Senna DVD
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Discussion

C8PPO

Original Poster:

20,881 posts

234 months

Saturday 25th February 2012
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Probably covered extensively already, but the ersatz Search funciton isn't throwing much up.

Wasn't sure whether to put this in here or in Motorsport. Obv I'm a bit behind the curve here in terms of not having watched this before, but I just watched the Senna film - got it for Xmas but not had an evening to myself to settle down and watch uninterrupted.

Struggling to find the right superlatives. Compelling? Sensational? (in a "that's an amazing film" way, not in a "sensationalist" way). Gripping. Emotive.

Lowered my opinion of Prost significantly, albeit salvaged somewhat during the credits.

Definitely a must-see if you have a sniff of fuel in your veins, just make sure you have a little speck of grit handy to remove from your eye.


Eric Mc

125,891 posts

296 months

Saturday 25th February 2012
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Flawed is the best description.

Far too much important stuff omitted.

A great film if you didn't know much about Senna and his era already.

Not so great if you lived through it and saw it as it happened.

And yes, it has already been debated extensively on PH already.

heebeegeetee

30,255 posts

279 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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It's a well made film, but it's also quite a fantasy piece. It shouldn't be used as a learning tool.

RJB_666

1,677 posts

226 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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Fantastic film. But it is obviously very one sided. Prost isn't quite the 'baddie' he's made out to be. I recommend giving the extended version a watch. It's a little broken up but you get to hear off Prost. There are a lot more things I don't agree with from Prost but it's a bit more accurate than the perception the normal cut creates.

Eric Mc

125,891 posts

296 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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In some ways, this documentary produced by the BBC shortly after his death is superior. More relevant information packed into its 45 minute running time than the newer movie-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula...

MG511

1,754 posts

272 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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I can't believe the praise it's got, and the awards its won. It's very one sided, there is way too much focus on Japan 1990, no mention of his later admission that he hit Prost on purpose etc. That white haired American guy they keep showing is really annoying, I guess they didn't use Nigel Roebuck etc because they would have criticised (as well as praised) Senna. It's just not very good, uses very few people to comment, and is way too one sided. It really is the emporers new clothes, I couldn't believe how poor it is.

heebeegeetee

30,255 posts

279 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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I think it's a great piece of work, but really shouldn't be used as a historical document. I believe even the film's producers have acknowledged that they went too far with the Prost thing.

The film will produce much embarrassment for future fans who believe the film though, that's for sure.

entropy

6,441 posts

234 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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Watched a bit of again recently and it still feels like a glorified fanboy YT video.

Senna is the protagonist but because he's devisive, complex, etc; its very easy to say its one sided as I and a lot of people did at the cinema.

IMO Prost arguably was the baddie but the rivalry was complex, too oversimplified. I thought the passing mention of 1989 San Marino GP was criminal because the aftermath their relationship truly hit rock bottom.

Anyone who is interested in knowing more on this particular rivalry pick and read a biography on Senna - Christopher Hilton's is probably best, and a book called Senna Versus Prost - some say this book is biased to Prost but Jo Ramirez and Josef Leberer bring some balance because they tried to remain neutral.

james_tigerwoods

16,347 posts

228 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I watched this DVD (finally) and while I enjoyed the footage and some things that I hadn't seen before I will, shamefacedly, admit that I was dissapointed in it, in that it didn't really say a lot and didn't go in to as much depth as I'd hoped. Senna had other rivalries other than Prost and his history was far deeper than was portrayed.

I can recommend the Tom Rubython biography as a good read as it will shed more light on his life and background - admittedly a book will always tell you more, but this sheds more light.

I wish I'd seen the film first, if I'm honest, as it just left me thinking "but what about...."

AshVX220

5,965 posts

221 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I enjoyed it, don't be surprised it's Pro-Senna, it's called "Senna" after all.

voicey

2,494 posts

218 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I saw the movie for the first time yesterday - watching the accidents at San Marino made me feel very sick. I remember watching them live on TV all those years ago but time certainly blurred the images in my mind.

