Movie Debate #130: Dick Tracy

[Reed Rothchild | 9,591]

[MrWunderful | 2,927]

Remember watching it as kid in theaters for a  bday party. Watched it a few years ago and it gave me a weirder nostalgia feeling. Liked how to was kinda pulpy? I guess it reminded me of a different tarantino before that type of movie. 
 

8/10 for the weird feeling

[Tabonga | 2,344]

It was really refreshing to see a belated  take on a venerable series whilst still retaining Dick Tracy's vintage flavor from the series of movies/serials  (which ended in 1947 and included 4 serials).  There was a two season tv series in 1950/51 - but those were episodes edited from the movies/serials. There was also a short run radio series.  (One episode was notable because the broadcast was interrupted by a report of Hitler's death - which had him dying because of a stroke rather than by suicide.)

While the movies and tv series were a bit before my time I did see them often on late night/weekend tv while growing up.

There was also a long running comic strip - but Dick Tracy was really better suited to the screen.  (One famous incident with the comic strip was when New York Mayor LaGuardia read the comic strip over the radio duing a 1945 newpaper deliverers' strike.

It was great to see so many of Dick Tracy's classic foes worked into the Beatty effort - my favorite was "Mumbles".

A solid 8 - if you had a sense of nostalgia the movie was great.

 

[Link | 2,734]

58 minutes ago, Tabonga said:

There was also a long running comic strip

This is where the Dick Tracy character originated.

The Shadow is a somewhat similar character (not superpowered, uses guns) that did start in radio first and was then adapted to pulpy print stuff.

[Tabonga | 2,344]

19 minutes ago, Link said:

This is where the Dick Tracy character originated.

The Shadow is a somewhat similar character (not superpowered, uses guns) that did start in radio first and was then adapted to pulpy print stuff.

 

[fox | 1,681]

It is a visual treat, and like a precursor to Sin City.  Everything in the production design was color matched to the old newsprint colors.  You have so many A list actors, in crazy makeup, really having fun and hamming it up.  Also peak era Madonna acting and on the soundtrack. Vogue!

Really the weakest part Beatty himself, who really seems pretty bland and lifeless as a hero in this over the top colorful world.  The kid is pretty bad too.  Oh and there isn't really a plot, things happen, but it is all kinda random.  It's a mess of a film, but at least an interesting mess.

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,105]

I liked it. It's not great, but still a solid movie. 7/10.

[guitarzombie | 927]

10.  My favorite movie as a kid.  Love the visuals and the music.  And the game, as most people know.

[RH | 4,980]

I haven't seen it since a kid.  I can't recall much of anything about it and what I do remember boils down to "stills" in my brain.

I may have to watch it again just to vote properly. I'm not sure that will happen so I'm probably not going to vote on this.

On a side note, I recall that when every game system company a few years ago was making a mini-system with 20 or so games on it, someone jokingly made a "Mini VCR" ad, preloaded with 20 VHS tapes "everyone owned'.  I can't recall if this was one of them but it should have been.

[Dr. Morbis | 2,092]

12 hours ago, RH said:

On a side note, I recall that when every game system company a few years ago was making a mini-system with 20 or so games on it, someone jokingly made a "Mini VCR" ad, preloaded with 20 VHS tapes "everyone owned'.  I can't recall if this was one of them but it should have been.

Yeah, this is one of those movies that got absolutely huge promotion at the video rental stores around me back in the day.  Good times...

[G-type | 2,536]

I saw it when it came out. Don’t remember much about it or remember liking it, and don’t intend to rewatch it

[Estil | 1,265]

Oh I remember getting the scratch off game cards from McDonalds from this movie!  You know, back when McDonalds was actually worth going to?

[Reed Rothchild | 9,591]

19 minutes ago, Estil said:

Oh I remember getting the scratch off game cards from McDonalds from this movie!  You know, back when McDonalds was actually worth going to?

Shit, I remember this too now that you mention it

[LeatherRebel5150 | 1,056]

I was going to watch it this past weekend, but it’s not on any of the free streaming services or the ones we do pay for. So won’t be seeing it anytime soon

[JamesRobot | 5,838]

I'd watch it again if it came up but haven't seen it since it was in theaters.  I remember Dick being pretty big for a couple of months... 

It was supposedly the next big comic movie after Batman hit in 89.  It was not.  I'd argue that the next big comic movie was Blade.  Didn't really care for any of the other 90s Batmen.

[Hammerfestus | 3,890]

18 minutes ago, JamesRobot said:

I'd watch it again if it came up but haven't seen it since it was in theaters.  I remember Dick being pretty big for a couple of months... 

It was supposedly the next big comic movie after Batman hit in 89.  It was not.  I'd argue that the next big comic movie was Blade.  Didn't really care for any of the other 90s Batmen.

Not even nipple Batman?

[JamesRobot | 5,838]

9 hours ago, Hammerfestus said:

Not even nipple Batman?

[fox | 1,681]

23 hours ago, JamesRobot said:

I'd watch it again if it came up but haven't seen it since it was in theaters.  I remember Dick being pretty big for a couple of months... 

It was supposedly the next big comic movie after Batman hit in 89.  It was not.  I'd argue that the next big comic movie was Blade.  Didn't really care for any of the other 90s Batmen.

The Crow, Men in Black, and Ninja Turtles were pretty big comic book movies in the 90s 🫨

Edited July 20, 2023 by fox

[G-type | 2,536]

On 7/14/2023 at 11:48 AM, RH said:

someone jokingly made a "Mini VCR" ad, preloaded with 20 VHS tapes "everyone owned'.  I can't recall if this was one of them but it should have been

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by G-type

[Reed Rothchild | 9,591]

The Two Jakes?  Wtf