Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => The Vault => Topic started by: MacGuffin on March 18, 2008, 10:21:41 AM

Title: Tropic Thunder
Post by: MacGuffin on March 18, 2008, 10:21:41 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fus.movies1.yimg.com%2Fmovies.yahoo.com%2Fimages%2Fhv%2Fphoto%2Fmovie_pix%2Fparamount_pictures%2Ftropic_thunder%2F_group_photos%2Fben_stiller1.jpg&hash=efe3205478d4d4ecd6d6f9d5eccbad016e4f936e)


Trailer here. (http://movies.yahoo.com/premieres/7011951/standardformat/)

Release Date: August 15th, 2008 (wide) 

Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte 

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Premise: A group of self-absorbed actors set out to make the most expensive war film. But after ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: w/o horse on March 18, 2008, 03:08:58 PM
. . .

Potentially awesome.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: MacGuffin on April 09, 2008, 08:33:34 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogsmithmedia.com%2Fwww.cinematical.com%2Fmedia%2F2008%2F04%2Ftropic_thunder_ben_stiller_poster.jpg&hash=7cd67f112bc51181688d87424eb6d99e3f923f68)
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogsmithmedia.com%2Fwww.cinematical.com%2Fmedia%2F2008%2F04%2Ftropic_thunder_robert_downey_poster.jpg&hash=a8e54a592b34de625e63f33889ed44391577c7f0)
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogsmithmedia.com%2Fwww.cinematical.com%2Fmedia%2F2008%2F04%2Ftropic_thunder_jack_black_poster.jpg&hash=8badf52c317e601c5c98a3d9cfc4f109225d1535)
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Ravi on May 20, 2008, 06:00:16 PM
Red-band trailer (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JCDtdhiCm6A)
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gamblour. on May 20, 2008, 07:03:36 PM
It's incredible.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: picolas on May 20, 2008, 07:51:49 PM
wanna laborate?
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on May 20, 2008, 10:10:48 PM
This looks hilarious.

"huh!?"

haha.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on June 05, 2008, 10:00:09 PM
Am I a dickhead for thinking this looks awesome?
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: cinemanarchist on June 05, 2008, 10:37:45 PM
I'm pretty sure you're a dickhead if you don't. Carl will get viral on your ass if he sees you're not laughing.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Kal on July 28, 2008, 01:23:38 AM
Did not bother to click on the trailers posted here, but I saw a different one at the theatre today (before watching Step Brothers) and it has a hilarious scene of (SPOILERS I guess... for the trailer at least) Ben Stiller being back stabbed by a little kid. And so many Downey Jr. moments that are incredible. Plus the retarded-guy movie Stiller makes. Amazing this is going to be great.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Catma95 on July 31, 2008, 07:23:41 PM
I like in the trailer when they show Jack Black at a premier and the posters in the back are of him in fat suits.  Also does this movie remind anyone of The Three Amigos??
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pozer on August 01, 2008, 02:06:24 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowculture.com%2Farchives%2Fimages%2Ffarley-show.jpg&hash=f74aad97c270a95558702d1942cc08fddb4089e2)
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gamblour. on August 02, 2008, 08:24:00 AM
Quote from: picolas on May 20, 2008, 07:51:49 PM
wanna laborate?

Sorry, I guess I was referring to the trailer.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: picolas on August 02, 2008, 02:36:41 PM
yeah i thought you'd somehow seen it.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: indiefilmgal on August 05, 2008, 02:11:22 PM
i can't wait for this movie
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pwaybloe on August 05, 2008, 02:39:27 PM
yes
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pozer on August 05, 2008, 02:51:46 PM
definitely gonna be a cool film.  totally.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: hedwig on August 05, 2008, 03:03:13 PM
this looks so funny!
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on August 05, 2008, 03:06:04 PM
Quote from: Hedwig on August 05, 2008, 03:03:13 PM
this looks so funny!

omg i kno rite? xoxo  :yabbse-grin:
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: picolas on August 06, 2008, 03:27:40 AM
check this shit out, doggs (http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/?p=997)
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on August 06, 2008, 07:49:09 AM
They need to stop letting kids from those MTV Blogs get credentials for those junkets. How hard is it to tell they made their own press lanyards?
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 04:47:41 AM
This is currently my favorite movie of 2008 so far. Way too late to go into details but I will have a intensive review tomorrow. Although everyone is solid and way above average the real standouts are Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise, who I don't care what anyone says, is an awesome guy and a consummate actor. God Damn, this was genius.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: squints on August 13, 2008, 07:07:42 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 04:47:41 AM
the real standouts are Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise

What the fuck? Spoiler?
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Kal on August 13, 2008, 08:50:05 AM
Quote from: squints on August 13, 2008, 07:07:42 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 04:47:41 AM
the real standouts are Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise

What the fuck? Spoiler?

