Timecode -- Blech! - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

IKEA_boy · 02-12-2003, 02:52 PM

I rented this the other day and am about 30 minutes into it. Maybe I was expecting too much from it but I am very dissapointed. I can't tell if this is supposed to be a comedy or a drama or what. The dialogue is very unnatural. I can't even tell if there is supposed to be a plot or if this movie is relying on the four camera "gimmick" to carry it's weight. It's just... bad.

CrazyComet · 02-12-2003, 04:25 PM

Agreed.....This flick was pure crap.....

Riedenschneider · 02-12-2003, 04:43 PM

Yep, pretentious crap.

And the direct video transfer looks like shit - 'cause it looks like video. They should've made it from a 35mm print, like the Blair Witch transfer... anyway, it would still remain pretentious crap...

Gigashadow · 02-12-2003, 06:54 PM

The pinacle of overated. That movie totally sucked. 30 minutes in? I commend your committment. I didn't last much beyond that.

pdjennings · 02-12-2003, 07:13 PM

aww fooey. I really liked it.

Riedenschneider · 02-12-2003, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pdjennings
aww fooey. I really liked it.

Say! Otherwise you don't like anything else...

***1138*** · 02-12-2003, 07:28 PM

I too found this movie to be a real bore and not very good. Sorry pd.

UserNameUndecided · 02-12-2003, 11:09 PM

Rats. I've almost rented this on numerous occasions. It sounds like it has a cool premise (or gimmick), but it's a shame to hear that it most likely isn't worth it.

Velvet G · 02-12-2003, 11:25 PM

I gave my copy to a coworker for keeps (it was a used copy for $5). The next day when I came into work, it was back in my desk.

I couldn't sit through the first 20 minutes of it.

pdjennings, if you want a free second copy of it (in case you wear out your original), send me a PM. If you wanna send a SASE to me, I'll gladly give it to you.

It's just taking up space in my collection and I'll never watch it again.

Velvet G · 02-13-2003, 12:59 AM

Looks like we have another victim. It was requested from me by a fellow DVDFiler.

Maybe this thing will become the unofficial Christmas fruit cake of the 'File' and just get passed around constantly

Indyphantom · 02-13-2003, 01:34 AM

Guys, you have to give films like this a chance. I found it amazing that it was pulled off this well. I can't comprehend how anyone could find it boring. And the DVD is great, with that ability to control the audio.

Why knock something that is at least attempting some innovation? At least watch the whole thing before commenting. I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on.

Gigashadow · 02-13-2003, 03:16 AM

"I found it amazing that it was pulled off this well."

It wasn't pulled off at all.

"I can't comprehend how anyone could find it boring"

Because it was.

"Why knock something that is at least attempting some innovation"

Innovation? Hardly. Gimmick? Totally!

" I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on."

That's the point. Nothing was going on. It was all gimmick (and not a very good one at that) and no substance. Trust me I've had the patience to stit through a lot of crap ("Tape" comes to mind) but somtimes you just have to realize there are better things to be done with your life than sit through a movie like that.

Moppy007 · 02-13-2003, 03:53 AM

I agree that it was quite boring in some parts, but if nothing else i found it interesting as an experimental movie...

IKEA_boy · 02-13-2003, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indyphantom
Why knock something that is at least attempting some innovation? At least watch the whole thing before commenting. I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on.

I finished watching the latter hour while on the computer. I still didn't like it. I thought the ending was horrible, 1000x worse than the rest of the movie.

And I don't think if 1/3 of a movie is bad that it warrants finishing it. The only reason I did finish Timecode was because my computer is in the same room as my VCR.

videoworx · 02-13-2003, 04:48 AM

The concept of TimeCode is a great one - but certainly not original. I have seen at least 2 music videos that have pulled it off (far better, too). The BIGGEST problem is the content. The movie felt like a hollywood clique home movie. Unless you are an actor, or an agent, there is no way you can relate to/empathise with/care about anyone in this film. And that's what any good film boils down to...

IKEA_boy · 02-13-2003, 04:57 AM

nevermind

Indyphantom · 02-13-2003, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by videoworx
there is no way you can relate to/empathise with/care about anyone in this film. And that's what any good film boils down to...

That's really not true. You're only talking about popular cinematic conventions.

TechnoTim · 02-13-2003, 10:01 AM

I have to say I love this film...

Not only does it make good use of current technology, using DV, split-screen and multi-channel audio, but the film is very funny as well...

I also find it incredible that the film was shot in 90 minute takes, with most of the dialogue being improvised...

I recently saw a live presentation of the film at the NFT, which was directed by Mike Figgis himself, where he steered the audio between the pictures, creating an alternative take on the film...

...and surely Julian Sands best roles ever as Quentin the Massuse...

The DVD is a great buy as well, if you can find it...

Velvet G · 02-13-2003, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indyphantom
I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on.

