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Doc Falken discusses his faves from BNAT 7: KING KONG - V FOR VENDETTA, THE DESCENT, LADY VENGEANCE & More!
Hey folks, Harry here... Doc Falken is a quirky fella. He's seen like 9 horror films - all of which have been at AICN events. And he really does seem to have a hard time enjoying the genre. Perhaps it reminds him of past crimes. Heh. But really - he seemed to have had a blast with the event. Here ya go...
I have just awakened from a much needed sleep break from the launch of the Zone and BNAT 7. This years BNAT was filled with much more expectation and guessing than any I can remember. With all of the big releases scheduled over the next half year, it is amazing that Harry and Tim can really whittle the possibilities down to program 24 hours of cinematic goodness. What I loved most about BNAT 7 is that even though many movie genres were represented, it seemed that "accountability" was the lesson that we needed to take away. Maybe next year the G-8 summit could meet during BNAT.
Harry has already posted a list of everything we saw, so instead of recapping the list, here are the films that I want to talk about.
1) Kong - Wow. This film's marketing campaign really doesn't do the film justice. It isn't just a monster film with killer CGI. This film will affect you emotionally. You'll quickly forget that the big ape only exists as pixels on geek's computer screen and his love for beauty and Anne will make you weep. My only issue is that it seemed Titanic-like in its goal to appease both the female audience (who hankers for a love story that can never reach the goal of happily ever after) and the male audience (who wants to see asskicking on a big scale). With so many great releases this holiday season, hopefully this film will become the global phenomenon that it deserves to be.
2) Sympathy for Lady Vengence - The most grueling film at BNAT. The entire experience was painful and rewarding. I hated this film about two thirds the way through because of what it made me watch and think about. All I did was project the situations into my personal and family life and it hurt. I've never cried so hard during a film. And just as quickly as I thought I was able to contain myself, the director decides to push on my raw feelings for inhumane revenge. I am angry that I saw this film. And I'm thankful that it was made so masterfully.
3) Master of Horror selections - I've now seen almost half a dozen of these shows now and I'm still not sure why they were even made. They are incomplete vignettes. Short stories without enough time for me to even care about any of the characters. They are shamefully an excuse to show a nipple and an atrocious act of horror usually coming completely from left field. I do think there is an army of horror lovers who gladly defend these shows because they want more content in the genre, but I feel that even they wish for better product. Why not create "thinking mans horror" and shoot for excellence? When the idea of smart horror came up during a smoke break, the only answers I could get from a horror expert was "well, what about Aliens"? Nice to see that a film several decades old is the last time that excellence in the genre was achieved. (Even if the Sci-Fi lovers claim that same film for themselves)
4) The Descent - Fuck this film. Fuck this film big time. It was probably the scariest film I've ever seen and I hate that they went back to the well so many times to get me to jump out of my seat. The darkness, sounds and disturbing visuals repeatedly assaulted me and my delicate being. I did enjoy how unapologetic the film was for its suspension of disbelief when it came to the main characters. How many smoking hot women do you know who get off on hanging out and going spelunking? Their size 0 asses were literally the only adults on the planet who could have even squeezed into the places they decided to explore. Not one "I broke my nail" joke. Not one lesbian kiss to appease the hetero males in the crowd. I appreciate that the director bravely didn't cave (ouch) into one of these more simple plot devices. Oh yeah, and fuck this film.
5) V for Vendetta - This will be the most talked about film in 2006. Or, it will disappear in three weeks after release and be dismissed as a cult film for academics to dissect in the future. I believe that the media's response to the messages in the film will decide it's fate. Even how Warner Brothers decides to market the film will determine the legacy. If they follow a super hero/comic book marketing model and you see V on a lunch box, then I believe that the film's impact will be hampered. But if they let the theater goers decide, then this film might prove to be an artistic endeavor that becomes a symbol for a revolution. Either way, every college campus needs to screen this film for our future leaders of the world. Fox News better get their responses ready, because this film is going to be a favorite topic of theirs for a long time.
I'm grateful that I got another chance to attend a BNAT. The room is electric and appreciative for the hard work. All movie viewing should be this much fun.
doc falken
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Quint forced me at gunpoint to watch "The Gingerdead Man". I wish I was kidding.
