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Subject: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: kendall Date: 27 May 03 - 08:23 AM On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate A Mighty Wind? I give it a 4. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: PoppaGator Date: 27 May 03 - 09:43 AM 8.5 -- slightly less delightful than Spina; Tap & Guffman. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Steve Latimer Date: 27 May 03 - 09:43 AM I'd go 7.5. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Ron Olesko Date: 27 May 03 - 09:47 AM 8 |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Peg Date: 27 May 03 - 10:27 AM 8.5; I thought it was very good; but no Spinal Tap, which is a 10. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Peter T. Date: 27 May 03 - 10:30 AM 3.yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Padre Date: 27 May 03 - 10:33 AM 6.28318 |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 27 May 03 - 10:33 AM I'll go with 7.5. Definitely worth seeing. A nice evening's entertainment. Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Charley Noble Date: 27 May 03 - 12:45 PM For the movie I would have liked to have seen, I'd give it a 4. For the movie they presented, I'd give it an 8 or 9. And I'd bet more people will enjoy their movie than the one I would have liked to have seen. I'm easy. With regard to Songcatcher, that deserves a 2. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Steve Latimer Date: 27 May 03 - 02:38 PM Charley, That's a pretty high mark for Songcatcher. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Frankham Date: 27 May 03 - 02:52 PM Kendall, I'd rate it high. 8 or 9. I remember all those groups in California and I thought they were funny then when they were taking themselves pretty seriously. I think the spirit of the Randy Sparks...Up With People....Kingston Trio days was caught very well in the Mighty Wind. In those days, though, there wasn't any antacid you could take for it.:) Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Bill D Date: 27 May 03 - 02:53 PM an 8+ for what they did (bearing in mind I was in my 20s when all that was happening, but largely ignored the POP-FOLK scene...)....I'd like to have seen it done as a mini-series, so they could DO all the songs and flesh out the characters more and give me more to feel superior to...*grin* |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Cornflake Date: 27 May 03 - 03:22 PM 7.2 Saw it yesterday, laughed and had a good time. It's good cinematic snack food. I'm already having trouble remembering much of anything about it, though. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Burke Date: 27 May 03 - 06:52 PM 8 I saw it on Saturday. After all the previews here, I knew pretty much what to expect (or not). I was laughing out loud. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: SINSULL Date: 27 May 03 - 08:14 PM 5.5 Funny but not hysterical. The best for me was the lyrics: "My father is the North Wind and my mother the sun but i never wandered..." (or some such nonsense). It did catch the flavor of the 60s but why ignore Dylan, Baez, Judy Collins, PP&M or even Woody Guthrie, Pete seeger, the weavers. It could have been much better and a bit nastier. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Melani Date: 27 May 03 - 09:06 PM 8 at least. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Paul G. Date: 27 May 03 - 09:09 PM Three. Didn't much like it. Great opportunity left wanting. Slow, predictable...blah. pg |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Little Hawk Date: 27 May 03 - 09:18 PM I'll give it a 7.5. The reason that Dylan, Baez, Collins, and all those types were ignored was because it wasn't about the kind of music they did. Not even vaguely. The kind of music it was about was already obsolete by 1962, killed deader than last week's pizza by Dylan and his contemporaries...thank God! Mitch and Mikki have been compared to Ian & Sylvia, but it's not a very apt comparison. They (Ian & Sylvia) were among those contemporaries of Dylan's I mentioned above, and they did a lot of very good material. It was assisted by the fact that they actually (gasp!) rehearsed!!! This was relatively rare amongst their peers at the time, apparently. There was a pair from South Africa, called Marais & Miranda, in the earlier folk period but they weren't much like Mitch and Mikki either. I'd say that Mitch and Mikki are a thing unto themselves, although Mikki is admittedly similar in appearance to Sylvia (and Catherine O'Hara plays the part magnificently). - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: toadfrog Date: 27 May 03 - 09:49 PM I agree with Charlie a 9 for what it was, a 2 for what I'd like to see . Mighty Wind was truly outstanding as a slick teenage gross-out movie, but was musically without interest. Great acting, great one-liners, except that some of the running gags really got run into the ground. The music was, as one of the characters said, suitable for a toothpaste ad. Songcatcher was for sure at the other extreme. Hopelessly pretentious, but with some excellent singing. Unlike Charlie, I'd give it maybe a 5. Given a free ticket, I'd go see Songcatcher again, just for the music and scenery. If I'd known in advance what "Mighty Wind" was all about I would not have gone. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Little Hawk Date: 27 May 03 - 09:53 PM Oh...for what I'd like to see...then I'd give it a 3. What I'd like to see is a superbly done film about Dylan, Baez, the Farinas, and that whole general scene at the time...but I know I never will. I do not expect miracles from the film industry. