Most Technically or Intellectually Difficult Film To Make

[David]

Cortot said that the two most difficult pieces to play in the entire piano repertoire were Balakirev's "Islamey" & Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit."

Aside from such considerations as funding & wrangling with temperamental studio heads or actors, what movie do you think was the most technically difficult to film? Would it necessarily be an epic, with the marshalling of forces on a grand scale needed? or perhaps something on a much smaller scale that nonetheless required such intensive, delicate mise en scene & shadings & planning that it was akin to working out an advanced astrophysical equation?

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by David

Cortot said that the two most difficult pieces to play in the entire piano repertoire were Balakirev's "Islamey" & Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit."

Aside from such considerations as funding & wrangling with temperamental studio heads or actors, what movie do you think was the most technically difficult to film? Would it necessarily be an epic, with the marshalling of forces on a grand scale needed? or perhaps something on a much smaller scale that nonetheless required such intensive, delicate mise en scene & shadings & planning that it was akin to working out an advanced astrophysical equation?

Just some:
Eyes Wide Shut: Kubrick had to deconstruct a real couple and at the same time make Tom Cruise believable.

A passage to India: a dying director had to reflect the dying dimension of two cultures, and he managed to keep some of the rage that makes the book so vivid.

Roma cittÃ* aperta: no money, no actors (except for Magnani, Fabrizi and few others), no technical materials, till the last phase of the shooting, thanks to an American soldier who loved cinema and was a distributor at home. And it came out such a masterpiece.

Romy

[Red]

I'd have to say Russian Ark. Although the lead "narrator" wasn't that interesting, it was visually astonishing. All those actors, moving so perfectly and choreographed, in ONE fluid take. Unreal. Its all worth it for the final, exquisite image.

[Richard B]

Technically, stop-action animation is very difficult and it requires an extraordinary amount of patience. There are only a few of these people who love this type of tedious work.

Some wonderful examples:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride
Chicken Run
Wallace & Gromit

Honorable Mention:
Jan Svankmajer:
Alice
Faust


I also think one of the most intellectually difficult films to ever have been filmed is Institute Benjamenta or This Dream People Call Human Life by The Quay Brothers. A battle of narrative of opposing forces, oppression and obsession perfectly filmed in glorious black and white. An amazing achievement.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Technically, stop-action animation is very difficult and it requires an extraordinary amount of patience. There are only a few of these people who love this type of tedious work.

Some wonderful examples:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Corpse Bride
Chicken Run
Wallace & Gromit

Only slightly off topic, but what did you think of Corpse Bride?

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Red

Only slightly off topic, but what did you think of Corpse Bride?

It's a charming film and I fell in love with it. The songs, the characters, everything. It really is a labor of love and work from all involved.

Actually the first time I watched it, I fell asleep. I know what you're thinking, but I was so tired that day from hardly sleeping the day before. So I put it on again and literally watched it 3x in a row I was so dazzled by it and found myself humming songs the next day.

How about you?

[Red]

Originally Posted by Richard B

It's a charming film and I fell in love with it. The songs, the characters, everything. It really is a labor of love and work from all involved.

Actually the first time I watched it, I fell asleep. I know what you're thinking, but I was so tired that day from hardly sleeping the day before. So I put it on again and literally watched it 3x in a row I was so dazzled by it and found myself humming songs the next day.

How about you?

I thought it was good, but not great. It was visually gorgeous but not nearly as strong as A Nightmare Before Christmas. It would've been better if they had elaborated on the story as it was a little thin. Overall, B-.

I'm more of a Wallace & Gromit girl myself.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Red

I thought it was good, but not great. It was visually gorgeous but not nearly as strong as A Nightmare Before Christmas. It would've been better if they had elaborated on the story as it was a little thin. Overall, B-.

I'm more of a Wallace & Gromit girl myself.

I've heard that view about Corpse Bride before. But it is a simple folk tale, not too much to the story. In fact, if it was any longer I think it would have bordered on boring. As it is, short and sweet is much of its charm. I don't like comparing NBC to CB since they are very different. I really loved the contrast of the Victorian era and the colorful underworld, plus I really loved the music and characters in CB: Maggot, Mr. Bonejangel's, Emily, Victor, etc.

I saw W&G and The Curse of The Were-Rabbit. Now I thought that was much weaker in story and less original than Corpse Bride and did not deserve the Oscar. Although technically there was some interesting stop motion, like the car through the rabbit tunnel was really well done and difficult to shoot.
But for the most part I thought it was a weak storyline. Nothing too original in a lycanthrope flick even if it's about a bunny eating all the vegetables in town. Ugh.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by Serrart

Just some:
Eyes Wide Shut: Kubrick had to deconstruct a real couple and at the same time make Tom Cruise believable.

A passage to India: a dying director had to reflect the dying dimension of two cultures, and he managed to keep some of the rage that makes the book so vivid.

Roma cittÃ* aperta: no money, no actors (except for Magnani, Fabrizi and few others), no technical materials, till the last phase of the shooting, thanks to an American soldier who loved cinema and was a distributor at home. And it came out such a masterpiece.

Romy

As I recall, he died right after that film was completed, didnt he?