the "character" of Venice

[acroyear]

There are films where the location is as much a character of the film as the actors portray, if not more so.  The Fisher King's portrayal of NYC is one example, as is Ratatouillie's impressionist presentation of Paris.  A favorite example of the setting as character is the U.S.S. Nimitz in The Final Countdown - say what you will about the cheesy plot or the action flight sequences, the SHIP is the real star of that film and performs beautifully.

Venice is certainly a setting that has no choice but to intrude itself into the films it is featured in - the character always comes through no matter how it is shown.  Films I have that include it are the two recent Casanova's (Tennant and Ledger), iJones 3, and some beautiful footage of the 4th Crusade portion of the Doge's Ball from Carnivale (if I ever get rich, we'll be at this ball - already have the costumes and bought masks that match them beautifully), featured in the Terry Jones Crusades documentary. 

Plus, of course, Venice as a character is the whole point of Dangerous Beauty.

So now that I've just about fallen in love with the place (the only other times that has happened has been Cape Breton Island and the Highlands of Scotland, so this is new in falling for a place that is not part of my cultural & ethnic heritage), what other films are worth seeing for seeing Venice as Venice?

(btw, 2 weeks, 20+ gig on 8 memory cards between 2 cameras including lots of short videos which my camera can do - it'll take me some time to pull them off though i'll try and get a few highlights up today...)

Comments

NOT

[kitteblue.livejournal.com]

League of Extrodinary Gentlemen will make you fall off the couch laughing or break the TV depending on your mood. It's the worst portrayal of Venice EVER.

Re: NOT

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

i've seen it (my parents have it) and i certainly know what you're talking about. i like the idea behind League (in terms of 19th century fictional characters being written in comic form), but the film certainly sucked outside of a few jokes and some nifty effects (everywhere BUT Venice). I just treated the whole thing as comic book fiction and ignored the fact that it was supposed to be "Steampunk" Venice.

not least of which you couldn't get a "smart car" to fit down the alleys of that place, nevermind a 10 foot cigarette car.

Re: NOT

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

I was about to say the same thing. About the worst part of that film.

[gypsyariana.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! Glad you had such a good time.

[faeriquene.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a good time! Can't think of any movies though...

Mercahnt of Venice

[kitteblue.livejournal.com]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt03798

Re: Mercahnt of Venice

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

well, link didn't copy right but I assume you're talking the recent Al Pacino film, which I'd forgot about in writing this - i'd actually started watching it before we left but didn't have the time to finish.

I was wondering if the dark underground tunnels really exist (or did they just re-use the same moat and dungeon set used in the Disney Three Musketeers :) ?).

i've not seen a production before - it's kinda a dark comedy, like Tempest, where there is little "comedy" and the only reason scholars call it a comedy is because unlike the tragedies nobody really dies in it.

then again, director and delivery can ruin any Shakespeare comedy - consider the Zefferelli (Burton/Taylor) Taming of the Shrew, a horrid production that bored me to tears. Until I saw the Commedia inspired version staring Mark Singer (and, of course, Moonlighting's version), I wondered what was so funny about the dang thing.

Re: Mercahnt of Venice

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

The Al Pacino film probably focuses on Shylock a lot more than most versions. To be honest, it was the first time I saw the play as well, but I get the impression that Shylock is typically played more as a villain rather than a sympathetic character. Problem is, it made some of the "comedy" elements feel a bit out of place. I do understand the changes, tho.

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

You can always go with Bond films, which three had some scenes in Venice. Moonraker would have the most, but From Russia With Love and Casino Royale both had scenes there.

I have a lot of like for Venice, but I find it a bit touristy nowadays, which takes away from it somewhat.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

St Marks itself was so insanely crowded. i can deal with crowds at, say, faire or an airport 'cause i can usually predict where people are all trying to go and find the gaps accordingly, but st. marks is utterly unpredictable in every way 'cause in addition to changing directions on a dime, they can also just STOP, either to take a picture or to look at a map or admire some entertainment. I have mild agoraphobia but the first time through St. Marks REALLY triggered it off - I had to stop at the balcony of the basilica for five minutes before i was in control enough to think my way through it. rest of the day was just fine by comparison.

speaking of Bond, our host in Rome was extremely excited about the fact that much of the new upcoming Bond film was shot in Rome...coincidentally enough, Delta on the flight ran the teaser trailer for it and i could recognize some of the locations!

Venice is slowly going "Pizzeria" but not nearly as quickly as Florence did.

btw, Which Casino Royale? ;)

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

Sorry, wrote that quickly. The new one, of course.

[ejwench.livejournal.com]

The most recent Casino Royale - the final exteriors & chase scene took place in Venice *le sigh*....ah, Venice....and Bond.

[stori-lundi.livejournal.com]

The new Casino Royale was the first time a private yacht has sailed through Venice since the 1600s. :)

Room With a View is Florence right?

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

never saw it, but according to wikipedia and imdb, that's right.

i wonder what parts of italy might have been used in The Red Violin...

yeah, there are no "yachts" except outside the bridge at the north end of the bus station, near the cruise ships and industrial/shipping center (where most of the warehouses for the restaurants are, since they don't have the space for more than a day or two of food - stuff is shipped in (literally) daily and hand-carted to them first thing in the morning). no boat over 1 story ever gets in except at the south end of the grand canal - they can't park at or beyond St. Marks. Most stay in the north or stay on the Lido and they take the bus-boats from there.

The Railto bridge is only 25 feet high in the center, and the next bridge up (Academia) is smaller.

[ladyprivy.livejournal.com]

Italy is on my list of places to go right after Scotland. I didn't take that many photos of Ireland...but then again, I was only there for 10 days. It's taking forever to get through all the photos!!! I can't wait to see the ones you took of Venice!!! :^)