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Quint reviews JOYRIDE
Folks, Harry here... Young Quint is no longer with us. He has been lost into the frozen tundra of Canada... Vancouver, which is somewhere in Montreal unfortunately I think. The youthful squirt has found cheap femme flesh and the taste of satan's own juice... That's right, he no longer need retain that hymen against alcohol, as he has ventured into the domain of legalized debauchery... I weep for the loss of innocence... To think of the bastards he shall leave in the seedy igloos of the North Country... beware the seed of Quint... Oh, and here's his last innocent review... JOYRIDE... somehow... tis fitting...
Ahoy there, squirties. Everybody's favorite crusty ol' sea salt, Quint, here reporting in from my world travels to fill you fine folks in on the new killer truck driver thriller opening everywhere soon, Joyride. As I'm typing this I'm sitting in the Salt Lake City airport. I'm currently serving the first hour of a 3 hour layover, itching to get to my final destination, Vancouver. I'll fill you folks in on the details of this trip in the very near future, but as for now... let's get on to Joyride.
The flick stars Leelee Sobieski (I probably fucked that one up. Sue me, I don't have access to IMDB), Paul Walker and Stephen Zahn. You've seen the trailer, you should know what it's about. Not a wholly original premise, that of a couple of happy go lucky early 20-somethings on a road trip finding themselves in a world of shit as a big rig from hell and its evil, unseen, driver start to chase them down.
Being the early Spielberg whore that I am, I immediately wrote this film off as being a Duel rip-off when I saw the trailer. I was willing to give the movie a chance, but had no expectation that it'd be anything but what the trailer made it out to be.
I have to give the movie a bit of credit. While it does have some big similarities to Duel, it is not the blatant rip-off that it appeared to be from the start. It's more of a combination of Duel and Breakdown, though it does end up leaning a lot more towards the Duel side.
So, what'd I think of this movie? It's a fun flick, but with one rather large flaw... the ending. The whole movie is well shot, very well edited, well acted and directed... You know, it's a snappy movie that keeps building the suspense, gradually getting more intense as the film continues. The menace of the truck and its driver is handled very well. There's a red herring or two that you can see a mile away, but they still come off as enjoyable.
The fact that the movie IS handled so well is what kills me. They spent so much time making you care about these characters, making you fear that damned truck, making you start to edge off your seat, that when it comes time to deliver the final blow you're ready to explode... but then they stumble. It killed me. A friend of mine who was at the screening said it was like jerking off to the point of climaxing... getting right up to the edge... just a few more seconds to go... then having your mother call or knock on the door. The lead up to one of the greatest jerks you've ever given yourself, no matter how much you enjoyed it, is totally ruined by the lack of resolution.
The ending is abrupt. I don't mind abrupt endings. I thoroughly enjoyed Jeepers Creepers, which had a very abrupt ending. The difference being that while Jeepers Creepers had an ending that defied modern American horror rules, Joyride's ending is beyond clichéd and predictable.
Now I know I've been slamming the ending of this film quite a bit, but I do have to give the movie its credit. Besides the ending, they did everything right. The casting is perfect. I've never been a big Paul Walker fan, but after the double whammy of The Fast and the Furious and Joyride he's kinda changing my opinion of him. I look forward to his next movie now. Whether or not I expect it to be great is another matter, but this is a gradual change. If he keeps pickin' them like he's been doing, I'll reach that stage.
Stephen Zahn... I've always found him funny, but I usually don't like the movies he's in. He's very good in this flick. His line delivery sounded awful in the trailer, but I came to find that they cut up a lot of different lines of his from throughout the movie to put in the trailer. His timing is as on as it usually is and he even fits his style of comedy perfectly into this movie. The gimp scene still brings a smile to my face.
Leelee... hmmmmmm. Cute name, even cuter girl. And you know what? Not only is Leelee herself in this movie, she brings a couple friends along for the majority of the movie. I swear to God... I don't know if they did this intentionally, but her nipples were poking out through almost all of this movie. Now, that's not a film flaw... not by a damn sight. But they're there. Keep a look out for 'em. Anyway, she's in the movie and she's good as usual, although she's not given the best dialogue and character in the world. There are points where you want to smack her for being the stupid girl, but she does her best to make those moments as painless as possible.
