THIEF

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

Starring James Caan. I found it on DVD today- I'd forgotten just how killer a flick it was. Also starring a very young (and pudgy) James Belushi, with a small role by Willie Nelson. Took place in early 80s Chicago. Directed by Michael Mann in his first film project.

Of course, to me the best part was the soundtrack, by none other than Tangerine Dream.

Now if only I can find the original Rollerball. The so-called remake sucked so bad...

Anyone remember Mann's other Chicago hit- "Crime Story"? It lasted all of two seasons, but it was fantastic. David Caruso was in one or two of the first episodes.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Mann did a great job with "Manhunter" too, remade as the lame "Red Dragon"

more recently. "Manhunter" kind of crapped out at the end, but the intensity and scary suspense earlier on is incredible.

Amazing how much incredible star power Red Dragon had and what a shitty movie it was. Ed Norton (!), Emily Watson, Ray Liotta. Just goes to show what a lamer Bret Ratner or whoever directed it was.

[DS1]

2. I thought you meant the game

:-)

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

3. Me too

Loved that game.

[DS1]

6. You tried Thief III at all?

My dad has it, I haven't had the time to borrow it, it looks like fun..

I always hated the zombies, they still freak me out

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

7. Loved it. Simply loved it.

The game is quite processor intensive (unless you're playing on an X-Box. Then you're fine) but playing Thief III in third person mode just feels...right.
And you can knock things over to distract guards. Fully working physics engine at work there.
The zombies are back, but they're easier to deal with this time. I always used the cheat codes to skip past The Haunted Cathedral in the original Thief. I simply couldn't handle the fact that there was a frigging horde of zombies, haunts, and spirits running around and not having a damn flamethrower or something. They scared me. :scared:

But Thief III is excellent, although the levels had to be brought down in size to deal with the new engine. That's the only thing I didn't like about the game.

[DS1]

9. Cool, I'll have to borrow it sometime soon

Agreed on that Haunted Cathedral level, I'd sprint through the town, there's something about not having a logical process that freaks me out about zombies - the same applies to birds in real life.

It looks like they've taken the lock picking routine from Splinter Cell, nothing wrong with that :-)

[Tweed]

4. No Caan movies in this poll

But the Illinois forum has a "Best Movies About Chicago" poll on right now: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=150&topic_id=2723&mesg_id=2723&page=

Check it out!

[punpirate]

5. Excellent movie...

... and definitely a "Chicago" film. There's so much that went into the film in the way of research--the robbery equipment, the way the characters talk, etc.

And, you're right--great score--especially the opening scene, where the score drifts into the sound of rain on the pavement.

A couple of stories about the movie... Caan said that to prepare for it, he spent about six weeks hanging out with Chicago-area ex-cons, just to see how they talked and was taken by their enunciation of each and every syllable (for an example, look at his speech when he realizes he's gotten ten percent of his big job in cash--"I ee-lected to make that deal") and picked it up and used it in the film.

The other is sort of funny--the special effects guys had set up the house (which I believe was in very fashionable Oak Park) to make it look as if he bombs it at the end by putting up transparent shields ten feet or so in front of the house and setting off explosives behind the shield (that's why the shot is from street level, so there are no odd reflections). The shields effectively caused the explosions to rebound into the rented house, setting it on fire. Apparently the neighbors were most upset when Mann kept on shooting since the house had caught on fire, instead of stopping right away to call the fire department. All the assurances that the house and neighborhood were safe were for naught when the neighbors saw flames.

And, this is one movie that will completely undo everyone's belief in Robert Prosky as a nice, decent guy based on his role in "Hill Street Blues." He plays the perfect prick in this. Definitely playing against type in this.

Good flick.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. Everything was real

The equipment was selected and approved by a retired thief, and the safe door they cut through was genuine. I'd LOVE to get my hands on that torch they used- it generated something like 9000 degrees...

[punpirate]

12. That is about the only thing that is commonly available...

... it's a burning bar and is commonly used to cut very thick or hard materials--they will burn through reinforced concrete. They are based on a thermite principle (thermite is mixed powdered iron and powdered aluminum and produces exceptionally high heat, although newer ones also use magnesium chips to get very high temperatures).

It was a bit of poetic license to say it had to be specially made--they're commercially available.

Cheers.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. I was thinking magnesium

A LOOOOONNNG time ago I had a small amount of powdered magnesium I mixed in with some gunpowder and made some "firecrackers" with. Gorgeous explosions. Don't tell anybody, but this took place when I was all of ten years old... (true story.)

[qnr]

8. Never saw it. Will look for it though.

Tangerine Dream huh? Always liked them, originally because they used Atari STs.

[Der Blaue Engel]

11. I have the original Rollerball

I picked it up at a previously viewed DVD sale at my video store...$5. :D

[Elidor]

14. I recorded the soundtrack off the tv onto tape

Later, I bought the CD. One of the Tangerine's best scores. Good flick, too. Nice revenge sequence with splattered brains. "I own the paper on yer whole fuckin' life! I'll kill yer wife an' yer kids! People will be eatin'em in their hamburger tomorrow and not even know it!"

[Kurovski]

15. I was a cop on Crime Story

as a lowly extra.

People treat ya differnt when yer wearin' a cop's uniform. You literally stop traffic.