Interesting half-arthouse/half-porno flick - not just about how much Peter Berlin is into himself, but also how much he's into other people being into him...
Both the "dated elements" and "white-washing" lamented in the comments here is completely blown out of proportion.
First of all the gay/trans stereotypes present are a little much but within the context of the movie realistic. Secondly this is not the point of the movie - it's not supposed to be a grand portrait of gay psyche or a history lesson about Brazil's junta days. It's essentially a very intimate, tender 2-person stage play. It lives and dies by the performances - and live it does
I had low expectations. It's a mess - plot doesn't make a lick of sense, it's slapped together and does not work as a halloween movie.
Unpopular opinion: I thought it was pretty good.
Yeah it's a hockey, incoherent mess but sometimes watching a dumpster fire in October is fun. I think the main reason why this is more enjoyable than say halloween kills is that it didn't take itself seriously at all. Don't expect the usual "babysitter getting stalked" - which to be honest got stale after part 2 anyways.
This was - ok. Not nearly as good as the first two and a notch above part III.
The good:
- engaging(ish) story
- bleak(ish) ending
- ok acting for a horror movie
- not going overboard on call backs
- The female pinhead did a good job
The less good:
- The hellraiser lore gets changed. Demoting Leviathan to a wishfullfilling god and random people getting pricked by the puzzle box takes some of the essence of the cenobites away. "It's not hands that call us...". All wishes going bad sort of salvages some of it.
- It's too explicit. Part of why the original ones are scary is that you don't know what happens exactly when they take you. The nerve tightening gizmo is stupid on top of it.
- The CG was pretty bad. Plus the sex mansion with the cage design did not work for me.
- Not a fan of the new Cenobite designs. Gimme some black leather.
Not sure where I stand with the entire "metaphor for addiction" thing. Yeah it's hamfisted like crazy ... but at the end she has to live with the people she lost.
I love the book and the movie definitely captured some of the general atmosphere and is in parts very interesting. Michael Caine, the Indochina war, his love affair - all that's great
In other parts it's horribly uninspired and formulaic. We hit the story beats from the book and it feels like checking boxes. Also the camera work was more than distracting - is there a point I missed to all the flat shots and people constantly talking directly into the camera and handing looking at the audience?
To make any cookie-cutter WW1 movie after "all quiet on the western front"- especially a stupendously gimmicky one - is both unnecessary and revolting.
A lot going on that's gonna haunt you for a good bit afterwards - yeah Psychiatry was in its infancy back then ... but that's not excuse to treat people like that. As disturbing as the force-feedings, naked inmates smashing their heads into concrete, etc are - it's an important watch. Plus we'd do good to remember this wasn't just the 60s - there's plenty of stuff like that going on today, we're absolutely cool with.
... also a lot of what some of the "patients" say actually makes a lot of sense - particularly the indulgences guy.
I'm sure there's essays to be written about the symbolism and messages (anti war, environmentalism, exploitation of the working class, etc etc) and its probably all true.
BUT first and foremost I think this is a movie that needs experienced. The aesthetic needs taken in and immersed in. The entire thing is non-verbal and thin on proper plot - and is stronger for it.
The best I can describe it is like poetry. Yeah you can dissect it line by line and ask "what is the author telling us" but ultimately you have to take it in as a whole and enjoy it as such.
It took me a minute to get into though (after the breathtaking opening), not gonna lie. Overall A-
The atmosphere is best described as "autumn/fall" - slightly melancholy, days grow shorter, with a looming uneasiness over everything.
The art style is best described as a mix of old-timey greeting card meets wholesome, swedish, 70s childrens cartoon.
The plot is actually not that intricate which leaves the whole thing some breathing room and allows for a slower pace, which goes well with the tone.
The ultimate "reveal" (or twist or whatever you wanna call it), I could have done without but it didn't subtract from the experience.
It's a mixed bag alright. The overarching issue is that the movie feels very disconnected and doesn't come together at all. Multiple plotlines could have been removed without issue, like the "inner beauty pageant".
To be nit-picky, the negatives:
- The special effects were a weird mix of noticeable CGI and stuff that looked like it came from the "David-Cronenberg-Leftover-bin". (Especially the bone eating chair was pretty lackluster)
- The surgery/performance art stuff was a lot of build up for not a lot happening. Yes we have a cool machine with all these vaguely sexual looking things ... and it'll take 3 seconds to remove a potato from Aragorns chest.
- Viggo Mortensens Ninja costume
- I generally like Kirsten Stewart. She didn't work in this at all
- The world they lived in seemed completely empty, which can work in a movies favor ... not in this one.
- The whole "surgery is sex is art" is def from the Cronenberg greatest hits album but felt a little too tired this time around.
