Miami Vice: Kneel Before Mann!!! (SPOILERS)

[Keepcoolbutcare]

blah, had the chance to go to a free screening of this a couple weeks ago, glad I didn't.

But Gong Li, at 41(!), still may be the best looking woman on the planet.

[ONeillSG1]

Have you seen the webpage?

Flash at its finest!!!!

AWESOME!!!

[Starks]

High Def. 720P (58Mb) trailer download is available from the Miami Vice Homepage: MiamiVice.com

I can't find a direct link unfortunatly.

[Conroy420]

This will probably be the best film of summer 06'. Sure X3 will have action but lack story, reverse that for Superman.

Miami Vice will be the only one that truly delivers, and that's only because Mann is involved.

[Pudie]

that new trailer is great. Im so growing a Colin Ferrel 'stache.

[colonel_lugz]

What the fuck was with that Linkin Park musiv over the top?!?!?! made it look fucking shite! and trashy and cheesy. I still reckon the film might be good but someone seriously dropped the ball with that trailer

[Peven]

i think it will be a very good flick, and i have been really looking forward to it, but i don't think i'll have as much fun with it as i will with POTC:2 or X3, and box office-wise i doubt it will give either of those two movies, or SR any real competetion. i think they'll be happy with anything over $100 million, and i'd be VERY surprised if it tops $150 million.

[MisterCynic]

that trailer is so awesome... im looking forward to this FAR more than stuff like x3 and potc2. its michael mann ffs, come on.

[Lady Sheridan]

All right, I broke down and watched this.

I have to admit, this looks enjoyable. And it hurts to say that because I really hate Colin Farrell and his overwhelming eyebrows.

But please boys, no growing the Farrell stash.

Will we get some actual sex scenes in this, or will it be blink-and-you-miss it bits from the trailer?

[Ribbons]

Will we get some actual sex scenes in this, or will it be blink-and-you-miss it bits from the trailer?

Dunno, but I read an article in "Premiere" a few days ago that says Naomie Harris and Jamie Foxx have some sort of shower scene that Mann encouraged them to improvise.

I'm sort of looking forward to this movie based solely on the pedigree of the people involved, but the previews haven't been all that interesting if you ask me.

[Neo Zeed]

I really want to see this movie, but there's one thing thats the deal breaker...the rating. If it's rated PG-13 I don't think I could take it.

[Peven]

All right, I broke down and watched this.

I have to admit, this looks enjoyable. And it hurts to say that because I really hate Colin Farrell and his overwhelming eyebrows.

But please boys, no growing the Farrell stash.

Will we get some actual sex scenes in this, or will it be blink-and-you-miss it bits from the trailer?

the more you post about sex scenes the more i suspect you have a porn collection that may rival Kirk's.

[tapehead]

That's a terrible song in the trailer, perhaps the worst thing Jay-Z ever did?

BUT

I remember once watching Miami Vice, some bit with Sonny, cuffs roled up, brooding, in a nightclub and The Church's 'Under the Milky Way' came on and blew my puny, pre-adolescent mind. I hope it was mann that picked that track, and the one on the trailer's a marketing choice or some lazy editor skimming through a compilation
Otherwise it still makes me want to see this to the point where I'm planning on renting the old show to watch it again - Farrel's enough of a likeable/arogant punk to pull off playing Crockett, although his hair in 'Alexander' is closer to Don Johnson's most flambouyant in the show





Mr Edward James Olmos

Don't get me wrong, I don't want this film to be a nostalgia trip

[Lady Sheridan]

the more you post about sex scenes the more i suspect you have a porn collection that may rival Kirk's.

Hahahaha! That's just it, I don't own any porn films. That's why I rely on R-related entertainment to deliver the goods. And it never does.

[Lord Voldemoo]

I love the shot of the speed boat flying over the waves at night, a great homage to so many of the original episodes without being crammed down your throat. I'm really optimistic.

[MasterWhedon]

I might be the only one, but I LOVE the song. I prefer the way it's used in the teaser, just instrumental and then the Linkin vocals (no Jay Z), but the fucking thing just screams to be cut to.

Regardless, the trailer is incredibly well constructed and works magnificently with the song. The style might be a little over the top but hello--this is Miami Vice.

[Ribbons]

I might be the only one, but I LOVE the song. I prefer the way it's used in the teaser, just instrumental and then the Linkin vocals (no Jay Z), but the fucking thing just screams to be cut to.

Regardless, the trailer is incredibly well constructed and works magnificently with the song. The style might be a little over the top but hello--this is Miami Vice.

