Costner's Postman: what a raw deal this movie got... by chrisisall

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Costner's Postman: what a raw deal this movie got...

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Monday, August 13, 2007 18:23
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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 3:30 AM

Kevin Costner's Postman was actually a great flick trying to dig it's way out of a mountain of bad reviews.
Admittedly, Waterworld was not the best movie ever, but after Dances With Wolves (An over-rated film anyway), the critics were just waiting for a Costner failure- and they more or less got it.
But Postman was a success IMO. It had the Sci-Fi aspect of Waterworld, and the schmaltz of Dances With Wolves, but it left behind the comic book nonsense of the former ( Dennis Hopper, ARGHHHHHH Matey!), and the gross revisionist history of the latter (See Tom Cruise's Last Samuri for more on that). Plus, it had the balls to go for an "R" rating when "PG13" would have guaranteed a bigger audience. It should have been his greatest success, but the critics didn't let it happen.
Now this movie is all but forgotten.
A shame.

It deserved better Chrisisall

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 4:53 AM

STEGASAURUS

I didn't get to see this one at the theaters, but when it came out I immediately bought it. I didn't mind Waterworld, and thought it was a somewhat fun (if a bit drawn out) movie. But The Postman I really liked. I'm a moderate Costner fan, so I'll give all of his movies a go, but I loved the "real world" references in the movie - like when he met Tom Petty. lol

What really attracted me to the movie though, is that it wasn't set that far into the future, and Costner's character was my age (or I would be that age once we reached that moment in time). That created a draw to me and helped me jump into his character.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 5:46 AM

DATALESS

I like this movie. Critics have absolutely nothing to do with what movies I see. I think when this movie came out people were bored or jaded with Cosner. He made a string of movies that people didn't like (Tin Cup, Waterworld (being the most expensive waste of time for everyone who saw it and made it), A Perfect World). The movie was similar to Waterworld in that it was a post-apocalyptic vision of the future where only a poorly named character can save it.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 5:53 AM

FREDGIBLET

I agree chrisisall, I really liked that movie and never understood why people dissed it, sure it wasn't perfect and Costner was playing Costner instead of a character but the whole deal was pretty good.

I bet I can get the DVD for cheap...

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 6:24 AM

CHRISISALL

$8 brand new at most places; $13 at Barnes & Nobel.

Pricegrabber Chrisisall

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 7:39 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by fredgiblet:
Costner was playing Costner

I like it when he does that...

Chrisisall as Chrisisall

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 7:48 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

Postman, awesome. A little corny in a spot or two but nothing is perfect.

Another underrated Costner flick-
A Perfect World.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:04 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by nvghostrider:
A little corny in a spot or two but nothing is perfect.

The beginning is totally awesome, very 'Boy And His Dog'.

Boy and his mule Chrisisall

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:14 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

The conversation with Tom Petty was awesome. When he answers "I know you. You're famous."

Wow. The recognition of leadership. Goosebumps.

Not to mention, IT WAS F-ING TOM PETTY.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:25 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Didn't see the movie.

I saw the trailer, in an auditorium full of sci-fi fans gathered together to watch the very latest episodes of 'The X-Files' direct from the US. This was back when 'The X-Files' was good, you understand. Anyway, during an ad break the trailer for The Postman came on, and, well, it was so stupid and overblown and silly looking we all laughed ourselves silly. I mean, the whole auditorium just cracked up. So I never bothered watching it.

As for Waterworld, it wasn't a bad movie and it didn't perform badly. It was just that it went so widely over budget (mostly due to poor production decisions on Kevin's part, like putting the set in a place he was warned by locals was a bad place for storms and then having to replace it when it got wrecked by a storm) that it pretty much needed to be a massive, massive hit to make any money at all. The critics had the same sneering attitude to the vast amount Cameron spent on Titanic. They were very disappointed when the movie had the cheek to become the most successful movie of all time. All those 'sank without a trace' comments gone to waste...

Even the littlest Joss chicks are absolutely kickass
Banners, Avatars, LJ Icons and other fun stuff at www.desktophippie.com

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:38 AM

GROOSALUGG

I LOVE "The Postman!"

Corny in spots? Yeah, maybe. Unrealistic in a lot of ways, even for a fictional post-apocalyptic story? Possibly. But the characters are good, the actors are great (Will Patton and Larenz Tate, in particular), and the cinematography shows off that epic scenery in awesome fashion. And its theme of hope is something we don't see enough of these days...

If you haven't seen it, don't let people tell you ahead of time how bad it is--watch it and see for yourself. You might be surprised...

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 11:21 AM

WINDIE

May just watch the film now.

After all you have pretty good taste as we are all here for the same reason.

Why have they taken the sky from ME

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 12:28 PM

CHINDI

Ho HO! I love this movie.. a real "guilty pleasure"... well done and fun to watch.

I always thought that the critics didn't get Costner's humor! His films always have a lot of wry humor... Here's a health to Lincoln Ford Mercury!! lol

And I liked Waterworld too. Again.. lots of underrecognized humor.. and with the polar ice caps melting.. maybe this film was a bit prophetic.. watch the opening sequence for Universal, where the land masses disappear under the rising oceans...

Thanks for the thread.. always interesting discussions here at FFF...

Chindi.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 1:17 PM

WHODIED

Consider, if you've not already, reading the book from which the movie is adapted: 'The Postman' by David Brin.

--WhoDied

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Books smell. Musty and, and, and, and rich.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 1:53 PM

JAGFAN98

I love this movie. I get a lot of crap from people when i tell them the Postman is awesome, but its usually from people who haven't even seen the whole thing. Like others have said before, it got a bad rap because people lumped it with Waterworld (which isn't as bad as its made out to be).

-She's in Congress?-

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 1:55 PM

DEL

I like the horses...

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 2:03 PM

CHINDI

thanks for the book tip WhoDied.. I will check it out.

Chindi

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 2:46 PM

SOULOFSERENITY

The Man They Call Soul...

Finally!! I've found someone else who digs this movie!!

I saw the movie first with an ex-girlfriend, and was very intrigued. I would highly reccomend the book, too. Very well written. Haven't been able to find it in years, though.

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Tuesday, August 7, 2007 8:43 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Groosalugg:
the characters are good, the actors are great (Will Patton and Larenz Tate, in particular), and the cinematography shows off that epic scenery in awesome fashion. And its theme of hope is something we don't see enough of these days...

Totally.

Agreeing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, August 8, 2007 1:42 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Never saw "The Postman" in theatres, but caught it on cable a few years ago and enjoyed it. Still watch it whenever I catch it on cable.

I seldom listen to the critics. Seems they pan a movie I wind up liking it. Go figure.

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Monday, August 13, 2007 5:48 PM

WAVER

Just had to reply to this thread...

I can't even tell you how many times I've been bashed for backing The Postman. I'm not saying it's in my Top 20 (or 200 for that matter) but definitely worth watching. Some really interesting ideas in there.

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Monday, August 13, 2007 6:13 PM

STOWEAWAY

Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
Never saw "The Postman" in theatres

That's a shame. I saw it in the theater and part of the appeal to me is the scenery. The shots of the Pacific Northwest are breathtaking.
I love this movie. It is over-the-top in places but I like the characters. I find them unpredictable, not formulaic.
Plus it's one of the few movies my dad and I can agree on. And that's a huge plus for me.

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Monday, August 13, 2007 6:23 PM

SPACEGIRL32

I remember seeing this movie on Christmas Eve because I just had to get out of the house! My mother was really getting under my skin!

Anyway.....please read the book when you have time. The book is excellent!

And this is one of Costner's better movies

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