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Dec 12, 2005 3:30:03 AM CST
"Even how Warner Brothers decides to market the film will determ
by iammrmonkey
So...um...you haven't seen the trailers for this film yet? How come I've seen them and you haven't when they've been on the net for ages? And I agree with OttopartS - what's with the "fuck this film" aimed at The Descent? Did you like it or not? Could your 'reviews' be any more baffling? What the f***k are you doing reviewing films on this site?
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A paragraph on a flick doesn't a film review make. But my "fuck this film" comment is my emotional response from how wrong this film is. More colloquial and slang derivitive than literal. Descent was a roller coaster ride that went on for about an hour longer than I was interested in riding. I was exhausted from jumping out of my seat. And yet it kept on coming.
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Try Se7en.
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Try Onibaba. Adapted from a long-buried Japanese folk story called The Mask of Flesh. Love this film, hopefully Harry'll have it at BNAT8.
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Anyone who can't name a single smart and/or quality horror film that's been made in the past twenty years since Aliens hit is clearly a moron with no knowledge of the genre past the latest slick overhyped hollywood remake blockbuster selection. Other than that "fuck this reviewer", because it dragged on for more paragraphs than I was interested in reading... ;) :p
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Sorry, has this not come out over in the States yet?
Because the film fucking rules and anyone who likes horror movies should really already have seen it.. (it was on dvd over here a month or so back...) -
Dec 12, 2005 4:30:54 AM CST
Seriously now, really, I'm being serious when I ask this...
by bendersshinyass
...Is Kong really a LOVE STORY? It really does sound like fanboy masturbation to class the love story between Kong and Anne as on the level of Kate and Leo.
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Dec 12, 2005 4:47:00 AM CST
Really Bender, you were being really seriously serious and real
by seppukudkurosawa
The level of Kate and Leo though? Ha! If that's love then I probably fall in love fifteen times a day. In fact I can feel myself falling in love with a droopy-eyed, saggy-titted mother-of-five walking past my window as we speak. Real screen love? Take a look at Rebecca or In the Mood for Love, or Melissa Joan Hart's Drive Me Crazy...well, not too sure about that last one.
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But what I was trying to assertain was this, Do Kong and Anne start humpin in a car
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vs Kong/Anne/Jack. Kong's (the film) relationship three-way matches up fairly well with Leo and Kate. There are enough longing looks to make every teenage girl melt. Mr. Brody is dreamy. LeiaDown, thanks for putting a list of your favorite horror films. My gripe with films is that they seem to target teen boys who want that nipslip and beheading. The other choice you have is the true-crime like drama (like se7ven). But what about a complicated story with characters that we care out in a horrific situation? I just think the genre takes the easy way out to make a quick buck and base a story on some practical effect.
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I'm glad you know me so well. Regarding the roller coaster, it has nothing to do with my attention span, just the repetitiveness of the film. For instance, let me summarize the movie for you: Climb, climb. Darkness. Oh,shit, what's that. Loud shreek. Something jumps into the frame from the darkness. Dismemberment. Now repeat this over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Too many "over"s Otto? Now you know how I feel. Remember to blame your parents.
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Dec 12, 2005 5:29:48 AM CST
this reviewer gets emotionally confused responses from films
by demosthenes2
Which is okay, we've all had our share of those; in fact sometimes it can even be great, but you have to go further and be clearer how the experience of watching a film challenges you and make a firm decision whether or not the film was actually worth the challenge.
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There is NOTHING at all romantic about Kong and Ann. She recognizes him as an intelligent being and he has been bored for ages and as a communial animal who has been alone, he find her. They connect. LOVE, at least anything remotely like romantic love, NEVER NEVER has a place in the movie. Amen.
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Even if this movie sucks the hype behind it will generate more than 150 mill before anyone realises it.
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Novices... don't ya just love 'em.
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"Fox News needs to get their responses ready" ... Jesus Horatio Christ, people, V is a movie! It's not going to start a revolution! Please, just talk about the movie, not the bullshit socio-political impact (or complete lack thereof) it'll have.