I havent seen it, but that fucking spoiler has been ALL over the media the past few days talking about how TC should make more comedic roles. It would have been a nice surprise.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 08:54:36 AM
Quote from: kal on August 13, 2008, 08:50:05 AM
Quote from: squints on August 13, 2008, 07:07:42 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 04:47:41 AM
the real standouts are Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise

What the fuck? Spoiler?

I havent seen it, but that fucking spoiler has been ALL over the media the past few days talking about how TC should make more comedic roles. It would have been a nice surprise.
Shit, sorry, I thought you guys knew.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on August 13, 2008, 09:30:34 AM
I actually heard about his cameo months ago. I'm stoked for this movie and I didn't give a shit about the spoiler.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: pete on August 13, 2008, 09:47:32 AM
Quote from: squints on August 13, 2008, 07:07:42 AM
What the fuck? Spoiler?

why would then go on to bolden the fonts if you didn't like the spoiler?  wasn't that the same joke that cine played about how Juno dies?
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gamblour. on August 13, 2008, 10:08:57 AM
Man, this shit's retarded.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: squints on August 13, 2008, 12:05:26 PM
I live in 1997. I'm behind a bit on everything. Sorry fellas.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 13, 2008, 05:20:48 PM
Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!!!...You Happy now?

This is a satire of the highest calibur. This is the type of film that the more you know about the business, the funnier it is. Even if I did not know much I would still throughly enjoy this film. I don't want to call it a masterpiece just yet but I feel the way about this movie that Mod feels about "The Dark Knight". It's cinema like this that reminds me why I love Hollywood in general and why I fell in love with movies in the first place. The balls this movie has are huge balls to do the things they do in this film.

Starting with the best fake-trailers this side of Grindhouse, TROPIC THUNDER develops into the most uniquely wacky blend of satire/action/ and gross-out I've ever seen. The fake trailers are really wonderful: Alpa Chino(Brandon T. Jackson), yeah you heard me, a rapper selling his energy crap; Tug Speedman (Ben Stiller) in Scorched 6; Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) in the Fatties 2; and a Heavy Gay Catholic Drama starring Kirk Laszarus (Downey Jr) and Tobey Maguire.

Also present are some rather shocking sight gags (the brutal slaughter of an endangered species) that managed to catch everyone off guard in the theatre and made them laugh hysterically.

The action sequences look extremely real, thanks to Jon Toll who did Braveheart and Legend of the Falls (as well as Almost Famous, one of my favorites). There are some unexpected turns like Steve Coogan being blown up by a old mine, shoveled in the ground when there was an actual war (they are filming in Vietnam).

The Cast:
Downey Jr was beyond anything I've ever anticipated for the role that I read about. Matthew McConaughey    is great as Tug Speedman's (Ben Stiller's) agent and it looks like he's mimicing a bit of Owen Wilson since that was the role that he was supposed to play before his attempted suicide. Tyra has a very funny cameo. Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy turned himself to 11 as a heroin addicted actor known for Shit movies (pun intended). This is Ben's best comedic work in years and really stands out.

The real crown jewel that if you have been reading in the press, is the extended cameo by Tom Cruise. Now, I love Tom Cruise, I've always loved Tom Cruise. I own everything he's ever done except Legend and Days of Thunder and I should be picking them up soon. Think what you will about his religion but he's always had a magnetic power with audiences, to captivate us. Whether he's always used it is debatable. I believe he has, but jeez look at me I'm meandering. Anyway, with the sliding connection with the audience after Oprah and the summer of 2005 this should bolster him at the top again, reminding us all how FUCKING COOL he can be when he really wants to be. His dance scenes in the movie rival his struts in Risky Business. A Studio head has never looked so outrageous, so ridiculous, so fucking out there that I applauded when his name came up in the credits. Bill hader as the Head Honcho's assistant blended in really well with the rest of the cast.

I didn't mean for that to be a huge paragraph. Anyway, finally Jay Baruchel (of 'Undeclared' Fame) plays Kevin Sandusky. The only moral compass and therefore strait man in a platoon of loons. He grounds the movie in some reality. Or whatever Hollywood would call reality.

You are all aware of who they are making fun of and yet its not said outright. This was an all around fun time at the movies that I will probably re-see tonight or tomorrow...

My Favorite line of the movie:
"Seriously, a nuttless monkey could do your job. A Nuttless Monkey"
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: El Duderino on August 13, 2008, 10:35:51 PM
Fantastic! Best comedy of 2008 so far.

SPOILERS!

I know it's been said many, many times, but let me reiterate how fucking good Tom Cruise is in this movie. Just the way he dances is fucking amazing.

END SPOILERS!

Robert Downey Jr. is the shit, as usual. Jack Black is funny, and I think it's Ben Stiller's best comedic role thus far in his career.

