"I am in the midst of a society that is very capitalist, and whose values I completely reject. But I, too, become a capitalist. The problem is that by even dealing with the devil, you become devilish to a certain extent. You need the machine. And once you use it, you are a tainted human being." - Brian De Palma*
Phantom of the Paradise is one of a lesser film in De Palmas career. Its bleak and imperfect in every imaginable ways. But its also explaining the whole point of the first paragraph. Because sometime people need to become something they always hate to archive something they always want. Every Carlito's Way must have The Bonfire of the Vanities. Every Redacted must have Mission Impossible. Its unavoidable.
Lets look at the content, the story of Phantom of the Paradise was also implied to that rule. Although it was inspired by Phantom of the Opera, Faust and The Picture of Dorian Grey, but it got completely different approach. It is the story of one penniless musician whose life shattered by evil music mogul. And by that he became the Phantom, sworn to avenge his nemesis. But it just got worse after he sold his soul to the same devil just to do one more thing he desired, that is to give this dream girl sing his song. You see, there is no hero in this story. People have desire. And they need to do whatever they can to achieve it.
Looking on the different angle, it is also a hilarious music history. Paul Williams (one of the greatest song writers alive and playing evil Mr. Swan in this picture) came up with many different genre songs. We saw an absurdity of glam-rock by having Beef (Gerrit Graham) terrorizing the stage. We saw a spoof version of Beach Boy and countless of 50s three-man bands. What make it interesting is these songs are actually good. It didnt sound like theyre trying to make fun at those genres.
Its such a shame that Phantom of the Paradise tanked at the box-office. Theres also a successor which follow Phantom of the Paradise in exact same step. But its far more famous and became an icon for all rock-opera genre. Rocky Horror Picture Show which came out in 1975 and later became a phenomenal success (not long before this genre completely dead with 1981s Shock Treatment). To me, Phantom of the Paradise will always be a ground breaking picture that paves the way for followers. Its madness, disturbing picture that can really entertain you.
Michiru เรื่องนี้ได้มาแบบบังเอิญมากๆ คือเราจำไม่ได้หรอกว่าหน้าปกเรื่องนี้เป็นไง เราก็ค้นๆอยู่ในกองดีวีดีที่ขาย พอดีเหลือไปเห็นตัวหนังสือ Un flim de Brian de Palma (ตอบต่อที่มารีอองน่ะ อิอิ)
มารีออง เราก็เลยหันปกหลังดีวีดีดู เห็นชื่อ Paul Williams ตัวบะเริ่ม เลยร้องอ๋อ ซื้อมาทันที กลับไปเปิดที่บ้านไม่มีซับอังกิดอีก (เซ็ง) ถ้าใครสนใจไรทให้เอาม่ะ แผ่นละสามร้อย เอ้ยไรทฟรีแต่ต้องมีหนังแลกน่ะ
Me too..I 'd like to be a rock star. If I cloud I sold my soul for rock n' role.. ไม่สบายค่ะ..ตลอดสัปดาหฺที่ผ่านมา เพิ่งทานข้าว เอ๊ย!!บะหมี่เป็ด ได้เมื่อวาน (หลังจากทานแต่อาหารปั่น..)เลยพอมีแรงเข้าblogค่ะ..
I haven't watched it yet, i have only some ideas about "Phantom of the opera". Actually I don't watched movies a lo，but I think i will go to see it later,and give a new comment here.
โดย: hayes IP: 124.120.66.210 20 มกราคม 2551 14:43:54 น.
Cult movies are not my kind anyway if their soundtrack are interesting, I want to try them...
Right now, I'm in Macau. Staying at some shitty motel. But it's very entertaining trip so far. I'll be back to Guangzhou tomorrow and will go back to Thailand in couple of days (or a week) (3 weeks off in China on Chinese New Year!) So, I think I will see you guys pretty soon na.
Just found out Heath Ledger was no longer with us...
I don't wanna know how he passed away. I don't care for a second about the reason for his death. All I care is he will be missed by a lot of people including me. There's a whole life time of his great performance that will no longer to be seen...
That he was near to you so many a year But darkens you distress. Would you he were less worthy and less dear That you might grieve the less?
