RIDLEY SCOTT at 74…A "Man On Fire"…with Passion for the Project? OR…A Man in Dir
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Neurion
Veteran MemberMemberOvomorph12/19/2011Neurion’s RIDLEY SCOTT Film Tally
This is how I would personally score Ridley Scott’s film directorial career, on a scale of 1 to 10…as far as film quality. Keep in mind, I gave no film a 10, as that would be a perfect film. I have never seen what I would call a perfect film. Even the great ALIEN had flaws. Not so much in content or story, but editorially and effect wise, i.e. the bad head switch for android Ash and so on…
1977 The Duellists - 8.5
1979 Alien - 9.5
1982 Blade Runner - 9.5
1985 Legend - 6.5
1987 Someone to Watch Over Me - 7
1989 Black Rain - 8
1991 Thelma & Louise - 7
1992 1492: Conquest of Paradise - 8
1996 White Squall - 8
1997 G.I. Jane - 7
2000 Gladiator - 9.5
2001 Hannibal - 7
2001 Black Hawk Down - 8.5
2003 Matchstick Men - 6.5
2005 Kingdom of Heaven - 6
2006 A Good Year 8
2007 American Gangster - 8
2008 Body of Lies - 8
2010 Robin Hood - 7
2012 Prometheus - ?
By MY reckoning, this gives Scott an AVERAGE SCORE of 7.765 for his previous 19 films.
Generally, I don’t analyze directors in this fashion. I only did it to point out that Scott has a “slightly” spotty film career. Better than most…but still flawed. For my money…when he’s ON…he’s spot on! When he’s off…well…he’s off. Therefore, I’m concerned about PROMETHEUS.
Some members of our PROMETHEUS-MOVIE website “family,” seem to be invincibly optimistic, and well beyond concern…or just simply without it. I, on the other hand, am hoping for the best…but preparing for disappointment. I’ve been burned way too many times in the past, in regard to favorite film franchises falling into the abyss… i.e. Star Wars Prequels and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Dull…Schlocky movie.
When he directed ALIEN, Scott was young, hungry…and out to prove himself. Plus, "I" believe there was a certain artistic synergy at work there. Scott, O’Bannon, Giger, Shusett, Cobb, Giler, Carroll, Rawlings, and Goldsmith were all on fire for the project. And, it was birthing from the 2nd Golden Age of Hollywood…as film was finally beginning to explode on to scene…again…like never before.
Anyway…if Ridley has been diggin’ deep inside himself…like I think he did when he was in his early 40s…we could have something really special…terrifying…beautiful…and powerful, gestating in Pinewood Studios London.
Cheers…here’s to hoping!
~Neurion
P.S. In Space…no one can hear you pray…or can they?
5 Replies
Frantz
MemberOvomorph12/19/20111977 The Duellists - 9.5
1979 Alien - 10
1982 Blade Runner - 10
1985 Legend - 8.5
1987 Someone to Watch Over Me - 7
1989 Black Rain - 6.5
1991 Thelma & Louise - 7
1992 1492: Conquest of Paradise - 8
1996 White Squall - 8
1997 G.I. Jane - 5
2000 Gladiator - 8.5
2001 Hannibal - 6.5
2001 Black Hawk Down - 8.5
2003 Matchstick Men - 6.5
2005 Kingdom of Heaven - 7.5
2006 A Good Year 8
2007 American Gangster - 7
2008 Body of Lies - 7.5
2010 Robin Hood - 7
2012 Prometheus - ?
db73
MemberOvomorph12/19/2011I've not seen all of these films. Some of the ones I have I had no idea Scott had directed. He directed Legend? That was a pretty awful film. Thelma & Louise as well? Didn't know that was Scott. Here's my ratings for the films I have seen;
1979 Alien - 10
1982 Blade Runner - 10
1985 Legend - 3
1991 Thelma & Louise - 6
1997 G.I. Jane - 6
2000 Gladiator - 9
2001 Black Hawk Down - 8
2007 American Gangster - 8
2008 Body of Lies - 7
2010 Robin Hood - 8
Spartacus
MemberOvomorph12/19/2011There isn't a director or Producer on earth that even come close to making as many 8's & 9's as Ridley !!!
Ridley Scott is FLAT OUT one of Motion Pictures all time greatest directors and like I said there aren't very many that even come close.
His body of work is unprecedented.
His company is the likes of Leone, Kubrik, Coppola, Lumet, Pekkinpah, Spielberg, Lucas and Depalma.
"BLACK RAIN" IMO is a Fantastic action crime drama with a fabulous score by Hans Zimmer set in Japan and with great acting and is at least an 8.0 or higher !!!
I did not like Thelma and Louise AT ALL but giving that movie a 6 is way way wrong it is a 9 at least even though I hated it !!!
It is one of the most loved films of all time and I freely admit that even though I despised that film.
Director Credits
Prometheus2012)
Robin Hood (2010)
Body of Lies (2008)
American Gangster (2007)
A Good Year (2006)
All the Invisible Children (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Matchstick Men (2003)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Hannibal (2001)
Gladiator (2000)
G.I. Jane (1997)
White Squall (1996)
1492: The Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Black Rain (1989)
Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)
Legend (1985)
Blade Runner (1982)
Alien (1979)
The Duellists (1978)
Producer Credits
Prometheus (2012)
The Grey (2012)
Life in a Day (2011)
Cyrus (2010)
Robin Hood (2010)
Welcome to the Rileys (2010)
The A-Team (2010)
Cracks (2009)
Tell Tale (2009)
Body of Lies (2008)
American Gangster (2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Tristan & Isolde (2006)
A Good Year (2006)
In Her Shoes (2005)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Matchstick Men (2003)
Red Dragon (2002)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Hannibal (2001)
Where the Money Is (2000)
RKO 281 (1999)
Clay Pigeons (1998)
G.I. Jane (1997)
White Squall (1996)
Monkey Trouble (1994)
The Browning Version (1994)
1492: The Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)
Welcome To the Punch
Other credited work
The Minus Man (1999)
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
film extract ( Alien (1979) )
There are not very many people on this planet at all that can post these kinds of credentials in the Cinema world !!!
He stands alone as one of the All Time Great's in Film History and "Prometheus" is ONLY going to SOLIDIFY that even more so.
Oh and one last thing in response to what Neurion wrote about the Perfect 10 in film history !!!
I don't think I have either, however of the closest 2 films I have ever seen to a perfect 10
...one of them is his.
They Are...
"2001: A Space Odyssey"
& The Extended Dirctors Cut Of "Gladiator" !!!
Not_my_intention
MemberOvomorph12/19/2011i have conflicting feelings about Scott. not that he is bad or anything but i have only seen 2 of his movies (alien and blade runner) and the only reason he is my 3rd favorite director is because of alien.
my top director list and my favorite movie from them
1.) James Cameron, aliens/abyss
2.) Steven Spielberg, raiders/jaws
3.) Ridley Scott, alien
4.) Sylvester Stallone, rocky balboa
5.) George Lucas (before he got brain damage) star wars episode 4/5
walterhiller
MemberOvomorph12/19/2011ridley scott directed gi jane? i always thought it was his shaky cam obsessed brother.
well that's definitely a new level of versatility.
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