'Brokeback Mountain' - High-Def Digest Review

[jed]

Peter's review of Brokeback Mountain is up -- he gives it high marks for story, video and audio, but complains that the expanded "special edition" supplements are still too thin.

Full review:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/brokebackmountain.html

[irascian]

I've got to say I'm loving Peter's reviews. Even when I disagree with his opinions, what he says is so beautifully written, that his reviews are the first for any title I want to read.

I DO have a quibble with this particular review though. It seems to have become fashionable to "knock" the acting performances in Dawson's Creek just because the show had a reputation for being teen soap. The reality is that the acting performances in that show were outstanding, even if the scrips did get tired and lame around Seasons 4 and 5. I'd recommend Peter check out the DVD "Dawson's Creek: Season Finale" (a double-episode that moves all the cast forward 10 years in time) and watch Michelle Williams' performance in that before casping aspersions on her acting talent in that particular show.

[PeterB]

Actually, I am a closet 'Dawson's Creek' fan. And I love Michelle Williams. (She was great in the finale, wasn't she?) I actually meant that 'Brokeback' was a huge move for her away from the 'Dawson's stigma. Guess I should give my comment a rewrite, as it sounds snide, huh?

And thanks for the compliments. Glad you enjoy the reviews.

[irascian]

No worries. I guess I've just read too many reviews that attack her and Katie Holmes because of "that lame teen soap", which in the UK is a complete rewriting of history - the show had rave reviews when it started. So many of the "Brokeback Mountain" reviews when the film came out commented on Michells's talents as an actress as being a great surprise after "Dawson's Creek" which just proved they hadn't watched the show - the talent was always there. It takes a lot to make me cry, but she did it in that D.C. finale.

And while Katie Holmes has been dire in any movies I've seen her in, she knocked the ball out of the park with her performance in D.C.

Anyway, getting back to "Brokeback Mountain" I guess this is going to be a double-dip after the DVD even though I hate combo's. It's a wonderful movie and your review captured what was great about it.

So thanks. And keep up the good work!

[Cochise]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Actually, I am a closet 'Dawson's Creek' fan. And I love Michelle Williams. (She was great in the finale, wasn't she?) I actually meant that 'Brokeback' was a huge move for her away from the 'Dawson's stigma. Guess I should give my comment a rewrite, as it sounds snide, huh?

I took your comments as meaning it was a big change from her DC role, and not being snide. Just about every actor's role in BM was a big change from their previous roles.

I usually don't admit in polite company that used to watch Dawson's Creek, but it actually was a decent show with interesting plots & very good acting.

I'm a big fan of Michelle Willams, she just comes across as having a lot of class and a lot of talent.

I also really appreciate the quality for your reviews. While I generally check other sources as well for the movie content in determining if it's something I will enjoy and/or appreciate, your high def ratings for audio & visual quality have never steered me wrong.

I've been debating whethere Brokeback would be worth upgrading from my DVD, and based on your review I decided it was. I threw Casablanca in the cart as well, based on your review.

Thanks for all your highly professional & intelligent reviews.

[hmurchison]

I agree PeterB. This movie shocked me in how effective it was. The cinematography is just gorgeous. That acting was superlative. It's not about being gay it's about loving someone that you simply cannot as you mentioned in the article. You could have easily made them Montagues and Capulets in love.

[Glenmulder]

I was hesitant to watch the movie with all the stigma that has surrounded it. Must say i thought it was great and hmurch you are correct its Forbidden Love whichever way you look at it, a true classic.

[sunspot42]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

It's not about being gay it's about loving someone that you simply cannot as you mentioned in the article. You could have easily made them Montagues and Capulets in love.

I disagree with this. While the story certainly shares similarities with Romeo & Juliet in that it involves loving someone your circumstances simply will not allow, the tragedy of Brokeback Mountain goes far deeper. These two - in particular Ennis - can't even admit to themselves, let alone to each other, how much in love they are. That kind of self-loathing and self-denial is absent from virtually all if not all straight romances. Brokeback Mountain is a uniquely gay story, an experience that was obviously shared by a lot of people out in the real world, yet which had never fully been depicted on the silver screen.

I think that's ultimately what really sets this film apart not only from straight romances, but from earlier queer cinema, even films which touched on themes of gay love and loss (such as Gods And Monsters from a few years back). The conspicuous lack of mincing stereotypes and childishly provocative expressions of homosexuality one has come to expect in gay-themed films (such as The Birdcage, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Hedwig And The Angry Inch and Velvet Goldmine, with all their requisite nudging and winking) serves to further distance Brokeback from its predecessors. I suspect this is also what sent some conservative critics into histrionic fits over the film.

Ennis and Jack may be uncomfortable with their own sexuality but Brokeback Mountain treats it as just another element in the dramatic scenery of their lives, as beautiful, mysterious, awe inspiring and dangerous as the mountain itself, and every bit as essential.

[Glenmulder]

Nice piece Sunspot

[RandellG]

OK I'm wondering. Does anyone else have problems playing this movie on the A3? I've done tried 2 different copies and during the movie it freezes up. Is this happening to anyone else? I don't have probles with any other movies

[Cochise]

Originally Posted by Randellg

OK I'm wondering. Does anyone else have problems playing this movie on the A3? I've done tried 2 different copies and during the movie it freezes up. Is this happening to anyone else? I don't have probles with any other movies

Holy thread resurrection!

Congrats on doing a search first. My copy played fine on my XA1, and I just played most it on my A35 the other night; this movie is a real downer with Heath Ledger's passing away.

I would say try cleaning the disc, some of the Uni combos have residue problems. But, as you're on your second copy - try initializing your player or clearing any Universal content out of persistent memory. When the player encounters an error on a disc it sometimes "marks" that into memory. My XA1 kept freezing up at the same point on Happy Feet, and reading this tip elsewhere, once I cleared any Warner content out of memory, it played fine.

[Arkadin]

what about doing the boiling trick?
It's worked for many people.

[Cochise]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

what about doing the boiling trick?
It's worked for many people.

It's because of the residue issue. The boiling water also cleaned off the residue, but being a little too faint hearted to drop my $30 disc into a pot of boiling water, I just used hot tap water and dish washing soap and that worked just as well.

[Arkadin]

btw Cochise--I just saw where a dude sold a NEW XA2 for $395 yesterday.
Damn! just missed it by a day.

[RandellG]

Originally Posted by CochiseGuy

Holy thread resurrection!

Congrats on doing a search first. My copy played fine on my XA1, and I just played most it on my A35 the other night; this movie is a real downer with Heath Ledger's passing away.

I would say try cleaning the disc, some of the Uni combos have residue problems. But, as you're on your second copy - try initializing your player or clearing any Universal content out of persistent memory. When the player encounters an error on a disc it sometimes "marks" that into memory. My XA1 kept freezing up at the same point on Happy Feet, and reading this tip elsewhere, once I cleared any Warner content out of memory, it played fine.

Not saying that's not what it is, but this is only the second time I've taken it out of the case. First time was to see if it had any scratched on it when I got it in (I bought it new from AMZ) The first copy I had the DVD was dislodged at some point and had a scratch on it so I thought that is what caused the issue and just haven't watched it till today.

Thanks for the help. Will try it later