92 replies to this topic

[spynovelfan]

You're a dark horse, Charles, inventing Miami Vice drinking games!

[Loomis]

And you as a 30-year-old are neglecting the true roots of your childhood-teen years!!

Quite the reverse, actually. In 1990, my favourite bands were The Cure, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses.... and they're still my favourite bands (although I've gone off The Cure a bit). Basically, my music tastes are pretty much identical to those of my teenage years.

I'll echo spynovelfan's points about the uncoolness of Dire Straits. Also, I believe they were Princess Diana's favourite band, which only added to their naffness. I mean, a seal of approval from royalty doesn't exactly boost an act's appeal in trendy music circles.

Anyway, good to read endorsements of "Miami Vice" from three CBners whose opinions I'm always interested in (DNS, spy and yourself).

[Jim]

You won't want mine then, LooLoo; it all looks faintly tiresome. But I'm sure those who like this sort of thing will like this sort of thing.

[Alessandra]

And you as a 30-year-old are neglecting the true roots of your childhood-teen years!!

Quite the reverse, actually. In 1990, my favourite bands were The Cure, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, The Smiths, and The Stone Roses.... and they're still my favourite bands (although I've gone off The Cure a bit). Basically, my music tastes are pretty much identical to those of my teenage years.

I'll echo spynovelfan's points about the uncoolness of Dire Straits. Also, I believe they were Princess Diana's favourite band, which only added to their naffness. I mean, a seal of approval from royalty doesn't exactly boost an act's appeal in trendy music circles.

Anyway, good to read endorsements of "Miami Vice" from three CBners whose opinions I'm always interested in (DNS, spy and yourself).

whythank you for the credit Loomis. Likewise, of course.
I was kidding with the neglecting the roots of your teen years stuff!
I understand though, from your musical selections, that you were on the "dark" side of the 80s.... the electronic/dark music part...
I instead was on the classic part.. Dire Straits, Toto, Sting and so on. We have very different taste in music, but I guess it's also due to my piano playing.. and to daddy being a jazz fanatic!
Ahh I loved Matt Bianco too... and the Swing Out Sisters.. now Matt Bianco would be the perfect sound for a classic Bond soundtrack to me.. I'd love that!
Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) invented a style of playing the guitar, which was unique and his own, and has inspired a lot of guitarists afterwards..I am probably considering the people just more in terms of being good and skilled musicians rather than being "alternative" (the word I use for people like Cure and Smiths in Italian... people who go either against the establishment or make that little polemic with their music... )
Anyway the roots of my music taste, aside from jazz and the piano, are in the most influential, greatest band of all times: the Beatles.
I was (and am) mad about them.. and once you've gotten to know their music well.. all the rest is just a repetition.
Would've loved to see a Miami Vice episode with "get back" from the Beatles in the soundtrack..maybe while they were in the middle of some stylish convertible car driving to go get some drug dealer in their posh house....

[Loomis]

Ah, whatever happened to Swing Out Sister? I like "Breakout".

Actually, I like a lot of '80s pop songs that could best be described as---- oh, I don't know, as populist cheese, or something. Madness' "Our House", Madonna's "Borderline", Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years", Spandau Ballet's "True", etc., etc. - even, and I'll confess this only once, Phil Collins' "Against All Odds". Some terrific singles during that decade.

And you know a fantastic '80s singles band? Duran Duran. I doubt I'll ever buy one of their studio LPs, but I must pick up their greatest hits album at some point. They had a string of excellent hits that you can't really fail to like. So it's not all The Cure and Morrissey and "alternative" doom and gloom for me.

[Turn]

Ah, whatever happened to Swing Out Sister? I like "Breakout".

Actually, I like a lot of '80s pop songs that could best be described as---- oh, I don't know, as populist cheese, or something. Madness' "Our House", Madonna's "Borderline", Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years", Spandau Ballet's "True", etc., etc. - even, and I'll confess this only once, Phil Collins' "Against All Odds". Some terrific singles during that decade.

And you know a fantastic '80s singles band? Duran Duran. I doubt I'll ever buy one of their studio LPs, but I must pick up their greatest hits album at some point. They had a string of excellent hits that you can't really fail to like. So it's not all The Cure and Morrissey and "alternative" doom and gloom for me.

That's the beauty of '80s music, Loomis. There was a lot of "populist cheese" that you could listen to and enjoy and you can still listen to it. Nothing like that now as far as I know.

