A-Team, movie... thing. Discussion and Spoilers

[Trekker4747]

Yeah, that's another trouble I had. Most of BA's lines I couldn't quite understand it seemed like he was either mumbling or had a block of chaw in his mouth. I didn't know if it was him or the theater's sound-system. I also, but again I've not seen the show in a long time, he at times seemed to be played as the "naive kid" rather than the precieved bad-ass Mr T. was/is.

 

[DWF]

I had no problems hearing Jackson's lines as BA.

 

[Aragorn]

I had trouble understanding Rampage's mumbling for about the first half of the movie.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Yeah, that's another trouble I had. Most of BA's lines I couldn't quite understand it seemed like he was either mumbling or had a block of chaw in his mouth. I didn't know if it was him or the theater's sound-system. I also, but again I've not seen the show in a long time, he at times seemed to be played as the "naive kid" rather than the precieved bad-ass Mr T. was/is.

I also had trouble making out what he said sometimes.

 

[Skywalker]

I didn't have a problem understanding him.

 

[Nardpuncher]

I didn't have a problem understanding him.

But some did. Maybe you're just awesome.

 

[JacksonArcher]

I absolutely loved this movie.

I've seen it twice since it has come out, and I think it's probably the most fun movie of the year so far (I haven't seen Toy Story 3 yet). Where Iron Man 2 felt dutiful and slightly pedantic, The A-Team was an extremely fun movie which had a terrific balance at story and characterization. In an ensemble movie like this, the chemistry of the leads is very important and it worked perfectly. You believed that these guys were a team and that they were close. The casting was pitch-perfect: Liam Neeson added a lot of gravitas to Hannibal, Bradley Cooper was the perfect amount of suave over-manliness as Face, Sharlto Copley absolutely nailed the zany craziness of Murdock, and Quinton Jackson actually surprised me as B.A. He could have been a lot more obnoxious and annoying, trying to emulate Mr. T, but director Joe Carnahan took a page out of J.J. Abrams' notebook and allowed the actors to give their own individualized interpretations of the characters, verses repeating the performances of the originals verbatim. I'd say as a result The A-Team is a perfect example at how to adapt a beloved TV series into a modernized motion picture, alongside Abrams' own Star Trek revival.

Was the film crazily over-the-top, ridiculous and unbelievable? Absolutely, but this is The A-Team that we are talking about so you drop reality at the door. Nevertheless, the film was rooted in the interpersonal dynamics of the four leads, and that is where the film succeeds the most. I also enjoyed Patrick Wilson as "Lynch", who seemed to be really having fun in the role. It's a nice departure for him, who is accustom to playing darker roles like in Little Children and Watchmen. When Carnahan said he could have made a better Mission: Impossible III (he was once attached as director before Abrams stepped in) I scoffed at the notion but seeing at how incredibly and surprisingly well this movie worked I might have to give him some credence. While I still really liked M:i:III, Carnahan was somehow able to really mix all of the ingredients necessary to make a really fun, involving, and heartfelt film.

I usually despise dumb summer movies (I'm looking at you, Transformers movies) but probably because this was so much fun that I just ran with it and suspended my disbelief without a hitch. I would seriously love to see a sequel, so long as Carnahan is back as is Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson.

Did anyone else really enjoy Alan Silversti's score? It's nice to see him scoring eventful summer tentpoles again (I didn't see G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...) since I'm a big fan of his big summer action movie scores of the 80's (the Back to the Future movies, Mac and Me, Predator, The Delta Force, and of course his TV scores for CHiPs and Starsky & Hutch). I thought, seeing as how The A-Team was an adaptation of a 80's TV show, his hiring was appropriate.

 

[doubleohfive]

^^ The TrekBBS...where hyperbole reigns.

I said "Damn it" or soemthing because I wasn't sure if there was anything after the credits...but don't think there was any gnashing of teeth or weeping or complaining. It was an "Aw shucks" type thing.
Sorry about attaining the height of narcissistic entitlement.

I'm sorry if I sound overly dramatic about it too ... I guess my perspective on the issue is, if someone pays to see a movie and then gets up and leaves before the show is over, who's fault is it?

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^ The TrekBBS...where hyperbole reigns.

I said "Damn it" or soemthing because I wasn't sure if there was anything after the credits...but don't think there was any gnashing of teeth or weeping or complaining. It was an "Aw shucks" type thing.
Sorry about attaining the height of narcissistic entitlement.

I'm sorry if I sound overly dramatic about it too ... I guess my perspective on the issue is, if someone pays to see a movie and then gets up and leaves before the show is over, who's fault is it?

Yeah, I didn't blame anyone, I just said aw shucks basically.

 

[Mr Light]

Just saw it yesterday. I know nothing of the TV show. I really liked the movie, more than I thought I would! It was a lot of fun, had great action scenes, fun character interaction, even the villains were quirky and not generic. I rank it most fun movie of the summer.... so far!

 

[John Picard]

I absolutely loved this movie.