No, I like the song in the trailer too. I would prefer it with NO vocals, but it lends itself to editing really well and it has kind of an ominous vibe that works well with a movie like this.

[Peven]

the more you post about sex scenes the more i suspect you have a porn collection that may rival Kirk's.

Hahahaha! That's just it, I don't own any porn films. That's why I rely on R-related entertainment to deliver the goods. And it never does.

you must be a big fan of "Body Heat".

[havocSchultz]

Mori has his REVIEW up on the main page...

I am really looking forward to this film...

I just wish they'd found some room for Olmos in there somewhere...

[tapehead]

'may well be the most artistically successful translation from a TV show to the bigscreen'
'this film perfectly captures the broken heart of the series, that sense of slipping into a world that corrupts even the best intentions. And the fact that the film fairly drips with cool doesn't hurt a bit.'



all signs point to 'YES!'



interesting stuff about the Viper HD versus the Genesis Camera used for 'Superman Returns' as well - I'm so glad Moriarty loves this

[havocSchultz]

'may well be the most artistically successful translation from a TV show to the bigscreen'
'this film perfectly captures the broken heart of the series, that sense of slipping into a world that corrupts even the best intentions. And the fact that the film fairly drips with cool doesn't hurt a bit.'



all signs point to 'YES!'



interesting stuff about the Viper HD versus the Genesis Camera used for 'Superman Returns' as well - I'm so glad Moriarty loves this

Ya - I hear ya. That's how I feel too. I know alot of people don't "trust" the reviews from some/all the people on this site.
But I always like Mori's reviews - and this one just seemed to be really genuine and in love with the film as a whole...

Either way - if it is brilliant or ass - I'm sure it'll at least be one of the more interesting and different films of the summer...

[Peven]

Mori's review reinforces the desire i have had to see this movie since the first time i checked out the trailer this past winter. Mann is one of the best directors working today, imo, with a truly impressive body of work, and yet somehow seems to get lost in the shuffle many times when people are discussing directors in favor of guys with only 1 or 2 good films under their belt.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Guess I should've gone to that sneak preview they had in Oakland a month or so ago .

The trailers haven't done anything for me, but it was Mann, and I should've known better.

[Leckomaniac]

The trailers for this haven't done anything for me. And I don't really like Jamie Foxx or Collin Ferrel...so I don't know. I have never really been a fan of those thriller/gritty/action type films...but Mann's films have been the exception...so we shall see. I probably won't see it in the theatres but perhaps on DVD or digital cagle.

[+WillyT+]

The trailer isnt too good (especially the song but it could b ok

[Conroy420]

I'm definitly going to be seeing this film and morarity's review only pumped me up more.

So stoaked! Any word on the running time? Read a few reviews who said the only minus that it ran too long, but Morarity doesn't mention anything about that.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004780-miami_vice /

Looking g d!

Maybe it might be time for a Miami Vice Review thread?

[MasterWhedon]

Maybe it might be time for a Miami Vice Review thread?

Good call. I'm just gonna switch this one.

[MasterWhedon]

An early 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Variety, TIME and Newsweek are all positive. Hollywood Reporter is not.

SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH.

[AtomicHyperbole]

Wow. I'm stoked for this. Looks like a good Mann film... the guy's on something of a roll since forever!

But I am one of those rarities which finds Heat a little boring. I saw the original first, though, which had the added benefit of not being overbaked.

[Peven]

Wow. I'm stoked for this. Looks like a good Mann film... the guy's on something of a roll since forever!

But I am one of those rarities which finds Heat a little boring. I saw the original first, though, which had the added benefit of not being overbaked.

don't feel bad, dude. i like Heat, but it is kind of slow. i am also a real Mann fan, and have been psyched for this since i saw the first trailer, and the reviews are looking sweet now too.

[Cpt Kirks 2pay]

I second that. I do think that Heat overall is a masterpiece that has a greater emotional level than other films like it, but yes, a 3 hour film with only 4 bits of action (not all of them solid action scenes) that takes it's time with pacing to build up story and characters, it's downside is that it IS slow and CAN be boring at times. I can understand a lot of people disliking it, and there are many that do.

[RogueScribner]

I should be seeing this tomorrow. I'm not really looking forward to it, but it is Michael Mann, so it can't be all bad. I never saw the show so I'm going in with zero preconceived ideas.

[AtomicHyperbole]

I second that. I do think that Heat overall is a masterpiece that has a greater emotional level than other films like it, but yes, a 3 hour film with only 4 bits of action (not all of them solid action scenes) that takes it's time with pacing to build up story and characters, it's downside is that it IS slow and CAN be boring at times. I can understand a lot of people disliking it, and there are many that do.

What abouts films JUST like it? Mann's original LA Takedown did far more for me. But then I wasn't being distracted by big-name actors trying to outdo eachother...

[RogueScribner]

I just returned from seeing Miami Vice. Let me preface this review by stating that I have never seen a single episode of the television series, though as a child of the '80s I do have some idea of who Crockett and Tubbs are. I'm not a rabid fan of Michael Mann's, but I do think he is a strong filmmaker who isn't really prone to fumbling the ball. I loved The Last of the Mohicans, really liked Heat, and quite enjoyed Manhunter, The Insider, and Collateral. I haven't seen Ali or any of his pre-Manhunter films, so I can't comment on the quality of those. But as you can see, thus far I've enjoyed a lot of Michael Mann.

Until today.

Miami Vice isn't a steaming pile of shit, but in a way it's worse: it's a movie that simply doesn't live up to its potential. It lacks a strong narrative, the cinematography was often flat or muddy (not to mention very grainy during the majority of the darker shots), the characters are hard to get to know, and the story itself just isn't that compelling. The only film I can really compare it to is Heat and this film is no Heat.

Without getting into spoiler material (it's not really worth going into), I'll state my likes and dislikes.


Me Likey

The music (song and score) was really strong. The sound of this movie is probably its best feature. Despite my disappointment with the film, I may still pick up the soundtrack.

There were some interesting scenes, scenes that contained dynamic character interaction, thrilling bits of action, or suspense.

The look of the film (aside from the cinematography) was pretty sharp.

This movie was made for adults. It is free of stupid one-liners, catch phrases, gratuitous action, and comic relief characters. This is not meant to be mindless entertainment. You'll get lost pretty quickly if you aren't paying attention.

Did I mention the soundtrack?

Me Not So Likey

The movie starts cold. FREEZING COLD. I didn't really know who was who or what the hell was going on for probably a good 30 minutes or so.

The movie takes its time to give Crockett and Tubbs romantic interests, but it didn't spend any time on who Crockett and Tubbs were or why they do the things they do. I eventually got a feel for the type of people they were . . . after the movie was half over.

This movie falls into cliche more than once.

It bears repeating: the cinematography was awful, IMO. I don't know if it was a stylistic choice or if the D.P. dropped the ball, but nearly all of the night shots (or shots in dark areas) were full of grain and minimal detail, probably because they had to lighten the shots after the fact. It looked so frickin' rookie.

There is little humor, even naturalistic humor.

This is not meant to be mindless entertainment. You'll get lost pretty quickly if you aren't paying attention. Is that good for a Miami Vice movie? Honestly, I wasn't expecting mindless entertainment. It is Michael Mann, afterall. But I guess I was expecting a somewhat fun movie and this movie is anything but fun. This movie is filled with a lot of bad people doing bad things and there's a few people who get a little hardcore to counteract the badness.

In the end, I don't know why I'm supposed to care about anything that happened in this movie.


I went with a friend of mine who is a huge Miami Vice fan from back when he was a kid. He owns the DVDs and the soundtracks and he even answered a trivia question before the movie to win a free poster. He knows his Miami Vice. He got a lot more out of it than I did. I guess there were many subtle references to past episodes and events that I didn't pick up on (having never seen the series). It added an extra layer of enjoyment for him that simply wasn't there for me. He liked the movie. He didn't think it was great, but he liked it and said he'll probably see it again.

Me, I think this movie is rather disappointing considering the talent involved. It's not a fun summer movie. It's not an interesting human drama (Heat handled that aspect much better). For a cop movie, it's not even that action packed. A lot of time is spent just talking and the middle of the movie takes a huge detour that stops the flow of the movie cold, IMO. It takes a while for it to get back on track, too.

Again, there were good bits, but they were separated by a bunch of boring or confusing bits and on the whole the movie just seemed mediocre.

4 stars

[RogueScribner]

All right, I broke down and watched this.

I have to admit, this looks enjoyable. And it hurts to say that because I really hate Colin Farrell and his overwhelming eyebrows.

But please boys, no growing the Farrell stash.

Will we get some actual sex scenes in this, or will it be blink-and-you-miss it bits from the trailer?

You'll be pleased to know there are actual sex scenes. Nothing gratuitous though as far as nudity is concerned. You'll catch some male and female bits here and there but they aren't flaunted for the camera (except for maybe one shot in the shower). Gong Li looks damn good for her age, BTW.