The problem with '80s music, at least here in the U.S., is they have radio stations that play nothing but music from that era, but they play the same list of songs over and over and over and over. I hear them now more than when they were on the local pop station in the top 40.

I also like Duran Duran. 20 years ago most people thought they would flame out and disappear, but they just won't go away. I do own one of their greatest hits CDs. It doesn't get a lot of spins, but I still enjoy knowing I have it if I want to hear it.

[Loomis]

I also like Duran Duran. 20 years ago most people thought they would flame out and disappear, but they just won't go away.

Rather like Depeche Mode (whose best work, IMO, actually came right at the end of the '80s, with the excellent "Violator" album).

[spynovelfan]

Some great 80s songs that have stood the test of time

Brilliant Mind - Furniture
Bonny - Prefab Sprout
Mary - The Four Of Us
Typical - Frazier Chorus
The Word Girl - Scritti Politti

And lots more besides. A lot of the trouble is with the production - one reason that Brothers In Arms is not generally recognised as being the absolute masterpiece that it is. Ditto Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love, which had some of his best songs on it, but because he looks like a yuppie on the cover and there are some drum machines, is not generally seen as one of his best. It's a bit like Abba - they were derided after disco died because they were so intextricably linked with disco. It took a couple of decades before people realised how brilliant their song-writing had been. But it is happening now with the 80s - if you listen to The Blue Nile's Let's Go Out Tonight, it's impossibly dated because of the drum machines and synths. Listen to the lead singer's reworking of the song with Craig Armstrong from a couple of years ago and the song sings again. Listen to Coldplay's last album. Then put on Gold Mother by the band James. It's almost exactly the same sound.

[Alessandra]

Ah, whatever happened to Swing Out Sister? I like "Breakout".

Actually, I like a lot of '80s pop songs that could best be described as---- oh, I don't know, as populist cheese, or something. Madness' "Our House", Madonna's "Borderline", Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years", Spandau Ballet's "True", etc., etc. - even, and I'll confess this only once, Phil Collins' "Against All Odds". Some terrific singles during that decade.

And you know a fantastic '80s singles band? Duran Duran. I doubt I'll ever buy one of their studio LPs, but I must pick up their greatest hits album at some point. They had a string of excellent hits that you can't really fail to like. So it's not all The Cure and Morrissey and "alternative" doom and gloom for me.

That's the beauty of '80s music, Loomis. There was a lot of "populist cheese" that you could listen to and enjoy and you can still listen to it. Nothing like that now as far as I know.

The problem with '80s music, at least here in the U.S., is they have radio stations that play nothing but music from that era, but they play the same list of songs over and over and over and over. I hear them now more than when they were on the local pop station in the top 40.

I also like Duran Duran. 20 years ago most people thought they would flame out and disappear, but they just won't go away. I do own one of their greatest hits CDs. It doesn't get a lot of spins, but I still enjoy knowing I have it if I want to hear it.

aahh yes(*open door to let nostalgia enter* lol ) couldn't agree with you more Turn
I agree with you Loomis, I love "Breakout" from Swing out Sister as well as "Surrender". And I do love the songs you mentioned!
I would add "through the barricades" from Spandau Ballet.. a true masterpiece!
Needless to say, I was very much hooked on Duran Duran too.. there are many of their songs I still enjoy listening to. and it's great to see how they are still, and very successfully, around. Too bad John Taylor has done that horrible dye-job to his hair.. lol
I was and am so much into music that I could make a neverending list of songs from the 80s that I loved and still like to sing and play
I own, for example, even the original single of "the living daylights" by A-ha, because I was so much into them and Bond that I wanted to have the single, too, and not only the album!
Spy, you've made an excellent point about music of the 80s.. but I guess that is the story of music in general...those who are particularly good are seldom recognised as such in their own era. And after a while they are seen for their true merit.
There's a return to sounds of the 80s now and most of all there's a re-evaluation of the whole thing.. there was a music talent that nowadays, in many cases, isn't there anymore.
and making something work out musically with all that electronic sound that was used in the 80s is far from being easy.
Scritti Politti... brilliant! And let me mention another band I loved : Level 42. Now how's that for Mark King (the bass player of the band) to open the Bond theme with his thumb style on the bass
I'm quite sure Miami Vice did use something by Level 42 in one of the episodes...

