Inmate Central

RE: "Fargo," to me, is Number 1.

1.36.25.19

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: "Fargo," to me, is Number 1. posted by ghost of olddude55 on May 17, 2021 at 04:34:15

I think a part of this is how old you are and perhaps which films have a personal impact on you and which order you see them.

I was born in 74 and as a kid living in Wales - Doctor Who was the big sow and one of the episodic serials was called the "Seeds of Doom" which is basically "The Thing" - outer space plants land in Antarctica and the Doctor is sent to investigate and one of the plants opens and attaches to one of the researchers. Who then becomes a monster. A nutty botanist sends his men to bring it back to England (oh no to civilization) where the plant takes over bodies and can control all other plants.

I then say the Carpenter version in my teens and at that time was one of the greatest special effects wonders and so all my mates loved it. Then going back to the original version it just doesn't hold up for me too many characters and a guy in a suit.

I enjoyed Fargo - although you will hate this - I preferred the TV Series season 1 - which is the same story as the movie but longer and more in depth. I find most of these TV series to be generally better than films because there isn't enough time in a film to do real justice to the subject matter IMO.

Film in the 1960s through the 1990s tended to be MUCH better than TV but I feel there is a role reversal.

With Star Trek movies - I liked II and IV and I am a Star Trek fan but I think those are the only two that I can rewatch. I liked the sci-fi aspect of IV and it tickled me that Humans were not the beings that an alien would seek out as intelligent life. That was a nice shot to the human ego. Lucky the Whales didn't hold a grudge eh?

I also liked Blazing Saddles although I ranked it third for Mel Brooks behind Young Frankenstein and The Producers (1967 not the remake). I might also include Airplane! as possibly the stupidest funny movies I have seen. And probably the only Airplane/airport movie that is remembered from the era.

I think these lists are tough because dramatic films often get more credit and I suppose it makes sense as humor seems not to be shared among people as well. Some people do not get sarcasm or wit. And many folks do not get satire (The Simpsons) or dark comedy (Pulp Fiction and Fargo)

Some people can't take swearing or violence. I remember watching Pulp Fiction in the theatre and Vincent's gun accidentally goes off and blows the head off of the guy in the back seat - the audience roared with laughter. I thought wow here is a horrible scene set-up so well that the director has the audience laughing at something horrendous. And I still get a chortle out of Pulp Fiction and Siskel and Ebert dedicated an entire show to the film - incidentally, I am pretty sure they both picked Fargo as the best film of the year. If only the Academy would not always choose the safe banal choice. I liked the Englsh Patient (I am one of the few) but Fargo or Secrets and Lies should have won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5SDoiP3OQo (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

I love the Coen brothers, but can't stand Tarantino - Dave_K 06:55:40 05/17/21 (1)
- Tarantino after "Jackie Brown." - ghost of olddude55 07:02:46 05/17/21 (0)
Should have put "Pulp Fiction" on my list.... - ghost of olddude55 06:08:19 05/17/21 (2)
- Blucher - kyle 09:34:25 05/17/21 (1)
  - "Yes! He...was...my...BOYFRIEND!" - ghost of olddude55 10:29:20 05/17/21 (0)