Taking Fatty's suggestion on-board, I would like my contribution to the QZE (see Fatty's original thread: link
to be very simple - that is - any movie about Queen must be entertaining.
First - it must be a fictional bio-pic. No Documentary could ever replace The Untold Story or The Magic Years. If you want documentary, buy the CDs and live DVDs.
Second - it must end with God Save The Queen, Wembley (NOT Knebworth) 1986.
I have watched a number of entertaining bio-pics recently. The Aviator (Howard Hughes), By The Sea (Bobby Darin), Ray (Ray Charles), and The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers. Other favourites include The Gathering Storm (Winston Churchill), Chaplin and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, and ofcourse that Oliver Stone classic - The Doors.
The most succesful common element of all - is to end on a high. (The Aviator concludes with the triumph of Hughes' Spruce Goose taking-off, and deliberately ignores the final twenty or so years of Hughes life - including his descent into madness).
Likewise, The Gathering Storm deals with Churchill's successful war years - and totally refuses to deal with his huge post WWII political wilderness years.
Although By The Sea ends with the death of Walden Robert Cassotto - we are reminded via a spectacular song and dance sequence that Bobby Darin is eternal.
Both the Darin and Lee biopics come to life because the director drives the movie forwards to find an inner truth of character, rather than the sequenced notes from a biographically lead script.
Forget art-farty directors, or vomit producing camera shoots. I want a film with a happy ending. I want a film whereby I leave the theatre with a mind-numbingly soundtrack seared inside my brain.
Finally, I want a film I would be proud to own on DVD, so that I can watch over and over as a story - and keep The Untold Story for those special treats!
John S Stuart wrote: Queen must be entertaining.
First - it must be a fictional bio-pic. No Documentary could ever replace The Untold Story or The Magic Years. If you want documentary, buy the CDs and live DVDs.
Second - it must end with God Save The Queen, Wembley (NOT Knebworth) 1986.
Both the Darin and Lee biopics come to life because the director drives the movie forwards to find an inner truth of character, rather than the sequenced notes from a biographically lead script.
Forget art-farty directors, or vomit producing camera shoots. I want a film with a happy ending. I want a film whereby I leave the theatre with a mind-numbingly soundtrack seared inside my brain.
Finally, I want a film I would be proud to own on DVD, so that I can watch over and over as a story - and keep The Untold Story for those special treats!
Couldn't agree more.A good entertaining Queen film would be perfect not only for Queen fans...Also,I believe that is going to make others appreciate Queen.
But a have a little question,what do you mean ''a film with a happy ending''???How can this happend?
Opening credits: Building Red Special montage
Pre-queen era covering time period from birth to death of Smile (including FM bands) ... depressing Smile breakup bridges to later years of Queen (with declining health of Freddie)
1987 to 1992 (the slow death of Queen) ... bridge to birth of Queen (from 1992 Tribute concert)
1970 to 1980 ... rise of Queen
late 1980 to 1983 ... Queen slump
1984 to 1986 ... Queen comeback (movie ending at Knebworth concert) ... happy ending
Insomni@: Happy ending? Triumphant Freddie - crown in hand at Wembly '86.
Oberon: Why Wembley - because of DVD/ repeated TV screenings - it is more successful than Knebworth.
But hey that's my movie!
Plus, to end on Wembley would be a triumph - rather than Knebworth, which in hindsight was a sad day, as it was the last Queen show.
Ending on Wembley would be a good idea.
John S Stuart wrote: Oberon: Why Wembley - because of DVD/ repeated TV screenings - it is more successful than Knebworth.
But hey that's my movie!
Well, ok, but GSTQ at Knebworth is not too far removed from GSTQ at Wembley, and being an anal purist, it should be from the last live gig, not one which was more popular due to being filmed and recorded professionally
Rip Van Winkle wrote: Opening credits: Building Red Special montage
Rip: Nice images spring to mind from your opening RS montage. I can see it on the screen in my head if you know what I mean, and from your writeup, I suspect you do. Nicely done.
JSS: I agree the raised crown would be a good way to go, freezing the image, but letting the crowd noise reach a crescendo and then slowly fade, but as triumphant an image as it is, those who know the story will see it as bittersweet.
There's also a great image taken from the back of the stage of the guys all together at the edge of the stage. We see them from behind, waving to the huge audience that fills the entire space in front of them--thousands of people. I love that shot. I think it's from the Wembley gig (either Friday or Saturday night,) It's a brilliant shot that says it all about the band, the fans and the perceived relationship between them. When I think of the original band together for their last few gigs, I think of that one.
BTW: did you see the footage they showed when Roger was on the Richard and Judy program last night? I assume that's footage shot for the Sheffield DVD. It looks fantastic. Great, high-quality images. Nice. Nice. Nice.
I've got a degree in film and media criticism/production. This is kinda "my thing."
--Cindy