[stromberg]

...
I'll echo spynovelfan's points about the uncoolness of Dire Straits. Also, I believe they were Princess Diana's favourite band, which only added to their naffness. I mean, a seal of approval from royalty doesn't exactly boost an act's appeal in trendy music circles.
...

...
And you know a fantastic '80s singles band? Duran Duran. I doubt I'll ever buy one of their studio LPs, but I must pick up their greatest hits album at some point.
....

Funny, Loomis. Just yesterday, I heard a radio spot advertising Duran Duran's Luxembourg concert. And it announced them as being Princess Diana's favourite band...


Miami Vice - rarely missed it when it was on German TV back then, but I never saw it again since the 80s (oh, I bet there'll be re-runs very soon). Wasn't there also an episode in which Frank Zappa played the baddie?

Charles, you always manage to surprise me. I was under the impression that you aren't very much a drinking man, and then... a Miami Vice drinking game...

[Jericho_One]

So, this is out in the States starting today. Will open in Portugal next week. I'm really curious about it. Used to follow the show, though I was a bit young back then to fully understand the subtleties, LOL.
If anybody plans to see it this week, please post a personal review, will you?

[JimmyBond]

Actually it doesnt open till tomorrow, as today is Thursday.

[Jericho_One]

My mistake. The movie opens on 28th. That's tomorrow.

[The Dove]

This movie looks great and I was fortunate to watch an exclusive scene from in on NBC (I think it was?) the other night.. True while Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx look great as Crockett and Tubbs, they will never compare to Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.

I have been doing a marathon of Miami Vice tv episodes this week in anticipation for the new movie. Watched "The Prodigal Son parts I and II " and "Cool Runnin' " last night..

[Loomis]

From the clips I've seen and the things I've read, it looks as though this film is amazing, absolutely amazing.

An appetite-whetting rave review from AICN:

http://www.aint-it-c...ay.cgi?id=23997

[Harmsway]

Well, I, for one, will be checking out MIAMI VICE and hoping that Mann really does deliver the goods. The only thing that might hinder my enjoyment of the film is my intense dislike of Colin Farrell.

[Loomis]

I too dislike Farrell, but HEAT is one of my favourite films, and I also love THE INSIDER. ALI and COLLATERAL are lesser works, but still worth watching. Oh, and how could I forget the lovely Gong Li? Nah, there's absolutely no way that MIAMI VICE won't be - at worst - acceptable viewing.

Wasn't especially impressed by the TV show, funnily enough, but then it looks as though the film is very different.

[Jericho_One]

Thanks for this mouth watering review!

Yes indeed, from what I understood, this is supposed to be a re-imagining of the whole Miami Vice world, not a remake at all.
Looking good, I'll find about it within a week.
Damn, another week more...

Edited by Jericho_One, 27 July 2006 - 10:57 PM.

[Simon]

Rotten Tomatoes has a whole raft of reviews too.

Although some of those seem to have missed the point when they become negative.

For me, Mann is reason enough to go to this. All his preparation and schooling of actors in the art of gun handling really does pay off in spades.

[Doubleshot]

VICE is a terrific film. Given a little more time to develop the characters (as I'm sure was actually scripted and shot, considering the film was cut down somewhat significantly), the film would have been on par with HEAT or THE INSIDER. It joins the ranks of COLLATERAL and MANHUNTER in my books - both terrific films that are solid "A" efforts rather than Mann's A+'s.

[Loomis]

VICE is a terrific film. Given a little more time to develop the characters (as I'm sure was actually scripted and shot, considering the film was cut down somewhat significantly), the film would have been on par with HEAT or THE INSIDER. It joins the ranks of COLLATERAL and MANHUNTER in my books - both terrific films that are solid "A" efforts rather than Mann's A+'s.

Doesn't surprise me to learn that the film was trimmed, given test screening reports from a while back that complained it was far too long. Hopefully there'll be a director's cut on DVD.

[Turn]

Wow, does anybody else think this Miami Vice film looks like a rip-off of Licence To Kill?

[killkenny kid]

VICE is a terrific film. Given a little more time to develop the characters (as I'm sure was actually scripted and shot, considering the film was cut down somewhat significantly), the film would have been on par with HEAT or THE INSIDER. It joins the ranks of COLLATERAL and MANHUNTER in my books - both terrific films that are solid "A" efforts rather than Mann's A+'s.

