I don't understand all the hate on this one. I tought it was mesmerizing. I don't think someone have to fully understand a project like this one or even get something especially substantial from it to appreciate it. It's not supposed to be a story with a moral at the end or something like that. It's an exercise in style! Of course you can dislike it... but come on! abstractness can't possibly be compared to the more conventional to be appreciated. (sorry for my english)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou5gBQ9IrKQ
It starts at 37:04. This video is only about 10,000x better quality than the first video that pops up from a search. Some of the images are quite beautiful.
So...this is an experimental 16mm film. It's hard to understand/appreciate it when viewing a 480x320 compressed transfer of it.
It's use of superimposition and layering was actually really new and important for the time. A lot of what you see today on TV was influenced by people like Ballie, Brakhage and other important experimental filmmakers of the time.
Don't just check movies for the check. You check movies because you like movies right? Then watch them properly and enjoy them for the sake of enjoying them.
@bdcortright makes a good point. Even if a film is 'bad' (and this one is), its still valuable to try and learn something from it and research it, finding out why it was important.
When I say this one is bad, I mean its not enjoyable to watch and I personally did not get anything out of it other than a nice introduction to Ballie and some interesting technical experimentation.
Thought it was a decent short. At some point, almost halfway I was even hearing electronic music in the sounds of the trains- and that was without the use of any substances.
I don't understand why any of you guys watched past the first minute. It's obviously the type of film you guys despise no matter what. Why did you even watch it?
I can't believe these last two comments are serious (especially that Leeds Bridge comment). It's similar to Shirley Clarke's great Bridges Go-Round (1958). Constant movement with superimpositions following trains and factories presumably near Castro Street. It's a beautiful poetic montage piece.
@bdcortright
Spare us your elitist crap. Your check isn't better than anyone else's, your use of the website is not superior to anyone else's, and you have not discovered the one "proper" way to enjoy any film.
oh look! Its constant movement with superimpositions following trains and factories presumably near Castro Street!
I agree with the two previous posters, this is rubbish.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 16
marco_n65
I don't understand all the hate on this one. I tought it was mesmerizing. I don't think someone have to fully understand a project like this one or even get something especially substantial from it to appreciate it. It's not supposed to be a story with a moral at the end or something like that. It's an exercise in style! Of course you can dislike it... but come on! abstractness can't possibly be compared to the more conventional to be appreciated. (sorry for my english)Sonjay89
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou5gBQ9IrKQIt starts at 37:04. This video is only about 10,000x better quality than the first video that pops up from a search. Some of the images are quite beautiful.
marienbad
So...this is an experimental 16mm film. It's hard to understand/appreciate it when viewing a 480x320 compressed transfer of it.It's use of superimposition and layering was actually really new and important for the time. A lot of what you see today on TV was influenced by people like Ballie, Brakhage and other important experimental filmmakers of the time.
Don't just check movies for the check. You check movies because you like movies right? Then watch them properly and enjoy them for the sake of enjoying them.
priddy_44
I love trains, so this movie worked for me.BlueVoid
@bdcortright makes a good point. Even if a film is 'bad' (and this one is), its still valuable to try and learn something from it and research it, finding out why it was important.When I say this one is bad, I mean its not enjoyable to watch and I personally did not get anything out of it other than a nice introduction to Ballie and some interesting technical experimentation.
Flavio
Thought it was a decent short. At some point, almost halfway I was even hearing electronic music in the sounds of the trains- and that was without the use of any substances.ebaum1saik
I don't understand why any of you guys watched past the first minute. It's obviously the type of film you guys despise no matter what. Why did you even watch it?ricer11
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2dbtk_castro-street-bruce-baillie_shortfilmsEmiam
5/10'T'was OK. Trains. Yes, I think it was about that. Basically. ;)
ebaum1saik
I can't believe these last two comments are serious (especially that Leeds Bridge comment). It's similar to Shirley Clarke's great Bridges Go-Round (1958). Constant movement with superimpositions following trains and factories presumably near Castro Street. It's a beautiful poetic montage piece.Jumping Elephant
Cinematic doggerel. It's hard to believe that film started out with feats such as Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge and disintegrated into this.samlowery
@bdcortrightSpare us your elitist crap. Your check isn't better than anyone else's, your use of the website is not superior to anyone else's, and you have not discovered the one "proper" way to enjoy any film.
1SO
Sobchak, I see we suffer from the same addiction.Sobchak
oh look! Its constant movement with superimpositions following trains and factories presumably near Castro Street!I agree with the two previous posters, this is rubbish.
Sobchak
I'll watch anything for a check :)Showing items 1 – 15 of 16