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Charley Noble Date: 27 May 03 - 10:48 PM Toadfrog- I did enjoy the music on Songcatcher; it deserves a high mark. The rest of the movie..."moved along with the speed of the digestive track with similar results," as one critic commented in a review of THE INVASION OF THE MOLE PEOPLE. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Catherine McArdle Date: 10 Jun 03 - 09:24 AM 8 - I saw the film whilst on holiday a couple of weeks ago. Went out and bought the soundtrack as well. My English friends will have to wait ... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Jaze Date: 10 Jun 03 - 07:22 PM Well, Little Hawk, you got a book--"Positively 4th Street"-That's at least a step in the right direction. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: van lingle Date: 10 Jun 03 - 08:50 PM About a 6 for a Guest (and Levy?) film and about a 9 compared to everything else that's out there. Most amusing to me was Guest's quavering tenor which mimicked a vocal style that was much used at the time. vl |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST Date: 10 Jun 03 - 10:05 PM I saw the preview and thought it was going to be hysterical-- an Event!. The movie, though, was not that funny. Still, I liked it. Maybe a 6. Best part for me was the Yiddish. --Linda Goodman |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: maire-aine Date: 10 Jun 03 - 11:11 PM I kind of liked it, but it wasn't as "sharp" as I had hoped it would be. BEST IN SHOW gave you a real look inside the dog-show scene, warts and all. I had hoped for that, but it wasn't there. They were very kind to the old folkies-- kind of a gentle humor. I'd give it a 6.5, but it had a good beat. I really thought the music, written for the movie, captured the style perfectly. M. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: katlaughing Date: 10 Jun 03 - 11:52 PM We missed it when it came to town. Waiting for the video, now. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:13 AM Ain't seen it. Won't see it.
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 11 Jun 03 - 01:26 AM 8.5. Loved it. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Little Hawk Date: 11 Jun 03 - 02:10 AM You're not going to get to see my rare candid photos of Harry Lee Wigley either, gargoyle. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: black walnut Date: 11 Jun 03 - 07:39 AM 8 while I was watching it. 2 for how little it lingered in my memory. ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Mudlark Date: 11 Jun 03 - 11:53 AM A disappointed 4, I guess. Maybe I'm just getting a little tired of the Guest schtick. Willard is so insane looking just seeing him is good for a laugh...but only one. I agree about the tenor...the only parody that was subtle enough to be truly funny. (I'd rate Guest's interview on the Charlie Rose show a solid 8, however) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Strick Date: 11 Jun 03 - 05:02 PM 6 A lot of independent laughs, but some slow points and too much of Fred Willard. The worst part was the weak ending. Probably should have come up with an ending focused on Mitch and Mikki, the real stars of the movie. No, definitely not a happy ending, but anything better than what the came up with as the capper. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Little Hawk Date: 11 Jun 03 - 06:24 PM Yeah, Mitch and Mikki were the centerpiece of the show, no doubt about it. Mikki was portrayed very effectively, but I thought Mitch was just a little bit too out of touch. That kind of folk music is very easy to make fun of. I've made fun of it myself enough times to know. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Just Amy Date: 11 Jun 03 - 07:05 PM 8.5 because my friend Colleen was an extra in it. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo Date: 11 Jun 03 - 09:10 PM Just passed through Denver last week and it was pledge time for PBS there. They were doing the "reunion" special with the KT, Randy Sparts, etc. (and also Roger McGuinn and Barry McGuire ... ugh), and even had that kitchy, sappy "Generic Folk Song" song. After seeing the _real_ "reunion" (in the eyes of PBS, and of all their staff, etc. claiming to remember the "folk days", or at least having supposedly learned about it later and gotten "into it" late), I have to say that Guest is perfectly justified in skewering this crowd. And to be honest, there wasn't much difference at all between the PBS show and AMW. Maybe PBS needs to get out more often and see some movies. . . . So don't be too hard on Guest: It's hard to parody something that's already a damn good self-parody albeit unintentional. Cheers, -- Arne Langsetmo |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,slickerbill Date: 12 Jun 03 - 11:52 AM an 8. Not as good as the other Guest flicks, but then, I find it takes time for these movies to be appreciated. I never laughed as hard at "Tap" until the last time I saw it. They all get funnier with time and repeated viewing. That's the genius of them I think. Much like Python or Fawlty Towers (which by the way is on DVD and is terrific). sb |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Amergin Date: 12 Jun 03 - 11:59 AM That's true...these films never reach blockbuster status....cause the comedy is not adolescent...and there is nothing blowing up.... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Amergin Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:20 PM oh i forgot to add that it seems the movies do very well on video and dvd....they gain a sort of cult status....which i think is better than making a quick buck. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Bill Hahn//\\ Date: 12 Jun 03 - 06:26 PM As long as we are rating---my take on this is 2. It had a few laughs and they had nothing whatsoever ( in my opinion) to do with Folk Music. More like laughs in a second rate comedy that could have used any vehicle. Too bad, since I really was anticipating a clever satire. Probably should hasve gone straight to video---for the writer who is waiting for video. Now, Songcatcher. That, in my book, rates an 8. A bit preachy but the music and the people in it were stellar. Bill Hahn |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Art Thieme Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:04 PM For what it was and for what it covered, I give it an 8-----maybe a 9. Now, which REAL PEOPLE on the revival scenes "fit" into the personnas as depicted in this grand little film? Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: harpgirl Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:08 PM ...a complete wast of $7.50. My son thought it was hilarious! Go figure! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Clinton Hammond Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:24 PM I enjoyed A Mighty Wind almost as much as I enjoyed Spinal Tap... And I enjoyed BOTH of those a HELL of a lot more than the yawn fest that was "Best In Show"... As far as the Songcather rant-fest that some people wanna turn this thread into, well, I liked it too... about as much as A MIghty Wind and Spinal Tap... but for different reasons... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Ron Olesko Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:37 PM After watching it again on DVD, I now give it a 10! It was a brilliant parody of commercial folk music and PBS programming. The humor may have been too subtle for some, but if you really pay attention to the song lyrics you will be amazed. There is a song on the DVD called "Corn Wine" that had me in stiches. The cast is superb in their roles - capturing the sterotypes perfectly. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Jack the Sailor Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:40 PM Spinal Tap 7.0 Wind 8.0 Oh Brother 9.0 Songcatcher 7.5 |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Jack the Sailor Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:40 PM Best in show 3.0 |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Ron Olesko Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:44 PM Lawrence of Arabia: 11 Bound For Glory: 5 Lead Belly: 3 Porkys 2: 1 Care Bear Movie: Did not see it |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: fretless Date: 24 Sep 03 - 06:03 PM Art, from the other MW thread: The frau and I assumed the New Main Street Singers = the New Christy Minstrels (an obvious choice); the Folksmen = the Limelighters (although there were other candidates); and Mitch and Mickey = Ian and Sylvia (boy/girl group plus the Canadian connection). |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Midchuck Date: 28 Sep 03 - 09:41 AM I found it enjoyable but not great. I had two complaints, one very nitpicking: I'm almost sure that one of the "Folksmen" was playing a Collings OM in one of the black-and-white "1965" clips. A bit of temporal displacement there. I don't know when Collings got going, but it was no earlier than the late 80s or early 90s. And if Mitch and Mickie were supposed to have been Ian and Sylvia, Guest had better run and hide somewhere. When Ian Tyson sees it, he's like to look him up and take him out back and punch him senseless. Ian turned 70 two days ago, but his ability to do just that is not in doubt. The Mitch character is almost the perfect antithesis of Ian. This is a guy who, in the lull between his two musical careers, was playing in local bars in Alberta, and would come right down off the stage to take on hecklers when he thought it appropriate. And these hecklers were working cowboys, for Chrissakes. You can get beaten up in any working-class bar in rural Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho, anytime you want, just by saying anything derogatory about Ian Tyson out loud. Maybe Guest should try it. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,JTS Date: 30 Sep 03 - 12:27 PM Mitch & Mickie = Simon and Garfunkel (actually I was thinking Sonny and Cher combined ith Ian and Sylvia) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Ron Olesko Date: 30 Sep 03 - 05:34 PM This is starting to look like comic book geeks who pick apart movie adaptions of their favorite characters! Pickups, guitars... same as complaining that the X-Men didn't wear spandex!!!! Seriously, listen to the director's track on the DVD for some good insight. Most of the characters were not that specific in terms of who they represented. Guest and Levy took some sterotypes and developed extensive histories surrounding them. There were numerous duos that could have been Mitch & Mickey, but they weren't! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Art Thieme Date: 30 Sep 03 - 10:09 PM Ron, I ain't serious. I do know that folks in the film aren't specifically cloned from any one (or two) actual people. I just personally knew guys and gals on the scenes all over that fit aspects of the stereotypes and amalgamations as depicted in this film. No big ting, mon. ;-) **smile** The movie was fun. And extrapolating snd finding parallels in real life is fun too. Art |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Ely Date: 30 Sep 03 - 11:11 PM I liked it. I liked _Best in Show_ better (maybe it was funnier because I work with overprotective pet owners all day) but I was impressed with the music. I'm not even that big a fan of that era of pop/folk stuff but I thought that whoever did the music for the movie did a terrific job of capturing the "sounds". I thought _Songcatcher_ was a yawn; predictable, melodramatic, and patronizing, although I did like a lot of the music. I liked "O Brother", too--I actually liked the movie better that the soundtrack--although not as well as some other Coen Brothers stuff. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,shadygrove Date: 01 Oct 03 - 02:53 AM Hi all, first time posting, (though I've lurked here for a long time) so please be gentle with me! I give it about a 7. I had heard a lot about the movie and maybe I had anticipated that it would be funnier; I enjoyed the earlier Guest movies: Spinal Tap, Guffman, Best in Show. I do remember the era and the groups they are parodying, although I was young at the time, I remember the Limeliters, the Highwaymen, the Kingston Trio, and as for the 'neuftet' the New Main Street Singers, obviously they reminded me of the New Christy Minstrels, and weren't the Serendipity Singers similar too? Guest's tenor voice reminded me of who? Glenn Yarborough? It was a very familiar vocal style that Guest did effectively. The humor was pretty subtle, but I thought some of the songs were surprisingly catchy, (like 'Never Did No Wanderin') and very true to the folk-pop genre. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: catspaw49 Date: 01 Oct 03 - 05:03 AM I am an absolute Guest junkie as you all know and I still feel this one was perhaps on par with Guffman when I was hoping it to be even better as they have the style and method down to an art. Like others here, I think BIS is still the best. Great as Spinal Tap is, it is not nearly as well done as BIS. Guffman provides a wonderful slice of life just slightly askew. So I put this one last amongst the Guest/Levy films, but I still love them all. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Jeri Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:58 AM I'd give it perhaps an 8, simply because there has to be room up at the top just in case something completely blows me away. Perhaps it would have been funnier if any number of possibilities I can think of were developed, but if I'd made the whole movie, it would have maybe gotten close to a 1. I wasn't there, and what's funny to me isn't necessarily funny to anyone else. Guest understands what's funny to the most people - even those who weren't in the 'scene' at the time. A major element in the skill of movie making is self control - what gets left or edited out. Maybe it would be fun to have a 'Mighty Wind: Write Your Own Scenes' thread. Ron, I don't think spandex would have worked for me. It wouldn't have been authentic, unless they were doing 1980s folk-rock groups, and I can't really imagine Eugene Levy in tights. Sorry. Maybe Guest should do a movie about a sci-fi convention. In any case 'geeks who pick apart' whatever are having fun! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Art Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:18 AM Art & Jeri - I guess you didn't pick up my tone - I wasn't taking this seriously either! I am actually one of those comic book geeks! I actually liked the X-men costumes. I do worry about those who use these "items" as a bone of contention and a reason NOT to like something. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: GUEST,Ron Olesko Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:29 AM Okay, unless I am going crazy... I swear I typed "Ron Olesko" in the above note, not "Art". |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Jeri Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:38 AM Ron, I didn't actually think you were taking it seriously. It's a phenomenon that occurs when geeks of any sort get together to discuss something that falls within their geekdom. There ought to be a name for it. Geekritique or something... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Art Thieme Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:02 PM The above post wassn't from me. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Ron Olesko Date: 01 Oct 03 - 11:13 PM Art, are you referring to the post that I mentioned above? I already explained that. Obviously my error - I typed your name in the wrong box! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Fortunato Date: 02 Oct 03 - 09:21 AM Shrug. A few good lines. The most impressive thing is they improvised it. (How many takes they don't tell us, but still...), and it held together, sort of. It was disappointing, but what do I expect from Hollywood, eh? |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: mike the knife Date: 02 Oct 03 - 04:30 PM Enjoyed it very much- 7 I'd say. The Mitch/Levy character was a bit too overblown IMHO. Dragged in certain parts. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Art Thieme Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:09 PM Ron, I missed that. No problema. Thanks. Art |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind Poll From: Deda Date: 04 Oct 03 - 12:02 AM 8.5, I enjoyed it a lot. I loved Best in Show even more, thought it was hilarious. Missed Spinal Tap, though. |
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