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Dec 12, 2005 8:09:15 AM CST
Yeah there's a lot of crap out there in the horror genre...
by leiadown&fuckher
No doubt about that, but expand your horizons past just the hollywood overly-slick "beautiful people" led crap that gets all the advertising support, and which are mostly cardboard cut out fill in the blanks cyphers, and there's been plenty of great horror that's been made in a whole bunch of various styles and types in the past two decades. I'm not going to make a list because tastes are subjective, just as exactly what constitutes horror is, but to write off the entire past twenty years for any genre of film seems pretty silly to me, that's all, particularly from anyone who thinks of themselves as a horror expert of any kind. And my final comment above, I was just taking the piss, not attacking, so hopefully that came through.
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Good! And once the Wachowskis are done with that film and aren't busy, if someone could take the time to point them in the direction of Evangelion and WETA that would be good... thoguh I'm wondering how exactly does the film industry work in this regard? Do directors/ writers have contracts with studios? What about effects houses for that matter? Say for example, WETA did LOTR for New Line and king kong is for Universal... so they can still work with WB or whoever hires them right? Or are certain effects houses contracted to certain companies like some movie stars etc. are? Like Pixar was with Disney or Dreamworks is now with Paramount? Just wondering...
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has got to go to The Hitcher. But then again, Is it a horror? I think the fact that Rutger Hauer's timing in the film- showing up with a speeding truck at just the wrong/right moment- is supernatural makes it almost like a horror. It's as eerie as films get, and yet it's been consigned to the shitty 80's horror bin alongside Driller Killer and Lesbian Valley Girls Go Down on the Devil IV.
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Dec 12, 2005 8:34:28 AM CST
"a complicated story with characters that we care out in a horri
by raw_bean
Ringu. --------- I really like the look of V for Vendetta. Might have to try the graphic novel before the film comes out.
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it's a little dated (and I don't mean just by the year it takes place--let's just say a major plot point is impossible in today's computing environment), but it's a great read. It's too bad the reviewers won't actually talk about the movie instead of trying to cram some hysterical revolution nonsense down our throats.
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You know, I saw Wolf Creek a couple weeks ago... and it wasn't to bad. really had that old 'texas chainsaw massacre' thing happening. And while the whole 'true story' title at the begining helped with the scare factor, it also gave me the sence of feeling slightly ripped off at the end because I knew none of it was true. But still, I have no doubt there are some scary people living out there in the desert preying on tourists. Good creepy flick. yeah creepy, thats the word. And there are a couple moments where you really squirm in your seat and verbal out loud "Yuck!"
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http://mp3content03.bcst.yahoo.com/proot4/PubShare14/yahoomovies/3/20448403.mov
There you go guys.
It ain't great. Not that the movie will suck its just a bad trailer. -
Dec 12, 2005 9:21:40 AM CST
It's not really reasonable to expect V discussion to be free
by fluffyunbound
I think it's kind of absurd to expect a film to bring on revolution - but at the same time, it's pretty much inevitable that as the movie gets close to release Drudge and Fox and the "War on Christmas" crowd are going to burst a blood vessel denouncing the "pro-terrorism film". Come on, everyone knows this is going to happen. And watching the spectacle will be an entertainment in and of itself. You may as well try to find a way to live with the fact that politics will be dragged into V, because there's no way it won't happen - just lean back and try to enjoy it.
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After all, that's the movie where Carl really gets to play hero and get the girl.
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I just don't want them here. I don't go to CNN or MSNBC or FoxNews for movie reviews, why would I come to AICN (where the cast of characters would be the first up against the wall when the revolution came, anyway) for political talk?
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...but I don't think it's going to happen. It's a movie based off a comic book. You think the media is going to want to give publicity to something so obviously inferior (to them, anyway)?
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Dec 12, 2005 10:01:39 AM CST
Check out Horrorview.com for decent & recent Horror flick review
by llac9
Ringu is hands down the best horror flick I
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I would love that. I want to hear what was great, what was different, spoil the shit out of it. Seriously.
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Universal and Sony should get together and make a CGI Kong v. GINO set in New York. Don't laugh, you know they will do it (i.e. Aliens v. Predator)
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Kairo and Session 9
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I love Marshall's new film. Get this guy a big budget!