Go see this movie. Enjoy yourself.

Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on August 13, 2008, 11:09:05 PM
You just read the poster.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: El Duderino on August 13, 2008, 11:42:31 PM
I designed the poster.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Ghostboy on August 14, 2008, 04:45:40 PM
McBride owns this.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Ravi on August 14, 2008, 04:56:08 PM
This is a hilarious satire on Hollywood egos and self-importance.  It is consistently funny throughout.  I was hoping it wouldn't lose focus and become unwieldy but thankfully it never does.  It stays together as a whole, instead of merely a collection of funny moments.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 05:44:55 PM
Fuck, I thought this would be good. It was horrible. It wasn't even funny. Yea, it's satire but it's so overblown and ridiculous it just fits with other bad Hollywood trends. I see enough movies and shows that mock Hollywood arrogance but discredit themselves because they still exempifly a milliion cliches. It's become a new bad genre onto itself. Tropic Thunder fits into that category because it has very little insight into Hollywood. Yea, actors are arrogant and drug riddled, but come on. Most of the references within the film were mainly absurd without truly being undermining. Someone who watches a lot of Access Hollywood could have made all the criticisms of Hollywood that were in this film. The funniest scenes in the film were just oddball moments of goofiness like Downey Jr. saying he felt like a nervous boy who has to play with his dick.

The best criticisms (if intended) was having Tom Cruise appear in anti Tom Cruise role and having Ben Stiller play a Tom Cruise type character. It is coincidence that Tom Cruise was recently denied Mission Impossible 4 because he was too old and the next week Ben Stiller plays a role like this. That's funny, but it's still not good satire. To be good satire the film would have to exist on a level above the material and exist to focus on the jokes, but the editing in the film is MTV riddled and even if the intention is to mock MTV, the film still has that editing and filmmaking everywhere that it becomes an existence for the film and not a criticism of anything.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 05:44:55 PM
Fuck, I thought this would be good. It was horrible.

I see your point and I do not want to debate you because I agree with you whole-heartedley  (bad spelling) on many films and topics. Examples (Your thoughts on Mamet and Die Hard.) What I suggest for viewing future films is assume the worst about each film you plunk down 10 dollars plus on. Then you can never be disappointed.  This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...you seem to have trouble just outright enjoying films, at least new ones. But what the hell do I know? Supposedly I like everything.

Also, a question off topic. Why did you stop posting your DVD buys? Are you afraid we will critique what you buy and you will have to defend yourself? Or do you find it completely useless to do so?

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Stefen on August 14, 2008, 07:14:07 PM
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 05:44:55 PM
Fuck, I thought this would be good. It was horrible.

I saw this coming when everyone else was saying it was good.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 07:17:49 PM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...you seem to have trouble just outright enjoying films, at least new ones. But what the hell do I know? Supposedly I like everything.

Actually, I consider myself way too easy to please. This is the kind of movie I want to relax to. Tropic Thunder has some high minded ideas about satire, but it's mainly a dumb comedy. I didn't find it very funny and the few times I did laugh I felt like I was forcing it because I was in the mood to like the movie, but nothing was really funny. The jokes were all dull and nothing rang of real satire. I went to the movie with a friend. Before the movie she was telling me how wrong I was about Pineapple Express and how she expected to love Tropic Thunder, but the film also did nothing for her.

I don't consider myself odd for not liking this. I have no idea why anyone likes it and I imagine some others on the board will also dislike it too.

Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
Also, a question off topic. Why did you stop posting your DVD buys? Are you afraid we will critique what you buy and you will have to defend yourself? Or do you find it completely useless to do so?

When did I ever post about my DVD buys? If I remember correctly I've mainly criticized the thread for being just posts of DVD covers with no explanation to why someone purchased it. Pubes gave me shit for saying that and mentioned my Criterion thread was the same equivalent, but of course I disagree with that. When I first began on the board I do believe I did post a few purchases, but no more than 3 times at most.

I don't post there because I dont give a shit to. I could never imagine anyone really caring about what I buy so it seems like a waste of time. It has nothing to do with me being afraid of what others think of me. If I did care about that I would pretty much never post.

Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

I have no interest to attack you. I try to just go after the movies I dislike.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 07:21:09 PM
Quote from: Stefen on August 14, 2008, 07:14:07 PM
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on August 14, 2008, 05:44:55 PM
Fuck, I thought this would be good. It was horrible.

I saw this coming when everyone else was saying it was good.

Yea, as soon I saw three favorable reviews I knew the pressure was on for me to like this. I was suppose to see the early showing yesterday so I wanted my review to beat out everyone else's, but that didn't work out. Now I get to have some of you continue to believe the silly idea that me going against the grain is what drives my opinion of movies, but like I give a shit.

