tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post4341068404495109522..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: SERGIO LEONE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLYTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-68045825973126781552011-08-27T23:40:11.750-05:002011-08-27T23:40:11.750-05:00I will concede that the grotto scene sucks. But if...I will concede that the grotto scene sucks. But if the only good bit in the entirety of the added 16 minutes was the extension of Tuco's torture of Blondie in the desert, I'd still say it would be worth every second just to have that. To each his own, though.<br /><br />(I do like the riverside scene; I think it's a nice character moment).<br /><br />As for the Blu-Ray, I'm glad to hear that somewhere in the world there's a good hi-def version of the film, because the one released in America is a goddamn abomination.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-61709396201135144052011-08-27T23:25:40.977-05:002011-08-27T23:25:40.977-05:00I'm going to agree with Will on this one; I wa...I'm going to agree with Will on this one; I was first introduced to the film through the extended cut, actually, and I still feel that the international cut is significantly better. There's only one scene in the extended cut I feel really adds anything of value, which would be Van Cleef's visit to the confederate fort, but the rest of the scenes add nothing (the riverside scene) at best or actively detract (the grotto scene) at worst. <br /><br />And as an addition, if you want to see a fantastic version of this film, seek out the Italian blu-ray from the Leone estate; the grotto scene is nowhere to be found, and it's from a far, far superior source that's been restored with far more care than any North American release. With the original Italian mono, too.Devanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940631110355827911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-67386826366611088922011-08-27T18:57:52.692-05:002011-08-27T18:57:52.692-05:00Solid review, Tim, but have to disagree about the ...Solid review, Tim, but have to disagree about the 2003 version being superior. Not only are the dubbed voices distractingly incongruent from the van Cleef and the younger Wallach and Eastwood, but the scenes that extend the film drag it down immensely, feel redundant, and rob the film of some of its very best transitions (I particularly miss the cut from Tuco looking at the swinging rope to the wide of a horse in chase).<br /><br />There's also indication that Leone may have made those cuts for the international version himself. Usually I'm very sympathetic to extended cuts, but in this case I feel its American theatrical/international cut is easily the stronger of the two.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856054226079274945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-29327116100450699482011-08-27T18:04:17.816-05:002011-08-27T18:04:17.816-05:00Fantastic film. I'm actually a lot more of a f...Fantastic film. I'm actually a lot more of a fan of Good Bad Ugly than West, for me it's the perfect western, but I have to say that my favorite Leone work is undoubtedly Once Upon a Time in America.The.Watcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06746957245529915320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-10302799778499515412011-08-27T17:21:58.604-05:002011-08-27T17:21:58.604-05:00That means a hell of a lot to me, coming from you ...That means a hell of a lot to me, coming from you especially. Thanks, and now let's see if I can go 2-for-2 when I get to <i>Once Upon a Time in the West</i>...Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-22050175466484939532011-08-27T16:55:19.091-05:002011-08-27T16:55:19.091-05:00It's incredibly difficult to tackle a film thi...It's incredibly difficult to tackle a film this iconic, this well-known, this steeped in its own history in the genre, and be able to write a fresh appreciation of it. You've succeeded beautifully. This is a sterling review.Neil Fulwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686296295535235988noreply@blogger.com