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I cannot wait for these flicks to come out. This summer was a letdown overall with a couple exceptions. Sith was good, but far from a masterpiece. Fantastic Four was released....and it just...was. Batman Begins had a perfect opening and the first 50 minutes were excellent cinema. As soon as Bale puts on the costume, the movie became just good. 40 Year Old Virgin was great and Wedding Crashers was better than expected. Shit, what else came out again?
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Dec 12, 2005 11:52:06 AM CST
Kong is not the story of beauty and the beast. if you want that
by hypeendshere
Kong is a savage force of nature and Ann is not in love with him in any way more than she can love a hurricane. you can respect it's sublime power, and appreciate it, but that's all.
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Why does it get so much coverage on AICN? Where's the real movie news?
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Save up that beer money, dude. Kong will make 400 million in the US alone. Shit, the last Harry Potter film is at 240 million right now (US gross).
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Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I like Guinness, Tecate or Miller Lite if you are on a tight budget. Stock up.
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Dec 12, 2005 12:22:16 PM CST
Why is everyone so obsessed with how much money a movie makes?
by citizen arcane
Are you on the board of directors of the studios or something? If so, get back to work.
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Dec 12, 2005 12:39:55 PM CST
all the people not understanding what he meant by "fuck this fil
by freak2thec0re
you need to get out some
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I'll probably be flamed for this, but what about Miike's Audition or Gozu? The former takes quite a bit of time to set up some round characters, while commenting on the role of Japanese women in their society, and playing with the conventions of the mind-memory/child abuse/etc... The latter, one surreal, method-busting take on Buddhist folk lore, with enough psycho-babble homosexual allusions to cause any straight male a deal of uncomfortable introspection. And come on, almost ANY movie by David Cronenberg.
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http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/missionimpossible3.html
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Sometimes I get so annoyed with this talk back. Persoanlly I thought Kong was great as Ive already seen it but why exactly do you guys hate that Kong may be a good movie. Yes lets hope it flops becuase how dare it be a good movie. Honestly I sometimes think you guys hate all films
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Good lord, it's standard operating procedure here. My guess is that the AICN backlash will be against V after Kong has passed us by.
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I'm with you. Just because the talkbacks have been a place to say horrible things about films without justification, it doesn't mean that it always has to be that way.
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it wasn't good.
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Let's bring down the government? Lets have anarchy? Where millions of lives are lost our comfortable lives are disrupted? This is what the far left wants?
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Dec 12, 2005 1:56:17 PM CST
(rolling eyes) yes. this is what the far left wants. they also
by hypeendshere
go intercourse your own troll-bait.
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Aside from his unintelligible review of Descent- Falken's review of Lady Vengeance is equally confounding- "I am angry that I saw this film. And I'm thankful that it was made so masterfully."
Huh? If you're "angry" that you saw it- why would you be thankful in the way it was made? I'm sure on some schizoid pseudo logical level it all makes sense- but you're reviewing movies here- not taking the psychiatrist's couch... Then you go on to say-
"just as quickly as I thought I was able to contain myself, the director decides to push on my raw feelings for inhumane revenge"- Guy- were you surprised at this turn in the movie? This turn that the director just DECIDED to take- Ummm- the word VENGEANCE is only in the fucking title of the movie- You dolt.
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If there's any justice. If you were my age, 8 or 9 when Jurassic Park hit, you know how great that movie was, and Kong is right there on that level, it just makes you giddy. Sure, some will gripe about the running time, but there's little, if any, that I would have cut. The build to Skull Island is long, sure, but it just makes the anticipation, and finally, Kong kicking ass that much more enjoyable. As for the "love" aspect, you don't know what love is if you can't see it between Darrow and Kong, it's there for damn sure, and Naomi Watts proved again that she may just be the best actress working in Hollywood today with her performance. The ending broke my heart five times over, it's just great. Wait, you'll see. It'll break even if nothing else, but I can see it up in the 400-500 million range if the holidays treat it well.
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Thanks for calling me out. "Lady Vengence" took me to task and presented some ideas that I didn't want to think about. In the end, it was a learning experience. Vengence is indeed in the title. Except that vengence wasn't just for the lady. She was only the facilitator for the vengence of everyday parents who have had to live with the death of a child. Oddly enough that didn't seem to make the title of the movie.
