it's pure spectacle and therefore your tolerance of it will vary depending on your tolerance for non-narrative cinema.

Okay. I buy that. What are other examples of non-narrative cinema?

Yes, but why is it intentionally boring and drawn out? What purpose does it serve in the story?

Authenticity: the movie is very concerned with authenticity. Manned space flight is an incredible human achievement made of so many smaller uninteresting pieces. And, it's like space-- spare, silent and vast.

Well, there's always Koyaanisqatsi...

What are other examples of non-narrative cinema?

The Qatsi trilogy - Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi - is a trilogy of movies, the first one made in the late '70's, early '80's, the third came out just a few years ago. They are each a series of visual meditations or tone poems on the state of the world, and society. They have no characters, no dialogue, and no plot.

In a similar vein was Baraka, which also had no plot, characters or dialogue, and featured a more environmental theme.

Other movies sort of dip in to non-narrative cinema, while trying to retain some narrative. 2001 is one example, another is a truly beautiful film by Werner Herzog called Aguirre, the Wrath of God, about an expedition lead down the Amazon (I think) in the 16th century, by a ruthless and insane Spanish explorer named Aguirre. It ends with everybody on the expidition dying, and features a lot of gorgeous South American scenery. See Also: City of Joy (with Patrick Swayze), At Play in the Fields of the Lord (With Willem Dafoe, among many others, with some not so pretty things to say about missionairies).

Other examples of non-narrative cinema - well, in its pure form, Andy Warhol's "Empire", tons of experimental stuff like that. I think when I say I have a high tolerance for it, though, it's not that I watch a great deal of experimental film, it's more that I enjoy non-narrative "episodes" in more mainstream films, ie bits where the business of telling a story seems to be temporarily suspended and you're in a world of pure sensation...lots of David Lynch does this I think, eg the "Club Silencio" scene in Mulholland Drive, or huge chunks of Melville's "Le Samourai" (or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for that matter). Generally I'm a fan of languid filmmaking though, I wouldn't want to cut a minute out of 2001.

[x-post with Sean--yeah, what he said too.]

I actually think the opening act in Transylvania is the finest depiction of Dracula that I've ever seen. It just goes to hell when the setting switches to London and we get Dracula as a Victorian Mack Daddy chasing after Mina.

It still would have been SO much better if Coppola (and, I have to assume from the time-frame, Winona) had gotten his first choice for Harker that the studio nixed - Johnny Depp.

Saw HERO and absolutely adored it. Quite simply, it's one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. If you're going in expecting another CROUCHING TIGER, however, I think you could be seriously disappointed. Despite the abundant wire work, the movies are light years apart tone- and story-wise. Hell, if you go in expecting anything resembling a Jet Li movie it's going to be not what you were expecting. Still absolutely breathtaking, though, IMO.

Also saw COLLATERAL, which I liked a lot. Unlike Jess, I was pretty invested in Jamie Foxx's character. But I should add that while outside of In Living Color his comedy has never done much for me, I don't think I've seen him give a bad serious performance ever (and his Ray Charles is a little scary in its accuracy from the previews). I also don't have the Tom Cruise issues so many people seem to - I'm kinda neutral on him and it's the individual movie that usually decides my opinion (I thought he was quite impressive in this). She is right that you should catch it at a digital screening if at all possible. It's probably the best looking HDV I've ever seen. And that more than definitely includes Lucas' attempts.

his Ray Charles is a little scary in its accuracy from the previews

Hell, yes.

Frank, what movies would you say Hero is similar to?

By Angus' definition, big chunks of Moulin Rouge qualify/

Yes, absolutely, and all dance musicals naturally...

(NB my definition is pulled out of my arse though...)

I'd almost agree with that, but Moulin Rouge is non-narrative in a more modern way, I think.