- The whole plastic-eating/plastic candybar stuff felt incredibly ham-fisted
The goods:
- The music and sound design were pretty good
- Viggo Mortensen and Don McKellar were decent
- The ear-guy dancing was fun for a minute
Overall I think this came about by Cronenberg having a few neat ideas but was struggling to string them together by an interesting plot.
Not mad I saw it - not horribly memorable either. The main joke is "nic cage is a weirdo that overacts" and that wears thin pretty quickly without any of the usual Arthouse stuff propping him up.
I get what they were going for - broader appeal for a wider audience (they have a whole meta conversation for Christ's sake) but I prefer the straight movies where they don't wink into the camera ("do you get it? He's in on the joke?!") Like bad lieutenant, Mandy or color out of space
It's interesting - certainly a raw, gritty, grainy style to it that I like.
This should be shown to everyone that plans to be a film student. Get an independent view on what it looks like to be a leach on your friends and family - all in the name of your delusions of grandeur of making "the next great american picture".
Comments 1 - 25 of 62
Movie comment on Ehi amico... c'è Sabata. Hai chiuso!
dantheman89
Significantly sillier than I thought - still enjoyable.Lee van cleef great as always, soundtrack very decent
Movie comment on That Boy
dantheman89
Interesting half-arthouse/half-porno flick - not just about how much Peter Berlin is into himself, but also how much he's into other people being into him...Movie comment on Kiss of the Spider Woman
dantheman89
Both the "dated elements" and "white-washing" lamented in the comments here is completely blown out of proportion.First of all the gay/trans stereotypes present are a little much but within the context of the movie realistic. Secondly this is not the point of the movie - it's not supposed to be a grand portrait of gay psyche or a history lesson about Brazil's junta days. It's essentially a very intimate, tender 2-person stage play. It lives and dies by the performances - and live it does
Movie comment on The Alligator People
dantheman89
I mean ... it delivers what it promises - Alligator people.Movie comment on Halloween Ends
dantheman89
I had low expectations. It's a mess - plot doesn't make a lick of sense, it's slapped together and does not work as a halloween movie.Unpopular opinion: I thought it was pretty good.
Yeah it's a hockey, incoherent mess but sometimes watching a dumpster fire in October is fun. I think the main reason why this is more enjoyable than say halloween kills is that it didn't take itself seriously at all. Don't expect the usual "babysitter getting stalked" - which to be honest got stale after part 2 anyways.
Movie comment on Hellraiser
dantheman89
This was - ok. Not nearly as good as the first two and a notch above part III.The good:
- engaging(ish) story
- bleak(ish) ending
- ok acting for a horror movie
- not going overboard on call backs
- The female pinhead did a good job
The less good:
- The hellraiser lore gets changed. Demoting Leviathan to a wishfullfilling god and random people getting pricked by the puzzle box takes some of the essence of the cenobites away. "It's not hands that call us...". All wishes going bad sort of salvages some of it.
- It's too explicit. Part of why the original ones are scary is that you don't know what happens exactly when they take you. The nerve tightening gizmo is stupid on top of it.
- The CG was pretty bad. Plus the sex mansion with the cage design did not work for me.
- Not a fan of the new Cenobite designs. Gimme some black leather.
Not sure where I stand with the entire "metaphor for addiction" thing. Yeah it's hamfisted like crazy ... but at the end she has to live with the people she lost.
Overall ... B- to C+
Movie comment on The Greatest Beer Run Ever
dantheman89
I think I'm gonna be sick. We were against the war in Vietnam for a reason back then - the US WAS NOT THE GOOD GUYS IN THIS.Movie comment on Bodies Bodies Bodies
dantheman89
Woke twitter dipshits turning into ugly trash people at the smallest discomfort - that was the main joke and I laughed xDAlso sort of did see the end coming but was still fun to see
Movie comment on Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
dantheman89
Not bad at all - captivating without being too sensationalist. The follow-up about John Wayne Gacy is imo even better.Movie comment on The Quiet American
dantheman89
I love the book and the movie definitely captured some of the general atmosphere and is in parts very interesting. Michael Caine, the Indochina war, his love affair - all that's greatIn other parts it's horribly uninspired and formulaic. We hit the story beats from the book and it feels like checking boxes. Also the camera work was more than distracting - is there a point I missed to all the flat shots and people constantly talking directly into the camera and handing looking at the audience?
Overall ... ok. Somewhere between C and C+
Movie comment on 1917
dantheman89
To make any cookie-cutter WW1 movie after "all quiet on the western front"- especially a stupendously gimmicky one - is both unnecessary and revolting.Movie comment on The Silent Scream
dantheman89
surprisingly generic slasher mix of giallo and Hitchcock PsychoMovie comment on Titicut Follies
dantheman89
A lot going on that's gonna haunt you for a good bit afterwards - yeah Psychiatry was in its infancy back then ... but that's not excuse to treat people like that. As disturbing as the force-feedings, naked inmates smashing their heads into concrete, etc are - it's an important watch. Plus we'd do good to remember this wasn't just the 60s - there's plenty of stuff like that going on today, we're absolutely cool with.... also a lot of what some of the "patients" say actually makes a lot of sense - particularly the indulgences guy.
