It was interesting watching it this time through the lens (or goggles) of Steampunk studies and see it from a different angle. What aspects of Steampunk did you see in the film? Is this film really Steampunk? In what ways did the film help you better understand what Steampunk is / can be? How did the film help you formulate ideas for your own script? Please provide specific examples to back up your opinions and observations.
Also, back to what is becoming a central question of our study of Steampunk. How strong are the characters and themes in this film? Are they deep or shallow? Explain. Be specific.
And one final note: I feel a strong obligation to not let my silence ever be an endorsement of the immoral treatment of human beings. So, I want to point out that I strongly object and am even disgusted by how this film depicts one half of the human race (I'm referring to the half with two X chromosomes). I feel this movie was valuable to watch as a case study in Western Steampunk but my showing it is in no means an endorsement of the belittling sexist innuendoes and disturbing portrayal of the lead female character (disturbing in the way that she either happily or stupidly responded to the heroes' demeaning objectification of her).
That is all. Now comment:
In response to Josh's note on how this movie was sexist, you have to review the movie and watch the parts where you clearly see women like their face. When ever you see them they are in brothels, saloons, and southern costume parties. We all know that if women covered up in those places excluding costume parties, that they wouldn't get work or paid. This doesn't mean that all females were like this. Just where prostitution was their career. But I do agree with Josh on how they made the girls pretty stupid and naive mainly well Salma Hayke character. She was a scientist daughter after all. But who knows maybe her character worked that to her advantage (sometimes). Example when she got on the train, she used her body and innocence to stay with West and Gordon.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this movie, even if it is pretty goofy but witty as well. The fact that it is closer to our generation I feel always has a role in what we like and dislike. And in this case I am guilty of adding on to liking this film.
I saw this movie when I was 5 and even then I didn't like the spider, but all the real effects I enjoyed pretty colorful and such.
I do agree, the movie is very sexist, I think though that's part of it's dorky quirkiness, a lot of movies with that kind of humor tend to downgrade girls a lot. whether that be subtle or obnoxiously out there.
DeleteAgreed, it is sexist but you got to think about what time period this is set in.
DeleteCan't get enough of this movie! First time I saw it I was so little.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very fun movie! I think it's really fun how they play with the idea of disguises and how they messed around with a lot of the elements of steampunk. Kenneth Branagh is one of my favorite actors, I love him. I'm honestly not sure exactly what to say about it, it's just a fun, dorky movie. I think it was made to be really dorky and almost spoofy.
I thought I was a great way to show steampunk in a western setting, especially the giant spider (Best government transportation EVER!). the movie comes of as a bit sexist, but that was because of what time period it was, this is before women's rights even came into play so it fits (if barely.)
ReplyDeleteI thought this movie was okay. I agree with all of you, this movie was very sexist. The characters in this movie weren't very deep, but neither were most '90's comedy characters. If anything, I give this movie 2/5, I marked it down because of the sexism and shallowness of the characters.
ReplyDeleteVery Sexist.
DeleteGroundhog Day, A Simple Twist of Fate, Patch Adams, What About Bob? All comedies from the '90s. All with brilliant characters. I think it just depends on what kind of comedies from the '90s you are watching, Carlos my man.
DeleteAlso true, sexism was quite common in the era, (heck, it's not very rare now), but that doesn't make it super okay now, (well, in the '90's). I liked it as a steam-punk because it served it's purpose, upgrade, 2.75/5.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of potential interchangeabilities with describing this movie...
ReplyDeleteWacky and stupid, witty and lowest common denominator, fun and completely irrelevant... Etc.
Yes, I am aware that this isn't supposed to be deep or meaningful or intellectual, but it really couldn't hurt to turn down the "wacky" factor a bit. It's so over the top that it hurts, this "family friendly adventure" leaves you feeling like you've wasted a lot of time. This was an hour and fourth none minutes I can never get back.
Ever.
Will Smith stole it from me.
Not that I don't like Will Smith, but there's absolutely no reason to change Jim West into a black man. This isn't a race thing (well it is) but when you're set in the peak of African slavery and black prejudice you really have to think about the race thing. They wanted a fun adventurous big name heartthrob, and that was the only reason they chose him; it wasn't based on the needs of the story, it was what they spent their whole budget on.
That and all the completely unnecessary steampunk machinery.
Which is was.
Steampunk and unnecessary.
Those two words also seem pretty damn interchangeable as well.
