SYRIANA [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

extracheese

12-11-2005, 12:40 PM

Dont worry no spoilers here since i had NO CLUE WHAT THIS GODDAMM movie was about.I left so pissed off. I had heard dozens of great reviews - universally considered among the very best movies of the year...so i was expecting some good stuff. This movie was so confusing and convaluted..that not one person in our group could follow who was who. Sure we pieced together the basic plot and larger points but sitting through a 2 hour and 15 minute movie and never sure your following whats what just plain sucks.DID anyone else see this stinking pile of trash?

fezident

12-11-2005, 12:55 PM

I saw it. Same thing.I was totalllly lost.  Couldn't follow it....didn't care about the charaters. I left about 15 mins before it ended.  And I wasn't the only one who left before it was over.  2 other couple left a few mins before I did.

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TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 01:00 PM

It is an excellent film, but it definitely is very convoluted.  I "got" it, but I still feel I need to see it again to catch everything, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  This day and age, it's not going to kill us to have a film that ends up being complicated.To me, it really felt like a film by a writer who is directing his first movie...which is exactly what it is.  Writers almost always over-write, so now that he's in charge, it's going to end up being pretty bloated.  But that said, it's pretty goddamn far from being a bad film.  It could be a lot better, but I thought it was very well done.Funny thing, my dad used to share an office with the guy Clooney is based on, and even a fat, bearded Clooney is infinitely better looking than he is.

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Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 01:49 PM

It is an excellent film, but it definitely is very convoluted.  I "got" it, but I still feel I need to see it again to catch everything, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  This day and age, it's not going to kill us to have a film that ends up being complicated.Dude, fuck that.  So you're saying it's OK for a film maker to make a hard to follow plot just so people have to pay to see it again to take it all in?That's not sophisticated, that's bullshit.

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DTN

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:01 PM

In this case, yes, I think it is OK, because it's still an excellent film despite its flaws.  Again, I think the movie could have used a LOT of additional editing, but at its core it is still a very good film.  There's just too many additional stories and characters going around the main ones.  By at the same time, why do we need films dumbed down for us so we do next to no thinking when we watch them?  This one challenges you to pay attention, and that really is the best way to describe it.  No, it's not for everyone.  No, it's not the best film of the year.  But dismissing it just because there's a lot of information to absorb is ridiculous.Honestly, if you could follow Traffic, you can follow this film.  Most movies you can turn your brain off and have everything spoon fed to the audiences.  Every so often you'll get one that requires some focus.  This is one of those.  If people don't like it, hey, great.  There's a thousand other alternatives.

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Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."</center>

Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:02 PM

Honestly, if you could follow Traffic, you can follow this film.Never seen it.

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DTN

Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:04 PM

And of course I'm not saying I want every movie to end with the perfect resolution with the main character walking off in  the sunset with his woman, his sidekick and their new crime fighting dog.It's a director and writer's job to make a movie that is good but at the same time gets it's point across in a timley manner.  It just sounds like they didn't do that in this film.Actually, since I hate movies and won't see this one I don't even know why I'm really arguing anymore.

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TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:09 PM

It's a director and writer's job to make a movie that is good but at the same time gets it's point across in a timley manner.  It just sounds like they didn't do that in this film.Even if the main themes in the film are issues that are ambiguous and without resolution in real life?And there might even be a method to the madness, as per Wikipedia...Syriana is a political thriller directed by <a title="Stephen Gaghan" href="http://www.ronfez.net/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Gaghan&action=edit">Stephen Gaghan</a>. Gaghan wrote the screenplay, loosely based on the book <a title="See No Evil (book)" href="http://www.ronfez.net/w/index.php?title=See_No_Evil_%28book%29&action=edit">See No Evil</a> by <a title="Robert Baer" href="http://www.ronfez.net/wiki/Robert_Baer">Robert Baer</a>.Syriana is a vastly complicated and ambitious film, with many characters, parallel storylines and information presented to the viewer, often purposely withholding information to add to the effect that the viewer is witnessing real events and "is in the dark" as much as the characters in the movie. The storylines crisscross later on, and in the final stages of the movie, collide violently.