He was a golden font that freely poured What goldenly endures, And though that font be gone, its bounty stored and treasured, Still is yours.
The past is deathless. Souls are wells too deep To spend their purest gains. All that he gave to you is yours to keep While memory remains. Who never had and lost forlorn are they Far more that you and I Who had and have Judge not the price we pay For love that cannot die.
โดย: Hey Heath, We will miss you...(BDMD) IP: 211.136.200.131 23 มกราคม 2551 22:13:37 น.
"I only do this because I'm having fun. The day I stop having fun, I'll just walk away. I wasn't going to have fun doing a teen movie again.... I don't want to do this for the rest of my life....I don't want to spend the rest of my youth doing this in this industry. There's so much I want to discover."
- Heath Ledger (1979-2008)
โดย: Hey Heath, We will miss you...(BDMD) IP: 211.136.200.131 23 มกราคม 2551 22:17:58 น.
Right now, I'm in Macau. Staying at some shitty motel. But it's very entertaining trip so far. I'll be back to Guangzhou tomorrow and will go back to Thailand in couple of days (or a week) (3 weeks off in China on Chinese New Year!) So, I think I will see you guys pretty soon na.
Reply: Hi man you will come to Bangkok so what do you think according to meeting with us then I will operate with each other.
ชาบุ ชาบุ สนอะปะ
Please show of review photo of Macao that's the city as I like.
เอาภาพจากหนังเทศกาล Sundance เรื่องแรกของ Heath Ledger เมื่อปี 1999 หนแ 19 ปี จากเนื้อเรื่องที่ดัดแปลงจากนิยายของเช็คสเปียร์ เรื่อง" 10 Things I haet about You" มาฝาก...
เอาภาพจากหนังเทศกาล Sundance เรื่องแรกของ Heath Ledger เมื่อปี 1999 หนแ 19 ปี จากเนื้อเรื่องที่ดัดแปลงจากนิยายของเช็คสเปียร์ เรื่อง" 10 Things I haet about You" มาฝาก...
You could have brain tumor by watching this contaminated turd. Nothing in Gentlemen Broncos pays off, it’s incoherent mess, and chock-full of incredibly annoying characters. You will not only loath this movie, but it also makes you want to punch someone who responsible for this abomination in the face.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Imagine if Akira got Live-Action treatment by... say Alfonso Cuarón, you know how awesome it might be? That’s what happened to "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Wes Anderson's auteur perfectly captured the quirkiness and blissful tone of the material. Its stop-motion technique might be a little crude and... somewhat unsophisticated, but that's the charm of it. You’ll feel like pop-up book unveiled before your eyes. This is an exceptional animation of the year.
Up in the Air is a blockbuster movie for people who think blockbuster movies are dumb, as it chock full of brilliantly written dialogue, and acting showcase for three talented actors (especially star-making turn by Anna Kendrick). But in the end, there's little to love, not so much story to chew on (plus disappointing third act), and no real connection to the meaning of human interaction as it intended to be.
BloodyMonday Rating:
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Cliché-ridden plot about a bunch of annoying characters get together in one idiotic circumstance, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is shameless exploitation & biggest insult to 80s teen flicks. It's like memorizing magic trick from internet, hoping to perform like David Copperfield. Neither sense of wonder nor magic flare happens here. Only good thing is, it makes me wanna cleanse my soul with genuine 80s teen movie night marathon.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Meh. The movie serious lack of originality & characters development. Only Robert De Niro comes out fine in this schmaltzy, "Lifetime" movie-of-the-week plot.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Paper Heart (2009)
Twee delight... That's only two words I can think of right now.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Adam (2009)
A perfect companion to Mary & Max (one of the best animation of 2009), Adam is star-crossed love story (pun intended) between Adam, Asperger's Syndrome bearer, and Beth, free spirit woman. The picture wouldn’t be this intimate without stunning performance by Hugh Dancy. On the other hand, the lack of depth on why Beth would love someone like Adam, preventing me from wholeheartedly embraces her choice in the end (which is nice & perfect but requires a leap of faith). Otherwise, this is touching romantic film, which putting its feet firmly on the ground, making the world full of hope and seems nicer place to live.
