John Malkovich's Eyes (2004), hoax?
08-03-05 | 03:22 PM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
John Malkovich's Eyes (2004), hoax?
I just remembered a "movie" I heard about back in September of 2004. Here are all posts I've made about the movie (on a different site). I'm wondering if anybody has heard anything about it...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429766/
That's where I pretty much let it die. It's been 10 months since I've given the movie a second thought. It crossed my mind again today, and I figured I'd run it by the members of this site. If nobody here knows anything about it (or can find anything substantial online supporting it's existance), I'll finally be able to dismiss it as a very well-done hoax. A part of me genuinely hopes that's not the case, though.
So, there you have it. Any thoughts?
-JP
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429766/
Originally Posted by Me, on 09.11.2004
Does anybody know anything about this movie?
I know nothing beyond a handful of reviews I've read on the boards at IMDB.com (some posts on John Malkovich's page, some on Sara Soleti's page). Every post praises the movie highly, some calling it breathtaking, a masterpiece, the best cinematic achievement ever, and so on and so forth.
Thing is, it doesn't even have a page on IMDB.com yet. I came up with absolutely nothing through a Google search, and I have no idea if there is an intended United States release (or when it might be), or if the film even exists.
Apparently it's based on a series of 3 books, none of which I can find any information on, either.
I'm very intrigued, to say the least.
-JP
I know nothing beyond a handful of reviews I've read on the boards at IMDB.com (some posts on John Malkovich's page, some on Sara Soleti's page). Every post praises the movie highly, some calling it breathtaking, a masterpiece, the best cinematic achievement ever, and so on and so forth.
Thing is, it doesn't even have a page on IMDB.com yet. I came up with absolutely nothing through a Google search, and I have no idea if there is an intended United States release (or when it might be), or if the film even exists.
Apparently it's based on a series of 3 books, none of which I can find any information on, either.
I'm very intrigued, to say the least.
-JP
Originally Posted by Me, 09.12.2004
The more I look into it, the more I'm starting to think it's a hoax (probably to garner attention for a website that was mentioned in a handful of posts around the internet). It has it's own page on www.movietome.com, but there is no information for it...just the title. Even horrible B-movies garner more attention than this movie has. Searches all around the internet turn up nothing more than second hand accounts of the film.
The only thing that gets me is the number of people talking about it [note: at the time there were dozens on the various boards, and around the internet], and the details they've put into their second-hand accounts (such as specifics about certain scenes, even as far as spoilers...and comments about it being based on a series of novels, giving an Iranian writer/director's name to tie in with it, etc).
So, I figured I'd post to see if anyone else had heard anything before dismissing it as a hoax.
-JP
The only thing that gets me is the number of people talking about it [note: at the time there were dozens on the various boards, and around the internet], and the details they've put into their second-hand accounts (such as specifics about certain scenes, even as far as spoilers...and comments about it being based on a series of novels, giving an Iranian writer/director's name to tie in with it, etc).
So, I figured I'd post to see if anyone else had heard anything before dismissing it as a hoax.
-JP
Originally Posted by Me, on 10.13.2004
Bumping an old thread. For some reason I thought about this subject again tonight, and decided to go back and check to see if there was any new information about it.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000518/board/nest/10977145
A few more people have posted in that thread...and now I'm again uncertain whether it's an extremely obscure foreign film or an intricate hoax. One member, "Yoana" (even though she's only posted twice on IMDB, both times about this movie) goes into pretty creative detail about being unhappy that Solati put all three of her novels into one movie. Another guy posted screen captures that are supposedly from the film. "Yoana" goes on to say that the screenshots are from the first segment, which is about so-and-so, and that the second and third segments are better. The same guy that linked the screenshots also included a link to the movietome.com page for the movie, which is now complete with a runtime (90 minutes), a complete cast listing, etc.
There seems to be quite a bit of very specific information about this film popping up here and there...but still nothing remotely definite. Not sure what to make of it all. Any other thoughts?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000518/board/nest/10977145
A few more people have posted in that thread...and now I'm again uncertain whether it's an extremely obscure foreign film or an intricate hoax. One member, "Yoana" (even though she's only posted twice on IMDB, both times about this movie) goes into pretty creative detail about being unhappy that Solati put all three of her novels into one movie. Another guy posted screen captures that are supposedly from the film. "Yoana" goes on to say that the screenshots are from the first segment, which is about so-and-so, and that the second and third segments are better. The same guy that linked the screenshots also included a link to the movietome.com page for the movie, which is now complete with a runtime (90 minutes), a complete cast listing, etc.
There seems to be quite a bit of very specific information about this film popping up here and there...but still nothing remotely definite. Not sure what to make of it all. Any other thoughts?
