Taking Woodstock: How Ang Lee Makes Everything Boring

There is a part of us that is vaguely interested in the movie Taking Woodstock, since we love Demitri Martin on his show Important Things, and the supporting cast (Emile Hirsch, Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber cross-dressing again -- remember Mixed Nuts?) is impressive. But while the concert at Woodstock was certainly an exciting event, haven't there been enough movies about it? And is Ang Lee really the director to tackle the subject matter? Because when given exciting material, Lee has a tendency to turn it into a snooze-fest.

Case in point: The Incredible Hulk. When handed one of Marvel's flagship superheroes, Lee handed back a two-hour plus yawner about how Bruce Banner was present when his rage-aholic father killed his mother, and has inherited that rage along with his father's mutant DNA. The Hulk doesn't show up until at least 40 minutes into the movie, then he fights a mutant poodle in a dark forest, and when he finally fights another super-powered person at the end, it's his crazy dad Nick Nolte, who's a cloud, then a tree. A convoluted, backstoried mess, the movie spends as much time on feelings as plot, which isn't exactly the ratio you want when dealing with a superhero flick.

And what about Brokeback Mountain? A movie about two gay cowboys should have been a rip-roaring adventure, with stampedes and shootouts. Instead, we get two guys living in a tent, herding sheep. We know it's based on a short story, but Hollywood is famous for adding stuff -- wouldn't some kind of Mexican standoff have livened up the proceedings?

Similarly, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon should have been a non-stop sword-and-sorcery spectacle, but instead we get a lot of moping and brooding, and flitting about on the tips of bamboo trees. You'd think there would have been more excitement over Chow Yun-Fat walking on water or Zhang Ziyi clearing out a bar, but the film's frequent changes in sword ownership and Harlequin romance subplot lulled us into a very real sense of tired.

Other disappointments:
- The Ice Storm is by far the most boring movie about a '70s key party we've ever seen.
- Lust, Caution, should have cautioned us about the boring strategizing and political talk we would have to sit through to get to the lust parts.
- The Hire: Chosen, Lee's short film made for BMW, is a forefather of The Transporter, a knock-off of The Golden Child, and even stars Clive Owen, but the three-point-turn ballet that passes for a car chase makes six minutes seem like an eternity.
- Sense and Sensibility is good and all, but where are the sea monsters?

What do you think -- is Ang Lee boring? Will you see Taking Woodstock?

13 Comments

August 25, 2009 1:51 PM
Bruce
Reply

Don't make me Ang Lee. You wouldn't like me when I'm Ang Lee.

August 25, 2009 2:37 PM
Zelmia
Reply

I honestly can't tell whether Zach Oates is being serious or not. But I will say that Ang Lee directing it is probably the only reason I would even consider seeing "Taking Woodstock" (which is kind of a stupid title).

August 25, 2009 3:00 PM
c
Reply

Come on, Sense and Sensibility was amazing!

August 25, 2009 3:26 PM
Carla
Reply

Zelmia, C - Agreed.

I like Ang Lee (even though I've yet to see The Incredible Hulk but based on the myriads of bad reviews I wont just so that wont change). I loved Brokeback Mountain and The Ice Storm, and I liked Crouching Tiger a whole lot. As for Sense and Sensibility, well, in his defence I've never been a big fan of Jane Austen adaptations. They can not do the books justice.

Anywhos, I think I'll see Taking Woodstock - when it comes out on DVD. I only go to the theatre for the BIG ONES

August 25, 2009 3:46 PM
Meredith
Reply

While I like Sense and Sensibility, it's not exactly action packed. And I have to agree about Crouching Tiger and the Incredible Hulk. Hours of my life that I will never, ever get back. Also, money that I could have spent to do something more exciting, like watching paint dry. Oh, wait. That's free.

August 25, 2009 6:51 PM
Lyg
Reply

I will assume you're not being serious because I think the opposite of just about everything you've said about Ang Lee. Like Zelmia, Ang Lee is about the only reason I would see "Taking Woodstock".

August 25, 2009 8:59 PM
Nicole
Reply

Agreed on all points. I'm also happy to see someone say how absolutely BORING Brokeback is!!!

August 26, 2009 6:59 AM
Lyg
Reply

P.S. Have you ever seen Ang Lee's Wedding Banquet? I dare you to call that film boring!

August 27, 2009 3:29 AM
Holly
Reply

I intend to see this movie solely because I adore Jonny Groff. He's one of the kindest, most talented people I've ever met. And I'm willing to sit through a movie filled with nothing but gorgeous shots of the landscape (a la brokeback) to see him.

August 29, 2009 12:02 AM
daphne
Reply

@ Nicole:

I never could get through Brokeback Mountain. I kept hearing about how great it was. Perfect example of a movie not worth the hype.

Ditto on CTHD, Lust, Caution, and Hulk. I recall an interview where Ang Lee said something to the effect of Hulk almost ruining his career. While I don't think his films are bad, they're not particularly interesting, either. Too...arthousy, take themselves so seriously types of films. I generally won't pay my hard-earned money to see such films in the theater.

August 29, 2009 3:08 PM
Heather
Reply

Oh, thank GOD! Finally! Someone who admitted "Brokeback Mountain" sucked! There is absolutely nothing in that movie worth watching. It's depressing, it's dull, it puts the audience through Bring Out Your Gay Dead for only the zillionth time in Hollywood history. What a crap bucket of a film. And the saddest part is, I didn't even find Jake Gyllenhaal's kisses with Heath Ledger (RIP) to be all that passionate or loving, and they were remarkably lacking in hotness for those two actors.

September 1, 2009 1:30 PM
Emily
Reply

All I can say from your comment, Zach Oat, you are a really shallow person, you can't appreciate anything that shows deep meaning. Ang Lee's movies are the best, they make you stop and think, about life ........

October 18, 2009 4:44 PM
Ana
Reply

I adored Sense and Sensibility and I liked Crouching tiger...But Hulk it was boring, pretentious, messy and not Hulk at all so yeah I think I will wait for some people I trust to tell me if is worth it.
Also the Ang Lee movie boringfest movie was called Hulk. The Incredible Hulk was the kick ass reboot that I could watch every year just because is so damn good! try to keep them separate please.

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