Wow. That was just a little judgemental. A movie either grabs your interest or it doesn't. People have different tastes and it's definitely not cool to rag on anyone just because they didn't find it interesting. It's not like anyone in the thread said "anyone who liked this movie is a complete bonehead!" so why the negativity. I'm sorry, if a movie takes 88 minutes to grab my interest, it wasn't a good movie TO ME.

They make different movies because people have different tastes.

IKEA_boy · 02-13-2003, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TechnoTim
... but the film is very funny as well...

So it's supposed to be funny?

Indyphantom · 02-13-2003, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Velvet G
Wow. That was just a little judgemental. A movie either grabs your interest or it doesn't. People have different tastes and it's definitely not cool to rag on anyone just because they didn't find it interesting. It's not like anyone in the thread said "anyone who liked this movie is a complete bonehead!" so why the negativity. I'm sorry, if a movie takes 88 minutes to grab my interest, it wasn't a good movie TO ME.

They make different movies because people have different tastes.

I disagree. "Judgemental" would be commenting negatively on a film one hasn't really bothered to watch.

I wasn't "ragging" on anyone. The only negativity in this thread is the title...I'm happy to stand up for a film I care about, especially when it is being attacked by someone who hasn't really seen it.

IKEA_boy · 02-13-2003, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indyphantom
I'm happy to stand up for a film I care about, especially when it is being attacked by someone who hasn't really seen it.

I hope you're not talking about me.

And have you ever judged a movie before finishing it?

Velvet G · 02-14-2003, 12:24 AM

Indy, then we just need to agree to disagree. I'm glad you found it enjoyable. It didn't hold my interest so from what I did watch, I didn't enjoy what I saw. If it was your type of thing, then I won't tell you you're wrong for liking it. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Peace,
G

TechnoTim · 02-14-2003, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IKEA_boy
So it's supposed to be funny?

In a word, yes...Over here in the UK I believe it was perceived to be a black comedy / drama, certainly that was the way I saw it, but don't quote me on that...

Indyphantom · 02-14-2003, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IKEA_boy
I hope you're not talking about me.

And have you ever judged a movie before finishing it?

I wasn't talking about you specifically. Yes, I have judged films before finishing them. However I typically wait until I've seen the film before judging it. But this has gotten too out of hand here, so as Velvet says we will agree to disagree.

The matter for me was that Figgis took a risk and tried to do something very different. How many films in a year can we really say that about?

Elmo Oxygen · 02-15-2003, 02:36 AM

Timecode isn't a complete success but it is a fascinating experiment. There is one brilliant scene about an hour in where Figgis manages to use music that perfectly expresses all four onscreen characters at the same time, all of whom are experiencing entirely different emotions. The DVD quality I thought was excellent, this is the best presentation I've seen of a movie shot on video. Compare this to the DVD of Chuck and Buck which looks dreadful (even worse than it looked in the theater). They did the right thing by using the video source rather than going video to film to video.

IKEA_boy · 02-15-2003, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indyphantom
The matter for me was that Figgis took a risk and tried to do something very different. How many films in a year can we really say that about?

I agree with that, which is why I rented it in the first place.

limacharliewhiskey · 02-17-2003, 05:37 PM

This was a rental for me as well, and I found it rather fascinating, even if it was mostly boring. Kinda funny, though, how I see certain elements on the TV show, "24", that were probably copied and imitated from Timecode.

02-12-2003, 02:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
IKEA_boy Director Emeritus ~~Persista~~ Persistent Student Join Date: Oct 2001	Timecode -- Blech! I rented this the other day and am about 30 minutes into it. Maybe I was expecting too much from it but I am very dissapointed. I can't tell if this is supposed to be a comedy or a drama or what. The dialogue is very unnatural. I can't even tell if there is supposed to be a plot or if this movie is relying on the four camera "gimmick" to carry it's weight. It's just... bad.

02-12-2003, 04:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Riedenschneider Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hamburg, Deutschland	Yep, pretentious crap. And the direct video transfer looks like shit - 'cause it looks like video. They should've made it from a 35mm print, like the Blair Witch transfer... anyway, it would still remain pretentious crap... __________________ "The Hughes wealth, power and sex appeal devastated scores of broken-hearted movie stars and made grown men shudder with envy and anxiety every time he entered a room. Mr. DiCaprio just makes any logical person over 14 wonder if he ever graduated high school." -Rex Reed

02-12-2003, 07:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
pdjennings Actor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Washington, DC	aww fooey. I really liked it. __________________ *Can someone explain to me why "movie fans" on the Internet seem to hate* every movie they see? The PDJ Collection™ - 3,068** DVDs and counting...

02-12-2003, 07:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	I too found this movie to be a real bore and not very good. Sorry pd. __________________ Administrator I got a rock and roll band. I got a rock and roll life. I got a rock and roll girlfriend. And another ex-wife.