Think of it this on why they chose Will Smith. Will was as popular as Jim Carrey when he was casted on the Truman Show. It's true that they probably didn't need him but being this popular icon why not. This is what Big Blockbuster people see it as.
DeleteIf this made any sense.
DeleteGadgets, Inventors, Giant steam powered spider robot, and more importantly, goggles. Yup, some super sick steam punk in the mix.
ReplyDeleteAs far as character depth goes, I don't see much of it at all. It's a cutsie family film in my eyes (sorry Tony)
I enjoyed a lot of the aesthetics, nice to see such a big budget go into a sub-genre like steam punk.
As far as the story line goes it's pretty bland. Some dude with a disadvantage is bitter and wants to take over the world/country and takes a girl that the protagonist has to save. Bleh.
Will Smith's character disagrees with the train owners method.
Train owners method is later adopted by Will Smith and they save the day. Bleh.
THAT GREEN SCREEN THO...... haha I liked this movie, it was weird and different, and i liked it. Also i think Will Smith is ugly, but he was actually pretty hot in this movie. This movie was funny and bad ass and the stage fighting was good and not too cheesy. I didnt like watching them make out in the water tho... that was just ew. just ew.
ReplyDeleteDude Will Smith is hot. Stahp.
Deleteso this movie i have seen a few times and its pretty good it could be better but i like it especially since it's a part of my childhood. now whether or not this movie is steampunk, it is definitely steam punk there is a giant spider tank thing and super high-tec trains and motorcycles kind of. so I'm not sure how this movie is going to help my script if anything it made it seam like a daunting task more than anything since we cant get a hold of a giant spider thing.
ReplyDeleteWe can just green screen a giant mechanical spider thing.
DeleteJust kidding, let's not really do that.
I loved this movie when I was younger. I love will smith I still do :) but I have to agree with josh it is a little bit over the top. I don't see it as a steam punk but it has steam punk elements. I always saw it as a comedy nothing more. I still love the movie but I just look at it different because I know what steam punk is and it isn't :(
ReplyDeleteOkay guys.
ReplyDeleteI loved how way over the top it is. Loveless is obviously trying to take over the country and using a mechanical spider is a good way to do it!
Anyways.. I think it's steampunk. I love it. I think it's funny as fudgecicles so ya'll go eat an apple pie.
I remember this movie being a lot more amusing when I was seven years old. Granted, you don’t exactly look for much substance in what you watch at that age but still… This is what an official budget of $150 million got us? Really? I did chuckle at a few parts but I mostly found myself bored or annoyed. Even though we spent about the first third of the movie getting to know the two main characters they still didn’t feel complete and they had NO comedic chemistry. The situations they found themselves in were funnier than their interactions and dialog. As for Salma Hayek’s character, she didn’t matter to the story… AT ALL. She was literally there to be attractive and be the subject of a few stupid jokes. Characters like that tend to annoy me. At least in horror movies I can enjoy the fact that the stupid characters usually die… Anyway, in my opinion, the story was stereotypical and the characters were… Blah. Will Smith turned down a role in The Matrix to star in this movie because he was a fan of the television series. No wonder he said that that was his worst career decision…
ReplyDeleteAs for steampunk, this movie certainly had a lot of elements of it. (Giant mechanical spider, Dr. Loveless’ weird wheel-chair, the mechanical man at the end, the city that’s seen right before the spider makes its first appearance, etc.) It gave me a decent idea of how these elements can be incorporated into a movie. I don’t think it really inspired me much in writing my own script but it certainly did have some cool contraptions… I’ll give it that.
Fun fact: The characters of “Spike Guy” and “Knife Guy” were added to the fight scene at the end only after reviews from test audiences. They found the idea of the main characters only fighting off Loveless’ girls to be odd and uncomfortable. Or so says IMDb…
this movie was great i liked the story and the characters where great. i really enjoyed the contraptions. i didnt understand why it was a spider though.
ReplyDeleteThis* I* other I* you miss spelled them.
DeleteI loved it. This is my favorite steam punk movie we watched because it was funny had a lot of steam punk stuff in it. They were pervs which made me laugh. I also could just watch without reading I really don't like to read movies......
ReplyDeleteTONY MADRID - i will forever love this movie only because it was a big part of my child hood, other then that is sucked. the charcters and the plot both stunk. This is a perfect example of a film that was more focused on the jokes and the over the top inventions then the actual story. It didnt really teach me anything more about steampunk but i enjoyed watching it.
ReplyDelete