I watched the original Italian Job this weekend and really didn't care for it. I liked the part where they did the job and escaped but then they pushed the MINI's over the cliff. And the ending just stunk. I thought the story line might be close but was I ever wrong. If I had seen the original first I probably would not have watched the new one which I really love. In the new one they didn't destory the MINI's and you know what becomes of all the characters.

 

You have to understand that the original Italian Job was a movie produced over 35 years ago. I like it a lot (I have both new and old version of the movie in DVD) but the new 2003 remake is more of my liking for many reasons.

I can't wait to see the new Italian Job II due out sometime next year.

 

The first Italian Job was a pretty crappy Michael Cain vehicle with a cool car chase. I have both on DVD. The plot in the first was at good as the second. The acting pretty much sucks throughout, as does the acting in the new one. The car chase in the first is one of the all time best in movie history, and the car chases in the second are more frequent, and the sewer scenes were pretty innovative. But what gets me is that with all the effort in the high tech craftwork and pretty people and cars in the second, why do they have to make such predictible charecters! Predictible plot! Etc.... sure the new movie was fun, but I didn't find it as nearly a good remake as say "The Thomas Crown Affair". No cool minis (one Shelby GT500 Convert.), but a much better movie!

Matt

 

Worst ending to a movie EVER (but loved it when the Lambo Muira got clocked.) Jimbo

 

I actually thought the ending was pretty hilarious

 

Yeah, the ending made you think about how it actually ended instead of serving it up on a platter. . .

 

Most people these days can’t watch a movie made 30 some years ago and appreciate it.

It’s like making my 12 year old daughter watch a black and white movie these days – she just doesn’t see the art, the finesse, the work it took to do it. All she says is blah blah blah. It’s not in color, there’s no action, I don’t understand, how come people just talk…

The original “The Italian Job” is 50 times the movie the extremely weak remake was in my opinion. If you can’t see the work, the scenes, the artistic approach, the painting on celluloid it is then you must want something different. The original is a work of art, the remake nothing more than fluff.

Sorry, but that’s my take on it.

 

one of the best movies with the ending that catches you by suprise is Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, the one with the yellow 69 charger. see if you can find a copy, its a very good early 70's movie!

 

I've always had a problem watching beautiful classic cars getting smashed even if they were not such classics at the time the movie was made. It just seems like such a waste and does not make the movie any better in my opinion. It was kind of funny though how they did limit the damage on the Aston Martin so that it could easily be repaired. I was glad to see that one did not go over the edge.

 

Me too (guess I am a "me too" type). I love the original because it did not take itself seriously. How could it have? It's a fable with a fable's ending.

At first, I was excited about the remake, but (I think Dr Obnxs already opined this) the characters were one-dimensional (and none with the screen presence of the first movie's actors IMHO) and the story was not inspired (the original was very clever for its time while the new movie was reduced to "revenge of the sullen").

My favorite car movie is "Bullitt", but friends have been bored by it. They could not believe that Steve McQueen would wear pyjamas when in bed with a very young Jacqueline Bisset--complaining that it was unrealistic.

I just watched "Touchez Pas au Grisbi" yesterday (I was trying to figure out if the getaway cabriolet toward the end of the film was a Delage) and in one scene the lead character, played by Jean Gabin, spent a long time arranging immaculate sheets, towel and pyjamas out of a cabinet for his guest. That was part of life then.

As sndwave suggests, one might have to "appreciate" a film's context. Not all old films are worth watching. Similar to cars which is what this forum is about. Most old cars may not be worth a second glance today, but some made their contribution without having been acclaimed by the general public. But we enthusiasts can appreciate them.

 

I'm one of those who actually like the 1st film a little more than the remake, but they're really very different movies.

The first (as has been said) doesn't take itself too seriously, and the ending is appropriate for that. It left me laughing. It also contains the best car chase *without special effects* and best stunt driving I've ever seen (with the possible exception of 'Bullitt').

The remake is a good solid action adventure movie in the current Hollywood style. But, if it weren't for the MINIs, I probably wouldn't have gone out of my way to see it. The chases are good, although they depend on a fair amount of modern technology. All-in-all a very good film, but I like the quirky original a little more.

 

Oh, I love the original! Some of the lines are absolutely classic. And how could you fault a film with Benny Hill in it?

 

Sure the acting was crappy in number 1 (and number 2 for that matter), and the plot was weak. But do a little research on the making of number 1 and I'll bet you gain a whole new appreciation for it. Again, remember, it was made over 30 years ago. As a classic Mini owner for many years, the original holds special meaning. Now, as a new MINI owner, I'm also fond of the new flick. Any movie with Mini's running through it is a good movie in my books.

 

I enjoyed the first and second alot. Sure, like mentioned before, the acting in both left something to be desired. But hey, I've always liked the dry, depand english humor. I get a laugh out of the first one being rated G. Don't see to many of them now a days unless Uncle Walt puts it out.

 

Go re-watch the movie, and notice that you only ever really see one side of that Aston... That's because the other side of the car was trashed already! Watch the director's commentary...

Also according to that commentary, that particular ending was choosen (several were actually made) because there were plans for a sequel. It would open with the bus still swinging from the ledge(I'm not kidding here) when all of a sudden helicopters with cables dangling from them would swoop in pick up the rear end of the bus and drop it back on the road, where Charlie and the gang would exit the bus to find they were once again surrounded by Mafia thugs with machine guns.

The Mafia Don would tell Crocker that they followed his girlfriend to Geneva where they picked her up and got her to tell them the entire plot. At which point the Mafia would take the bus... and the gold and once again strand Charlie and the boys in the Italian Alps... The rest of the movie would be Charlie and the gang plotting to rescue the girl and get back the gold...

So is "Self Preservation Society" running through your head now?

 

My favorite line : "My top end is UN-limited!"
Jim

 

I absolutely loved the "cliffhanger" ending to the original. I laughed out loud when I first saw it.
In my book, the original and the modern are just two different films...with minis/MINIs.

 

The new Italian Job: good, but typical, modern action movie
The original Italin Job: highly entertaining for those that are patient enough to really watch it closely

 

Anyone know, is that Benny Hill's only motion picture role? Jimbo

 

Benny Hill was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Off the top of my head. Heres the rest.

http://imdb.com/name/nm0001350/



Paul

 

Acutally go watch the special feature with the guy who did the effects for the movie. The silver car that goes over the edge really isn't an Aston but a Lancia Flavia. Watch closely and you will see that the car going over the edge has four headlights and a Lancia grille. He tells the story of looking all over the streets of Turin until the wee hours of the morning looking for a suitable stand in for the Aston.

 

I bought both versions on DVD at the same time. I do like old movies, so I was going into the original with a positive attitude.

I hated it.

The car chases were the only good part of the movie. Hated the ending. Can't stand Benny Hill - his humor is aimed at 10 year-olds (talking about his TV show not this movie). And that frikkin' song drove me nuts!

 

Just in case you were thinking you are alone in not liking the older one I will chime in and agree with you..:smile: I did not like it much, and neither did my wife. Maybe we are too young, or not patient enough... blah, whatever. It just did not click with me... and I have studied film, I just don't think it is all that.
But I wish they put that ice sceen in... that was cool, Minis doing ballet... awesome:smile:

 

I love the new one and hate the old one. It just didn't do it for me.

The only part I really cared for in the old one was when they drove up on the building -- The driving in the old one is amazing.

 

Minis and architecture by Matte Trucco. How could the remake possibly compete?