The gore... not much in the movie. There is one absolutely great shot that made me cringe... a character had his jaw ripped off... and we see him with half a face! It's a very brief, but very effective shot. Other than that... there's some blood, but not much else. Like I said above, the movie was counting more on the pacing, the threat of violence and/or gore than the actual delivery of it.
In the end, I have to recommend seeing this film. There's too much good in it to throw the whole thing away. And who knows... maybe the ending won't be as terrible to you. Maybe I'm the asshole who "didn't get it." I don't think so, but my opinion is only guaranteed to be right for myself. I'd advise to catch it at a matinee if at all possible, but I think that you'll have some fun with it.
Sorry to cut it short, squirties, but it's getting increasingly busy in this airport and it's a bit hard to concentrate with all those fucking announcements. "Would John P. Asshole please report to gate 14?" I think you got the gist of what I was saying, though. Keep yer eyes on the horizon, mates, fer this crusty ol' seaman has some really cool reports to share with you, including some interviews, an awesome set visit and a little series about Massawyrm and Quint's Big Adventure in LA. 'Til that day, squirts, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
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what's with your new pic quint? i liked the old one.
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That bloody fakker of dawgs, Quint-sir, comes across as right piece o' meat through most o' 'is - what you call it... narrative. But the ending was bit of the crocheted and all but still more than enuff double-good for this old hand. Any o' you many-losered scoovie leeks eye the bit wi' the wrist crotch at the final?
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now that's a joyride!
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Arrrrgggghhhh... Anywho, yeah, right, the movie rocked, the ending sucked, and I still love Mr. Zahn to death. Other than that... I need a big bear hug and I have no one to give it to me. *sniffle* Okay... death awaits me. I'll be going off to Heaven now, where every man there looks like Brandon Lee did in The Crow. *gasp* Goodbye cruel world. ;) P.S. - Speaking of airports, knowing when someone is picking up someone else at the airport on Monday would be helpful. Just a tip.
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The drinking age in Canada is not 18, but as you claimed Vancouver was in Montreal I guess I have no grounds to complain. Why bother though? Is this the new cutting edge "don't give a fuck" Harry?
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The drinking age in Vancouver, B.C. should be 19. It's 18 in Alberta, Quebec, and maybe Manitoba. 19 in B.C., Saskatchewan, and Ontario. In the Atlantic provinces you're allowed to drink from birth, which explains the enduring popularity of Anne Murray and Rita McNeil.
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Vancouver is on the other side of the continent! Montreal is not a province Harry, it's a city like Vancouver is. And Vancouver IS NOT cold! It's the warmest place in Canada, relatively close to sEattle.
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Oct 07, 2001 1:40:39 PM CDT
Jeepers was God awful, this looks like another stupid moron teen
by red giant
My guess is you are late teens or early 20s. Your writing style is cute, even funny, but your age shows in your comments. These movies are shit, period. I'm 39, are 'young people' really happy with empty crap like this? Man is this country in trouble (I'm in Seattle). *** As for AICN in general, I think from now on you should post the ages of reviewers since more and more I am seeing the worst goddamn movies given ridiculous reviews. I don't know anything about most reviewers on AICN, but at least some background including their age ought to help put reviews in perspective better.
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Oct 07, 2001 1:44:02 PM CDT
What is he talking about? The last 15 minutes are nailbiting!
by bigtuna
My gf was squirming in her seat with what was happening to Leelee. Sorry gotta totally disagree, it's not predictable at all. A great film and I lOVED how nothing happened between WAlker and Leelee, it didn't turn into a sappy teen romance which I was afraid would happen.
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The wife and I swear that the voice of the trucker over the CB radio and phone was Ted Levin. If it wasn't him, it sure was an excellent facsimile. It obviously wasn't him for the flash of a second you see him in the hotel room holding Steve Zahn, but while over the airwaves it sure sounded like him. No credit, though. Is anyone able to confirm who voiced this role??
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Boy, did I love this flick, beginning to end. John Dahl (who Quint neglected to credit), director of Red Rock West and The Last Seduction deserves true comparisions to the craftsmanship of Hitchcock himself. This film was like Duel meets, well any Hitchcock. Much better than The Others. Highly recommended.
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I agree, I am quite certain it was Ted Levine as well.
