

 

[WildcatJF]

Somehow I forgot Nausicaa. Words cannot express my disappointment in myself lol.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I forgot to cue up the posts before work so they'll be late today.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

39. Jaws - tie

Martin, it's all psychological. You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.
66 Points, 2 Lists, #2 Lokii
Directed by: Stephen Spielberg
Starring:
Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss​

Amity Island is getting ready for the big Fourth of July celebration and being a vacation town, their livelihood is tied to tourist dollars. When a corpse is discovered on the beach, apparently been ripped apart by a shark, Sheriff Brody is determined to try to take care of it but the town is against him, with the mayor trying to allay his fears and telling him that it will be fine. But when a young child is killed, Brody can’t toe the line. His only ally is Matt Hooper, an oceanographer who comes to study the shark. The town thinks that they’ve caught the shark but a lethal third attacks prove them wrong and Brody and Hooper must team up with a crusty old sea salt, Quint, with shark hunting experience. But no one is prepared for how powerful this shark is.

Not everyone agrees on the genre of this one and I get it. Some see it as a horror or a thriller and that’s definitely part of it but I see it as an adventure, especially in the final act. And it can’t be underestimated how important this film is in cinema. I think it can be argued that there are other major films that struck big, like the Exorcist, but even in that rubric, it was such a phenomena, a complete brilliant popcorn ride that Hollywood now makes it’s bones on huge popcorn rides. It basically invented the Summer blockbuster, streamlining huge crowd-pleasing thrillride spectacle to the default, making dynamism in film more in vogue. Yes, there were stylish, dynamic successful films before but this set the template for years to come for both good and ill. But beyond that, it’s also a seamlessly constructed film. I watched again recently and keep noticing cool things; perfectly executed shots to maximize tension, clearly learning so much from Hitchcock (particularly the scene on the beach where people try to talk to Brody with the water more in focus and talking more of the shot to make us and the character worried about what’s happening out there). And unlike a lot of the big spectacle movies and Jaws countless dull-witted imitators, it really has it’s mind on it’s characters. Brody is pretty flawed, far less-waffling than his fellow townfolk but still culpable in the results when he says “yeah, OK.” Even the crappy Mayor Vaughn is more nuanced than the echo archetypes and while a bit broad, his head-in-the-sand rings true, especially when he breaks down a bit before the third act. Jaws is a suspense adventure that still holds up and shows that Spielberg is a director with a real sure hand at adventure.

Hero’s Journey: Brody overcomes his fear of water but also manages to be affirmative in his relatively new position of Sheriff. Gruff old Quint and wealthy logical Hooper manage to bond and trust each other’s abilities in fighting the shark.

Trivia
Several decades after the film's release, Lee Fierro, who played Mrs. Kintner, walked into a seafood restaurant and noticed that the menu had an "Alex Kintner Sandwich." She commented that she had played his mother so many years ago; the owner of the restaurant ran out to meet her, and he was none other than Jeffrey Voorhees, who had played her son. They had not seen each other since the original movie shoot.

Ready, Set, Piece

 

[Lokii]

The perfect movie.

Trivia
Several decades after the film's release, Lee Fierro, who played Mrs. Kintner, walked into a seafood restaurant and noticed that the menu had an "Alex Kintner Sandwich." She commented that she had played his mother so many years ago; the owner of the restaurant ran out to meet her, and he was none other than Jeffrey Voorhees, who had played her son. They had not seen each other since the original movie shoot.

 

[jpfriction]

I should really get around to watching that one of these days.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Amity

There's a name that doesn't have a good track record...

 

[Falselogic]

Yeah, talk about a bad neighborhood...

