That was a Western?
Here’s what I wake up looking like when I stay out past my bedtime:
Ha ha. Yeah…
What were we up doing*? Seeing Mad Max: Fury Road. Holy cow, what a FUN movie! I haven’t seen a movie that creative (that I enjoyed, anyway) in a long time.
When I saw the trailers for Mad Max, I had no interest in it. I know nothing about the original series. And all the trailers showed was a bunch of driving in the desert** and lots of fighting. It looked a bit boring. I love action movies but get frustrated with the ones where the action is so fast you can’t follow what’s happening***, and your eyes glaze over (see: last few Transformers films). I wasn’t planning on seeing this movie. Ever. But then it got crazy good ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, and everyone I talked to who saw it made me want to go. So. Yeah. Five dollar Tuesday movie night it was!
And the movie was mostly driving in the desert, and fighting, but it wasn’t boring at all. My eyes didn’t glaze over. It was extremely visually interesting, and I liked how the story was told with very little dialogue. The acting was great and you found yourself invested in the characters right away, even though you knew nothing about them. I’m happy I saw this in the theater – it wouldn’t have had the same effect on me at home.
I know, I told you basically nothing about the plot. I don’t want to give it away. And that’s not what this post about. Ha.
I was surprised when I read about the film to hear it being called a Western. Or at least, to have Western themes. I’ve read that about Star Wars, too. Here’s the thing though – if you had me make a list of film genres I don’t like, Westerns would be on the top of that list, with gore and horror. I think it’s odd that this movie, and Star Wars both appeal to me so much, and are compared to Westerns. Maybe I don’t fully understand what a Western is. Or maybe I just like the modern versions better!
*Mind you, the movie was over just before 10:00. Ha!
**Ha, I originally wrote “dessert” and remembered a trick that a math teacher (not english, ha!) told us for remembering the difference – “there are two ‘Ss’ in dessert – just like you always want seconds of it!”
***I read that the director slowed down some scenes on purpose, so you could follow the action, and sped some up on purpose, where he didn’t want you to follow as much.
Themocracy
I enjoyed this movie as well, but wouldn’t have thought of it as a Western. But I guess I never watch Westerns so I don’t really know the defining factors. Some people thought of Firefly as a space western and I did enjoy that series. Also, thanks for the dessert/desert tip because I always get confused on those!
I think that is why I am not picking up on it, too!
Ha ha! Happy my tip will help you! 🙂
I’ve never heard of it, so maybe a Netflix movie? I like Westerns but it depends on the plot… all movies depend on the plot. One of my favorites is McLintock with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, but that’s kind of Taming of the Shrew too.
Yes, it could be that Mad Max and Star Wars have integrated the best pieces of westerns and therefore are more interesting/entertaining than the source material? Actually, westerns (post-1955) borrowed heavily from Japanese samurai films. Even the original Star Wars film (ep. IV) borrowed heavily from the samurai film “Hidden Fortress”. Complete with R2D2 and C3PO type characters, a rebellion led by a princess and an Obi-wan character who duels with an old foe. I watched it a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away), and was surprised at all the similarities! 🙂
Ha, I like your theory on best pieces 😉 Whoa! I will have to watch that sometime to look for the similarities!
Ha!I love the wild hair. I saw the previews but didn’t consider seeing it, I like funnnny! Maybe I should give it a shot. I would have never thought western…
If you prefer funny, I wouldn’t see this. It has a few humorous scenes, but is mostly an action film 🙂
I always forget that your hair is so curly 🙂
I wonder what it is that makes a movie a “Western”, too. I know nothing about the original Mad Max series but since I’m not a fan of a lot of action movies I didn’t even consider seeing the new one. But, you’re right, it gets a lot of good reviews!
I wouldn’t have said I like westerns either, but I loved both MM and of course Star Wars. Have you seen Firefly? Another series (and movie) that I think are categorized as “westerns” although they take place in space 🙂
I tried to watch Firefly, and couldn’t get in to it, but if people call these movies Westerns, I can see why they call Firefly one 🙂
I think your hair looks really cute like that!! I’ve heard great things about the movie as well, but have/had no intention on seeing it. THerea are just too many other movies currently out or coming out for me to find time for that one. Maybe when it comes to DVD?
Is your hair naturally curly? If so, you should wear it that way! I am envious with curly hair.
It’s naturally wavy. 🙂
I haven’t seen it, but my better half went (without me!) and loved it so much that he re-watched the first three – 2 of which were/are still great, the third one isn’t worth it. It’s interesting to categorize it as a Western, and maybe I would like it b/c I actually DO like westerns, although not all of of them.
That makes me think maybe I SHOULD watch the originals, after all! I guess this is like… the fourth in the series, or something? I read that, but haven’t seen the originals so I have no idea! Now I am curious to hear what you think of it if you ever do see it 🙂
love the hair!
I heard the new Mad Max is very feminist…it got great reviews here, too.
Yeah, the whole plot is about helping some women, and there are very strong women characters 🙂
That’s what my hair looks like most mornings, no matter how late I stay up…
Star Wars is a western because it has a lot of the same themes. It’s about a nomadic character (Han Solo), has duels, a damsel in distress that needs rescuing, a saloon (the cantina on Mos Eisley), etc. There’s even a separate genre of Space Westerns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Western)!
With that definition, I wonder if lots of space movies could be categorized that way, because a lot of times it’s about nomadic people exploring new places. Hmmm…
Your hair looks a lot like mine when I wake up in the a.m. On a good day. LOL! Glad you had a fun night watching a movie!
A lot of the plot devices and themes in Star Wars were modeled after the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa. Specifically Hidden Fortress. It was very deliberate by Lucas as he is a huge Kurosawa fan. Samurai films are the western of Japanese cinema. So, yes, Star Wars is very western. Just like Firefly. The melding of western and sci fi is a pretty common tactic in cinema. Works fantastically… usually.
I heard a ton of buzz about Mad Max before I saw it, because I follow a bunch of feminist web sites and forums and they were all buzzing about it. So I had high hopes when I saw it and was not disappointed at all.
Western to me = Lone hero coming to a new place and throwing things into upheaval with a good outcome. However, I am not a movie critic/expert/etc. So, yeah.
I still haven’t seen “Mad Max.” I think Harrison wants to see it, but I’m pretty sure I’ll hate it. But then a lot of what you said about it beforehand sounds like my objections to it, so maybe I’d end up liking it too!
…Still haven’t seen “Star Wars” either, so I can’t comment on its “Western-ness” haha.
Hmm, I would be curious to hear what you think of it. It’s really one wild ride, so if you are in the mood for action, you might like it 🙂
LOL!