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Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."</center>

Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:12 PM

Syriana is a vastly complicated and ambitious film, with many characters, parallel storylines and information presented to the viewer, often purposely withholding information to add to the effect that the viewer is witnessing real events and "is in the dark" as much as the characters in the movie. The storylines crisscross later on, and in the final stages of the movie, collide violently.Sounds awful.  

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DTN

furie

12-11-2005, 02:13 PM

<blockquote style="">quote:Honestly, if you could follow Traffic, you can follow this film.  [/quote] Well, I liked traffic, so i may gosee this one.

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fezident

12-11-2005, 02:19 PM

For me, I just didn't have anything invested in the characters.  There was enough to grab on to.  "Who's this guy..is he corrupt..is he gonna kill that guy....why DOESNT he just kill that guy...?"  Stuff like that.  I didn't know who to identify with so, I ended up just kinda staring at the screen. I actually WOULD see this movie again when it comes to one of the movie channels.  Maybe I just need to watch it at my own pace.  Rewind certain parts, commentary...etc etc

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TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:20 PM

quote: quote: Syriana is a vastly complicated and ambitious film, with many characters, parallel storylines and information presented to the viewer, often purposely withholding information to add to the effect that the viewer is witnessing real events and "is in the dark" as much as the characters in the movie. The storylines crisscross later on, and in the final stages of the movie, collide violently.  Sounds awful.  <img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=njdmmoe" border="0" /> <a href="http://www.unhallowed.com/">www.unhallowed.com</a> <a href="http://thebigsexxxy.blogspot.com/">One Big SeXXXy Blog</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deathmetalmoe">Death Metal MySpace</a> DTN Is there anything I could have said that would have somehow gotten a different response? 

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Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."</center>

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:23 PM

Stuff like that.  I didn't know who to identify with so, I ended up just kinda staring at the screenWell, I took that as intentional, since it certainly was in the book it's based on.  The political ambiguity is the main running theme with EVERYONE involved.I hope it doesn't come across like I'm saying you're "wrong" in not liking this.  Of course a movie isn't going to appeal to everyone, nor should it.  And just because it's supposed to be doing the things I'm talking about, doesn't necessarily make it good.

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Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."</center>

HBox

12-11-2005, 02:27 PM

Is there anything I could have said that would have somehow gotten a different response?Something like this: This movie explored this history of Death Metal and why it rocks so hard. They also were giving away free bacon to everyone in the theater. And anyone who looked like Horatio Sanz got a million dollars. 

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4544/newsig2ki.jpg

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:29 PM

Psh.  I already saw Cheaper By The Dozen 2.

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Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."</center>

pennington

12-11-2005, 02:36 PM

I like this kind of movie and was going to go see it until I once again saw Clooney interviewed.  Is it me or is he becoming more smug over the years?  I get it, you're a liberal, you don't like conservatives.  I'm really not interested in an actor's political view, even if agrees with mine.I'll wait until it comes out on DVD.

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:46 PM

So ignore his politics.What, am I supposed to never watch and enjoy the Terminator films or True Lies ever again because I disagree with Arnold's politics?It strikes me as a weird reason to not watch films.  Unless someone is out there proclaiming something REALLY crazy and extreme, who cares?<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin" border="0" /> Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 12-11-05 @ 6:49 PM

Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:48 PM

quote:  quote: Is there anything I could have said that would have somehow gotten a different response?  Something like this:  quote: This movie explored this history of Death Metal and why it rocks so hard. They also were giving away free bacon to everyone in the theater. And anyone who looked like Horatio Sanz got a million dollars.    <img src="http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4544/newsig2ki.jpg" border="0" /> Nice.I really wasn't trying to argue with you Mojo.  I HATED Kill Bill but everyone else liked it so I guess it was me.  I just didn't like the idea that you thought a film so confusing you have to see it twice was "artsy" and not plain poorly directed or written.  I had actually wanted to see this because I guess it has something to do with Syria and I have family there.  But it sounds so confusing I'll probably pass. 

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Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:49 PM

It strikes me as a weird reason to not watch films.I'll never see a Ben Afflek movie just because I hate him.  People don't need GOOD reasons to do things, they just need to believe in those reasons.

