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Blue Velvet virgin

Brigade du jour

04:42 / 11.05.03

Hello everybody, peace and love and all that.

i'm such a twat in that I've never seen Blue Velvet. BUT I've been thinking about it an awful lot lately (clips, Dennis Hopper sucking gas, Isabella Rossellini naked except for a knife etc.) and lo and behold it's on telly Monday night.

Could anyone please offer me some advice before I see it? Everyone keeps telling me it's like the best film ever and I've seen a few other Lynch movies and only very recently 'got into him' for want of a better phrase. I thought maybe I should record it, then watch it at three or four in the morning, so it's quiet outside and it finishes as the sun rises.

Any ideas lovely people?

PS Please don't spoil the story for me. Althought it being a Lynch movie I suppose that's a logistical impossibility.

videodrome

05:11 / 11.05.03

It's just a movie, albeit a very, very good one. Watching it with open mind and eyes will probably suffice.

Although - telly - is this 'naughy bits cut out' telly, or no? Because if it is, go straight to a rental. There's perfectly good DVDs available.

The Return Of Rothkoid

07:00 / 11.05.03

Well, what Lynch have you seen? I think it's important not to approach BV thinking "hey, this'll be fucked up!" because, yes, it will be, just not in the sort of way you might imagine. It's a little more straightforward than some of his other stuff, and as such, I think works better than some; it's a simple small-town story, and it's... just great, really. Just watch it without getting into that "Lynch! Dude! Fucked-up!" mindset that sometimes comes on - well, for me, anyway.

I suggest having some beer on hand. Although your choice is probably quite crucial...

It's almost a given that you will say "God! Kyle looks so fucking young!" a couple of times through the movie, too.

Haus of Mystery

09:36 / 11.05.03

Blue Velvet is a film for kids. Watch Ghostbusters instead.

sleazenation

11:26 / 11.05.03

I watched blue velvet for the first time last week ()the region 2 DVD has a depressing lack of extras) And was surprized by how straight a story it actually is

spoilers............

It did strike me that the unaturally happy ending was effectively self critiqued with the device of the obviously fake robins

The Natural Way

12:24 / 11.05.03

Yeah, that's the standard observation.

My choice of film drug is usually weed - I like the way it opens the whole thing up. I think alcohol may innure you to some of the drama, but, then again, in Blue Velvet's freaky case that might not be such a bad thing.

Very, very mild spoiler:

I watched it with my sister, Matty, recently (she was a BV virgin, jus' like you Hardy!) and half way through she turned to me:

"Man, that Frank's really FUCKED UP!"

Oh, yes.

I recommend NEVER approaching Lynch's stuff with a "Whoooooah! Weeeeeird!" cap on. It just creates a silly barrier between you and the work, and, y'know, it's not that weird. Sure, his plots twist and bend, but our Dave's films always make emotional sense and have everything to do with walking, talking real life. It's just a different mode: Hollywood could look pretty strange to someone unfamiliar with the modern (read: WESTERN) approach to narrative and construction of self.

Blah.

Haus of Mystery

13:02 / 11.05.03

Just brainstorming this one with the guys;
- make sure you are in the same room as TV.
- make sure you are facing TV.
- have a wee/defecation beforehand.
- watch to the end.

ENJOY!

sleazenation

14:41 / 11.05.03

runce sez
I think alcohol may innure you to some of the drama, but, then again, in Blue Velvet's freaky case that might not be such a bad thing.

"Heiniken? fuck that shit - PABST BLUE RIBBON!"

lolita nation

16:21 / 11.05.03

off topic, but I know of a bar in New Orleans where the people will actually say that to you if you order Heineken.

Brigade du jour

20:48 / 11.05.03

If I'm ever in New Orleans I shall procure the location of said bar if you don't mind lolita. Cheers!

Thanks for the advice everyone, especially about not going in with a 'Lynch! Dude! Fucked-up!' mindset. I just want to kind of fall asleep into the movie if that makes any sense. Cool.

Peace brothers and sisters

Solitaire Rose as Tom Servo

02:49 / 12.05.03

I think the oddest thing about the movie is how it seemed so weird when it was released, and now it seems mainstream. Completely.

But Frank is still one of the greatest characters Lynch has created.

jcoriha

04:39 / 12.05.03

I agree that Blue Velvet is one of Lynch's more "mainstream" (albeit still great) movies. Easier to follow all the way through then say Lost Highway or Mulholland Drive, but in my opinion not quite as rewarding.

For me the hardest to watch movie Lych was involved with was Fire Walk with Me but I haven't seen the series, and many have told me that's why.

nihraguk

13:11 / 13.05.03

For me the hardest to watch movie Lych was involved with was Fire Walk with Me but I haven't seen the series, and many have told me that's why.

a little offtopic here, but while i haven't watched FWWM yet; i have to say that eraserhead was for me the hardest to watch movie that lynch has crafted; totally boggled at what the film was supposed to be about.

Smoothly

15:10 / 14.05.03

[offtopic]
Eraserhead is all about sex, nihraguk; sex sex sex sex sex.
But then I think that a lot of movies are mostly about sex. And, coincidentally, that a lot of sex is mostly about the movies. So, hey.
[offtopic]

waxy dan

08:15 / 16.05.03

Fire Walk With Me is actually one of my favourite Lynch films. But I imagine it's impenetrable if you haven't seen the series, as it assumes an awful lot. It also, considering the way the series plays with time, acts almost as much as a sequel as it does a prequel.

Did anyone else pick up the first season box set thingy?

rizla mission

12:30 / 18.05.03

think the oddest thing about the movie is how it seemed so weird when it was released, and now it seems mainstream. Completely.

I don't know if I'd say that - I saw Blue Velvet for the first time about two years ago and it freaked the metaphorical shit out of me.

I think it only really looks 'mainstream' in comparison with Lynch's more far-out films. In terms of regular cinema, it still seems pretty.. unusual and scary.

Brigade du jour

21:33 / 19.05.03

Wow guys I watched it last Monday at last, and even though it fucked my sleeping pattern up 4 the entire rest of the week I loved loved loved it. I think all Frank Booth really needed was 4 somebody 2 cuddle him.

And now I recognise all those oblique Anthrax references from when I was a fifteen-year-old metal fan. Wow guys.

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