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Is this review of movie Graffiti bridge fair? How do u rate it? | |
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You could be right, you could be wrong. No it is not a line from a Prince song but is a opinion shared by the few people who may say this film is utter rubbish! Being a keen Prince fan, I have never seen such hatred and disgust from his fans as I have from this film. Reasons behind this are mainly due to:-
a) Music in film is not worthwhile b) Sets are cheap c) Dialogue- "what dialogue?" d) Story "what story?" e) Plot makes no sense and has many holes. f) Acting is bad, particually by the leading actress Ingrid Chavez, who is not only universally hated by the diehard, but also pelted with tomatoes by die hards if caught on a street to this very day! g) Prince is moody and a uninteresting brat of a "hero" Gasp!! So would a non Prince fan like this movie? Definately yes, yes and yes! My casual movie consuming mate hated it and found the leading character The Kid (played by Prince) to be moody, dull and pointless. I agree with this. Yes first things first, it is unfortunate that the star of the show is playing a very introverted and rather mean musician, who makes music that is spiritual and has meaning. Yet his twisted genius is that his personality is less then glowing as band members think Prince is losing the plot (double meaning there). Story is irrelvant and all you really need to know is the Kid is rival with Morris Day (who, like in "Purple Rain", steals the movie outright and is frankly not given enough scenes). Morris and The Time play good, funky music to mae the girls dance. Prince's spritually toned music is not packing the ounters in anymore and basically Morris wants Prince out the club as both own half of it. It is pointless backstroy though so don't worry if iam not making much sense here. Supporting cast has little to do. One time pop star Tevin Campbell is wasted as are Mavis Staples, George Clinton, he Time themselves and Jill Jones. Jill's part in the movie, as the Kids girlfriend was originally a major part of the story but she is relegated to barely a scene. Many, many script and story changes happened on this movie. To put it simply, alot of scenes and infact whole songs were cut for one reason or another thanks to thinbs down by test audiences. On the recently released DVD, Warner Bros, the films distibutor, give no indidcation that this ever happened. I recall an inside source telling me that a bonfire night was mysteriously held the night after the first test audiences for this movie? Oh well..... The songs are like MTV videos with the quick cuts and zooming around various band members and what have you, and as I said, dialogue is minimal. But Morris is still funny as hell, as is his faithful sidekick Jerome Benton. Ingrid Chavez (who plays Aura) is by no means the worst actress in the world. She is meant to play a strange enigma like character who is infact an angel. What more do you want? Judi Dench in the Aura role? Come to think of it, that might of worked? Anyway without getting into the "plot", she goes through the motions bringing nothing to the character except an annoying voice. Which I gather is why people hated her so much. Oh that and the fact she is not sexy as most Prince women are. Bit overall I have no problems with her. The films lighting is surounded in blankets of hazy dark blues and crystal sky blacks. This movie is dark. Barely no daylight is ever seen. I love this look (along with the bright and garish neon lights that were so fashionable in the 80's and early 90's but look so dated now) and this no doubt, adds a dreamlike Wizard of Oz charm to the procedings. This movie looks like no other (and plays like no other) and is wonderful and worth seeing for the lighting alone. So the lighting is gorgeous and you should buy this movie just for the look of the film (I will remind you again and again!). The sets have a cheap charm too and the camera angles are alot more professional then the sets. Camera never gets frustrating and some lovely portrait shots are used to view the surreal like street (or Corner) where all of the movie seems to be basically set. The characters eat, live and bathe in a neon soaked haven of hot music and zany (and that is putting it nicely) outfits the people posess. I want to live in this world! After you see this, you will too. As an added bonus and as already stated, no daylight ever occurs, which is just super splendid for me. My personal fav scene is when the young Tevin Campbell dances to his hit song "Round and round". A song that was quite big at the time (1990). The music video was a direct clip from this scene. Tevin just dances and mimes to the song to show Prince what he has got talent wise. We never