Movie comment on Une robe d'été
dantheman89
Very interesting. Almost poetic - especially the dance scene is fun.Very slightly reminds me of maybe Kenneth Anger? From like really far away?
First time I ever thought "they could've picked a better title" haha
Movie comment on Mad God
dantheman89
I'm sure there's essays to be written about the symbolism and messages (anti war, environmentalism, exploitation of the working class, etc etc) and its probably all true.BUT first and foremost I think this is a movie that needs experienced. The aesthetic needs taken in and immersed in. The entire thing is non-verbal and thin on proper plot - and is stronger for it.
The best I can describe it is like poetry. Yeah you can dissect it line by line and ask "what is the author telling us" but ultimately you have to take it in as a whole and enjoy it as such.
It took me a minute to get into though (after the breathtaking opening), not gonna lie. Overall A-
Movie comment on Over the Garden Wall
dantheman89
This really struck a chord with me.The atmosphere is best described as "autumn/fall" - slightly melancholy, days grow shorter, with a looming uneasiness over everything.
The art style is best described as a mix of old-timey greeting card meets wholesome, swedish, 70s childrens cartoon.
The plot is actually not that intricate which leaves the whole thing some breathing room and allows for a slower pace, which goes well with the tone.
The ultimate "reveal" (or twist or whatever you wanna call it), I could have done without but it didn't subtract from the experience.
Movie comment on Crimes of the Future
dantheman89
It's a mixed bag alright. The overarching issue is that the movie feels very disconnected and doesn't come together at all. Multiple plotlines could have been removed without issue, like the "inner beauty pageant".To be nit-picky, the negatives:
- The special effects were a weird mix of noticeable CGI and stuff that looked like it came from the "David-Cronenberg-Leftover-bin". (Especially the bone eating chair was pretty lackluster)
- The surgery/performance art stuff was a lot of build up for not a lot happening. Yes we have a cool machine with all these vaguely sexual looking things ... and it'll take 3 seconds to remove a potato from Aragorns chest.
- Viggo Mortensens Ninja costume
- I generally like Kirsten Stewart. She didn't work in this at all
- The world they lived in seemed completely empty, which can work in a movies favor ... not in this one.
- The whole "surgery is sex is art" is def from the Cronenberg greatest hits album but felt a little too tired this time around.
- The whole plastic-eating/plastic candybar stuff felt incredibly ham-fisted
The goods:
- The music and sound design were pretty good
- Viggo Mortensen and Don McKellar were decent
- The ear-guy dancing was fun for a minute
Overall I think this came about by Cronenberg having a few neat ideas but was struggling to string them together by an interesting plot.
Movie comment on The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
dantheman89
Not mad I saw it - not horribly memorable either. The main joke is "nic cage is a weirdo that overacts" and that wears thin pretty quickly without any of the usual Arthouse stuff propping him up.I get what they were going for - broader appeal for a wider audience (they have a whole meta conversation for Christ's sake) but I prefer the straight movies where they don't wink into the camera ("do you get it? He's in on the joke?!") Like bad lieutenant, Mandy or color out of space
Movie comment on The Vault of Horror
dantheman89
There's just something utterly cozy and comforting about cheesy 70s british horror.Movie comment on American Movie
dantheman89
It's interesting - certainly a raw, gritty, grainy style to it that I like.This should be shown to everyone that plans to be a film student. Get an independent view on what it looks like to be a leach on your friends and family - all in the name of your delusions of grandeur of making "the next great american picture".
Movie comment on Blackfish
dantheman89
As everyone before me: won't go to sea world and likely to stop going to Zoos altogether.Movie comment on The Night Flier
dantheman89
This is apparently routinely rated as one of the worst King adaptions and I don't think it deserves that.Yeah it's cheesy and hammy and shlocky ... it's still a good watch for a midnight movie on a saturday.
Plus Miguel Ferrer is always fun.
Movie comment on A League of Ordinary Gentlemen
dantheman89
"I certainly would never say "S... my S...""Movie comment on The Thorn Birds
dantheman89
Is it essentially a soap opera? Absolutely!Is it worth watching? Absolutely!
Both Richard Chamberlain and Barbara Stanwyck steal the show.
Movie comment on The Power of the Dog
dantheman89
As someone that loves "True Grit" I thought this was ok. Not the biggest Benedryl Cabbagepatch fan here either, so factor that in.Also - swear to god - saw it at the dentists while getting a root canal.
Showing items 1 – 25 of 62