The Deer Hunter = tedious

T

Tom Thomas

New member
Saw this for the first time last night and felt it was one of the most tedious films I've ever seen.

Most people are put off when they see a film last for three hours, but sometimes this can just fly in, as was the case when I re-watched The Green Mile the other week.

The Deer Hunter on the other hand had me clock-watching every five mintues. The film seems to be far too bulky, with almost half an hour spent at the wedding, with roughly an hour and 15 minutes spent telling as, "These guys are close." Yeah, we get that.

Also, the direction of the film appears to be praised, but I found the pace extremely pedestrian. Most of the scenes were made up of Robert De Niro looking pensive with extremely annoying guitar music played over the top.

Also, what was the deal with Christopher Walken's character.

Not the classic I was expecting and an extreme disappointment.
 
I felt the same when i watched it, and Robert De Niro is one of my favourite actors. I wasn't expecting it to be action packed or anything, i knew it was supposed to be a profound drama, but it was just told so very, very slowly that i began to lose interest, particularly during the Jewish wedding scenes (the music that is played while they are carrying the bride around on the chair is possibly the most irritating music i've ever heard).
 
It was so drawn out, I remember nearly every little thing about it, which is weird since I've seen it just once (own the dvd). I saw it 4/5 years ago & I usually get to a stage where I forget film and need to see them again within 6 months. I liked it, but I can understand other people thinking it's tedious.
 
Its a film that hasn't aged well. A war movie that is less about the action and more about the psychological affects of battle. Comparing how the men were in their sleepy town before and after combat. I like the film as it is very different to other war films but if you go into it expecting Apocalypse Now proportions you will be dissapointed.

Wiki says: 'The Deer Hunter meditates and explores the moral and mental consequences of war violence and politically-manipulated patriotism upon the meaning of frienRABhip, honor, and family in a tightly-knit community and deals with controversial issues such as drug abuse, suicide, infidelity and mental illness.'

Not an action film but still very good, if not a little too long. Walken is brilliant in this film.
 
The film is one of my favourites of all time.The performances from Walken, De Niro and Streep are superb in my opinion.
It's more than just a blood & guts war movie dealing so deeply as it does with the bonRAB of frienRABhip etc.
I understand some are put off by the films length but I feel that's justified given the cast and storyline.
 
My fave too.No special effects and big money action scenes.Just down to earth good acting.Producers these days should realise you can't throw a bucket load of special effects in and it'll be a great film.
 
I agree with the OP, I remembered it as a great film but having seen it recently it seems very overrated. The wedding scene at the start lasty about 45mins and adRAB hardly anything to the story.
 
Wow this thread seems to come around quite regularly. The film seems to be really polarising. I think it's fantastic, my fav war film in fact. I can understand folk struggling with the length of it tho. Oo-er!
 
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