Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I really think it has to seen more than once to truly be appreciated. I remember seeing for the first time, and thinking it was mildly amusing. I caught it on cable a few months later, and it hit me- it is [censored] brilliant. I think it even outranks Raising Arizona, which until then had been one of my very favorite movies (and favorite Coen effort by far).

Take a few weeks, then go back and watch it again.

Re: The Big Lebowski - Things to Get
 

There's plenty of people who find both funny. I do.

Rushmore is genius.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

Its a pretty good anti-war movie. Life is bizare, people in power are often idiotic, motives are to be questioned, and letting unchecked aggression stand isn't the end of the world (keep in mind the GB senior opening quote). Some situations don't need to be confronted. Its ok to not care about some things, to avoid conflict and just live simply. There's also something beautifully fatalistic about its philospohy, something about not looking or seeking too much, not living in denial about reality and taking yourself too seriously.

The characters make the movie, its kinda like rushmore or the royal tenenbaums in that regard, its sheer absurdity. Everyone seems to be flailing away, full of internal contradictions and mornonically bumbling along. Its hard to capture the essence. You either appreciate absurdity or you don't, it depends on your world view. It also helps to be really stoned or with a strong drink nearby, or to have at least embraced the bohemian lifestyle at some point. But its not an earthshattering movie, it just hits a cord with a certain disenfranchised sentimentalism that many go thru during adolesence that some never quite let go of. And Bob Dylan's soundtrack is excellent and adds depth to these themes.

Re: The Big Lebowski - Things to Get
 

[ QUOTE ]
There's plenty of people who find both funny. I do.

Rushmore is genius.

[/ QUOTE ]I realize that, I like both movies in fact, but there are certainly people who think "Dumb and Dumber, psssssssh I would never watch that childish movie!"

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
It also helps to be really stoned or with a strong drink nearby, or to have at least embraced the bohemian lifestyle at some point.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going to write that I would bet there's a strong correlation between people who like this movie, and people who have liberal views on drug use.

Good post J.R., I get what you're saying, I'll have to give it another watch sometimes. I agree that some movies get better after seeing them a few times.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

Your thinking about it is very uptight.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
Your thinking about it is very uptight.

[/ QUOTE ]

And your comment doesn't explain why it's a genius movie.

I will give you props on your locator though, although you misspelled the word "owned". Crazy to see Cal #4 in the country.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
Your thinking about it is very uptight.

[/ QUOTE ]worst retort ever.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Your thinking about it is very uptight.

[/ QUOTE ]worst retort ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, when I think about it, sfer is right about that, my thinking is uptight.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Your thinking about it is very uptight.

[/ QUOTE ]worst retort ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, when I think about it, sfer is right about that, my thinking is uptight.

[/ QUOTE ]second worst retort ever. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

It's just a line from the movie. (Maybe you know this.)

I am one of those people who truly loves this movie. I like the humanity of it, and the way it skewers decadent lifestyles and political correctness without being unfunny and starting a class war, and the silly little tropes that run throughout the movie. I think it's incredibly well-written in terms of character interactions and there are plenty of good one-liners as well.

Ultimately, I can see why some people get mad at all the hype and don't really find it their kind of humor. It's basically an absurdist movie and you have to be willing to go along with it or it seems like one big, masturbatory acid flashback. I, for one, am happy to go along with it, because I do understand that it has a point under that (impressive) guise of pointlessness.

NT

Re: The Big Lebowski - Things to Get
 

[ QUOTE ]
so what you and that review are saying is that if you think the film is stupid then its probably because you are to stupid to realize how un-stupid the film is, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

That pretty much sums it up.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

hmmm, I haven't seen the film for a year or so, maybe I'll check it out again, while I am drunk or stoned. I love absurdness, which is probably why I like South Park.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's just a line from the movie. (Maybe you know this.)

[/ QUOTE ]

No, forgot about that. Thanks for pointing that out.

Good post, I can see how people share your view on the movie. I'll probably give it another spin at some point.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

lets have a 2+2 gathering where we all get drunk and watch Big L!

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I love the Big L. It's one of those movies you either love or just don't like. I started the favorite lines from the Big L. thread, and got some huge laughs from the responses. I think some of you may be over looking the fact that there is no such thing as a comedy that is a great movie. And when I say great movie I mean Best Picture quality. They're either funny to you or not. There's not much else to it.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

Eh, I just thought it's hilarious. Explaining what you find funny is a pretty futile endeavor.

Also, pwned is apparently spelled correctly. I'm not really sure why, but I don't expect Cal every to be ranked this high again in my lifetime so it stays.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I forgot to mention that I am also a bowler, so, take that for what you will.

I think the most silly/absurd things that always get me are what the characters decide to talk about at any given time. Some of the most ludicrous conversations ever.

Also, I think the supporting cast (Goodman, Turtorro, Buscemi) is really fabulous.

"8 year olds, dude."

You're right that it's a fun movie to watch with a group when slightly lit up. But emphasize the slightly. If you're zonked too much of it will just slip right by you.

NT

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
Explaining what you find funny is a pretty futile endeavor.

[/ QUOTE ] indeed.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

There was a thread about this a while ago. It's some lame hacker-speak from back in the ASCII days that got passed down to gamers.

NT

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

P.S.
I hated it the first time I watched it because I couldn't pay full attention to it. I've loved it ever since the second time I saw it. When I "got it".

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

Your avatar moves too slow. It makes me sad.