02-13-2003, 01:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
Indyphantom Forum Lothario Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: the black lodge...	Guys, you have to give films like this a chance. I found it amazing that it was pulled off this well. I can't comprehend how anyone could find it boring. And the DVD is great, with that ability to control the audio. Why knock something that is at least attempting some innovation? At least watch the whole thing before commenting. I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on. __________________ My DVD List at DVD Aficionado

02-12-2003, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
CrazyComet Actor Join Date: Dec 2002	Agreed.....This flick was pure crap.....

02-12-2003, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gigashadow Actor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Cluster	The pinacle of overated. That movie totally sucked. 30 minutes in? I commend your committment. I didn't last much beyond that.

02-12-2003, 11:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
UserNameUndecided Actor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Austin TX	Rats. I've almost rented this on numerous occasions. It sounds like it has a cool premise (or gimmick), but it's a shame to hear that it most likely isn't worth it.

02-12-2003, 11:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Velvet G Actor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Asteroid M (sometimes the philly suburbs when it gets too hot)	I gave my copy to a coworker for keeps (it was a used copy for $5). The next day when I came into work, it was back in my desk. I couldn't sit through the first 20 minutes of it. pdjennings, if you want a free second copy of it (in case you wear out your original), send me a PM. If you wanna send a SASE to me, I'll gladly give it to you. It's just taking up space in my collection and I'll never watch it again.

02-13-2003, 12:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Velvet G Actor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Asteroid M (sometimes the philly suburbs when it gets too hot)	Looks like we have another victim. It was requested from me by a fellow DVDFiler. Maybe this thing will become the unofficial Christmas fruit cake of the 'File' and just get passed around constantly

02-13-2003, 03:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
Gigashadow Actor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Cluster	"I found it amazing that it was pulled off this well." It wasn't pulled off at all. "I can't comprehend how anyone could find it boring" Because it was. "Why knock something that is at least attempting some innovation" Innovation? Hardly. Gimmick? Totally! " I give a thumbs down to anyone without the attention span to sit through a film with this much going on." That's the point. Nothing was going on. It was all gimmick (and not a very good one at that) and no substance. Trust me I've had the patience to stit through a lot of crap ("Tape" comes to mind) but somtimes you just have to realize there are better things to be done with your life than sit through a movie like that.

02-13-2003, 03:53 AM	#13 (permalink)
Moppy007 Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Melbourne Victoria Australia	I agree that it was quite boring in some parts, but if nothing else i found it interesting as an experimental movie...

02-13-2003, 04:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
videoworx Would Make a Good Incubus Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere near Nebraska	The concept of TimeCode is a great one - but certainly not original. I have seen at least 2 music videos that have pulled it off (far better, too). The BIGGEST problem is the content. The movie felt like a hollywood clique home movie. Unless you are an actor, or an agent, there is no way you can relate to/empathise with/care about anyone in this film. And that's what any good film boils down to...

02-13-2003, 04:57 AM	#16 (permalink)
IKEA_boy Director Emeritus ~~Persista~~ Persistent Student Join Date: Oct 2001	nevermind

02-13-2003, 10:01 AM	#18 (permalink)
TechnoTim Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Guildford, England	I have to say I love this film... Not only does it make good use of current technology, using DV, split-screen and multi-channel audio, but the film is very funny as well... I also find it incredible that the film was shot in 90 minute takes, with most of the dialogue being improvised... I recently saw a live presentation of the film at the NFT, which was directed by Mike Figgis himself, where he steered the audio between the pictures, creating an alternative take on the film... ...and surely Julian Sands best roles ever as Quentin the Massuse... The DVD is a great buy as well, if you can find it... __________________ "There are some that call me...Tim..."

02-14-2003, 12:24 AM	#23 (permalink)
Velvet G Actor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Asteroid M (sometimes the philly suburbs when it gets too hot)	Indy, then we just need to agree to disagree. I'm glad you found it enjoyable. It didn't hold my interest so from what I did watch, I didn't enjoy what I saw. If it was your type of thing, then I won't tell you you're wrong for liking it. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Peace, G

02-15-2003, 02:36 AM	#26 (permalink)
Elmo Oxygen Actor Join Date: Jan 2003	Timecode isn't a complete success but it is a fascinating experiment. There is one brilliant scene about an hour in where Figgis manages to use music that perfectly expresses all four onscreen characters at the same time, all of whom are experiencing entirely different emotions. The DVD quality I thought was excellent, this is the best presentation I've seen of a movie shot on video. Compare this to the DVD of Chuck and Buck which looks dreadful (even worse than it looked in the theater). They did the right thing by using the video source rather than going video to film to video.

02-17-2003, 05:37 PM	#28 (permalink)
limacharliewhiskey FryMaster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The O.C.	This was a rental for me as well, and I found it rather fascinating, even if it was mostly boring. Kinda funny, though, how I see certain elements on the TV show, "24", that were probably copied and imitated from Timecode. __________________ "Believing oneself to be perfect is often a sign of a delusional mind." - Data in Star Trek: First Contact DVD Aficionado collection.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode