A few weeks ago someone on TL (forget who) suggested I watch it since I like bowling...
Okay wtf. This movie is way too ridiculous. I can't seem to appreciate it even though I know there are many people who do. It sorta reminded me of half-baked... and I don't like movies with strange content and interactions, so you can imagine how much I liked that movie.
I admit there were about half a dozen times I laughed at the comedic value of some incident that occurred in the movie, but for the remainder of the time I was wondering why I was watching it. I think I was continuing to watch because I was hoping that something meaningful would eventually happen in the movie that would justify me having watched the first half.
Carnac seemed to agree with me, at least to some extent... and I'm sure there are others who agree with me despite the large following for the movie...
Poll: Big Lebowski (Vote): Didn't like (Vote): Soso (Vote): Loved
I hated it with a passion the first time I watched it. Then about a year later I watched it again. I couldn't stop laughing. Its a masterpeice that can't be judged from the first viewing.
On May 01 2008 11:43 {88}iNcontroL wrote: one of my favorite all time movies.. how the hell did you go so long without seeing it?
There is no divine force compelling me to see the dozens of 'must see' movies I haven't seen yet. I only saw it because it was specifically suggested to me recently and it was one of the first hits on hulu.
On May 01 2008 11:26 cava wrote: I hated it with a passion the first time I watched it. Then about a year later I watched it again. I couldn't stop laughing. Its a masterpeice that can't be judged from the first viewing.
On May 01 2008 11:26 cava wrote: I hated it with a passion the first time I watched it. Then about a year later I watched it again. I couldn't stop laughing. Its a masterpeice that can't be judged from the first viewing.
Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos! Donny: What's Shabbos? Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos! The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos. The Dude: Oh fuck it.
Nothing special. (for me) Mildly boring, too superficial, shit for story line. Not something I would recommend to anyone. On the other hand there is so much worse out there you can't be too critical.. I guess if I had been younger when I watched it, stoned and in company I might have found it hilarious.
On May 01 2008 12:07 Mindcrime wrote: Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos! Donny: What's Shabbos? Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos! The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos. The Dude: Oh fuck it.
gold
I find the concept of not doing simple things like driving and turning on the oven on Saturday to be pretty stupid, so I think I came at that segment from the wrong angle.
It's a very playful movie, and all the depth and creativity are in how it is put together. On one level it is completely shallow, but on other levels it is really well done and thought out. One thing to watch for is how they play with words. Notice that someone will say something in the movie, and then someone else will say the same thing later on, copying what was originally said. The movie opens with George Bush saying "this aggression against Kuwait will not stand." Then The Dude gets his carpet stolen and he is talking to Walter "This aggression will not stand, man!"
Or consider how he is listening to "looking out my back door" as he is driving his beat up car looking out his rearview mirror.
It's lots of little silly things like that that help make it a great movie in my eyes.
It is also quite post-modern in many ways. It is very surfacey, and all the depth is in the play of surfaces. It merges pop-art and avant-garde high art throughout the movie in various ways. Julianne Moore's art and the land lord's dancing scene are the obvious examples, but also consider the loving and artsy way that bowling is always portrayed in the movie, and the artsy way the naked woman is portrayed as she is being bounced up and down. The way that words and phrases are emphasized and repeated strikes me as po-mo. It is interesting too to consider that the film itself is somewhat nihilistic in that there really is no point, and it makes fun of itself in some way by including the nihilists in the film.
In short, I think the playful dialogue and the really sweet artsy scenes help make this film a huge hit for me.
Also, Micronesia, the ridiculousness you note in the movie is something I really love about it. There are so many linear, formulaic movies out there. I like that this one has no real formula to it, and no real point. I'm not saying the idea of a kind of "go-nowhere" originates with this movie, but I think it is a great example of how such a thing can come off so well.
Also, somehow movies like this are infinitely watchable for me. I can watch The Big Lebowski over and over, in 5 minute bits, or in its entirety, and it really doesn't get old for me. Most movies (not all) do.
I think this movie is really stupidly intelligent, or intelligently stupid, and I love that. Very entertaining for me!
The Big Lebowski: What makes a man, Mr. Lebowski? The Dude: Dude. The Big Lebowski: Huh? The Dude: Uhh... I don't know sir. The Big Lebowski: Is it being prepared to do the right thing, whatever the cost? Isn't that what makes a man? The Dude: Hmmm... Sure, that and a pair of testicles.
It's a nice little philosophical/sociological inquiry on gender.
God, if you don't like that movie, you have no personality. I can see a girl not liking that movie, but shit, if you're a dude and you don't like it... I have no idea what your fucking problem is. Seriously. The movie is brilliant.
Fuck. Go watch LotR again I guess or something. Fucking nerds.
On May 01 2008 13:27 A3iL3r0n wrote: God, if you don't like that movie, you have no personality. I can see a girl not liking that movie, but shit, if you're a dude and you don't like it... I have no idea what your fucking problem is. Seriously. The movie is brilliant.
Fuck. Go watch LotR again I guess or something. Fucking nerds.
Yeah, you fucking nerds. Get the fuck off Team Liquid.net, the home of the TeamLiquid Star League and #1 source for Korean professional e-sports coverage. Why don't you dweeby four eyes go visit www.discoverychannel.com instead of stinking up this place.
On May 01 2008 12:07 Physician wrote: Nothing special. (for me) Mildly boring, too superficial, shit for story line. Not something I would recommend to anyone. On the other hand there is so much worse out there you can't be too critical.. I guess if I had been younger when I watched it, stoned and in company I might have found it hilarious.
