- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
The Elephant Man (1980 - David Lynch)......Eraserhead done right.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:12 am
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:12 am
In my opinion, this is one of the best movies ever made. This is David Lynch at his very best. Somehow Lynch was able to take the nightmarish cinematography from Eraserhead and blend it into a seriously masterful drama that seems strange but normal.
The eerie style, the creepy tone, the foreboding music, the oddly uplifting ending after the emotional rollercoaster Lynch puts the character and the viewers through...it's second to none (except Dear Zachary - LOL).
I mean, how can you not feel for John Merrick when a gang of men chase him into a public restroom to lynch him (pun intended) and he screams, "I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING!"
frick me. That's crazy stuff right there. Tears at my heartstrings knowing that this man really existed.
The eerie style, the creepy tone, the foreboding music, the oddly uplifting ending after the emotional rollercoaster Lynch puts the character and the viewers through...it's second to none (except Dear Zachary - LOL).
I mean, how can you not feel for John Merrick when a gang of men chase him into a public restroom to lynch him (pun intended) and he screams, "I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM NOT AN ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING!"
frick me. That's crazy stuff right there. Tears at my heartstrings knowing that this man really existed.
This post was edited on 11/4/15 at 9:13 am
3
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:20 am to mizzoukills
did he get caught fapping lol
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:22 am to 68wDoc68w
quote:
did he get caught fapping lol
Honestly that's what I thought when I rewatched it last night
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:31 am to mizzoukills
never seen the elephant man, I tried ( really tried) to sit through eraserhead just wasn't my thing.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:46 am to mizzoukills
quote:
This is David Lynch at his very best.
As much as I like Muholland Drive, I recognize that his original material is not for everyone. As you suggest, Eraserhead is strange as hell.
But, I've echoed what you've said here - Lynch is WONDERFUL with other people's material - the best examples are Elephant Man and Dune (very polarizing, but, despite its flaws an absolutely stunning piece of film).
If anything The Elephant Man is underrated. The acting and directing are A-grade.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:49 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
But, I've echoed what you've said here - Lynch is WONDERFUL with other people's material - the best examples are Elephant Man and Dune (very polarizing, but, despite its flaws an absolutely stunning piece of film). If anything The Elephant Man is underrated. The acting and directing are A-grade.
Exactly.
The Elephant Man takes a LOT from Eraserhead and yet manages to make a masterful film that anyone...key word - ANYONE...can enjoy. No doubt it's strang, but it's not arthouse strange like Eraserhead. Elephant Man is a truly remarkable film in more ways than one. No wonder it received 8 Academy Award nominations.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:50 am to mizzoukills
This was a great arse movie. Anthony Hopkins was awesome in it too.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 9:52 am to 68wDoc68w
quote:
I tried ( really tried) to sit through eraserhead just wasn't my thing.
Well, I don't blame you. Eraserhead is like watching a true to life nightmare on film. It certainly isn't for everyone. In fact, it's not for most people.
quote:
never seen the elephant man
You need to see it. Don't let your dislike of Eraserhead influence your decision to either watch or not watch Elephant Man.
The Elephant Man is a wonderful story. David Lynch was born to film this story. Sure, he uses imagery, directing techniques, and sound that he fine tuned in Eraserhead, but this is one of the great Hollywood achievements.
Watch it as soon as possible.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:01 am to mizzoukills
quote:
David Lynch was born to film this story.
True story - Lucas considered him for Return of the Jedi - based on Eraserhead (which Lucas apparently loved) and Elephant Man.
Imagine how fricked up RotJ would have been with Lynch at the helm? (And I mean "fricked up" in a good way, I'm a Lynch fan.
) This post was edited on 11/4/15 at 10:02 am
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:04 am to mizzoukills
quote:
The Elephant Man is a wonderful story
ill give it a try. I have heard nothing but good things
quote:
Don't let your dislike of Eraserhead
not that I didn't like it, but I was sitting there watch it thinking "WTF is going on" and then it just ended. maybe I need to watch it again
This post was edited on 11/4/15 at 10:08 am
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:10 am to 68wDoc68w
quote:
but I was sitting there watch it thinking "WTF is going on" and then it just ended. maybe I need to watch it again
Nope. You'll have the same reaction. The only reason to watch Eraserhead (in my opinion) is to marvel at Lynch's artistic skills and vision. That's it.
quote:
ill give it a try. I have heard nothing but good things
Let us know what you think
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:10 am to 68wDoc68w
quote:
but I was sitting there watch it thinking "WTF is going on"
Yeah - that was kind of the point.
quote:
maybe I need to watch it again
Probably not - unless you're going to study the themes and essays about before you watch it again.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:11 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
True story - Lucas considered him for Return of the Jedi - based on Eraserhead (which Lucas apparently loved) and Elephant Man.
