{"id":2058,"date":"2006-12-22T15:52:13","date_gmt":"2006-12-22T22:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2058"},"modified":"2021-01-18T22:07:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T05:07:52","slug":"jonathan-livingston-seagull-1973","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2058","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong> &#8220;I want to fly where no seagull has flown before. I want to know what there is to know about life!&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-28493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Poster.jpg 506w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn adventurous seagull is banished from his flock, but returns to dispense newfound philosophical wisdom.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Folk Heroes<\/li>\n<li>Mentors<\/li>\n<li> Misfits<\/li>\n<li>Talking Animals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis live-action film version of Richard Bach&#8217;s bestselling parable is a curious combination of stunningly photographed nature movie and ridiculously campy new-age psychobabble. While watching shots of seagulls picking through a trash pile:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-1024x419.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"262\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-1024x419.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-128x52.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-768x314.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-1536x629.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash-604x247.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Trash.png 1845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>soaring through the air, or cocking their heads at each other:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cocking.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>it&#8217;s impossible not to imagine the MST3K crew adding their own snide commentary to the proceedings (or to provide your own). It&#8217;s full of countless quotes which are meant to be dead-serious, but instead will either make you laugh out loud or groan:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s got to be more to life than fighting for some fish-head somewhere!&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;ve gone everywhere and everywhen I can think of.&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I am a perfect expression of freedom, here and now.&#8221;<br \/>\n&#8220;I only wish to share what I&#8217;ve learned &#8212; the very simple fact that it is right for a gull to fly!&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But <em>JLS<\/em>&#8216;s most egregious sin is its length &#8212; it runs for two long hours when it could easily have been reduced to one or less. With that said, the movie still has its hardcore devotees (see various posts on IMDb, for instance), and is an invaluable snapshot of 1970s spiritualism &#8212; after all, books don&#8217;t become major bestsellers unless they strike <em>some <\/em>kind of a chord with people. In addition, it&#8217;s full of gorgeous cinematography, and fans of Neil Diamond will doubtless enjoy hearing his heartfelt ballads. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Beautiful cinematography &#8212; though a little goes a long way&#8211;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-768x329.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-1536x658.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography-604x259.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Cinematography.png 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Some cool, stylized imagery of birds silhouetted against the sky<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-1024x447.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"279\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-64388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-1024x447.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-128x56.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-768x335.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-1536x671.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized-604x264.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Stylized.png 1811w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Neal Diamond&#8217;s appropriately majestic score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though this certifiably &#8220;bad&#8221; (albeit utterly sincere) movie is worth a look simply for the unique period in American history it represents. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0070248\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1973\/10\/25\/archives\/screen-jonathan-rare-gull-makes-unusual-film-the-program.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/77263.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fwfr.com\/display.asp?ID=6271\">Four Word Film Reviews<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I want to fly where no seagull has flown before. I want to know what there is to know about life!&#8221; Synopsis: An adventurous seagull is banished from his flock, but returns to dispense newfound philosophical wisdom. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Folk Heroes Mentors Misfits Talking Animals Review: This live-action film version of Richard Bach&#8217;s bestselling parable is a curious combination of stunningly photographed nature movie and ridiculously campy new-age psychobabble. While watching shots of seagulls picking through a&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2058\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2058"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64393,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058\/revisions\/64393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}