View Full Version : Snake Eyes!
I watched this film for the first time last night and Wow! The first 20mins are superb!! It was a relief when the commercial break came on as it allowed the tension to ease up!!! How long was that first shot?? From start to...what 10-15 mins into the film without break! Following Cage around, being a maniac.
Shame the rest of the film couldn't match the start and the ending was rubbish.
Unfortunately though, it was obvious who the bad guy was, Gary Sinise is always the bad guy!!!!
It's a good opening sequence isn't it?. A ot of people don't like this film but i thought it was a decent thriller.
I don't wish to shatter your illusions but there are edit's in the opening shot. They are just cleverly masked.
Wouldn't mind seeing this again now.
I love this film. The opening shot is your traditional DePalma tracking shot taken to the extreme. It does have a few cuts in it, but they're really well done (walking past pillars etc).
The ending was re-shot. Originally, ILM created a tidal wave sequence, but it was cut for some reason.
Love the little twist in the final shot of the stone column though.
Originally posted by Morton
I watched this film for the first time last night and Wow! The first 20mins are superb!! It was a relief when the commercial break came on as it allowed the tension to ease up!!! How long was that first shot?? From start to...what 10-15 mins into the film without break! Following Cage around, being a maniac.
Shame the rest of the film couldn't match the start and the ending was rubbish. Unfortunately though, it was obvious who the bad guy was, Gary Sinise is always the bad guy!!!! Well I'm glad I watched it last night! :rolleyes: :brickwall
Originally posted by Robby
I don't wish to shatter your illusions but there are edit's in the opening shot. They are just cleverly masked.
:( I'm devasted! (:D )
Thanks for the gentle reminder Gary.
The reason the ending is crap, apart from the fact that no-one bothered to write one, is that the original conclusion was scrapped late into production and something else hurriedly shoved into its place.
Personally I think it's pretty average, especially for De Palma, but the first hour has lots of good things in it - especially the overhead shot of the hotel rooms.
Tony Keats
16-01-2002, 11:44
Posted by Morton
I watched this film for the first time last night and Wow! The first 20mins are superb!! It was a relief when the commercial break came on as it allowed the tension to ease up!!! How long was that first shot?? From start to...what 10-15 mins into the film without break
If you thought that was impressive, you should check out the Anchor Bay edition of Running Time. That's a 70min movie (starring Bruce Campbell) which has no perceptible cuts for the whole duration!. It starts with Campbell's release from prison and then follows him around (using steadicam techniques) as he attempts a pre-planned heist.
It was only the second feature film in history to attempt one continuous shot and the real-time illusion is upheld throughout. In truth, it has roughly 14 cuts in total, but unlike Hitchcock's Rope (from 1948) none of them are particularly obvious.
Originally posted by Mike
Personally I think it's pretty average, especially for De Palma, but the first hour has lots of good things in it - especially the overhead shot of the hotel rooms.
I am a very, very big De Palma fan, but only watched this for the first time last night. All I can say is WOW ! I've shied away from his later efforts, but this seemed to be a return to form. An awful lot of it did seem reminiscent of 'Dressed to Kill' though.
Typical De Palma moments have been mentioned (long opening shot although it was unusual that it wasn't a 'complete' fake opening, only Cage's character was 'fake', innovative use of overhead shots), but I had to laugh when the split screen came on as they reverted to the OAR, whereas the rest of the film was pan&scammed !
Yeah the ending was a bit cack , but I liked the use of Sinise's shadow projected on the wall for Cage to see he was behind him, but it was a typical De Palma depressing ending for the Cage character !
:)
Originally posted by Tony Keats
If you thought that was impressive, you should check out the Anchor Bay edition of Running Time. That's a 70min movie (starring Bruce Campbell) which has no perceptible cuts for the whole duration!. It starts with Campbell's release from prison and then follows him around (using steadicam techniques) as he attempts a pre-planned heist.Cool, I will do. :D
Originally posted by Tony Keats
In truth, it has roughly 14 cuts in totalIsn't that because the max length of a roll of film in the camera is around 15minutes?!
KeyserSoze
16-01-2002, 13:32
i read somewhere this film was based on Kurosawas Rashoman, is this true ?
i missed SE last night, but ive seen rashomon which is excellent (cant wait for criterion release).
Originally posted by KeyserSoze
i read somewhere this film was based on Kurosawas Rashoman, is this true ?
i missed SE last night, but ive seen rashomon which is excellent (cant wait for criterion release). Hmmm not really - although like <I>Rashomon</i> it's one story told from multiple perspectives.
You didn't miss much, I liked the film, but a Channel 5 P&S job! Ugh!
Nathan-Wind
16-01-2002, 20:57
Thanks for that Tony Keats it has now been ordered :)
Originally posted by Nathan-Wind
Thanks for that Tony Keats it has now been ordered :)
Where you order it from matey?
Cheers:)
timecode has no cuts throughout.
snakeyes has 1 in the first 20mins.
Tony Keats
17-01-2002, 00:30
Posted by Garry Cowell
Isn't that because the max length of a roll of film in the camera is around 15minutes?!
That's a good point. Although it was actually only 10 minutes in the case of Running Time and they would have needed to complete the shot in 9 (as the final minute would have been accompanied by punch-holes etc). I double-checked with the commentary about the number of cuts and apparently there are 30 in total!. I took a guess at 14 but some are obviously hidden really well (using frame-advance doesn't help either). Admittedly some are less seemless than others, but the overall flow is never hindered and it's an admirable achievement for such an independent film.
Posted by Nathan-Wind
Thanks for that Tony Keats it has now been ordered
I hope you get something out of it then as obviously you'll be blaming me if you don't!!. It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it's undeniably a one-off and the various methods used to disguise the edits are very interesting. In any case, I remember your contributions to the AOD threads, so I'm sure you'll agree that an audio commentary by Bruce Campbell is worth the outlay on its own...
If anyone else is considering buying a copy then I feel obliged to warn you that it's presented in black & white, framed at 1.33:1 and accompanied by a mono soundtrack (and most of the dialogue was re-dubbed in post-production). I don't consider these bad points myself (they're stylistic choices as much as anything), but I could understand people turning their noses up at such low-tech specs.
Davester
17-01-2002, 01:57
Good fun film - Nic Cage saves it (one of teh best actors IMHO). Good fun and certainly worth a poke.
Nathan-Wind
17-01-2002, 10:06
Originally posted by Jez
Where you order it from matey?
Cheers:)
www.dv-depot.com
A great shop though you have to order in bulk to get your money's worth. I currently have a flexi-cart with 10 discs which i'll be ordering in the next few days. They have a low stock flag on it though so order it quick! Or would you like me to add another copy to my order which i can send to you? It costs £13.88 BTW:)
Perhaps and i send you a cheque?
How long you think it would take?
Cheers:)
The_Evil_Dean
17-01-2002, 11:32
aaaaah yes Running Time ...I have a copy of this on dvd and I would say it is pretty obvious where the cuts are in the film and it is a very impressive go at making a film that is just one big shot ....the commentary is entertaining also
Tony Keats
17-01-2002, 12:10
Originally posted by The_Evil_Dean
aaaaah yes Running Time ...I have a copy of this on dvd and I would say it is pretty obvious where the cuts are in the film
I don't think 'obvious' is the right word though. If you watched it with the specific intention of identifying all the cuts, then you could probably spot 14 or so with a degree of confidence. The thing is, you'd still only be guessing that an edit took place (because of an opportune moment) and I don't think any are glaringly apparent. As I said earlier, going through frame by frame doesn't reveal anything untoward either (I've tried it!).
The opening of Snake Eyes is arguably more impressive (largely because it's in colour), but De Palma had a proper budget at his disposal and better equipment too (Running Time had to be partly financed by Campbell himself).
Nathan-Wind
17-01-2002, 12:40
Originally posted by Jez
Perhaps and i send you a cheque?
How long you think it would take?
Cheers:)
I'm probably going to order it tomorrow to ensure it comes mid week so it will arrive at my work and i'll be there to collect. They courier things over by DHL so it takes between 2-4 days to get here. So if you want it I could probably get it to you by next Friday. Or as I live in Morley you could also pick it up or I could meet you in Leeds city centre. Let me know by tomorrow and i'll sort you out:)
Just to be clear I would be buying 2 copies and you'd be getting a sealed brand new copy not my second hand copy.
Panavision
17-01-2002, 12:53
Originally posted by Morton
I watched this film for the first time last night and Wow! The first 20mins are superb!! It was a relief when the commercial break came on as it allowed the tension to ease up!!! How long was that first shot?? From start to...what 10-15 mins into the film without break! Following Cage around, being a maniac.
Shame the rest of the film couldn't match the start and the ending was rubbish.
DISGUSTING!!! The film was panned and scanned, I caught a few bits, but it was horrible, all the work on the visuals was chopped to bits. Watch it in wide-screen as intended, you haven't seen Snakes Eyes till u watch the widdddde :)
Nathan-Wind
17-01-2002, 13:19
Originally posted by Tony Keats
I hope you get something out of it then as obviously you'll be blaming me if you don't!!. It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it's undeniably a one-off and the various methods used to disguise the edits are very interesting. In any case, I remember your contributions to the AOD threads, so I'm sure you'll agree that an audio commentary by Bruce Campbell is worth the outlay on its own...
No problem Tony, if i think it sucks it won't be your fault. I just find the idea so intriguing that I have to see. As you say a commentary by Mr Campbell is always worth a listen :) and worth the price of the disc on its on.
An average film with a naff ending IMO.
Originally posted by Nathan-Wind
I'm probably going to order it tomorrow to ensure it comes mid week so it will arrive at my work and i'll be there to collect. They courier things over by DHL so it takes between 2-4 days to get here. So if you want it I could probably get it to you by next Friday. Or as I live in Morley you could also pick it up or I could meet you in Leeds city centre. Let me know by tomorrow and i'll sort you out:)
Just to be clear I would be buying 2 copies and you'd be getting a sealed brand new copy not my second hand copy.
Thanks a lot for the offer, think i'll leave it though am going back to uni so would take some sorting out.
Cheers anyhow:)
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