So if Lucas wanted Lynch to film RotJ...what happened? Why didn't Lynch film RotJ?
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:12 am to mizzoukills
quote:
Why didn't Lynch film RotJ?
He recommended that Lucas direct it himself - as it should reflect his vision, more so than Lynch's.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:22 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
He recommended that Lucas direct it himself - as it should reflect his vision, more so than Lynch's.
Essentially he told Lucas, "Look...I greatly appreciate your interest in my artistic vision, but are you sure you want RotJ to end up looking like Eraserhead?"
And Lucas was like, "Well, of course not. I just figured you would film a movie sort of like the movies that I've filmed."
And Lynch was all like, "Uhhhh...you're talking to David Lynch, baw. I film the stuff of nightmares. Plus, I wanna film Dune."
And Lucas probably laughed and said, "Good luck with that!"
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:24 am to mizzoukills
I don't get the comparison between Eraserhead and Elephant Man. The movies have nothing in common. I'd say Elephant Man is done more in the style of a 1930s horror movie than anything else.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:28 am to Brosef Stalin
quote:
I don't get the comparison between Eraserhead and Elephant Man. The movies have nothing in common. I'd say Elephant Man is done more in the style of a 1930s horror movie than anything else.
Eraserhead and Elephant Man have a TON in common in regards to cinematography, tone, sound, etc. There are strong hints of Eraserhead throughout the entire movie!
You crazy, baw.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:32 am to mizzoukills
I think it has a lot more in common with Frankenstein than Eraserhead.
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:33 am to Brosef Stalin
quote:
The movies have nothing in common. I'd say Elephant Man is done more in the style of a 1930s horror movie than anything else.
Meh. I see what Mizzou is saying. Once you watch more than a couple of Lynch's films, like most auteurs - he has a language and a set of conventions.
Both films have a subdued, industrial soundtrack. Both films are black and white in the era of color (now, Eraserhead, it was probably cost - not of shooting - it was actually probably more expensive to shoot in b/w at that point, but color film was much more expensive to process), both films have a vaguely Steampunk vibe - before such a thing was common. Both dealt with the grotesque as a central theme.
Now, having said that - Eraserhead was very up close and personal - I felt like I was intruding and interrupting the flow of this universe, while Elephant Man looks a lot more like a filmed stage play (and thus, more conventional).
Posted on 11/4/15 at 10:43 am to Ace Midnight
Sure, story wise the two have nothing in common.
But from a directing and cinematography point of view, they have everything in common.
Like Ace said, just look at the steampunk/industrial element in both films. The choice of black and white is obvious. The industrial sounds are almost identical in both films. A strong sense of foreboding and dread. And on and on and on.
Just take the theatre scene from The Elephant Man and compare it to this scene in Eraserhead:
The Elephant Man simply had a much higher budget and therefore Lynch could do so much more with his scenes. Even the special effects for the girl's mumpy face and the grotesque baby are similar to the effects in The Elephant Man.
Anyone who says Eraserhead and The Elephant Man share no similarities is either trolling, crazy, or both.
But from a directing and cinematography point of view, they have everything in common.
Like Ace said, just look at the steampunk/industrial element in both films. The choice of black and white is obvious. The industrial sounds are almost identical in both films. A strong sense of foreboding and dread. And on and on and on.
Just take the theatre scene from The Elephant Man and compare it to this scene in Eraserhead:
The Elephant Man simply had a much higher budget and therefore Lynch could do so much more with his scenes. Even the special effects for the girl's mumpy face and the grotesque baby are similar to the effects in The Elephant Man.
Anyone who says Eraserhead and The Elephant Man share no similarities is either trolling, crazy, or both.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News