Originally Posted by Me, on 10.29.2004
Looks like it has it's own page on the IMDB, now. The genre is listed as mystery (with sub-genres of based on a novel, revenge, and tragedy), and there's a complete cast listing (even though most of the actors/actresses have only done work in this one film). Some do have prior work listed on their IMDB filmographies, however.
I'm intrigued, to say the least..
-JP
I'm intrigued, to say the least..
-JP
So, there you have it. Any thoughts?
-JP
08-07-05 | 07:39 PM
#3
There's like a million different actors in the world and they gotta use John Malkovich again! The review is pretty fake, better than Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter? WTF? Is this a fantasy film?
08-08-05 | 02:16 PM
#6
If it is a hoax, what's the point?
08-08-05 | 02:47 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by Joe Molotov
Not just made for TV, but made for Iranian TV. Realistically, how good could it be?
Originally Posted by Fincher Fan
I can see NatrlBornThrllr bumping this thread again in a couple of months for some reason...
Originally Posted by William Fuld
If it is a hoax, what's the point?
-JP
08-23-05 | 06:06 PM
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I found this thread by search and I think I am the one you are looking for JP.
I have watched this movie twice, First time in my cousin's house in Dubai on VHS, it was a very very bad copy and I could not hear the sounds at all but second time I watched on CD, it was of much better quality besides I had already read the first book in the series and I knew the plot and characters quite well.
As for the review (better than Harry Potter or Rings, well it depends how you look at it and it completely depends on your taste, IMO. I personally think the worst thing about this movie was its special effects (just like all other iranian films) it was a very simple movie in terms of effects it cannot be compared to giants like Lord of the rings, etc but if you look at the STORY, the suspence, the horror and fresh adventures, the performances especially the child actors and the 2 or 3 lead actors (adult) I'd vote for Cheshmane John Malkovich. It is a movie you will not like if first you have not read a single page of the book or if you do not give a damn about actor Viggo Mortensen (not John Malkovich).
The story has several plots and sub-plots but the first book, (also the movie) begins this way with a 13 or 14 year old girl called Nin(gal) Bardin (who is not the main character of the story of course) with her best school friend Tissa Bertas, they have both attended an anti-war protest just to see actor Viggo Mortensen, before viggo starts reading his poem "Back to Babylon" to the public, he throws some "no more blood for oil" hand made t-shirts to the crowds made by himself (all of this even is true and has been live on Cspan channel in october 2003) Tisaa and Nin both tries to jump and catch a t-shirt, nin succeeds because she is taller than Tissa, in the crowds there is also a 55 year old man who jumps and catches a t-shirt for himself, he is also very suspicious and won't keep his eyes away from Nin, Tissa wants to ask him if he could give her his viggo t-shirt but they both listens to viggo's passionate poem and misses the man and he disappears, thats when the story begins. The man's name is Armuk Yurgun, he is a dangerous underground man (from a secret realm unknown for ordinary people) for a very serious and secret mission, well that's the start of an adventure of 3 3000 page book called Cheshmane John Malkovich, it is very new, very exciting and very well written, it's an imaginative and intriguing story about survival, free will, friendship, loyalty, bravery, virtues so its not just fantasy, it is a mix of both epic adventures with modernity, its about chat, internet, teenage loves, hopes and dreams,.... the characters in the book come alive, you cannot see all this the film, thats just not possible in an iranian film industry to make this story nearly as good as the book but in all it was a memorable movie.
Some trivia facts about the movie, it has been filmed in different part of Iran and some other countries, some tragedies have also taken place for the crew, in film and cinema magazine last year printed in Tehran was an interview with the producer and there was a talk a big theft from their archive which caused them lose millions (iranian currency).
Well, that's all I know, I think after Harry Potter, Narnia Chronicles and The white mountains this is by far my most favourite story of all time.
Sha.M
I have watched this movie twice, First time in my cousin's house in Dubai on VHS, it was a very very bad copy and I could not hear the sounds at all but second time I watched on CD, it was of much better quality besides I had already read the first book in the series and I knew the plot and characters quite well.
As for the review (better than Harry Potter or Rings, well it depends how you look at it and it completely depends on your taste, IMO. I personally think the worst thing about this movie was its special effects (just like all other iranian films) it was a very simple movie in terms of effects it cannot be compared to giants like Lord of the rings, etc but if you look at the STORY, the suspence, the horror and fresh adventures, the performances especially the child actors and the 2 or 3 lead actors (adult) I'd vote for Cheshmane John Malkovich. It is a movie you will not like if first you have not read a single page of the book or if you do not give a damn about actor Viggo Mortensen (not John Malkovich).