 

[Issun]

I've never thought of Jaws as an adventure movie and I probably never will. That doesn't mean I can honestly dispute its categorization as one.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

38. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you.
67 Points, 2 Lists, #2 Adrenaline
Directed by: Peter Jackson

Starring:
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler​

Following their victory at Helm’s Deep, Gandalf and Aragorn’s forces make their way to Gondor’s capital, where the Dark Lord Sauron is planning to strike. But despite their powerful forces and a critical victory, Gondor and its heroes are still in over their heads, forcing them to seek out an ancient supernatural force. Meanwhile, Sam and Frodo are near the end of their journey, the last, dangerous leg of their journey but their guide, Gollum, has his own plans, looking to split their friendship in order to claim the ring as his own once more. Soon all forces will converge in Mordor as the final battle of good versus evil continues but the real victory can only be in the now weary hands of Frodo. Can he resist the evil power of the ring? No.

Peter Jackson had quite a journey for a director, going from cheapo horror comedies to one of the greatest film epics of all time. But the pieces were there, particularly in his previous drama Heavenly Creatures. Now his love of Tolkien came to full fruition with his ending to a wildly ambitious film saga, a trilogy shot all together. This isn’t the first attempt, Superman and Superman II were shot together… sort of. But this is one where all of the films can also be taken as a single piece. And this ending really was the culmination, paying everything off with epic battles the likes had never been seen on film. But while we get so much pathos from our huge cast, it really comes down to the humble bond between Frodo and Sam. Their mission is a lot smaller than the huge battles but at the same time it’s also wrenching to watch these little hobbits in way over their head trying to complete their mission and finding courage within each other. The film has like 5 epilogues but it’s hard to blame it as after everything, it does feel like we earned seeing the fates of these characters.

Hero’s Journey: Frodo and Sam complete their journeys. Frodo finding himself learning though he has a burden to help people, he needs other people to do it and that person is Sam. Both find they can do something nearly impossible and there’s even sympathy for Gollum by the end.

Trivia
To get enough extras for the Battle at the Black Gate, a few hundred members of the New Zealand Army were brought in. They apparently were so enthusiastic during the battle scenes that they kept breaking the wooden swords and spears they were given.

Ready, Set, Piece

 

[Johnny Unusual]

OK, I know my destination... but unfortunately getting a last minute plane ticket is nigh impossible. I only have once choice... and luckily I live near a river. I'll be chartering one of the nearby boats to take me to Florida. Sure, most wouldn't even bother this time of year but I'm sure they won't mind if they don't know. It's a real unilateral chartering.

I'm stealing a boat.

And then trying to figure out how to get it across the ice. I'll probably attach skis until I can get into the water proper.

Then it's probably smooth sailing until Florida. It will certainly be harder to follow me and I don't forsee any trouble out in the open water in a small, hard-to-defend boat.

Unrelated, but I thought I'd let you know that the theme for both of tomorrow's picks is swashbuckling. Heh, funny word.

 

[Purple]

Ah, Return of the King. The movie responsible for one of my all-time favorite songs!

... I guess the Peter Jackson one is fine too.

Meanwhile Jaws is, undeniably, a great movie, but it really does suck how it was such bad PR for sharks that they're endangered now.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

37. The Mask of Zorro

There is a saying, a very old saying: when the pupil is ready the master will appear.
70 Points, 3 Lists, #10 Purple
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Starring:Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones​

Alejandro Murrieta is a common thief who ends up burning for revenge against the villainous Harrison Love, who was the cause of his brother’s death. He ends up running across an old prison escapee who also is looking for revenge… and who was in fact the heroic outlaw once known as Zorro. The former Zorro, Don Deigo de la Vega, decides Alejandro has potential and puts him through the same kind of rigourous training he took on with the hopes of him becoming the new Zorro. Alejandro, like de la Vega, ends up taking the identity of a lazy wealthy playboy by day but at night undermines the villainous Rafael Montero. But complicating matters further is Rafael’s beautiful daughter… who doesn’t realize she is, in fact, de la Vega’s daughter.