[Flumm]

Like a Farrel on a moderately attractive woman all pickled in Guiness, Massa is all over over it, over on the main page.

[MasterWhedon]

51% day-of w/ a 67% Cream of the Crop at Rotten Tomatoes.

I'll be seeing this on Sunday, followed by Clerks 2.

[ZombieZoneSolutions]

I can't wait for T.J . HOOKER: The Movie. Will it be retro-irony, or
revisionist gritty *chuckle* "realism"? I tremble with anticipation.

Also coming soon to a cultural wasteland near you:

MAGNUM P.I.: The Movie
SHERIFF LOBO: The Movie
21 JUMP STREET: The Movie

What a sad, sad time this is for the arte of cinema.

I mean, c'mon, MIAMI VICE?! Are people actually excited about this?
How about a Phyllis Diller retrospective on the Game Show network?! Or
perhaps a 3 hour fish-out-of-water comedy epic based on the writings of
Yackoff Smirnoff? I suppose they'd be pretty exicting too if you're on
enough painkillers and coke.

Whoreywood Dipshit #1: "Whoah, I mean, like, wow! The 80s were so,
like wow, and wow! Dude, we should totally *snort* make a, like, a
KNIGHT RIDER *snort* movie or like MANIMAL."

Whoreywood Dipshit #2: "Yeah, man... totally, *snort* wow, you're like,
my best friend."

Whoreywood Dipshit #1:"Dude, totally. Yo, you got more coke right?
Okay, good... "

[TonyWilson]

LOL Zombie, but Miami Vice the movie has barely any resemblance to the TV show. By most accounts it is a new beast altogether, the setting and the names are the same and that's it. Mann probabky just used the name to drum up publicity.
I'm very much looking forward to this. After Heat, Ali, Collateral - Mann is pretty fucking expert at this type of adult thriller. Tense, dark, violent and serious. I've never seen the show so I really don't have a problem with the names alone being recycled. The film itself looks interesting, I guess it's just a question of divorcing the movie from the TV show.

[ZombieZoneSolutions]

Oh, okay, now I get the appeal! That makes it slightly more interesting.

I dug Collateral and Ali, (but was sorta 'meh' on Heat; it
coulda been so much more than it was...)

[tapehead]

Comparing Miami Vice the t.v. show to Magnum P.I. Sheriff Lobo, or 21 Jump Street demonstrates succinctly that you are no expert on televion police dramas - but I still respect you opinion.

[havocSchultz]

LOL Zombie, but Miami Vice the movie has barely any resemblance to the TV show. By most accounts it is a new beast altogether, the setting and the names are the same and that's it. Mann probabky just used the name to drum up publicity.
I'm very much looking forward to this. After Heat, Ali, Collateral - Mann is pretty fucking expert at this type of adult thriller. Tense, dark, violent and serious. I've never seen the show so I really don't have a problem with the names alone being recycled. The film itself looks interesting, I guess it's just a question of divorcing the movie from the TV show.

Well - you should be pleasantly surprised/happy to know that you're pretty dead-on with your assumptions of the film...

I just got back from seeing it...

I will get more in depth probably after the weekend - around the same time I finally figure out how to write a Lady in the Water review...

But I did give it a 7 - for maybe a couple of minor quibbles...like I said - otherwise - I won't get into at the moment - but I will say that it is an adult thriller - and it is tense, dark, violent and serious...all things you listed above...

[RogueScribner]

Hey now, someone voted and didn't write a review! Come on now!

[Vicarious]

Wow. I hope Moriarty got paid for his review. If not, it just means that he is insane and/or totally stupid. I had never really seen the show, so I had no preconceived notions about this flick. I loved Collateral, so I went into this expecting a fun, stylish ride. This is anything but. It's longwinded, boring, pointless, has about 5-10 minutes total of action scenes, and meanders in between its laughable sex scenes (which are frequent). I don't mind a film that's a "slow burn," but it needs to be about something and make me care about the characters. Miami Vice did neither. The flick jumpstarts into the middle of a "plot" and the just starts to sink into the cliched depths of the cop shows that have been on air for 20 years. Sure, it's "darker" and more violent (in the 2 scenes of action that we get), but the whole movie left me with the feeling of "who the fuck cares?" The performances are uninspired and the script is so incredibly bland. This film just reeks of a missed opportunity, although the music, locations, and cinematography is nice. If you want a cop film that is literally all dialogue and cheesy romance combined with NO sense of humor whatsoever, then this movie is for you.

If you want a fun summer action movie, skip Miami Vice. Hell, if you want any fun at all, skip this movie.