I've seen it twice since it has come out, and I think it's probably the most fun movie of the year so far (I haven't seen Toy Story 3 yet). Where Iron Man 2 felt dutiful and slightly pedantic, The A-Team was an extremely fun movie which had a terrific balance at story and characterization. In an ensemble movie like this, the chemistry of the leads is very important and it worked perfectly. You believed that these guys were a team and that they were close. The casting was pitch-perfect: Liam Neeson added a lot of gravitas to Hannibal, Bradley Cooper was the perfect amount of suave over-manliness as Face, Sharlto Copley absolutely nailed the zany craziness of Murdock, and Quinton Jackson actually surprised me as B.A. He could have been a lot more obnoxious and annoying, trying to emulate Mr. T, but director Joe Carnahan took a page out of J.J. Abrams' notebook and allowed the actors to give their own individualized interpretations of the characters, verses repeating the performances of the originals verbatim. I'd say as a result The A-Team is a perfect example at how to adapt a beloved TV series into a modernized motion picture, alongside Abrams' own Star Trek revival.

Was the film crazily over-the-top, ridiculous and unbelievable? Absolutely, but this is The A-Team that we are talking about so you drop reality at the door. Nevertheless, the film was rooted in the interpersonal dynamics of the four leads, and that is where the film succeeds the most. I also enjoyed Patrick Wilson as "Lynch", who seemed to be really having fun in the role. It's a nice departure for him, who is accustom to playing darker roles like in Little Children and Watchmen. When Carnahan said he could have made a better Mission: Impossible III (he was once attached as director before Abrams stepped in) I scoffed at the notion but seeing at how incredibly and surprisingly well this movie worked I might have to give him some credence. While I still really liked M:i:III, Carnahan was somehow able to really mix all of the ingredients necessary to make a really fun, involving, and heartfelt film.

I usually despise dumb summer movies (I'm looking at you, Transformers movies) but probably because this was so much fun that I just ran with it and suspended my disbelief without a hitch. I would seriously love to see a sequel, so long as Carnahan is back as is Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson.

Did anyone else really enjoy Alan Silversti's score? It's nice to see him scoring eventful summer tentpoles again (I didn't see G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...) since I'm a big fan of his big summer action movie scores of the 80's (the Back to the Future movies, Mac and Me, Predator, The Delta Force, and of course his TV scores for CHiPs and Starsky & Hutch). I thought, seeing as how The A-Team was an adaptation of a 80's TV show, his hiring was appropriate.

Terrific summation that I wished I could have conveyed. I think one of the best lines in the movie was, "They're trying to fly a tank." Murdock's re-enacting of Mel Gibson's William Wallace speech from Braveheart was over the top.

Everything the movie version of the A-Team pulled off was (farfetched) and yet somehow believable as compared to the TV show, except one minor nit, which had to do with the airbags on the cargo container.

Overall, the movie had just enough zany and silly action to make it fun, but held together with excellent portrayals of the characters and well blended writing.

I disagree with the comments, up-thread, that delving into the Team's back story was too long and unnecessary. I think the set-up and explanation was well thought out and brilliant.

 

[doubleohfive]

^^ The TrekBBS...where hyperbole reigns.

I said "Damn it" or soemthing because I wasn't sure if there was anything after the credits...but don't think there was any gnashing of teeth or weeping or complaining. It was an "Aw shucks" type thing.
Sorry about attaining the height of narcissistic entitlement.

I'm sorry if I sound overly dramatic about it too ... I guess my perspective on the issue is, if someone pays to see a movie and then gets up and leaves before the show is over, who's fault is it?

Yeah, I didn't blame anyone, I just said aw shucks basically.

I know. My statement was more of a general reaction to everyone and not you personally; I probably could have been more clear about that.

 

[God Magnus]

I had no problems hearing Jackson's lines as BA.

Same here. Considering the guy's background is fighting, I think he did a really good job. I enjoyed seeing the non-violent side of BA and the one most pop culture associates him with: "The Tough Guy". It was also cool to see his fear of flying explained!

 

[Skywalker]

I didn't have a problem understanding him.

But some did. Maybe you're just awesome.

What do you mean maybe?

 

[JacksonArcher]

Did anyone else really enjoy the little jab they made at 3-D? At least, I thought it was a jab. Interesting to see 3-D play a part of the story when 3-D is so hot right now, and the film was specifically not in 3-D, if I recall correctly.

 

[Trekker4747]

I didn't like the 3D scene. I found a bit too "meta" for my tastes, but overall kinda funny, I guess.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Did anyone else really enjoy the little jab they made at 3-D? At least, I thought it was a jab. Interesting to see 3-D play a part of the story when 3-D is so hot right now, and the film was specifically not in 3-D, if I recall correctly.

I don't know if it was a jab or not, but it was definately on purpose and it was funny.

 

[SlyCardie]

I heard about that 3D thing, I think it's cool when movies make meta jokes like that, especially when they are supposed to be set int he real world in current times.

 

[Captain Craig]

Did anyone else really enjoy the little jab they made at 3-D? At least, I thought it was a jab. Interesting to see 3-D play a part of the story when 3-D is so hot right now, and the film was specifically not in 3-D, if I recall correctly.

I thought that scene was good. It played so well into what the 'plan' was to rescue Murdock that I didn't register it as a "jab" at 3-D movies and the over use currently by Hollywood.

I can see how that could be read into it, question I'd ask is was it a jab intentionally or just a funny scene when written?

 

[Aragorn]

Have the cameo scenes found their way online yet? I missed them at the theater.