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I didn't really notice this until my friend's girlfriend pointed it out, but Leelee, while very attractive in a sort of "Helen Hunt's Awkward Stage" way, talks like some one's aunt. I keep seeing that commercial where she over-enunciates something about having an "ad-vent-ure"... It creeps me out now.
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Richard Roepper looks like a super-hero's alter-ego.
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This movie was GOOD dammit! Admit it. Seems like everyone wants it to suck because of the crappy trailer, and when it didn't they feel guilty about it and try to find flaws when there weren't many. "Cliche & Predictable" ending?!! It was suspense at its best. Leelee was stuck with the gun to her head for what felt like forever! I was sweating bullets. Hitchcock would have been proud. Oh and yeah, the voice was done by the same guy who did Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs. Go watch this movie while it's still in the theaters. It won't be there for long, no thanks to that lousy ad campaign. GRRR damn you Fox. But thanks for the movie.
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...in Silence of the Lambs
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the trailor really did suck. I was squirming in my seat when I originally saw the preview. But I heard a few good things and decided to chance it. Whaddayaknow....best chase/thriller I've seen in YEARS.
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First off, who the HELL cares what the drinking age in canada is? And what exactly does this have to do with Joyride?
Now that I've got that off my chest, this isn't too bad of a movie, but nothing great. I enjoyed Jeepers Creepers ok as well. Ending was weak, I agree, but I did expect for Charlotte to be dead.
Everybody keeps comparing this to Duel, which it didn't remind me of even a little bit. Reminded me of "The Hitcher" more than anything. Espically the scene where Buffalo Bill makes the boys go a natural into the cafe. And the tied up girl friend trying to be saved also. The Hitcher was a better movie in my opinion, but this will do until a REAL horro movie comes out. God knows when that will be. Haven't seen one of those in years.
And yes, my little movie group did notice that Leelee was really cold during this movie. :) Added to it I thought. -
Okay, now, if you haven't seen it, this may give away something, so if you care, don't read. But honestly... you people that have seen it, saying that ending was NOT cliched? Okay... everyone's all safe and sound at the end... THEY THINK! Oh! Haven't seen that one before! First time I saw it was in the first Nightmare on Elm Street, when I was but a little girl, and it's been used OVER and OVER again since. It's become tedious. Studios wanting to have the chance to make a franchise out of any film they possibly can... grrrrr... I want true grit endings where at least one of the main characters is taken out before the ending, and there's no questioning last line to the film as to whether the bad guy is dead or not. He's DEAD. We all know this. End of story. Everyone still living goes on with their now fucked-up lives. THAT's the ending that's just not used too often anymore. And THAT's why Quint and the rest of the people I've talked to about the movie had a problem with the ending being cliched. Thank you very much.
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Good movie, but not great. I had a few problems with it, but they are only minor ones, and a matter of opinion. This movie deserves a sequel, and Steve Zhann or however you spell it was good, as always, and Lee Lee Sobeaski was good, and Paul Walker was passable, I don't have anything against him personally, but any movie I've seen him in, his character just bore me to tears. Joyride didn't do to hot at the boxoffice, it only raked in a little over 7 million. I hope it pulls a boxoffice stunt like The Others is doing now, maybe with good word of mouth it'll pick up.
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So the ending was cliche cause the bad guy didn't die. Oh. I thought you were talking about the final confrontation, about the way Leelee was setup and how everything resolved, which was not cliche or predictable, IMO. But yeah, the bad guy doesn't die too often in movies like this, but I forgive Joyride for that because of all the things it did well. Personally, I expected more death. But since none of the main characters really annoyed me (unlike in some other horror flicks), I was sort of glad none of 'em died. It's kind of refreshing to see everyone survive for once.
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not to blow off LeeLee's head and kill off Steve Zhan...then the movie would have been a instant classic...Any remember Jennifer Jason Leigh getting pulled apart by two trucks in THE HITCHER?
Give us disturbing! Give us Deaths! Joyride was fun, suspenseful but I agree with Quint, There was nothing at the end that made us go "WHOA! THAT WAS SOME FUCKED UP SHIT!"
Everyone lived at the end..... -
Anyway to everyone who liked the movie the DVD is coming out on the 12th. It looks like it's a great DVD.
http://www.joyridedvd.com
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