edimdb-1 Reviews

Spartacus (1960)

great commentary on DVD

[9/10 · 7 September 2005]

I think the movie is quite good; what I want to add to the comments already made is just this:

The commentary (on the DVD) by screenplay writer Dalton Trumbo is great. Kirk Douglas said it was the greatest analysis of film-making ever. He explains the purpose of every scene, very openly and honestly critiquing the changes the actors made, for (in his estimation) better or worse.

There is another track of commentary by the actors. The actors had an unusual degree of latitude in re-writing their lines and forming their characters.

For All Mankind (1989)

Great topic, annoying style

[5/10 · 7 September 2005]

I followed the Apollo program closely and have seen much footage. I prefer a straightforward presentation of material, not this highly "augmented" stuff. I find the music and the sound effects added to the film annoying. Especially bad is the incoherence created by mixing film from different flights, and even using the audio from one while showing the video from another. For example, use of the spacewalk from earth-orbital flight Apollo 9 gives the impression it was done on the way to the moon, and the "flight director says 'get back in'" they add to the soundtrack is from Gemeni 4! The flights were dramatic enough, distortion to "improve" them isn't necessary! The extra material on the DVD is interesting, including commentary by Alan Bean on his paintings. He comments on many details about the experience you don't normally hear, like his suit's ankle joints were more comfortable than the knee joints.