Where does one find a video of that great encounter?

I've also been looking for a video of that time the monster Cubs reliever- what's his name? Farnsworth? - broke that guy's nose.

NT

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
You're right that it's a fun movie to watch with a group when slightly lit up. But emphasize the slightly. If you're zonked too much of it will just slip right by you.


[/ QUOTE ] Totally. There is only one movie I have seen that I really enjoyed both sober and [censored] up, and that was America Beauty

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
There was a thread about this a while ago. It's some lame hacker-speak from back in the ASCII days that got passed down to gamers.

NT

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that was a tongue-in-cheek way of pointing out my un-hipness.

I'm going to have to ask another one of my friends about this movie, his screen name on UB is "shutupdonnie".

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

In the top three comedies. Ever.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
Your avatar moves too slow. It makes me sad.

Where does one find a video of that great encounter?

[/ QUOTE ]

Another poster sent me this as a GIF file, but I don't know where he got it. I kind of like the slow motion though, drags out the beating.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

i saw it in the theater initially and didn't see a big deal, the next watching immediately surfaced its subtleties but i was older then. now it's one of my favorite and most rewatchable movies.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

Robin Ventura grew up near my elementary school and came to my D.A.R.E graduation. However, he only gave his signed baseball cards to the top students, so I enjoyed his owning by Nolan Ryan.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

lets have a 2+2 gathering where we all get drunk and watch Big L!

I'm down. I'm catching a flight to Seatac tomorrow and'll be in town for a week. No joke.

GoT

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
Robin Ventura grew up near my elementary school and came to my D.A.R.E graduation. However, he only gave his signed baseball cards to the top students, so I enjoyed his owning by Nolan Ryan.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is awesome. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
lets have a 2+2 gathering where we all get drunk and watch Big L!

I'm down. I'm catching a flight to Seatac tomorrow and'll be in town for a week. No joke.

GoT

[/ QUOTE ]hmmm a meet up may be in store. I was thinking of going down to the Muck on wednesday during the day to play some 3/6.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
It was OK, but nothing special IMO. I probably just didn't "get it".

[/ QUOTE ]
As others have suggested, it is definately a movie that must be watched more than one time. The first time you watch a movie, you tend to pay attention to the plot and character development, and there's not much of either of those in this movie. What there is though, is fantastic character interaction and absalutely brilliant dialogue. It's so pure that most people think a lot of the movie was improvised. In a huge credit to the Coen Brothers' writing abilities, almost the entire movie is word-for-word how they wrote it.

Seriously, forget about the big picture of the movie (plot and stuff like that) and just lose yourself into the characters. It's a character driven movie, and absalutely brilliant. I began to really like the movie about the 4th time I watched it, and about the 8th time realized it was myt all-time favorite movie.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I'll have to watch it again. I saw it once, and honestly don't understand what all the fuss it about.

--turnipmonster

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

OK, now that you have replied this thread is closed. Had to wait for The Dude himself to comment.

After all of the posts, I've decided I can see a lot of the arguments for it, and will watch it again sometime.

Good discussions though, movies are so subjective, and this is one that I wanted more viewpoints on from the big time fans of it.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

[ QUOTE ]
lets have a 2+2 gathering where we all get drunk and watch Big L!

[/ QUOTE ]

The Big Lebowski drinking game:

Every time someone says "dude", drink. "Dudearino", "Dudester" etc qualify.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

" It's basically an absurdist movie and you have to be willing to go along with it or it seems like one big, masturbatory acid flashback."

That is exactly what it felt like to me. Absurd humour is my favourite kind of humour, but if TBL is absurd, and I'm not sure it is, it's absurd in a tremedously self-indulgent, flabby kind of way.

That said I too should watch it again, as I've only seen it once the whole way through, and it was a long time ago.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I just remembered the title of the porn flick with Bunny and Karl Hungus: Logjammin'. If that ain't hilarious I don't know what is. And the great exchange between Maude and The Dude about it where they each get to surprise the other by saying "vagina."

I watched it again last night...Just to Make Sure.
 

It is one of the best.

Maude Lebowski: [watching Logjamming The Porn Movie] You can guess what happens next.
The Dude: He fixes the cable?

What\'s so big about Lebowski
 

It had characters from real life. (Something that would never get past the preview audiences of big marketing.) Characters from real life are larger than life on screen.

Add to that some every day kind of humour (prick yer ears) and a dastardly insane/everyday plot, with the standard writer's formats (i.e. you can't just introduce characters and then not tell us anything more about 'em, sir!) thrown out the window.

It is sad that the makers of Lebowski are the same people who made those last two sorry excuses of a film.

Re: The Big Lebowski
 

I think in many ways this film is bigger than itself. People always seem to have more fun reciting the lines than actually watching the movie again--better in memory than on the screen. I think this is because the essence is not plot or moral message, its a mindset, an outlook. And while this mindset is not 100% revealed in the process of viewing (especially not one viewing), there is something of a spark. Then as you continue through life in the postmodern haze (in the parliance of our times) you just can't help but realize how appropriate this mindset feels, how each one liner seems to perfectly fit some everyday situation. Then before much longer passes you suddenly realize that you have evolved into a full fledged Dude, doing crazy things like saying "man" a lot and playing poker for money. And where can you trace it all back to? Who do you have to thank? That's right. The Dude. El Duderino (for those not into the whole brevity thing). His Royal Dudeness. The Big Lebowski.