Just saw Eraserhead (1 Viewer)

[shuke]

Mr. furley

Have you seen any of the following movies and if so did you like them?

1. Donnie Darko - saw it, didn't like it.

2. Primer - didn't see it (sounds familiar though.. what's it about.  i MIGHT have seen it and just spaced it)

3. Blue Velvet - didn't see it

If you didn't like DD you would not like Primer or Blue Velvet hence the reason you didn't like Eraserhead.

I liked Donnie Darko a lot. Never saw the other two, and have never seen anything of Lynch's. Not sure why, it just hasn't happened. Maybe I'll hit Blockbuster today. Any big-time Lynch fans want to give me a quick primer on his work, what films are most accessible, which is good to start with, etc?

Best place to start would be Blue Velvet.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Mr. furley

Have you seen any of the following movies and if so did you like them?

1. Donnie Darko - saw it, didn't like it.

2. Primer - didn't see it (sounds familiar though.. what's it about.  i MIGHT have seen it and just spaced it)

3. Blue Velvet - didn't see it

If you didn't like DD you would not like Primer or Blue Velvet hence the reason you didn't like Eraserhead.

I liked Donnie Darko a lot. Never saw the other two, and have never seen anything of Lynch's. Not sure why, it just hasn't happened. Maybe I'll hit Blockbuster today. Any big-time Lynch fans want to give me a quick primer on his work, what films are most accessible, which is good to start with, etc?

Best place to start would be Blue Velvet.

 

[Dt's Mules]

Mr. furley

Have you seen any of the following movies and if so did you like them?

1. Donnie Darko - saw it, didn't like it.

2. Primer - didn't see it (sounds familiar though.. what's it about. i MIGHT have seen it and just spaced it)

3. Blue Velvet - didn't see it

If you didn't like DD you would not like Primer or Blue Velvet hence the reason you didn't like Eraserhead.

I liked Donnie Darko a lot. Never saw the other two, and have never seen anything of Lynch's. Not sure why, it just hasn't happened. Maybe I'll hit Blockbuster today. Any big-time Lynch fans want to give me a quick primer on his work, what films are most accessible, which is good to start with, etc?

Best place to start would be Blue Velvet.

ohhhh i'm slutty

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Was Hopper nominated for Blue Velvet? He was bananas in that.

 

[perry147]

Was Hopper nominated for Blue Velvet? He was bananas in that.

"Mommy!!!" ..Breathe.."Mommy!!"

 

[saintfool]

Was Hopper nominated for Blue Velvet? He was bananas in that.

Dorothy looks up at the ceiling, waiting. Frank suddenly reaches to his belt, where he has a small canister and a mask. He opens a valve on the

canister and places the mask over his nose and mouth. The canister is

filled with helium, which makes Frank's voice very high and strange

sounding. The result is frightening.

FRANK

(high voice)

. mommy.

Dorothy jumps. She keeps looking at the ceiling.

FRANK

(continuing, with high voice)

. MOMMY!.

DOROTHY

(frightened)

. mommy's here.

FRANK

(high voice)

Baby wants to ####.

Then, Frank's voice goes to normal.

FRANK

(normal voice, but loud - like

an army order to himself)

GET READY TO ####!

 

[perry147]

Was Hopper nominated for Blue Velvet? He was bananas in that.

Dorothy looks up at the ceiling, waiting. Frank suddenly reaches to his belt, where he has a small canister and a mask. He opens a valve on the

canister and places the mask over his nose and mouth. The canister is

filled with helium, which makes Frank's voice very high and strange

sounding. The result is frightening.

FRANK

(high voice)

. mommy.

Dorothy jumps. She keeps looking at the ceiling.

FRANK

(continuing, with high voice)

. MOMMY!.

DOROTHY

(frightened)

. mommy's here.

FRANK

(high voice)

Baby wants to ####.

Then, Frank's voice goes to normal.

FRANK

(normal voice, but loud - like

an army order to himself)

GET READY TO ####!

That is the scene I was referring to in my post; nothing like a little incest, drug use, pedophilia, and great cinematography to entertain.Also liked.

Frank Booth: Don't be a good neighbor anymore to her. I'll have to send you a love letter! Straight from my heart, ####er! You know what a love letter is? It's a bullet from a ####### gun, ####er! You recieve a love letter from me, and you're ####ed forever! You understand, ####? I'll send you straight to hell, ####er!... In dreams... I walk with you. In dreams... I talk to you. In dreams, you're mine... all the time. Forever

 

[Jules Winnfield]

So, I guess it means that there is trouble until the robins come.

 

[Sabertooth]

If you like Lynch, check this out.

 

[saintfool]

If you like Lynch, check this out.

crispin glover is weird. by the by, don't rent "bartleby" (based on the melville story) which had glover, joe piscapo and david paymer. painful to watch.

 

[Sabertooth]

If you like Lynch, check this out.

crispin glover is weird. by the by, don't rent "bartleby" (based on the melville story) which had glover, joe piscapo and david paymer. painful to watch.

yeah, not exactly a guy I'd want to chug beers with. Or even be in the same state with.

 

[Bogart]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

 

[perry147]

So, I guess it means that there is trouble until the robins come.

when love returns.

 

[saintfool]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

She might have the nicest set of mams I've ever seen.

 

[saintfool]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

She might have the nicest set of mams I've ever seen.

i always thought it was ma'ams, for the sly play on words there...

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

She might have the nicest set of mams I've ever seen.

i always thought it was ma'ams, for the sly play on words there...

Not sure. I always use it as an abbreviated "mammaries."

 

[saintfool]

Not sure. I always use it as an abbreviated "mammaries."

yeah, i know but imagine calling them ma'am-aries! hilarious, right?i'll stop now.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Not sure.  I always use it as an abbreviated "mammaries."

yeah, i know but imagine calling them ma'am-aries! hilarious, right?i'll stop now.

Oh, I see what you're saying now!

 

[saintfool]

Not sure. I always use it as an abbreviated "mammaries."

yeah, i know but imagine calling them ma'am-aries! hilarious, right?i'll stop now.

Oh, I see what you're saying now!

you're very generous, nigel.

 

[Bogart]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

Thanks for the recommendation. Just sent it to the top.

 

[saintfool]

Just went Lynch crazy over at Netflix. Already had Primer at the top of my list, so should be some good stuff coming.

Already preparing for when the Mrs. rolls her eyes as she gets excited opening up the red envelopes.

start with "mulholland drive" because there is a hot scene with naomi watts and laura harring...

Thanks for the recommendation. Just sent it to the top.

seriously, my gf at the time was like "um, yeah, if this doesn't get totally weird you'll get laid tonight. she's just want a woman fantasizes about when she's fantasizing about being with another woman..."

 

[perry147]

I watched Eraserhead again this weekend and am happy to report it is still as revolting and confusing as before.

 

[peaces]

Didn't really like at all but this hot little metal chick in college wanted me to see it.

Donnie Darko I kind of liked but I started it about 5 times before I actually watched the whole thing...think I had to be in the mood

Blue velvet saw bits and pieces back in college but was always messed up, should watch it sometime.

Only saw the beginning of primer but did see upstream color...not a fan

 

[got_nugs]

**** Laurent is dead.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

This may qualify in the other thread as the worst movie I ever saw. Excruciating, I mean really painful to watch - and disturbing.

Saw it over 25 years ago and to this day when I hear metal clanging it takes me back to this POS movie - and not in a good way.

 

[Bob Magaw]

Eraserhead fun fact/did not know that department - currently has better than a 90% rating from Rotten Tomatoes.

As has been noted above, there are some autobiographical elements (Lynch notoriously avoids explanations, he wants the film to stand on its own, and allow others to bring their own interpretation, so noting he had some anxiety about becoming a parent is about as far as he went). Trying to "figure it out" in terms of symbolism might be missing the point with a movie like Eraserhead, though (to me, it is more about atmosphere)*. He seems like a person that is in touch with, listens to and respects his sub-conscious. He probably doesn't know himself the source of some of the images.

One thing that is important to note, and imo a key to understanding why Eraserhead was reportedly one of Kubrick's favorite movies, is the sound design. Kubrick was a genius when it came to music and sound design. Especially given the low/no-budget nature of Eraserhead, the sophistication and impact of the sound design is borderline miraculous (in how it contributes to, and actively manipulates the viewer's sense of oppressive claustrophobia). Strictly on an artistic level, the photography and lighting are masterful. As to the sound and picture and how they contributed to the total, interconnected cinematic experience, Lynch's vision seemed to have emerged already fully formed in his first feature (though as noted, it was shot over five years due to budgetary constraints, so that did give him plenty of time to be a perfectionist).

It probably is just not a good recommendation for viewers that don't care for open-ended movies that resist and are refractory to neat, tidy interpretations (not criticism, just acknowledging fundamental matters of different personal style and resulting interests). Anybody that fits that description, there is a good chance Eraserhead isn't going to be their bag, so to speak. And that isn't to say those who are comfortable with and even enjoy open-ended movies may not also hate or be indifferent to Eraserhead. Just that a certain tolerance for a lack of resolution, would seem, at a minimum, to be almost a prerequisite to enjoyment of such a bizarre, non-traditional movie (though I could be off the mark on that).

Another thing about Lynch, if you are so inclined and open to it, his movies can transport you to a completely different world. You may not want to be in that world ( ), which is really a separate issue, but it is a world that has a kind of internal consistency due to the depth and power of his imagery (in a way that is profoundly absent in, say, Michael Bay). The premises of Lost Highway, for instance, or many story and plot elements of Twin Peaks, are completely unbelievable. But I still found them interesting for the power of their nightmarish atmosphere (and the imagery they are cloaked in - like the scene with Robert Blake at the party, from Lost Highway) to disturb, and the uncanny ability to get under your skin like the best horror movies.

A review from the late Roger Ebert's site.

Excerpt - "My only worry when I settled in to watch it—with my entire family, for reasons lost in the mists of time and a decision that would quickly prove to be spectacularly ill-advised..."

http://www.rogerebert.com/demanders/defying-explanation-the-brilliance-of-david-lynchs-eraserhead

* Whereas with Mulholland Drive, I did agree with the reading that...

SPOILER BELOW ALERT!!!

Naomi Watts actually contracted the murder of her friend, went insane and killed herself - the beginning of the movie was a fantasy, leading up to her descent into madness.