November 04, 2004
The Italian Job (1969)
[3 - Enjoyed it]
"Chaotic fun" is the phrase that comes to mind when trying to describe the original version of The Italian Job (1969) starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward. The movie is full of odd bits and pieces that barely seem to belong, continuity mistakes, and potential subplots that go nowhere (whatever happened to the Mafia boss trying to track Charlie down, or Charlie's girlfriend?). The main plot is a simple as it appears: A team of British robbers steal a truck full of gold and drive it away through a traffic jam using mini coopers. The saving grace for The Italian Job is then the charisma of Caine and his co-stars and the fun and frantic pacing of the movie (kudos to editor John Trumper) as well as some pretty exciting stunt driving, even by today's jacked up standards.
I must admit that I came to this film out of curiosity after seeing the recent remake, The Italian Job (2003) starring Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg and that in comparison I think the remake is the better of the two films. Both movies enjoy good screen chemistry among the principals and a pacing that makes the movies fun from start to finish, however the remake feels a lot more polished and coherent. Both however are worth watching.
Previously on Film Roar:
Film Roar: The Italian Job (2003)
you cannot compare the latest version of the italian job with the classic as the latest version (2003) does not even follow the same plot!!!
Posted by: carl steven tedstone on January 7, 2005 01:57 AMHello folks nice blog youre running
Posted by: lolita on January 19, 2005 04:58 PMFirstly Charlie's girlfriend goes to geneva
Secondly the mafia boss does try to track Charlie down but loses them after the gold is transferred to the mini's.
The re make is good but nowhere near as good as the original, the whole fun of the original is that the small time crooks land a big job. The cliffhanger at the end leaves it for the viewer to decide. the second film is all about revenge and its a bit mushy!
Posted by: Ted on February 11, 2005 08:36 AMthe original is a all time classic, you cannot reproduce such a masterpiece. cos it will always blow its doors off. up the classics
It's a shame that the 2003 film has the same name as the old classic, it does not even have the same plot. The 2003 film has nothing to do with the origianl film which is unsurpassable in every respect.
Posted by: Jim on May 24, 2005 04:11 AMSaw the original as a kid - rediscovered the original (in rental) with my kids. Enjoyed the remake, but my son is watching the original for the umpteenth time - I get to "listen" because I am "working".... Both are good in their own rights, particularly for the coopers (which I now drive - cool!).
Posted by: stu on May 31, 2005 11:00 AM
