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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

514.0. "Ishtar" by 11435::MURPHY (Symbolic stack dump follows...) Thu Apr 07 1994 13:28

I never saw it but it has been the epitome of "a bad movie" ever since it
was released.  I'm starting to wonder what was so bad about it. 

The other day I saw a Far Side comic. The caption was "Video Stores in
Hell" (I know a few of them around here that meet the criteria, but that's 
another topic).  The gag was that all the videos in the store were copies
of "Ishtar".  I remember this movie being panned by all the critics, and 
even jokes about it on Saturday Night Live.  Now, years later, even Gary 
Larsen is still pulling punches at it.  What is so bad about it to warrant 
all this attention?

They all hated "She Devil" too and I was kinda entertained by it.  

Now I want to go out and rent "Ishtar" to see for myself what all the 
commotion is about. Anyone want to talk me out of it?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
514.1not awfulDECWET::JWHITEreal artists shipThu Apr 07 1994 15:356
    
    it's pretty dumb, and both hoffman and beatty are irritating.
    but i didn't think it was that bad. some enjoyable moments,
    kinda quirky, a little too long. i've certainly seen *much*
    worse.
    
514.2It was funny at the timeVMSDEV::HALLYBFish have no concept of fireThu Apr 07 1994 16:546
    Kinda reminds me of a Letterman show I saw once.
    Dialing up a "theater's recorded message", we heard:
    
    "Viewings of _Under the Cherry Moon_ are scheduled for 1:30, 3:10, 5:00
     and 7:30. Refunds for _Under the Cherry Moon_ are scheduled for 2:00,
     3:30, 5:20 and 7:50".
514.329052::WSA038::SATTERFIELDClose enough for jazz.Thu Apr 07 1994 17:508

I haven't seen it but I think it's not so much that it's a bad film as it
is that it was a financial flop. With all the money and build up it turned
out to be mediocre at best and people stayed away.


Randy
514.4MediocreKOLFAX::WIEGLEBBudding LudditeThu Apr 07 1994 19:4310
    In a recent "Animaniacs" Pinky and the Brain sketch, they had the pair
    surveying a shelf full of very rare items for use in casting a spell. 
    One of the jars of rare items was labelled "Ishtar Box Office
    Receipts".
    
    I saw "Ishtar" in a sneak preview.  It was just very mediocre. (i've
    had bad luck with sneak previews in general.  The other one I saw was
    "Baby Boom" which *was* bad.)
    
    - Dave
514.5ishtar fan3258::ROBERTS_CRthe evening sky grew darkThu Apr 07 1994 19:446
    I *LIKED* the movie ..  kill me now!  It has no social redeeming value,
    is unfactual, is chauvinist, has bad bad music in it, and is full on
    pompus overacting men.  There are a few wonderful lines tho.  Watch for
    a killer line about the camel.
    
    c 
514.6"a title for your reply"11435::MURPHYSymbolic stack dump follows...Thu Apr 07 1994 21:167
    I'm all for killer lines about camels :-)
    
    I'll rent the movie.  I'm sure there's lot's of copies available.
    
    Thanks
    Steve
    
514.7could it be...11435::MURPHYSymbolic stack dump follows...Thu Apr 07 1994 21:184
    
    um... "most of us ride the camel into town"  is that it?
    
    
514.8The old ones are the best41188::HELSOMFri Apr 08 1994 12:103
re .-1

That one is traditional (substituting donkey for camel) in Cyprus.
514.93258::ROBERTS_CRthe evening sky grew darkWed Apr 13 1994 19:395
    No :-)  That's not the line .   Did you rent it yet??
    
    the movie that is.
    
    
514.10not yet11435::MURPHYSymbolic stack dump follows...Wed Apr 13 1994 20:417
    not yet - but I will soon.  Last two movies I rented (over the last few 
    nights) were a couple old one's that my wife hadn't seen but I had.
    "Major League" and "My Left Foot" (the latter being a much more
    significant film).
    
    steve
    
514.11I liked it....17576::TAYLOR_JPickin' and a grinnin'Mon May 02 1994 19:081
    I *liked* Ishtar .