Wow. Guess you're a retard then. Everything you just described the movie as being is diametrically opposite to what it actually is. Completely original composition although there are some borrowed things in it as all art has, deep in the sense that they are doing tons of little genius things, the story line is brilliant. Go read some more completely straight-forward best-seller bullshit idiot. Or no wait, read a book that makes you feel smart because it is a book that smart people read.
Sorry, but you are so absolutely completely wrong about this and to casually dismiss a piece of great art with some superficial analysis is insulting. In general, I think it would be pretty safe to say you don't know shit about movies, and have no sort of artistic sensitivity, learned or innate, with which to appreciate the movie. Or at the very least, accurately identify and express why you did not like it. What I am driving at -- the thing that galls me about your post is that it has a sort of pseudo-authoritative air to it, like you actually know something about, or have an appreciation for, film or fiction in general, which you obviously do not possess.
I think it says a lot that every rude person (albeit there aren't many) in this article liked it.... and everyone that didn't like it was pretty polite.
Name some movies you did like, so we can tell if your overall taste in movies is just really shit, or whether you just slipped on this one. Seriously, this is maybe my alltime favourite movie, it rocks fucking balls. And I watch a lot of movies.
On May 01 2008 20:53 ManBearPig wrote: Name some movies you did like, so we can tell if your overall taste in movies is just really shit, or whether you just slipped on this one. Seriously, this is maybe my alltime favourite movie, it rocks fucking balls. And I watch a lot of movies.
See what I mean? I don't see why an avant-guard movie has to be liked or else you get name-called and accused of things.
looooooooooooooooooool you're complaining about something meaningful happening? Don't you know ANYTHING about the dude? His whole life revolves around doing meaningless crap. Did you watch superbad and thought there wasn't enough intelligent conversation? Christ dude lighten up it's a comedy, maybe laughing just isn't your thing. Obviously it's not as deep as no country for old men or something but that's not the point of it at all.
It's just a really really funny comedy I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like it I laugh throughout the whole thing whenever I watch it. The part with the ashes and where Walter jumps out of the car nearly killed me.
On May 01 2008 12:35 nA.Inky wrote: Also, Micronesia, the ridiculousness you note in the movie is something I really love about it. There are so many linear, formulaic movies out there. I like that this one has no real formula to it, and no real point. I'm not saying the idea of a kind of "go-nowhere" originates with this movie, but I think it is a great example of how such a thing can come off so well.
Also, somehow movies like this are infinitely watchable for me. I can watch The Big Lebowski over and over, in 5 minute bits, or in its entirety, and it really doesn't get old for me. Most movies (not all) do.
I think this movie is really stupidly intelligent, or intelligently stupid, and I love that. Very entertaining for me!
I'm with you here. It's one of a few movies that doesn't get old to me.
To those who watched it once and didn't understand it, I don't know what to say but to try watching it again, you might catch something you didn't in the first.
On May 02 2008 00:01 Jayson X wrote: The scurrile style of the coens literaly explodes in that movie.
Did you have to buy a new TV afterward?
micro, I think there's many different types of Lebowski fans. Some are total potheads, some are angry douche bags. Personally, I don't think on the whole the story is that great but like Inky said, it's filled with tons of little brilliant segments if you pay attention to them and watch them over and over and over again.
On May 01 2008 20:53 ManBearPig wrote: Name some movies you did like, so we can tell if your overall taste in movies is just really shit, or whether you just slipped on this one. Seriously, this is maybe my alltime favourite movie, it rocks fucking balls. And I watch a lot of movies.
See what I mean? I don't see why an avant-guard movie has to be liked or else you get name-called and accused of things.
No I was being serious, if you name some movies you did like, and some other movies you disliked, it might become apparent that you just don't like comedies, or that you only like michael bay movies. I just really don't understand how someone can dislike the big lebowski, it's so awesome on so many levels.
On May 01 2008 12:07 Mindcrime wrote: Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos! Donny: What's Shabbos? Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos! The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos. The Dude: Oh fuck it.
gold
I find the concept of not doing simple things like driving and turning on the oven on Saturday to be pretty stupid, so I think I came at that segment from the wrong angle.
It's the absurdity of it all that's so funny. And, iirc, Walter only converted to Judaism because of his ex-wife... which makes his complete and utter devotion to the religion all the more absurd.
I hated it the first time I saw it because I expected something completely different, then I saw it again after a friend explained the film to me (essentially the same things Inky said) and while I'm not completely in love with the movie I do agree it's a worthwhile watch.
I have never seen such a spaced out plot in my life that kept my attention throughout the whole movie. This is like a classic placement where you put the laid back protagonist, raunchy emotional sidekick, and a background guy to keep it all in tact, and put him in some twisted random scenario and just run the fuck with it. The characters are intuitively intelligent with random bits of philosophy and speculation combined with basic vocabulary, artsy scenes to keep it lighthearted, and characters that are completely out of place from one point to another, makes it such a weird but cool movie to watch. And at the end where the cowboy guy just breaks down the fourth wall like..sup..
Gonna watch it again, maybe I missed a few things.
Think the moral of the story is something like, life's random, just go with it.
watching The Big Lebowski because you like bowling is like watching A Clockwork Orange because you like Beethoven
You should watch Beethoven 1/2 if you like Beethoven.
Haha I had that on vhs... practically when it came out. Well I saw the second one in a theatre once I think... the only time I ever sat in the front row IIRC. It may have been a small private theatre... BTW I think it is 'second' not '2' actually.
EPT