In the 90s, it seems like the success of Batman and a few other retro characters caused a major resurgence in attempting to bring back pulp era heroes. Most of these, like the Phantom and the Shadow, failed at the box office but Zorro was kind of a big deal. The film does capture most of what makes Zorro work; a witty rogue fighting for the people. And perfectly cast as that rogue is Antonio Banderas, an actor who sadly lost leading man status somewhere despite being an effortlessly charming dude (and he seems like a legit cool dude). I don’t think I’ve seen this since it was in the theatre, but really the training sequences and Banderas is what sticks.


Hero’s Journey: Alejandro goes from hungry for revenge to fighting for the people. But it’s an American movie so he still gets some revenge, as a treat.

Trivia
At the end, when Zorro confronts Captain Love, he pulls out his sword, and the sun glints off the blade running the full length. This was not CGI, and was suggested by Antonio Banderas. He had to tilt the sword to catch the sun without breaking eye contact with Matt Letscher. It only took three takes.


Ready, Set, Piece

 

[Olli]

Time is ready for a Zorro remake.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

36. Hook

You know you're not really Peter Pan, don't you? This is only a dream. When you wake up, you'll just be Peter Banning - a cold, selfish man who drinks too much, is obsessed with success, and runs and hides from his wife and children.
70 Points, 3 Lists, #7 Bulgakov
Directed by: Stephen Spielberg
Starring:
Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts​

Peter Banning is doing well in his life; a successful lawyer, he and his family are living a comfortable life. But in searching for success, Peter has been ignoring his children when they need him. One night, a mysterious force has made off with his children and no one can solve the mystery. Peter eventually learns the strange shocking truth; they’ve been kidnapped by the “fictional” pirate Captain Hook… and that he’s Peter Pan. Hook wants Pan for one last game but what good is a Peter Pan who is all grown up?

It’s a shame to learn that Dustin Hoffman has been a creep behind the scenes of his movies because boy howdy does this guy play Hook perfectly. What’s amazing here is I can’t imagine a scenery chewing contest where Robin Williams could lose but this Hook is like a cartoon come to life. Hook was a bit coolly received by critics but it was a box office success and for kids my age, Stephen Spielberg’s sentimental fantasy (he really was getting quite sentimental in this era) about fatherhood and childhood really struck a chord with it’s fantastic sets and lively characters. I’m not sure I would like it as much now but my memories are all positive and really, I think I would be set to watch all of the pirate sections again right now.

Bob Hoskins and Dustin Hoffman make an amazing team

Hero’s Journey: Peter recaptures the childhood he lost and takes the joy in with his parenting.
Trivia
When the Bannings fly to England, the pilot's voice is that of Dustin Hoffman (Captain Hook) - "This is your captain speaking..."

Ready, Set, Piece

 

[Adrenaline]

I don't like this movie at all but it's definitely adventurous.

 

[Issun]

I am glad LotR got split up this time so that other flicks have a shot at the top spot. Return of the King was not my pick to represent the trilogy, but it's an excellent conclusion.

I'm pretty sure I saw Mask of Zorro back in the day, but I couldn't tell you much about it.

I need to revisit Hook and see if it still holds up. Rufio! Rufio!

 

[Lokii]

I liked Zorro back when. I wonder if it holds up.

tbh Poke of Zorro had a lot more sticking power in the old memory banks

"I, King Arthur, declare Zorro the new king of England!"

 

[Lokii]

Hook is the best bad movie, or the worst good movie. Hard to say which.

Seeing it come in ahead of Jaws though is giving me stomach pains

 

[Purple]

I need to rewatch this Zorro... and probably at all watch some others. And seriously, we're way overdue for a remake! It's already been so long that there's been a Zorro in theaters for the Waynes to go see and then get mugged that modern takes on Batman and going all screwy with aging him up and probably giving him still alive parents and stuff.

Also I have just never been a Pan Fan. Any version or reinterpretation. Just doesn't click for me. I do remember though that I was reading the Shannara books at the time it came out and I have to hand it to Hook for having the ending Terry Brooks ever wrote.

 

[4-So]

Hook is a great movie. Wasn't in my top 10 but it was in my list somewhere.