find out if Prince is impressed, but frankly who cares? Many unanswered questions will go through your confused noen soaked head whist witnessing this film. The charm of the "Round and Round" scene, to me, is the musicality of it all. A kid just dancing in the street! It is my fantasy come true and is like an old hollywood musical for Prince fans and those who like generally wierd movies. It reminds one of those classic 1940's Gene Kelly movies! It is surreal and you are most definately transported into the world. In the same vein as Tevins song, Prince and his band perform "Tick, tick bang" in the street where no traffic seems to exist. It is awesome to see such innocence in a modern (1990) music based film. So not all songs are performed on a routine stage then and thank goodness for that! So this movie has alot of charm. My 2 above paragraphs sum up why you should watch this movie. Yes there are zillions of obvious problems with it. But this is not meant to be viewed as a witty Woody Allen film or as a zany romantic comedy. This is a movie that for looks, lighting and general good natured fun, is top rate. I hope you can see past the naff cover art and enjoy a story about an angel sent to seven corners (which is where it is set, which happens to be just one corner, the same corner used throughout the entire movie!), who is sent to prevent a meteor of mayhem between the Kid and Morris Day. None of which are bad guys really. Again, who cares. I will not spoil the ending. With all the scene cuts, it is no surprise that the movie seems so cobbled together. Maybe the movie actually made more sense? I would love to see the uncut version. But for now, enjoy a movie that is very much 1990 in tone (dark backstreets, neon lights, not too far unlike "Streets of fire" is some respects) and like "Streets of fire" (1984), it is all about the atmosphere. To all you film buffs, you must see this now cult film. All Prince fans also must see this film. Maybe everyone else, unless open minded, should stay away though. So take a trip to Graffiti bridge. One of my fav films ever! 'Nuff said..... Recommended Yes | |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said: You could be right, you could be wrong. No it is not a line from a Prince song but is a opinion shared by the few people who may say this film is utter rubbish! Being a keen Prince fan, I have never seen such hatred and disgust from his fans as I have from this film. Reasons behind this are mainly due to:-
a) Music in film is not worthwhile b) Sets are cheap c) Dialogue- "what dialogue?" d) Story "what story?" e) Plot makes no sense and has many holes. f) Acting is bad, particually by the leading actress Ingrid Chavez, who is not only universally hated by the diehard, but also pelted with tomatoes by die hards if caught on a street to this very day! g) Prince is moody and a uninteresting brat of a "hero" Gasp!! So would a non Prince fan like this movie? Definately yes, yes and yes! My casual movie consuming mate hated it and found the leading character The Kid (played by Prince) to be moody, dull and pointless. I agree with this. Yes first things first, it is unfortunate that the star of the show is playing a very introverted and rather mean musician, who makes music that is spiritual and has meaning. Yet his twisted genius is that his personality is less then glowing as band members think Prince is losing the plot (double meaning there). Story is irrelvant and all you really need to know is the Kid is rival with Morris Day (who, like in "Purple Rain", steals the movie outright and is frankly not given enough scenes). Morris and The Time play good, funky music to mae the girls dance. Prince's spritually toned music is not packing the ounters in anymore and basically Morris wants Prince out the club as both own half of it. It is pointless backstroy though so don't worry if iam not making much sense here. Supporting cast has little to do. One time pop star Tevin Campbell is wasted as are Mavis Staples, George Clinton, he Time themselves and Jill Jones. Jill's part in the movie, as the Kids girlfriend was originally a major part of the story but she is relegated to barely a scene. Many, many script and story changes happened on this movie. To put it simply, alot of scenes and infact whole songs were cut for one reason or another thanks to thinbs down by test audiences. On the recently released DVD, Warner Bros, the films distibutor, give no indidcation that this ever happened. I recall an inside source telling me that a bonfire night was mysteriously held the night after the first test audiences for this movie? Oh well..... The songs are like MTV videos with the quick cuts and zooming around various band members and what have you, and as I said, dialogue is minimal. But Morris is still funny as hell, as