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TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:54 PM

quote: quote: It strikes me as a weird reason to not watch films.  I'll never see a Ben Afflek movie just because I hate him.  People don't need GOOD reasons to do things, they just need to believe in those reasons.<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=njdmmoe" border="0" /> <a href="http://www.unhallowed.com/">www.unhallowed.com</a> <a href="http://thebigsexxxy.blogspot.com/">One Big SeXXXy Blog</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deathmetalmoe">Death Metal MySpace</a> DTN But that's different.  He's not saying he "hates Clooney"...he just won't see a film because of the guy talking about his politics.  You saying you hate Affleck essentially boils down to you think he's a terrible actor, right?  Obviously, he's a huge douche and generally pretty annoying, but it's pretty standard.  Why go see a movie starring an actor you think sucks at making films?  But if I suddenly said, "I don't want to see any films starring Johnny Depp because he likes playing air hockey," isn't that rather arbitrary and weird and unecessary?  How does something that has NOTHING to do with how good an actor is as an actor suddenly mean you're not going to see what is possibly a very good film?  I'm not going to let some person's off screen quirk dictate what I can and can't see. 

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Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:55 PM

Ehh, it's a weird world.

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TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 02:57 PM

Oh, and "Syriana" has a couple meanings...one is related to Syria...Some have suggested that it comes from <a title="Pax Syriana" href="http://www.ronfez.net/wiki/Pax_Syriana">Pax Syriana</a>, as an allusion to the necessary state of peace between Syria and the U.S. as it relates to the oil business.The other, and more likely, definition is much more ominous...The title is a metaphor for foreign intervention in the Middle East, referring to post-<a title="World War I" href="http://www.ronfez.net/wiki/World_War_I">World War I</a> <a title="Think tank" href="http://www.ronfez.net/wiki/Think_tank">think tank</a> strategic studies for the creation of an <a title="Artificial state" href="http://www.ronfez.net/w/index.php?title=Artificial_state&action=edit">artificial state</a> (such as <a title="Iraq" href="http://www.ronfez.net/wiki/Iraq">Iraq</a>, created from the elements of the former Ottoman Empire) that would ensure continued U.S. access to crude oil.

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Death Metal Moe

12-11-2005, 02:59 PM

Uhh, does this stupid film get all political and preachy?  That's where it sounds like it's going to be real honest with you.  Edit: Of course it's political.  I should have just said Preachy about politics and our need for oil.<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=njdmmoe" border="0" /> <a href="http://www.unhallowed.com/">www.unhallowed.com</a> <a href="http://thebigsexxxy.blogspot.com/">One Big SeXXXy Blog</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/deathmetalmoe">Death Metal MySpace</a> DTN

This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 12-11-05 @ 7:00 PM

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 03:05 PM

Towards the idea that reliance on crude oil has left us open to terrorism, I guess so.  The biggest "preachy point" is that we've been willing to overlook terrorist-allowing/encouraging regimes like the one in Saudi Arabia for the sake of money, and our intellignece resources in the Middle East have suffered because of it.

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Johnny Fontane

12-11-2005, 03:29 PM

This movie sucked dick - like John C. Holmes dick.

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Se7en

12-11-2005, 03:31 PM

quote: quote: Syriana is a vastly complicated and ambitious film, with many characters, parallel storylines and information presented to the viewer, often purposely withholding information to add to the effect that the viewer is witnessing real events and "is in the dark"<img class="mceButtonDown" onmouseover="tinyMCE.switchClass(this,'mceButtonOver');" title="Insert/edit link" onmouseout="tinyMCE.restoreClass(this);" height="20" src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/images/link.gif" width="20" border="0" /> as much as the characters in the movie. The storylines crisscross later on, and in the final stages of the movie, collide violently.  Sounds awful.  You're awesome.This movie explored this history of Death Metal and why it rocks so hard. They also were giving away free bacon to everyone in the theater. And anyone who looked like Horatio Sanz got a million dollars.I would see this!And Moe, don't feel alone about Kill Bill.  I thought it was okay, but it has to be one of THE most overrated films of the last 10 years.  Is it me or is he becoming more smug over the years?  I get it, you're a liberal, you don't like conservatives.  I'm really not interested in an actor's political view, even if agrees with mine.I agree with this totally.  "Team America" pretty much nailed it, and that was a movie about fucking PUPPETS.So ignore his politics.What, am I supposed to never watch and enjoy the Terminator films or True Lies ever again because I disagree with Arnold's politics?It depends.  Arnold has always made stupid action and / or sci-fi flicks.If Clooney was just making films like "Out of Sight" or "O Brother, Where Are Thou?", it'd be one thing, but lately he's taken to making films like "Good Night, Good Luck", which people could very easily have a negative reaction too, because it's an interjection of his politics into his film.

