tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post8474701216459664627..comments2023-08-20T06:16:15.362-05:00Comments on Getafilm: Underrated MOTM: The Siege (1998)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-17781364911381269312008-10-01T14:29:00.000-05:002008-10-01T14:29:00.000-05:00Thanks for the pass on this one, Sam, and for clar...Thanks for the pass on this one, Sam, and for clarifying not only my take on it but my purpose for this site as well!<BR/><BR/>I'm not out to champion bad movies, only to encourage a more intentionally introspective view of all movies. Like the recent Lakeview Terrace, The Siege is a film best experienced through a personal or cultural lens more so than a cinematically critical one.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again - I appreciate your thoughts as always.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-27297478521458516292008-10-01T14:09:00.000-05:002008-10-01T14:09:00.000-05:00Dan, I admit I wasn't a fan of this as a FILM, but...Dan, I admit I wasn't a fan of this as a FILM, but your entire essay here doesn't attempt to defend it as such, but rather to promote its essence, its sociopolitical importance. As such your piece is imune from aesthetic disclaimer. The purp;ose of your wonderful site is in large measure to draw attention to films that may evince far more than meets the eye, and that such properties shouldn't always be judged by techical elements. I thought the film had too many "explosions" an dthe ending was unsatisfactory, but these concern pale if the film somehow portends the unraveling of events, in this sense not events that benefit humanity.<BR/><BR/>To argue for a film's "importance" as you have here overides any intrinsic artistic concerns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-13969009308368812892008-10-01T10:40:00.000-05:002008-10-01T10:40:00.000-05:00I think you may be one year off with those Joe (th...I think you may be one year off with those Joe (they were all fall of '99), but I can't argue your point as Fight Club and Magnolia are two of my favorite movies. Three Kings is pretty underrated, too, for that matter. Either way, as I said I can't defend the quality of The Siege very far - just the importance of the issues in it.<BR/><BR/>Denzel is definitely not an actor with a lot of range, but when he challenges himself (Malcolm X, The Hurricane) I think he proves his chops. But for the most part you're right, it's either cop (I didn't realize it but he's a cop or soldier in like 10 movies) or inspirational coach guy.<BR/><BR/>That was the first time I'd seen the trailer in like a decade, Fletch, and it was pretty shocking. I recommend you see it given your shared annoyance/interest with security measures.<BR/><BR/>It's more than meets the eye, Scott, and a solid performance by Denzel, even if it's not his most memorable.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-22135282190965008812008-10-01T02:11:00.000-05:002008-10-01T02:11:00.000-05:00Hmmm...I'm gonna have to check out The Siege. I'v...Hmmm...I'm gonna have to check out The Siege. I've seen it on renal shelves and on TV but never stuck around long enough to even get a basic plot outline.<BR/><BR/>I do love Denzel though.elgringohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16856962746924193109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-23517853681238347212008-10-01T01:15:00.000-05:002008-10-01T01:15:00.000-05:00Ok, you got me with the trailer. To be more accur...Ok, you got me with the trailer. To be more accurate, Denzel's speech about the "kids in stadiums" and all that really did it. I'm at the forefront of the people that think that all the crap we have to go through at our airports (which, admittedly, isn't much in the grand scheme of things) is so much of a charade and altogether pointless. But that's another rant for another day, I suppose.Fletchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-77828529646785516382008-10-01T00:04:00.000-05:002008-10-01T00:04:00.000-05:00Denzel Washington seems to play the same character...Denzel Washington seems to play the same character in every movie. <EM>The Siege</EM> felt like a sequel to <EM>Crimson Tide</EM> to me. Way too conventional, way too preachy, not nearly gritty or disturbing enough. <BR/><BR/>Denzel is only part of the problem. Edward Zwick was even then too over the hill for this material. I remember it being released right around the time of <EM>Fight Club</EM>, <EM>Three Kings</EM> and <EM>Magnolia</EM> and thinking how lame it was in comparison.<BR/><BR/>So, I guess I didn't like it. <BR/><BR/>I will say something nice though: I wish Annette Bening was in every movie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-76472492268657601512008-09-30T16:13:00.000-05:002008-09-30T16:13:00.000-05:00Hehe, yeah, did I hit you over the head with its r...Hehe, yeah, did I hit you over the head with its relation to 9/11 enough times? Hearing the lines in that trailer makes my stomach turn. I don't know anything about this guy Wright, but wow.<BR/><BR/>Just an addendum here: I probably should have included some tidbits about the controversy surrounding this movie when it was released. The Arab-American community was highly offended and organized a series of protests that were thought to damage the PR/marketing/promotional campaign for the movie. Maybe it worked.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435253058176416288.post-5813813007916688902008-09-30T15:38:00.000-05:002008-09-30T15:38:00.000-05:00Interesting ... "The Seige" was on TV recently and...Interesting ... "The Seige" was on <BR/>TV recently and though I didn't watch it, I did think in passing how similar the scenario was to 9-11. Thanks for driving the point home. Perhaps Wright knew something back then ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com