Cold Mt. Soundtrack

Subject: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Dharmabum
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 03:32 PM

This one looks like it might be worth watching out for. Based on the book written by Charles Frasier. Although,I must admit,I haven't read it.

I found the article here,
http://www.cmt.com/news/feat/cold.mountain.062202.jhtml

Or try cmt.com & look for click on cold mountain.

Hope these links work. My appologies if not.

DB.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Dharmabum
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 03:36 PM

Look for click......duh.

Sorry bout that,Tuesday's my medication day.
Leaves the brain a little foggier than usual.

Db.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 04:28 PM

Oh brother.

Tim O'Brien and Dirk Powell already put out an excellent CD a couple of years ago called "Songs from the Mountain."

I say "oh brother" because frankly, I thought the book SUCKED. Now, I know, it was a NY Times Bestseller and the critics just loved it, and all that, but I really, really didn't like it. The whole time I was reading it, I felt like I was up on a mountaintop with low-power binoculars watching the action. The story didn't grab me and suck me into it, and I really didn't care for Frazier's writing style. I found it empty and gratuitous. He was writing for a 20th century market that expects things like swearing and naked breasts.

To add insult to injury, I see they're filming it in Romania. What, they couldn't get North Carolina? Last of the Mohicans was filmed in North Carolina. I have a hard time believing there was nowhere in the US for them to make this movie.

If you want to read a really good Civil War novel, try The Black Flower by Howard Bahr instead - much more deserving of a motion picture. And if you don't have the aforementioned CD - Get it!

Now, that being said, I'll probably go to the movie, and love it. Or not......... ;-)

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 04:46 PM

I think I agree with you on the book -- it never really engaged me. Really didn't like the ending. All that effort and buildup and then...

Potential for a good soundtrack, though.

Linn

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 04:52 PM

That's what I'm saying, though - whatever soundtrack they put together will have a hard time topping "Songs from the Mountain."

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: van lingle
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 04:55 PM

I knew that Frasier had sold the rights for some out- rageous sum but I didn't know the movie was out.
I have to disagree with Kim on the merits of the book. It's one of my all time favorites, I've already reread it a couple of times. I actually like Frasier's detached style, his eye for detail (he's also a travel writer) and his grasp of human foibles and insecurties not to mention the awkward and tender love story it contains.
He also has another Civil War novel in the works, I hear. Thanks for the heads-up, Dharmabum. vl

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: van lingle
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 05:17 PM

Whoops, jumped the gun on that one. Went to the link to find it won't be released until 2003. Stuart Duncan to do the fiddling. vl.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 05:25 PM

Van Lingle, read The Black Flower and see if you don't like it better. Seriously. :-) Howard Bahr reminds me a lot of Flannery O'Connor - a little dark, and a little quirky.

I think part of my not liking Cold Mountain was that it didn't live up to the hype. I was expecting something really grand, and it wasn't what I got. Sort of like The Piano. (I really, really, REALLY didn't need to see Harvey Keitel in the full monty.)

I did like some of the characters, though, and some of the situations. And I know a LOT of people really did like this book, I'm just not one of them. Oh well.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: van lingle
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 05:57 PM

I'll do my best to complete the assignment, Kim *g*. Actually, The Black Forest sounds interesting, I'll check it out. vl

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Dharmabum
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 10:15 PM

I'm rarely disappointed when I've seen a movie based on a book I've read.
That's because I never expect the screenplay to do justice to the book.
As I said,I've not read Cold Mountain so I can't comment on it,good or bad,but if the movie ends up producing a decent soundtrack,even if the movie sucks,well,I guess I'll be happy.

DB.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Kim C
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 11:52 AM

That's a good philosophy, Dharmabum!

VL, that's the Black FLOWER. It's about the aftermath of the Battle of Franklin in 1864. There's some really splendid characters, including a bad guy so terribly evil... well... you'll just have to read it for yourself. :-)

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: van lingle
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 09:10 PM

The Black FLOWER (blush) is sounding better all the time, Kim.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: GUEST,Tomo
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 09:39 PM

In my opinion, Cold Mountain was a great book because it focused on the human and cultural side of the Civil War on the home front, in this case rural Appalachia. I liked the description and characters as well: It DID grab me in terms of motivations and details, but maybe I just am a great lover of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge. But my point is that Frasier dealt with the breakdown of a society and social relationships in a fascinating way. Without government or the usual economic framework in place, there was a wide range of reaction and adaptation. From the middle class woman becoming an equal peasant with a black woman, to foraging military bands and deserters with only survival and revenge as rules, to a pagan family camp with its own surreal laws and customs (yes, I admit a bit beyond the usual bounds of belief, but that was the point), and the main character, who has a great talent for killing, but can't face the morality of his actions. This kind of chaos is common in all modern major wars, as can be read in Bruno Levi's description of his journey through Eastern Europe after he was freed from a concentration camp after the end of WWII. It is a time when the worst, best, and the average in humanity can be witnessed, which is a compelling premise for me.

But, I'll have to read The Black Flower, too!

By the way, I was disappointed in the film "Song Catcher" but I thought the (Appalacian) music was great. Is there a soundtrack release?

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 11:06 PM

I will probably see the movie when it comes out. I liked the book, but was annoyed by the lack of quotation marks when the characters spoke. I found it hard to follow because of that. I suppose that can be considered cutting edge, but I find there's good reasons for punctuation.

Subject: RE: Cold Mt. Soundtrack
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:02 AM

See, Phil, I didn't like that either! And it's not that I really have any gripe with the story - I liked the story, just not the telling of it. So maybe the movie won't be such a bad thing. But I'm sure some of you know, that people who are really into history, groan and roll their eyes every time a new history-themed movie comes out. Then we watch said movies, and here's what happens:

That's a military pistol. Civilians couldn't get that pistol until 18xx.

They're not using black powder.

There's a zipper in that dress.

A woman of her age would NOT have gone about with her hair down like that.

That breed of chicken wasn't in that part of the country until [insert year here].

Well, you get the picture... no pun intended.... ;-)