TheMojoPin

12-11-2005, 03:40 PM

Sooooooo...a movie like Good Night And Good Luck should be made by someone who DISAGREES with the political ideas in the film, so, y'know, we can be SURE they're not just giving themselves a political wank fest?  Or are we supposed to only allow such films to be made by mythical political eunuchs?Or, is it not supposed to be made at all?Se7en, what's a better Vietnam movie...Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon...or The Green Berets?Jesus Christ, people.  Unclench.  They're just movies.<img src="http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=TheMojoPin" border="0" /> Dancing with the women at the bar... << He knows his Claret from his Beaujolais >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 12-11-05 @ 7:42 PM

HBox

12-11-2005, 03:47 PM

Nothing involving the denigration of Joseph McCarthy is controversial. They could have a movie of just people pissing on his grave and I'd be pissed that it wasn't harsh enough. 

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Recyclerz

12-11-2005, 07:33 PM

Nothing involving the denigration of Joseph McCarthy is controversial. They could have a movie of just people pissing on his grave and I'd be pissed that it wasn't harsh enough. <img height="400" src="http://www.booksamillion.com/bam/covers/1/40/005/030/1400050308.jpg" width="263" border="0" /> On Earth 2, Ann Coulter is H-Box's dream date.

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Furtherman

06-26-2006, 08:56 AM

I just picked this up at Best Buy - with Three Kings for $20 - great deal that I found out about on this site and I would like to thank the person who mentioned it but I cannot remember what thread it was in and the search engine turned up nada - SO, thank you whoever mentioned the Best Buy deal. As for the movie.  Excellent.  If you didn't see it in the theaters, AND you half a brain that can follow a movie that makes you think, check it out.  It is not preachy nor boats some political ideology - it is simply an excellent - and realistic - story of how we keep feeding oil into our country.

TheMojoPin

06-26-2006, 08:57 AM

"No way, it's terrible!  A movie about Middle Eastern politics and business and terrorism that DOESN'T have a clearcut, happy-shmappy ending?  That's TOTALLY unrealistic!  LAME!!!"

CuzBum

06-26-2006, 09:25 AM

NO BLOOD FOR OIL MAAAAAAAAAN!

A.J.

06-26-2006, 09:35 AM

Se7en wrote:  I agree with this totally.  "Team America" pretty much nailed it, and that was a movie about fucking PUPPETS. And puppets fucking.<img height="306" src="http://www.nrk.no/img/447493.jpeg" width="460" border="0" />

Mr.Pants

06-26-2006, 02:52 PM

Syriana doesn't have a director's commentary on the DVD if anyone cares

Yerdaddy

06-27-2006, 02:42 AM

Furtherman wrote: I just picked this up at Best Buy - with Three Kings for $20 - great deal that I found out about on this site and I would like to thank the person who mentioned it but I cannot remember what thread it was in and the search engine turned up nada - SO, thank you whoever mentioned the Best Buy deal. As for the movie.  Excellent.  If you didn't see it in the theaters, AND you half a brain that can follow a movie that makes you think, check it out.  It is not preachy nor boats some political ideology - it is simply an excellent - and realistic - story of how we keep feeding oil into our country.That is a good deal. But I got mine a couple months before the Oscars for $5. Got Three Kings for a buck, and my copy of Team America has the extended puppet sex scene with the face pissing and shitting that lasts about two minutes. Not to brag or nothing. Oh, and in my copy of Capote, Truman's a hetero. At least on the cover he is.