Eric Mc

125,891 posts

296 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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AshVX220 said:
I enjoyed it, don't be surprised it's Pro-Senna, it's called "Senna" after all.
A documentary about Atilla the Hun wouldn't necessarilly be pro Atilla the Hun.

Melman Giraffe

6,794 posts

249 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I'm a big F1 fan and was disapointed with the Senna film.

Then again.......

I'm not a bike fan but purchased 'Closer to the Edge' and have watched it 3 times it's simply FANTASTIC!!! 10/10


AshVX220

5,965 posts

221 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Eric Mc said:
AshVX220 said:
I enjoyed it, don't be surprised it's Pro-Senna, it's called "Senna" after all.
A documentary about Atilla the Hun wouldn't necessarilly be pro Atilla the Hun.
In fairness though Eric, there's a cavernous difference between Atilla the Hun and Senna. That's just chalk and cheese.

Besides, I reckon if you looked at Atilla the Hun's entire "career", you may be able to find enough to do 2 hours of "good" work from him.

Eric Mc

125,891 posts

296 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I wasn'r comparing their careers (although Senna could be almost as ruthless). I was making the point that a documentary about an individual can be objective instead of being hagiographic.

I enjoyed the film when I saw it and there were one or two revelations and some previously unseen footage. But as an objective telling of the story of Senna and his era in F1, it was pretty poor to be honest.

AshVX220

5,965 posts

221 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Eric Mc said:
I wasn'r comparing their careers (although Senna could be almost as ruthless). I was making the point that a documentary about an individual can be objective instead of being hagiographic.

I enjoyed the film when I saw it and there were one or two revelations and some previously unseen footage. But as an objective telling of the story of Senna and his era in F1, it was pretty poor to be honest.
Damn it man, I had to look that up!! laugh Please remember I'm but a simpleton! wink

I think they had a line to focus on, in the rivalry between Senna and Prost and possibly because of the films backers, it had to be positive in Senna's favour. As I understand they had so much footage that even after the initial cull of footage they still had 5 hours worth to try and cut down to 2 hours IIRC.

Anyway, I enjoyed it, maybe because it was that year that I started to get into F1, so missed all the previous rivalries?

Moley RUFC

3,673 posts

220 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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AshVX220 said:
In fairness though Eric, there's a cavernous difference between Atilla the Hun and Senna. That's just chalk and cheese.

Besides, I reckon if you looked at Atilla the Hun's entire "career", you may be able to find enough to do 2 hours of "good" work from him.
He was terrible in the wet too, or was that Ivan the Terrible.

Eric Mc

125,891 posts

296 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
AshVX220 said:
Eric Mc said:
I wasn'r comparing their careers (although Senna could be almost as ruthless). I was making the point that a documentary about an individual can be objective instead of being hagiographic.

I enjoyed the film when I saw it and there were one or two revelations and some previously unseen footage. But as an objective telling of the story of Senna and his era in F1, it was pretty poor to be honest.
Damn it man, I had to look that up!! laugh Please remember I'm but a simpleton! wink

I think they had a line to focus on, in the rivalry between Senna and Prost and possibly because of the films backers, it had to be positive in Senna's favour. As I understand they had so much footage that even after the initial cull of footage they still had 5 hours worth to try and cut down to 2 hours IIRC.

Anyway, I enjoyed it, maybe because it was that year that I started to get into F1, so missed all the previous rivalries?
Andf a better crafted film could have revealed far more perinent information about him in half the running time - as the BBC managed in their documentary from 1995 (see link above).

The film worked best for those who knew little about him BEFORE they'd seen the film. Anyone who'd been around during his career (including the pre F1 era) and had already read about would have spotted all the omissions and biasednness (which I was able to do - being an old codger).