BloodyMonday Rating:
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Expected to be like “Click” or “Yes Man”, where high-concept plot turned into endless gags, with moral lesson (forcefully) shoving down your throat. But "The Invention of Lying" is thinking man’s film. The whole concept is not seeing how first lying man exploits the ability. But it's about him finding the way not to lie, in order to find genuine happiness. Great stuff.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Give ‘Em Hell Malone (2009)
This is one damn frustrating experience. It’s like watching an infant trying to stand up and walk. They would take a few steps then fall their asses. In fact, kiddie film like “Bugsy Malone” has done better job paying a tribute to film noir than this borefest.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Zombieland (2009)
ถ้าอังกฤษมีหนังซอมบี้ฮาแตกอย่าง Shaun of the Dead แล้ว ทำไมอเมริกาจะมีบ้างไม่ได้... Zombieland คือการผสมผสานระหว่างบรรดาหนังซอมบี้เก่าๆ เข้ากับทัศนคติของคนสร้างที่อาจดูหนังแนวนี้มากเกินความจำเป็น จนสามารถสร้างหนังซอมบี้ที่เข้าใจสิ่งที่ตัวเองเป็น และเล่นสนุกไปกับกฏพื้นฐานของซอมบี้ได้อย่างเต็มที่ ทั้งนี้ทั้งนั้นต้องยกความดีให้สี่นักแสดงนำ โดยเฉพาะ วู้ดดี้ ฮาเรลสัน (เขาเกิดมาเพื่อบทนี้) ที่ช่วยกันสร้างมนต์เสน่ห์ ให้กับการเดินทางในโลกไร้มนุษย์ได้อย่างเต็มที่
หนังมีไอเดียกิ๊บเก๋ ทำออกมาได้สนุกสนานสไตล์ซิตคอมอังกฤษ โดยเฉพาะการนำกฏเหล็กต่างๆจากหนังที่เกี่ยวกับการท่องเวลา (ดูเหมือนว่า Back to the Future จะเป็นแรงบรรดาลใจหลัก) มาปู้ยี้ปู้ยำอย่างเมามัน ถึงแม้ว่าตลอดเวลาการรับชมจะให้ความรู้สึก เหมือนตัวเองกำลังดูซีรี่ย์ทางโทรทัศน์ แต่มันก็คือตอนที่ฮาที่สุดของซีซั่น แถมเอฟเฟ็คที่ใช้ก็มีคุณภาพจนคาดไม่ถึง
BloodyMonday Rating:
Looking for Eric (2009)
มีความรู้สึกว่าหนังเรื่องนี้มองโลกในแง่ดีเกินบรรยากาศโดยรวม จริงอยู่ว่าทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างที่ลงเอยด้วยดีในตอนสุดท้ายนั้น สามารถสร้างความสุขและรอยยิ้มให้กับคนดู แต่จากสถานการณ์ในเรื่องและบริบทที่เกิดขึ้นก่อนหน้านี้ มันยากที่จะทำใจเชื่อในสิ่งที่เห็น โดยเฉพาะพล็อตรองเกี่ยวกับปืน ซึ่งถ้าถูกตัดออกไปและหนังยังดำเนินเรื่องอย่างที่เป็นอยู่ Looking for Eric ก็น่าจะเป็นหนังฟีลกู้ดที่อบอุ่นที่สุดเรื่องหนึ่งของปีเลยทีเดียว
..I 'd like to be a rock star.
..ตลอดสัปดาหฺที่ผ่านมา
ได้เมื่อวาน
I haven't watched it yet, i have only some ideas about "Phantom of the opera".
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"Goodbye Eddie, goodbye"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by "The Juicy Fruits", lead vocal Archie Hahn
"Faust"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by William Finley (as Bill Finley)
"Upholstery"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by "The Beach Bums", lead vocal Jeffrey Comanor
"Special to me"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Jessica Harper
"Phantom's theme (Beauty and Beast)"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Paul Williams
"Somebody super like you (Beef construction song)"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by The Undead, Leader vocal Peter Elbling
"Life at last"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Ray Kennedy
"Old souls"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Jessica Harper
"Faust"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Paul Williams
"The hell of it"
Written by Paul Williams
Performed by Paul Williams