Doesn't surprise me to learn that the film was trimmed, given test screening reports from a while back that complained it was far too long. Hopefully there'll be a director's cut on DVD.

A damn good movie.

[Qwerty]

I'll definitely be checking this out soon.

[Doubleshot]

Wow, does anybody else think this Miami Vice film looks like a rip-off of Licence To Kill?

Or was LICENCE TO KILL merely a rip-off of some of the plotlines of the 80's TV show?

[Hergersheimer]

Vice was teriffic. It took me two viewings to fully appreciate, as the first time was a midnight show and I wasn't awake enough to follow the complicated (but very well structured) plot, but after seeing it a second time I'm convinced that this is up to par with Mann's best. The final shoot out is the most realistic I've ever seen, narrowly defeating the Moonraker space battle. Never really liked Farrell, but was very impressed with his (and everyone's) performance. 3.5/4

[Johnboy007]

I guess this adds to the backlog of movies I need to see before they leave theatres...

[Robinson]

Ah, whatever happened to Swing Out Sister? I like "Breakout".

The wonders of the internet!

http://www.swingoutsister.com/albums/

The last album I bought of S.O.S. was "The Living Return." They were to tour the US in the Spring of this year but didn't due to financial contraints.

The eighties was a great decade for music (just as the seventies was). As for cheeze- well it happens every decade. What did Paul McCartney say about "Silly Love Songs."

One of the things that I thank early MTV for was my exposure to all the British bands that were creating some great stuff. Beyond the obvious like Culture Club, Eurythmics and Duran Duran, you had Go West, The Specials, Level 42, Soul II Soul, The Christians, The English Beat, Big Audio Dynamite and a host of others. No, it wasn't all The Smiths & New Order's moodiness but there was plenty for folks to choose from.

MIAMI VICE (at least the first two seasons) will always be close to my heart. While folks were knee-deep in series from Glen A. Larson & Stephen J. Canell, Vice had a cinematic quality that made it stood out on so many levels. You truly had never seen anything like it on TV. Come to think about it, you never heard anything like it either. I loved the fact that they used the original artists' music to propel scenes and to create moods. Even cats you'd never heard of managed to have tracks that just seemed so appropriate to the scene you were watching. Hearing Russ Ballard's "Voices" while Crockett and Tubbs sped off to the Bahamas in "Calderon's Demise" was priceless. Personally, "Crime Story" was a superior show with better storylines but Vice certainly was destination telivision.

As for the new movie: It is not the television show. It's darker, considerably more intense and seems to go out of it's way to distance itself from its predecessor. In some ways the movie picks up as if it was in mid-season. It's not an introductory film. It's a given that Crockett & Tubbs are partners and the byplay between the two leads (a staple of the series) is virtually non-existant. You'd think they're communicating telepathically.
I don't mind Mann shooting on HD video but he could've used the rig that Lucas and Rodriguez used for "Revenge of the Sith" and "Sin City." I don't want to give too much away but I enjoyed the film on a basic level. The mood is set well and the action scenes are intense (there's a sequence in a mobile home that's an eye-raiser). The film has scope and it's reasonably paced.

At the very least, check it out. As far as adaptations go it's not "The Avengers" or "The Dukes of Hazzard."

[JimmyBond]

At the very least, check it out. As far as adaptations go it's not "The Avengers" or "The Dukes of Hazzard."

And to be honest, I think that's why some people are complaining. Tv show adaptations have fallen into a specific genre, and Miami Vice is actually the first tv adaption in a long while to not fit into the predefined genre, and that's why I love it!

I went into this film not knowing what to expect. I wanted to like it (the previews kicked all kinds of butt), but the reviews have been mixed to downright negative. Well all that flew out the window once the film started. Not to give anything away I loved how the movie treated it's viewers with respect, it showed what needed to be showed and didnt dwell on useless or trivial things, it also expected the audience to keep up. I admit there were a few times I was playing catch up trying to figure out what they were doing next, but it was still a great movie. I'll definately try to see it a second time before it leaves theaters.

Here's hoping for a 3+ hour directors cut

[Jericho_One]

And to be honest, I think that's why some people are complaining. Tv show adaptations have fallen into a specific genre, and Miami Vice is actually the first tv adaption in a long while to not fit into the predefined genre, and that's why I love it!

That's precisely the point.