The story has several plots and sub-plots but the first book, (also the movie) begins this way with a 13 or 14 year old girl called Nin(gal) Bardin (who is not the main character of the story of course) with her best school friend Tissa Bertas, they have both attended an anti-war protest just to see actor Viggo Mortensen, before viggo starts reading his poem "Back to Babylon" to the public, he throws some "no more blood for oil" hand made t-shirts to the crowds made by himself (all of this even is true and has been live on Cspan channel in october 2003) Tisaa and Nin both tries to jump and catch a t-shirt, nin succeeds because she is taller than Tissa, in the crowds there is also a 55 year old man who jumps and catches a t-shirt for himself, he is also very suspicious and won't keep his eyes away from Nin, Tissa wants to ask him if he could give her his viggo t-shirt but they both listens to viggo's passionate poem and misses the man and he disappears, thats when the story begins. The man's name is Armuk Yurgun, he is a dangerous underground man (from a secret realm unknown for ordinary people) for a very serious and secret mission, well that's the start of an adventure of 3 3000 page book called Cheshmane John Malkovich, it is very new, very exciting and very well written, it's an imaginative and intriguing story about survival, free will, friendship, loyalty, bravery, virtues so its not just fantasy, it is a mix of both epic adventures with modernity, its about chat, internet, teenage loves, hopes and dreams,.... the characters in the book come alive, you cannot see all this the film, thats just not possible in an iranian film industry to make this story nearly as good as the book but in all it was a memorable movie.
Some trivia facts about the movie, it has been filmed in different part of Iran and some other countries, some tragedies have also taken place for the crew, in film and cinema magazine last year printed in Tehran was an interview with the producer and there was a talk a big theft from their archive which caused them lose millions (iranian currency).
Well, that's all I know, I think after Harry Potter, Narnia Chronicles and The white mountains this is by far my most favourite story of all time.
Sha.M
Last edited by Sharom2005; 08-23-05 at 06:11 PM.
08-24-05 | 07:13 AM
#9
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by Sharom2005
I found this thread by search and I think I am the one you are looking for JP.
I have watched this movie twice, First time in my cousin's house in Dubai on VHS, it was a very very bad copy and I could not hear the sounds at all but second time I watched on CD, it was of much better quality besides I had already read the first book in the series and I knew the plot and characters quite well.
As for the review (better than Harry Potter or Rings, well it depends how you look at it and it completely depends on your taste, IMO. I personally think the worst thing about this movie was its special effects (just like all other iranian films) it was a very simple movie in terms of effects it cannot be compared to giants like Lord of the rings, etc but if you look at the STORY, the suspence, the horror and fresh adventures, the performances especially the child actors and the 2 or 3 lead actors (adult) I'd vote for Cheshmane John Malkovich. It is a movie you will not like if first you have not read a single page of the book or if you do not give a damn about actor Viggo Mortensen (not John Malkovich).
The story has several plots and sub-plots but the first book, (also the movie) begins this way with a 13 or 14 year old girl called Nin(gal) Bardin (who is not the main character of the story of course) with her best school friend Tissa Bertas, they have both attended an anti-war protest just to see actor Viggo Mortensen, before viggo starts reading his poem "Back to Babylon" to the public, he throws some "no more blood for oil" hand made t-shirts to the crowds made by himself (all of this even is true and has been live on Cspan channel in october 2003) Tisaa and Nin both tries to jump and catch a t-shirt, nin succeeds because she is taller than Tissa, in the crowds there is also a 55 year old man who jumps and catches a t-shirt for himself, he is also very suspicious and won't keep his eyes away from Nin, Tissa wants to ask him if he could give her his viggo t-shirt but they both listens to viggo's passionate poem and misses the man and he disappears, thats when the story begins. The man's name is Armuk Yurgun, he is a dangerous underground man (from a secret realm unknown for ordinary people) for a very serious and secret mission, well that's the start of an adventure of 3 3000 page book called Cheshmane John Malkovich, it is very new, very exciting and very well written, it's an imaginative and intriguing story about survival, free will, friendship, loyalty, bravery, virtues so its not just fantasy, it is a mix of both epic adventures with modernity, its about chat, internet, teenage loves, hopes and dreams,.... the characters in the book come alive, you cannot see all this the film, thats just not possible in an iranian film industry to make this story nearly as good as the book but in all it was a memorable movie.
Some trivia facts about the movie, it has been filmed in different part of Iran and some other countries, some tragedies have also taken place for the crew, in film and cinema magazine last year printed in Tehran was an interview with the producer and there was a talk a big theft from their archive which caused them lose millions (iranian currency).
Well, that's all I know, I think after Harry Potter, Narnia Chronicles and The white mountains this is by far my most favourite story of all time.
Sha.M
I have watched this movie twice, First time in my cousin's house in Dubai on VHS, it was a very very bad copy and I could not hear the sounds at all but second time I watched on CD, it was of much better quality besides I had already read the first book in the series and I knew the plot and characters quite well.