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Dec 12, 2005 3:24:35 PM CST
"Lady who facilitates vengeace for everyday parents who have had
by chrth
Yeah, that would suck on a marquee. They should stick with Lady Vengeance
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Can't wait to see her in M:I3. Hopefully it's good, too. And it's not like our comfortable lives are going to be comfortable for that much longer, with or without anarchy.
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I hope it's more mysterious and plot-centric like the first one, rather than just bullshit action scenes like the second one.
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Look up her pics and tell me she's not perfect.
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Nintendo may release them next summer. Hopefully. *crosses fingers*
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I enjoyed them. Sometimes it's good to get an alternate format in a person's impressions of films that are being reviewed by multiple people at the same time. Those of you confused by his emotional take contra intellect need to relax - this isn't a high school AP English assignment, it's informal, sometimes abstract, and just as rewardingly informative if you're open to it.
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SO I guess now that everyone on the AICN cast is gushing over BNAT7, we aren't going to get any REALY movies news for a day or so. Like the Miami Vice trailer over at Bacardi.com (yes, bacardi the vodka) or the MI3 trailer, or any of the end of the year awards coverage. Just goes to show how inept they are at doing their job when personal geekasms get in the way.
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...fuck them up their stupid asses. Really, you anus-lickers tearing the vernacular of the review to pieces is the most OCD-my-sphincter-sucks-air bullshit I've seen in some time.....
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Ain't it cool news! Well they think so, fuck us right? High and mighty sons a B's
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I mean, come on, where is the quality control. Next they will let the TV guide headline/amazon link guy post informative content...
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actually starting Weds...I can't wait...all the hype is a bit annoying, but it looks like PJ made a fun film, and I'm usually very cynical and skeptical about such things.
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I figured if I have to read your bellyaching on a regular basis, then maybe serendipity would somehow force you to read what I have to say on occasion. Harry was kind enough to post because no doubt he believes the AICN audience is curious about different points of view from BNAT attendees. My personal gripe with your response is that malformed humans like yourself can't say anything nice about anything. You get off at being a contrarian and taking the cheapest of shots at folks you don't even know. It would be cool if you would follow up your statements with your own reasonings but they would get shot down by a jury of kindergardeners. Hell, if you setup your own blog and countered every post with something more substantial than "high and mighty sons of B's", I would probably read it. It might even help me understand your points of view. Shit, I'll even register the domain for you. www.orionisadouche.com
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ROFL! Damn that was a funny retort!
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You're choosing the wrong person to make an example of, yes. 90% of what I say is sarcasm. It's true. I'm not serious in the least. I'm making fun of the way other talkbackers are. Really, don't take me seriously. I'm a comedian. So pick someone else who actually gives a shit and isn't so comical and laid back as me.
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I have a shrine to him and everything. I love the big lug. If you could hear me express my talkbacks, rather than reading them. You'd see i'm a big ham with bad grammar. I take everything that's written here with a grain a salt. I think I should be more careful though and remember that certain others, such as you mr.docfalken, take this whole geek thing very seriously. So will see what happens, right? I mean maybe my post will improve. stay tuned kids!
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Kong is gonna make some money no doubt. Arrogant Bastard Ale for me please.
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or a dolt
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The TB's will burn when that movie comes out. Can't wait. Oh, and fuck Descent, scary, but...fuck Descent. Shit I think I'm almost in complete agreement with Doc. And Lady-V...I think I got more choked-up on that than Kong. I don't know, it's a close call. Cagney and The Professionals both ruled. I'm definitely getting those on DVD. I just awoke from 16 hours sleep after being up 48 of the previous 52...man, what an experience.
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Dec 13, 2005 1:07:14 AM CST
I think when he says "fuck descent" he's saying "holy shit,
by iamnicksaicnsn
"FUCK that was scary! FUCK YOU FOR SCARING ME LIKE THAT YOU PIECE OF SHIT MOVIE!!! FUCK!!!"
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I give you points for being a good sport.
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Dec 13, 2005 11:12:44 AM CST
When the moon is in the seventh house and jupiter aligns with ma
by orionsangels
this is the dawning of the age of aquarius the age of aquarius! aquarius! aquarius! harmony and understanding
sympathy and trust abounding
no more falsehoods or derisions
golden living dreams of visions
mystic crystals revelations
and the minds true liberation
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