is his faithful sidekick Jerome Benton. Ingrid Chavez (who plays Aura) is by no means the worst actress in the world. She is meant to play a strange enigma like character who is infact an angel. What more do you want? Judi Dench in the Aura role? Come to think of it, that might of worked? Anyway without getting into the "plot", she goes through the motions bringing nothing to the character except an annoying voice. Which I gather is why people hated her so much. Oh that and the fact she is not sexy as most Prince women are. Bit overall I have no problems with her. The films lighting is surounded in blankets of hazy dark blues and crystal sky blacks. This movie is dark. Barely no daylight is ever seen. I love this look (along with the bright and garish neon lights that were so fashionable in the 80's and early 90's but look so dated now) and this no doubt, adds a dreamlike Wizard of Oz charm to the procedings. This movie looks like no other (and plays like no other) and is wonderful and worth seeing for the lighting alone. So the lighting is gorgeous and you should buy this movie just for the look of the film (I will remind you again and again!). The sets have a cheap charm too and the camera angles are alot more professional then the sets. Camera never gets frustrating and some lovely portrait shots are used to view the surreal like street (or Corner) where all of the movie seems to be basically set. The characters eat, live and bathe in a neon soaked haven of hot music and zany (and that is putting it nicely) outfits the people posess. I want to live in this world! After you see this, you will too. As an added bonus and as already stated, no daylight ever occurs, which is just super splendid for me. My personal fav scene is when the young Tevin Campbell dances to his hit song "Round and round". A song that was quite big at the time (1990). The music video was a direct clip from this scene. Tevin just dances and mimes to the song to show Prince what he has got talent wise. We never find out if Prince is impressed, but frankly who cares? Many unanswered questions will go through your confused noen soaked head whist witnessing this film. The charm of the "Round and Round" scene, to me, is the musicality of it all. A kid just dancing in the street! It is my fantasy come true and is like an old hollywood musical for Prince fans and those who like generally wierd movies. It reminds one of those classic 1940's Gene Kelly movies! It is surreal and you are most definately transported into the world. In the same vein as Tevins song, Prince and his band perform "Tick, tick bang" in the street where no traffic seems to exist. It is awesome to see such innocence in a modern (1990) music based film. So not all songs are performed on a routine stage then and thank goodness for that! So this movie has alot of charm. My 2 above paragraphs sum up why you should watch this movie. Yes there are zillions of obvious problems with it. But this is not meant to be viewed as a witty Woody Allen film or as a zany romantic comedy. This is a movie that for looks, lighting and general good natured fun, is top rate. I hope you can see past the naff cover art and enjoy a story about an angel sent to seven corners (which is where it is set, which happens to be just one corner, the same corner used throughout the entire movie!), who is sent to prevent a meteor of mayhem between the Kid and Morris Day. None of which are bad guys really. Again, who cares. I will not spoil the ending. With all the scene cuts, it is no surprise that the movie seems so cobbled together. Maybe the movie actually made more sense? I would love to see the uncut version. But for now, enjoy a movie that is very much 1990 in tone (dark backstreets, neon lights, not too far unlike "Streets of fire" is some respects) and like "Streets of fire" (1984), it is all about the atmosphere. To all you film buffs, you must see this now cult film. All Prince fans also must see this film. Maybe everyone else, unless open minded, should stay away though. So take a trip to Graffiti bridge. One of my fav films ever! 'Nuff said..... Recommended Yes So what u reckon then? | |
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thesexofit said: So what u reckon then?
it's good for a laugh...other than that, it's total pants. | |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said: thesexofit said: So what u reckon then?
it's good for a laugh...other than that, it's total pants.  I love that movie. I know there have been more threads on GB then most other shit, but I love the movie.....   | |
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The movie had a few good parts, but it overall was corny and so unrealistic. Onion Juice appears courtesy of Streethop.com | |
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