Movie "Gran Torino" Symbolizes the Fall of the Detroit Auto Industry

Started by dazzleman, December 28, 2008, 09:20:43 AM

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hotrodalex

#60
December 31, 2008, 01:16:52 PM
Quote from: 2o6 on December 31, 2008, 10:43:18 AM
VWAG is the #3 worldwide automaker.

Yup. Probably going to be #2 soon, depending on GM's situation.

Madman

#61
January 01, 2009, 11:02:24 AM
My mother briefly owned a 1977 Ford LTD II Brougham station wagon.  This was the replacement for the Torino and was built on the same separate chassis as the Torino.  This re-bodied Torino by another name was one of the biggest piles of crap to ever roll off an assembly line.  My mother always preferred to drive my father's 1976 Buick LeSabre as it was a much better car.  Mind you, that's not saying much!

It was thanks to growing up with cars like this, I bought a used Volkswagen Rabbit right after landing my first job out of college and never looked back.


Cheers,
Madman of the People
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses." - Johannes Kepler

"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

FoMoJo

#62
January 02, 2009, 06:25:38 PM
I just saw the movie.  Mr. Neil is full of shit :rolleyes:.

btw, the movie is great :ohyeah:.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

FoMoJo

#63
January 02, 2009, 06:41:23 PM
Quote from: Madman on January 01, 2009, 11:02:24 AM
My mother briefly owned a 1977 Ford LTD II Brougham station wagon.  This was the replacement for the Torino and was built on the same separate chassis as the Torino.  This re-bodied Torino by another name was one of the biggest piles of crap to ever roll off an assembly line.  My mother always preferred to drive my father's 1976 Buick LeSabre as it was a much better car.  Mind you, that's not saying much!

It was thanks to growing up with cars like this, I bought a used Volkswagen Rabbit right after landing my first job out of college and never looked back.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

There was a world of difference between the cars of the '60s and those of the '70s ('72 and up).  The '60s was an extremely competitive era on the track and off and this was reflected in the cars that were built.  In the '70s they gave it all up and the cars went to hell.  The imports were piles of rusty shit as well but they were cheap to run.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

dazzleman

#64
January 02, 2009, 06:44:08 PM
Quote from: FoMoJo on January 02, 2009, 06:25:38 PM
I just saw the movie.  Mr. Neil is full of shit :rolleyes:.

btw, the movie is great :ohyeah:.

Glad to hear the movie was good.  I'm thinking about seeing it.

I have to say -- I agree with the loose premise of the article I posted.  You guys who are picking it apart are taking some things too literally.  I think the overall premise -- that the Torino is a good example of the type of car that brought Detroit down, and that the decline started in that general period -- is a sound one.  As a former owner of a Torino derivative from that period, I have some standing to form that opinion.
A good friend will come bail you out of jail...BUT, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, DAMN...that was fun!

FoMoJo

#65
January 02, 2009, 07:12:14 PM
Quote from: dazzleman on January 02, 2009, 06:44:08 PM
Glad to hear the movie was good.  I'm thinking about seeing it.

I have to say -- I agree with the loose premise of the article I posted.  You guys who are picking it apart are taking some things too literally.  I think the overall premise -- that the Torino is a good example of the type of car that brought Detroit down, and that the decline started in that general period -- is a sound one.  As a former owner of a Torino derivative from that period, I have some standing to form that opinion.
If the movie was anything about that, I might agree :huh:.

You'll just have to see the movie ;).
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

dazzleman

#66
January 02, 2009, 08:48:05 PM
The article doesn't suggest that that's what the movie is about.  The car, and the connection of it to Detroit's decline, is an implied subtext.
A good friend will come bail you out of jail...BUT, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, DAMN...that was fun!

Tave

#67
January 02, 2009, 08:57:29 PM
Quote from: FoMoJo on January 02, 2009, 07:12:14 PM
If the movie was anything about that, I might agree :huh:.

You'll just have to see the movie ;).

:banghead:

The article claims that the car is a symbol for the protagonist's position in the modern world. Nowhere does it claim that the movie is about the fall of the American auto industry.
As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.

Quote from: thecarnut on March 16, 2008, 10:33:43 AM
Depending on price, that could be a good deal.

The Pirate

#68
January 10, 2009, 10:06:42 PM
Quote from: FoMoJo on January 02, 2009, 06:25:38 PM
I just saw the movie.  Mr. Neil is full of shit :rolleyes:.

btw, the movie is great :ohyeah:.

Yes, the movie is spectacular.  I'm definitely going to buy a DVD copy of it when it's released.
1989 Audi 80 quattro, 2001 Mazda Protege ES

Secretary of the "I Survived the Volvo S80 thread" Club

Quote from: omicron on July 10, 2007, 10:58:12 PM
After you wake up with the sun at 6am on someone's floor, coughing up cigarette butts and tasting like warm beer, you may well change your opinion on this matter.

Catman

#69
July 17, 2009, 06:40:00 PM
Finally..............saw this movie!  Definitely one of my all time favorites.  :ohyeah:

FlatBlackCaddy

#70
July 17, 2009, 06:49:30 PM
Quote from: Catman on July 17, 2009, 06:40:00 PM
Finally..............saw this movie!  Definitely one of my all time favorites.  :ohyeah:

Yup, great movie. Clint kicks ass.

Thanks for digging this thread up(sarcasm), I appreciate being able to read my drunken ramblings and realize what a douche I am.

Well, better go get myself a drink.

Morris Minor

#71
July 20, 2009, 09:34:17 AM
My son & I saw this movie when we were in Paris & really liked it - although it did come across as a little "preachy" in parts. It was subtitled into French, which worked great for us until they switched to the dialog in Hmong (still subtitled into French). So my son, a little too loudly, demanded I translate, "What the fuck are they saying?". Every head in the movie theater within five rows turned to see who were these arrogant Americans.
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