1

A Fistful of Dollars / YOJIMBO VS. FFOD

« on: April 01, 2003, 05:58:06 PM »

Fellow Brethern,

First, lets be honest, Leone totally copied YOJIMBO.

But second, Kurosawa did his own copying from an American story (according to Something to do with death).

Third and most importantly, Leone's FFOD is by far superior...

Case in point:
1. Leone's introduction of Marisol from the beginning and Clint's building relationship with her is by far more powerful that Kurosawa's - It also produces mystery and tension throughout the first act and a good part of the second act - lastly, Ramon's desire to have Marisol returned is more strongly established than the Kurosawa's version, created a more intense explosion for the finally.

2. The idea that these Lord's would allow the Yojimbo to go back and forth and play them such fools is silly and maybe that's funny to the Japanese but I found it tiresome. Leone's who clock and dagger of the anti-hero made it so much better because we all know the dude is going to pay for it.

3. Leone's pacing is right on and in YOJIMBO, I found the pacing boring... and this is not to say Leone has a face paced film because he doesn't.

Man, I love Leone... I wish he could have made a few more films.

2

General Discussion / WaR iS HeLL BuT WHaT oPTioN WaS THeRe?

« on: March 25, 2003, 01:56:51 PM »

Hola Amigos,

I know this is a tender subject for many but I was watching GBU this weekend and reflected on it's message. Many critics miss read Leone's intension, which I think was to say war is hell but sometimes it is necessary. I think it also deals with three Characters who look at the war in different ways and as a result deal with varying experiences. I have also been watching the tv like all of you have been doing. These faux hippies really think there hot stuff but I wonder if their band-Wagoner’s or just wanna-be intellectuals that want to go back to the days of protest during the V.N. War. I listened to their arguments and most of them seem rather silly, such as "What have the Iraqi People done to you?" Well the war is not on the Iraqi People but their leader who doesn't give a rat's (you know what) about them.
The Civil War (GBU) was awful but what choice did Lincoln have? Many Northerns or France (Frogs) or England could have said, "What did the Plantation Owners ever do to you?" Again the question doesn't really deal with the issue now does it.
I pray Bush and his associates have the proper information and they are using it properly. I think they are and all these faux hippies don't really know what they know. I think it is fine if they protest but please, do a bit of research and protest for the right reasons, cuz as a wise man once said, "War is ugly but being coward is even uglier."

DID I OPEN A CAN OF WORMS?

3

Off-Topic Discussion / Hola Compadres

« on: March 04, 2003, 08:21:56 PM »

Dear Amigos,

I am back after two months of being away.  I have not had email access and I have really missed you guys. I know this has nothing to do with SW's but I just wanted to say HOLA!

(I have a lot to catch up on. by the way, CAL, JUPA & CIGARJOE I hope all is well)

Jouissance

4

Once Upon A Time In The West / leone breaks a classic western rule...

« on: December 23, 2002, 02:04:15 PM »

i watched OUTW this weekend. i noticed something i've never seen (at least not that i recall). during the train station/gunfight, Harmonica kills the three gunfighter but not before one of them hits him. apparently this is more than a flesh wound because harmonica falls to the ground and passes out.
again, leone plays, bends and in this case, breaks, a paramount genre's 'rule'-the good guy is IMMORTAL. right from the beginning, the hero (or anti-hero) falls and is made mortal. it is very refreshing and gives life to what some critics have said is a dead genre. just wanted to know if you guys thought.

5

Trivia Games / when were they invented?

« on: December 18, 2002, 03:22:22 PM »

the following items are significant items used in leone films. see if you can put them in the order of when they were invented...

MACHINE GUN (AFOD)
TELEGRAPH (FAFDM; OUATITW)
GATLIN GUN (GBU)
DYNAMITE (AFOD; GBU)

hint: here the following years the aforementioned items were invented (not in order of course).

1854 (official US patent)
1861
1862
1866

for extra credit: who invented each item.

hint: one of them should have been given the first NOBLE PRIZE...

6

General Discussion / mr. cusser brings up an interesting point....

« on: December 13, 2002, 02:09:37 PM »

Magnificent Seven has a "magnificent" ensemble of actors. Mr. Coburn is just the last in many from that cast have gone to that open range in the sky. Mr. McQueen and Brynner were the first to go...

So here is the question: From the ensemble, who is still among the living?

7

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly / THE PONCHO...

« on: December 12, 2002, 02:42:20 PM »

Clint wears the poncho in all three films (AFOD, FAFDM & GBU). So here is the question......

In GBU, Clint takes the poncho after he gives the soldier a hit of his cig. For the rest of the film (although short) he wears it.

To me they seem to be the same man and as elsewhere on the board has indicated, he really doesn't have a name other than titles, nicknames, etc. So would this indicate that Leone was saying the GBU is the first of the series?

I would love any thoughts on this point.

8

General Discussion / I have heard rumors...

« on: December 10, 2002, 07:32:09 PM »

I work for a small production company on the WB. I continue to hear rumors of attempts to ressurrect, if you will, the SW genre. I know Mal Paso is on the lot (Eastwood's production company) and I'm trying to see if he's people have anything to do with it.

Part of the rumor is that if this were to happen it, there would be an attempt to shoot the film in Europe with a foreign crew as well as Leone's son's blessing...

I was wondering if any of you have heard anything.  

9

A Fistful of Dollars / Man on Ass significance

« on: December 05, 2002, 02:48:31 PM »

first and formost... this sight is exceptional and it looks great! thank you!

my question is this: as the man with no name rides into town, a man with sombrero rides a ass out of town. as the man with no name looks back at him, he sees a note tagged onto his back which says something to the effect, "adios..."

everytime i watch this, i try to figure out what's going on. is the guy blind, deaf, mute and that is how he has to communicate? has be been run out of town (doesn't seem the rojos style, they would have shot him)? or is it just some weird leone thing, something from his childhood he just wanted to put in there?

i would love to know if anyone knows or has their theories. either way i would be greatful!