Rd. 1: The Big Lebowski vs. Young Frankenstein

[PIE-GUY]

Seems like you're the one worked up on this.

Fact is, I love both movies but Young Frankenstein is more important to me.

Calmer than you are.

amateurs.

[VDB]

First of all, who does a period piece that takes place only 8 years earlier? Another decade and a half removed from the whole thing, that doesn't seem crazy, but at the time it was fucking nuts... and they bring every detail into 1990... the changes to the porn industry, the invasion of Kuwait, the beeper and over-the-shoulder cellular phone. It's fucking brilliant. Not to mention, it contains some of the best comedy writing in movie history. It is hardly a "tossed off comedy." It is at once subtle and over-the-top... plus the dream sequences are old-school movie greatness.

Also, which of these two movies has inspired annual festivals that take place all over the world? I have never heard of anyone going to Young Frankenstein Fest, but I have been to a couple of Lebowski Fests. Shit, you can become a Dude-ist Priest and be recognized by your state to perform weddings!! Check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism



So, again I ask... Why is everything such a travesty with you people?!?!?

The story is ludicrous.

[PIE-GUY]

First of all, who does a period piece that takes place only 8 years earlier? Another decade and a half removed from the whole thing, that doesn't seem crazy, but at the time it was fucking nuts... and they bring every detail into 1990... the changes to the porn industry, the invasion of Kuwait, the beeper and over-the-shoulder cellular phone. It's fucking brilliant. Not to mention, it contains some of the best comedy writing in movie history. It is hardly a "tossed off comedy." It is at once subtle and over-the-top... plus the dream sequences are old-school movie greatness.

Also, which of these two movies has inspired annual festivals that take place all over the world? I have never heard of anyone going to Young Frankenstein Fest, but I have been to a couple of Lebowski Fests. Shit, you can become a Dude-ist Priest and be recognized by your state to perform weddings!! Check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism



So, again I ask... Why is everything such a travesty with you people?!?!?

The story is ludicrous.

Don't be fatuous.

[mehead]

Also, which of these two movies has inspired annual festivals that take place all over the world? I have never heard of anyone going to Young Frankenstein Fest, but I have been to a couple of Lebowski Fests. Shit, you can become a Dude-ist Priest and be recognized by your state to perform weddings!! Check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism

Sorry, but this doesn't exactly help your argument.  I like Lebowski, but as soon as I hear "Lebowski Fest" I think of this...

[cactusfan]

First of all, who does a period piece that takes place only 8 years earlier? Another decade and a half removed from the whole thing, that doesn't seem crazy, but at the time it was fucking nuts... and they bring every detail into 1990... the changes to the porn industry, the invasion of Kuwait, the beeper and over-the-shoulder cellular phone. It's fucking brilliant. Not to mention, it contains some of the best comedy writing in movie history. It is hardly a "tossed off comedy." It is at once subtle and over-the-top... plus the dream sequences are old-school movie greatness.

Also, which of these two movies has inspired annual festivals that take place all over the world? I have never heard of anyone going to Young Frankenstein Fest, but I have been to a couple of Lebowski Fests. Shit, you can become a Dude-ist Priest and be recognized by your state to perform weddings!! Check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism



So, again I ask... Why is everything such a travesty with you people?!?!?

not really sure what you're talking about with 'period piece' set ONLY 8 YEARS ago. plenty of people make movies set in the recent past.

it contains great comedy dialologue, yes. but that's the extent of the great writing. the story is there only insofar as it gives a platform for the characters to say funny shit. they introduce a plot, then abandon it about two thirds of the way through, because no one in the movie really gives a shit about it. there's no end as a result. it just kind of stops.

also, i despise the voice over and sam elliot's character entirely. drives me nuts.

by 'tossed off' i mean just that. look at their tightly structured movies. those are master classes in craftsmanship. and as for their comedies, i think Raising Arizona is about a thousand times better.

but i get the impact Lebowski has had. it obviously struck a chord. i don't mean to slam the movie. aside from Elliot, i enjoy it.

it's just no Young Frankenstein.

[Igbo]

Young Frankenstein. easy choice.

Lebowski is funny, but for me YF is in the top 3 comedies of all time. Period.

[VDB]

I've always considered it a virtue of Lebowski that the plot itself is fairly inconsequential. Maybe it was all the drinking, but I feel like I had to watch that movie several times just to get a real coherent sense for what was going on start to finish. And I think a lot of that has to do with everything else being so funny and enjoyable that you can lose track of the plot and not even care or necessarily notice. I, for one, always liked that about it.

[Buffalo Budd]

Had a Big Lebowski night at the house on Friday night with a bunch of friends.  Copious amount of White Russians and  :smoke: were had and man I love that movie.

[PIE-GUY]

The thing about Lebowski (and this goes for Dazed and Confused, as well, but to a lesser extent) is that it is like a great album. I can watch it over and over. I know all the twists and turns by heart but they still bring me great pleasure every time I watch. I can catch individual scenes and enjoy them much like I can enjoy a track from a great album on its own... but the experience of watching the film start to finish never seems to get old.

I can't say that about a lot of movies... even ones I love.

[whatapiper]

The hippies lost!!!

[cactusfan]

The thing about Lebowski (and this goes for Dazed and Confused, as well, but to a lesser extent) is that it is like a great album. I can watch it over and over. I know all the twists and turns by heart but they still bring me great pleasure every time I watch. I can catch individual scenes and enjoy them much like I can enjoy a track from a great album on its own... but the experience of watching the film start to finish never seems to get old.

I can't say that about a lot of movies... even ones I love.

in the end, that's all that really matters.

and i have to admit, i too hate the fuckin' eagles, man.

[aphineday]

The thing about Lebowski (and this goes for Dazed and Confused, as well, but to a lesser extent) is that it is like a great album. I can watch it over and over. I know all the twists and turns by heart but they still bring me great pleasure every time I watch. I can catch individual scenes and enjoy them much like I can enjoy a track from a great album on its own... but the experience of watching the film start to finish never seems to get old.

I can't say that about a lot of movies... even ones I love.

in the end, that's all that really matters.

and i have to admit, i too hate the fuckin' eagles, man.

This.

[Buffalo Budd]

The thing about Lebowski (and this goes for Dazed and Confused, as well, but to a lesser extent) is that it is like a great album. I can watch it over and over. I know all the twists and turns by heart but they still bring me great pleasure every time I watch. I can catch individual scenes and enjoy them much like I can enjoy a track from a great album on its own... but the experience of watching the film start to finish never seems to get old.

I can't say that about a lot of movies... even ones I love.

Agree on both of those flics.  I've watched Dazed and Confused more times than pretty much any other movie and it never gets old.

[justjezmund]

Holy crap. Gene hackmans scene should put this over the top in the first place. Add in Peter boyle and you have win rIght there.

[susep]