3.5/10

[MasterWhedon]

I had a fucking blast with this. Gave it an 8, but almost a 9.

I just LOVE Michael Mann's writing and direction. He treats the audience like an intelligent, active participant and forces you to do some work to catch up. He plants small cues in the frames and expects you to find them, to piece together the story yourself without being pandered to.

Take the bit in the beginning with the Aryan guy at the girl's place, looking in the fridge. In the first shot of him--a medium from behind him--you see just a hint of blood on his wrist, right at the corner of the frame. The next is a medium close at his side, his face hidden by the fridge door. You don't see who he is, but you get two important pieces of information that define the scene: a small Swastika tattoo on his neck and the dead girl's feet in the upper right corner of the frame, way in the background. No punch ins. No dramatic reveals. Simple, understated, beautiful direction.

What I love is that Mann has Miami Vice exist in reality as opposed to "movie reality." He makes us a fly on the wall, catching up on the action while it's happening, as if we're one of the team. Sure, we see everyone's perspectives, but we don't get long monologues about grand plans and the way of the world. These are just people doing what they do.

Michael Mann, man... Michael Mann...

Quality film.

[havocSchultz]

I had a fucking blast with this. Gave it an 8, but almost a 9.

I just LOVE Michael Mann's writing and direction. He treats the audience like an intelligent, active participant and forces you to do some work to catch up. He plants small cues in the frames and expects you to find them, to piece together the story yourself without being pandered to.

Take the bit in the beginning with the Aryan guy at the girl's place, looking in the fridge. In the first shot of him--a medium from behind him--you see just a hint of blood on his wrist, right at the corner of the frame. The next is a medium close at his side, his face hidden by the fridge door. You don't see who he is, but you get two important pieces of information that define the scene: a small Swastika tattoo on his neck and the dead girl's feet in the upper right corner of the frame, way in the background. No punch ins. No dramatic reveals. Simple, understated, beautiful direction.

What I love is that Mann has Miami Vice exist in reality as opposed to "movie reality." He makes us a fly on the wall, catching up on the action while it's happening, as if we're one of the team. Sure, we see everyone's perspectives, but we don't get long monologues about grand plans and the way of the world. These are just people doing what they do.

Michael Mann, man... Michael Mann...

Quality film.

That pretty much sums up my feelings towards it.
I gave it a 7 - but a high 7 - just cause I didn't think it was utterly amazing - but it was quite good and I enjoyed it.

I liked how it was almost like an extended episode of "Cops"
The whole digital look and the grittiness and the difficulty in seeing what was going on somehow - just made you feel like you were on a constant ride-along with all the characters.

You just get basics of character development - but you don't need a bunch with this movie.
They're Vice Cops.
They're on the job.
That's all you really need to know.

And the violence was harsh and not held back.

I was a little disappointed in the fact that Foxx's lady friend ended up surviving at the end - seeing as how she was in "such rough shape" and I believe that everything Mann had accomplished up to that point - would've suggested a more believable outcome for her...

And anybody who is expecting a nice nostalgic throw-back to the show - will be thoroughly disappointed.

There were alot of older folks in the theatre when I went - and I think alot of them didn't enjoy it that much.

But fuck 'em...

And from the scene in the trailer park right up until the end - some of the best and most intense and down-right kick-ass filmmaking I've seen in awhile.

From that point on your nuts are in Mann's hands and he continuously SLAMS them against the wall.

I feel like growing an appreciative 'stache now...

[MasterWhedon]

Havoc, I agree on all of your points, especially the somewhat-"Hollywood" ending for the one character.

Also, the rationale for giving it an 8 was that while I really, truly enjoyed everything happening on screen, I was never really emotionally moved at any particular point. Felt the same about Mission: Impossible III--though this is a superior movie.

[tapehead]

Glad to see some positive reviews coming in from Zoners - its clear to me Mann has devoted himself to the HD approach, and I can't wait to see what he's doing with the Viper cameras this time around (although what I'm reading gives me a little apprehension - but I liked all the night work in Collateral) - most of all the unanimous opinion that this is an uncompromisingly adult drama is the biggest positive I'm hearing.

[MasterWhedon]

Tapehead, I was very impressed with the camerwork, mostly for the reasons Havoc listed.

It seems Mann's not interested in making the "prettiest" films anymore, but he's definitely making some of the most immersive films. The grainy, occasionally video-ish look might not be my preferred style, but it works damn well here. It feels immediate, feels THERE.

For this type of film, I can't think of a higher compliment.