Actually, Silias going out of his way to say he really liked this movie made me excited because I remember he was the first person to like Mr. Brooks and I also very much liked that movie, but it didn't work out this time.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SoNowThen on August 14, 2008, 09:01:50 PM
This will be the first mainstream movie I pay to see in the theatre since the fucking horrendous abortion known as Batman Begins.

Seriously, this looks hilarious. Even fucking funnier -- I dunno if you guys have seen this -- is the fake Coppola documentary "Rain Of Madness" website, complete with Herzog-like documentary director. Any Herzog jokes are just pure gold.

http://www.rainofmadness.com/

Can someone who's seen this confirm for me if the Herzog character is actually in the movie? Or is it just this advertising tie-in stuff?

Jeez, I think I'm more excited about the ads...
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Ghostboy on August 14, 2008, 09:19:13 PM
The ads are definitely better than the movie. And the documentary director (who's Justin Theroux, the co-writer) isn't in it.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SoNowThen on August 14, 2008, 10:01:23 PM
Damn damn damn... maybe they'll eventually release some kind of extended version of Rain Of Madness then... dvd extra maybe...
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 10:04:05 PM
Its all going to be on the DVD.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: abuck1220 on August 17, 2008, 02:35:23 PM
ugh...the tom cruise shit was terrible. hey look, i'm tom cruise playing a totally non-tom cruise type role! i don't take myself too seriously!

the rest of the movie was choppy and awkward and really not that funny. jack black and two lesser known actors playing actors were the best parts. downey obviously gave a good performance, but i didn't think his stuff was really that funny.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: hauntedtony on August 18, 2008, 04:53:51 PM
very very funny
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: picolas on August 18, 2008, 06:08:24 PM
more concise please.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: samsong on August 19, 2008, 02:45:30 AM
this blew.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pas on August 19, 2008, 06:51:14 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

Xixax has scarred him so deep he is now afraid of GoldenTrumpet as if he were some kind of Chuck Liddle.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 19, 2008, 07:45:03 AM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 06:51:14 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

Xixax has scarred him so deep he is now afraid of GoldenTrumpet as if he were some kind of Chuck Liddle.

No, I was just under the assumption that he was going to be like 78% of the crew here, a mean jackass who likes to lash out on other posters. Good to hear he wasn't...
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pozer on August 19, 2008, 02:25:56 PM
Quote from: samsong on August 19, 2008, 02:45:30 AM
this blew.

it really did.  2nd time in a row where i'm in full agreement with The Gold Trumpet  :shock:
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: Pas on August 19, 2008, 08:52:46 PM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 19, 2008, 07:45:03 AM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 06:51:14 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

Xixax has scarred him so deep he is now afraid of GoldenTrumpet as if he were some kind of Chuck Liddle.

No, I was just under the assumption that he was going to be like 78% of the crew here, a mean jackass who likes to lash out on other posters. Good to hear he wasn't...

I didn't mean to be a jackass seriously man.

Get really drunk and read some Ayn Rand this oughta help.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SiliasRuby on August 19, 2008, 08:59:19 PM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 08:52:46 PM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 19, 2008, 07:45:03 AM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 06:51:14 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

Xixax has scarred him so deep he is now afraid of GoldenTrumpet as if he were some kind of Chuck Liddle.

No, I was just under the assumption that he was going to be like 78% of the crew here, a mean jackass who likes to lash out on other posters. Good to hear he wasn't...

I didn't mean to be a jackass seriously man.

Get really drunk and read some Ayn Rand this oughta help.
Will do, thanks for the tip....What I HAVE been doing is getting drunk and watching the X Files, getting me a bit paranoid and hostile.
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: SoNowThen on August 19, 2008, 11:17:43 PM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 08:52:46 PM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 19, 2008, 07:45:03 AM
Quote from: Pas Rap on August 19, 2008, 06:51:14 AM
Quote from: SiliasRuby on August 14, 2008, 06:40:59 PM
This is a shot in the dark, and I may be a compete ass and off course with this theory but...

Ready for you to really lay into me....come on, really let me have it.

Xixax has scarred him so deep he is now afraid of GoldenTrumpet as if he were some kind of Chuck Liddle.

No, I was just under the assumption that he was going to be like 78% of the crew here, a mean jackass who likes to lash out on other posters. Good to hear he wasn't...

I didn't mean to be a jackass seriously man.

Get really drunk and read some Ayn Rand this oughta help.

:yabbse-grin:

Golden
Title: Re: Tropic Thunder
Post by: MacGuffin on November 19, 2008, 12:47:32 AM
Another example of the trailer giving away the best parts of the film. I enjoyed it for the most part, thought Downey Jr. stole the show, but after a great opening with nods to Platoon and Apocalypse Now that's where I felt I had already seen the film from the much shown clips. Also, could be due to the addition of 13 minutes to the director's cut, but it felt like it needed to be trimmed for pace.