As for the review (better than Harry Potter or Rings, well it depends how you look at it and it completely depends on your taste, IMO. I personally think the worst thing about this movie was its special effects (just like all other iranian films) it was a very simple movie in terms of effects it cannot be compared to giants like Lord of the rings, etc but if you look at the STORY, the suspence, the horror and fresh adventures, the performances especially the child actors and the 2 or 3 lead actors (adult) I'd vote for Cheshmane John Malkovich. It is a movie you will not like if first you have not read a single page of the book or if you do not give a damn about actor Viggo Mortensen (not John Malkovich).
The story has several plots and sub-plots but the first book, (also the movie) begins this way with a 13 or 14 year old girl called Nin(gal) Bardin (who is not the main character of the story of course) with her best school friend Tissa Bertas, they have both attended an anti-war protest just to see actor Viggo Mortensen, before viggo starts reading his poem "Back to Babylon" to the public, he throws some "no more blood for oil" hand made t-shirts to the crowds made by himself (all of this even is true and has been live on Cspan channel in october 2003) Tisaa and Nin both tries to jump and catch a t-shirt, nin succeeds because she is taller than Tissa, in the crowds there is also a 55 year old man who jumps and catches a t-shirt for himself, he is also very suspicious and won't keep his eyes away from Nin, Tissa wants to ask him if he could give her his viggo t-shirt but they both listens to viggo's passionate poem and misses the man and he disappears, thats when the story begins. The man's name is Armuk Yurgun, he is a dangerous underground man (from a secret realm unknown for ordinary people) for a very serious and secret mission, well that's the start of an adventure of 3 3000 page book called Cheshmane John Malkovich, it is very new, very exciting and very well written, it's an imaginative and intriguing story about survival, free will, friendship, loyalty, bravery, virtues so its not just fantasy, it is a mix of both epic adventures with modernity, its about chat, internet, teenage loves, hopes and dreams,.... the characters in the book come alive, you cannot see all this the film, thats just not possible in an iranian film industry to make this story nearly as good as the book but in all it was a memorable movie.
Some trivia facts about the movie, it has been filmed in different part of Iran and some other countries, some tragedies have also taken place for the crew, in film and cinema magazine last year printed in Tehran was an interview with the producer and there was a talk a big theft from their archive which caused them lose millions (iranian currency).
Well, that's all I know, I think after Harry Potter, Narnia Chronicles and The white mountains this is by far my most favourite story of all time.
Sha.M
08-24-05 | 09:22 AM
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What does this mean? any personal hostality towards this film or the people who made it?
JP is absolutely right when he says :It sometimes irks me when people dismiss a film before seeing it, based solely on it's premise, stars, director, etc. But to dismiss a movie when you know virtually nothing about it, solely because it was released on TV (and in a foreign country) hits me as extremely closed-minded.
JP is absolutely right when he says :It sometimes irks me when people dismiss a film before seeing it, based solely on it's premise, stars, director, etc. But to dismiss a movie when you know virtually nothing about it, solely because it was released on TV (and in a foreign country) hits me as extremely closed-minded.
08-24-05 | 03:53 PM
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I signed it Sha.M as you can see Not SHAM, It's the first of my real name Sharon M(well im not sure if I want to write my full surname here in a public board) but anyway you people seem so polite and friendly!!! and I just wanted to help.
Thanks indeed!!!
Thanks indeed!!!
Last edited by Sharom2005; 08-24-05 at 03:56 PM.
08-25-05 | 09:51 AM
#14
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by The Bus
I don't doubt that such a movie exists. I doubt that John Malkovich and Viggo Mortensen are both in it.
08-25-05 | 11:49 AM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
No offense, Sharom2005, but I keep rereading your post about this film and fail to see how it relates to the fantasy genre.
08-25-05 | 01:54 PM
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The Bus
John Malkovich and Viggo Mortensen do not play in this movie but there are loads of Archive footage of them and talking about them are in the movie, no-one says they have actually played in this movie. IMDb also says "archive footage"
RocShemp
I just told you how the story actually starts, I did not relate all 3000 pages of the book.
John Malkovich and Viggo Mortensen do not play in this movie but there are loads of Archive footage of them and talking about them are in the movie, no-one says they have actually played in this movie. IMDb also says "archive footage"
RocShemp
I just told you how the story actually starts, I did not relate all 3000 pages of the book.
08-25-05 | 10:42 PM
#18
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DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally Posted by Atreus
I'm just happy that NBT is one step closer to finding his Holy Grail of films. 
Originally Posted by Sharom2005
I have watched this movie twice, First time in my cousin's house in Dubai on VHS, it was a very very bad copy and I could not hear the sounds at all but second time I watched on CD, it was of much better quality
-JP
