The General's Daughter (What a frustrating movie)

[Hunter Rider]

Tonight I saw this for the first time since it's initial release, all i could remember other than the basic outline was that i felt cheated when they revealed who the murderer was.

So 90 minutes in and i am thinking "How can they screw this up ?" there is plenty of intrigue that is really well staged by Simon "Con Air" West, the film looks great with some good performances and a gripping mystery.....Then we get to the aforementioned reveal...Now unlike prior i didn't have a problem with the "who" more with the "Why", there just is no real foundation laid for the guy that is the killer to have any impact, but the main crime is the way Travolta suddenly pieces it together in his head when he realizes the Generals side kick wasn't the killer..WTF ? No explanation or anything....

But it gets worse, suddenly the guy who is the killer has telepathically realized Travolta is onto him and attempts to kill his partner (Who conveniently with no reason wants to go to the crime scene again with said killer fortuitously in tow) in a nicely shot but completely ludicrous finale that smelled like it was tacked on by studio demand for something "cool".....*Sigh* At least the last scene between Travolta and the cold hearted General has some power to it.

 

[BizarroAids]

I love this movie, but yeah, I know what you mean about the overall reveal.

The "why" is what made me feel unfulfilled. I kinda saw the who coming, but I felt like the "why" needed to be more justified, hell maybe alittle more than just "It's all your fault blah blah blah."

The first time when they are talking about her first rape was horrifying to me upon first viewing. It was filmed in the right way, it was deeply moving though. I remember hearing women in the audience gasping for air.

I was just thinking of this movie the other day. Glad you made a thread of it, I was considering it and didn't know how well it would be preceived.

Nice topic/good points Hunter.t:

 

[Hunter Rider]

I love this movie, but yeah, I know what you mean about the overall reveal.

The "why" is what made me feel unfulfilled. I kinda saw the who coming, but I felt like the "why" needed to be more justified, hell maybe alittle more than just "It's all your fault blah blah blah."

The first time when they are talking about her first rape was horrifying to me upon first viewing. It was filmed in the right way, it was deeply moving though. I remember hearing women in the audience gasping for air.

I was just thinking of this movie the other day. Glad you made a thread of it, I was considering it and didn't know how well it would be preceived.

Nice topic/good points Hunter.t:

I think with the Why they needed to lay more foundations for it during the movie for it to make more sense, also the way Travolta suddenly realizes makes no sense, nor does the guy choosing that exact moment to decide to off Travoltas partner, i mean he has zero reason to suspect he's been found out.

Yes, the rape scene was powerful and horrible but not gratuitously filmed, West did a good job overall with how he shot the movie IMO.

 

[bullets]

"Piece of Patch" ruined the movie for me.

 

[BizarroAids]

I think with the Why they needed to lay more foundations for it during the movie for it to make more sense, also the way Travolta suddenly realizes makes no sense, nor does the guy choosing that exact moment to decide to off Travoltas partner, i mean he has zero reason to suspect he's been found out.

Yes, the rape scene was powerful and horrible but not gratuitously filmed, West did a good job overall with how he shot the movie IMO.

I agree man, some times it was just convienent that he knew.

James Woods was creepy at first, but you couldn't help but like his character. Timothy Hutton, well, he wasn't my first choice, but he pulled off the part he needed to I guess.

So what other movies do we enjoy Hunter?t:

 

[Hunter Rider]

"Piece of Patch" ruined the movie for me.

Haha! That was such an odd way to put it, made me wonder if it was an edit of another word.

I agree man, some times it was just convienent that he knew.

James Woods was creepy at first, but you couldn't help but like his character. Timothy Hutton, well, he wasn't my first choice, but he pulled off the part he needed to I guess.

So what other movies do we enjoy Hunter?t:

Woods played a great role b/c he kept you guessing as to what his deal was, although i suspected he was gay when his lawyer came in while he was preparing the fancy meal. Had you read the book ?

Well I am hoping to enjoy Frequency and we both loved The Fugitive.