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Harry's DVD PICKS AND PEEKS Does The Last Week of March 2007 - Flynn -- Cuaron -- Lucky McKee -- Grindhouse Sex!!!
Harry here - Been boxing and moving all day - and been at it since 9am. It's now 20 hours later and I'm finishing this weeks list. Please excuse the first draftness of this - but after a big day - this was a big bunch of work. As always - either use the Amazon links or don't. There's further information there - as well as the ability to purchase. Or just fill your queue - or wave it all off as crap. Though - you'd be wrong in doing that. There's some fantastic films - and some great grind stuff at play here. Enjoy... I hope...
March 27th, 2007
HAPPY FEET
While my favorite animated film of last year was MONSTER HOUSE, this was the one that beat both that and CARS for the Best Animated Film from the vaunted Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. It’s a fun movie, I like it quite a bit, but a lot of the film doesn’t hold up to me upon multiple viewings – especially the broad humor stuff. That said – Miller did some amazing work with this film – and the crazed penguin perspective on what is happening in the world and why – is kinda freakin’ hilariously upsetting and dead on… of course – the penguins aren’t real and this isn’t really their perspective, but the imagined perspective of penguins that are fucked by a shifting environment and having to compete in a wild that is being fished far beyond it’s natural order. But hey… who wants to live forever. My favorite stuff is Elijah Wood’s crazy captive penguin stuff. Absolutely killer! The coolest extra feature on this DVD is the classic cartoon, “I LOVE TO SINGA” – sadly – the dvd isn’t a LOADED DVD. Let’s hope for us Animation junkies – that we get a packed dvd for us more adult kids.
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
I give Will Smith a lot of shit from time to time -- But when he’s not being “The Fresh Prince” in films – and he gets to the mental state that… well, let’s say he did in this film… I love the guy. In my opinion, this is my favorite Will Smith performance to date. I don’t know if it’s just him acting opposite his own son – and imagining being in the situations that his character was in – with his son… but whatever the reason… an excellent director, an excellent script, a great story taken from a true life tale… whatever… Will was in great form here. I even liked Thandie Newton’s performance, and I usually am not that kind with her. The dvd is very well done – in particular I like the feature about Will working with his Son. Just a nice feature about working with family and keeping it real nice. There’s commentary, Rubik’s Cube stuff and of course a look at the man this movie was based upon. Good stuff all around.
CHILDREN OF MEN
Arguably the best film of 2006 – and definitely the most fucked over of 2006. This is that film that will have an exponential growth in audience on DVD if there is any justice in the world. Brilliant in script – performance and the skilled capturing of it all. Alfonso Cuaron is a god and I await his every film with great anticipation. And having said that – I hope he makes a microscopic foreign language film next – just to keep the world guessing. The DVD is a gorgeous transfer – and just seeing how he shot the car scene – is just jaw dropping. What a rig. But the best features are THE POSSIBILITY OF HOPE and the Comments by Slavoj Zizek. Fucking mind opening. Thank you, Alfonso for putting that man in my head. Beyond thought provoking. Truly great use of “Special Features”.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY – VOL. 2
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, one can never have enough ADDAMS FAMILY in their lives. You’re either with it or just not worth it. It’s getting the joke of Goth life, without making it your life. It’s that fine line that Tim Burton walks – that makes NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS so blissful. But no matter how cool you want your family to be, they’ll never be… the Addams Family…snap snap. Totally worth it for the THING and COUSIN IT commentaries!
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
I kinda hate how this film was treated by audiences as just another film by that HERO guy. Dammit – this movie kicks ass. Literally one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen. One of the coolest films I’ve seen – what with the badass NINJAS – and Chow Yun Fat – just being Chow Yun Fat cool on screen.. If you love Zhang Yimou’s work – you’ll love this. If that sort of fantasized martial arts filmwork turns you off… Wow. Ok, this isn’t for you. This isn’t a big extras DVD – but it’s a gorgeous DVD.
THE ERROL FLYNN SIGNATURE COLLECTION ( The Charge of the Light Brigade / Gentleman Jim / The Adventures of Don Juan / The Dawn Patrol / Dive Bomber )
Warner Home Video continues their exquisite Signature line. Filled with extras. Each and every disc in the collection. But here – on my favorite Star of all time, Errol Flynn – they do yet another bang up job with a fantastic collection. One of my favorite Flynn flicks, THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN – part of the mental DNA that made me a sad sack romantic – It’s so much fun – even if some shots are reprinted from ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD – heh. Then there’s the fantastic CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE – which isn’t history, but legend in the way that 300 was Legend given form on screen. It isn’t how it happened, but how it was romanticized. Then you have the flying double bill of DIVE BOMBER and THE DAWN PATROL – both fantastic films in their own right. And GENTLEMAN JIM – which is an often overlooked Flynn flick, but you put it in and it will be overlooked – no longer. Flynn has a convincing sense of derring-do. His eyes searching for the most adventurous path to take. Watching him lead the Charge of the Light Brigade is just awesome. Watching him woo women in Don Juan – classic. Watching him take on the impossible in the air or in the ring. It thrills me. Forget his real life – remember his screen life. Errol Flynn lives on in this set and is one of the coolest actors of all time on screen!
Early Bergman ( TORMENT / CRISIS / PORT OF CALL / THIRST / TO JOY ) Criterion Collection
I’ve never had the opportunity to experience these early Ingmar Bergman films. I’ve loved his famous work and more modern work, but never these titles. They’re titles I’ve read about, but never saw. There’s a lot of FUN stuff on the list this month, this is essential films for serious cineastes. So if you’re like me, this is exciting films from the Eclipse series which have not been available till now. Important works from an incredibly important film artist.
TEMPEST
Any film starring John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands is a must see. I would also recommend checking out every film by Paul Mazursky. Most of us know this story from it’s science fiction telling in FORBIDDEN PLANET. Some of us have even read Shakespeare’s version or seen it produced. Here you have Mazurky’s loosely based version and while nothing can replace Robby the Robot in my heart – Raul Julia’s character comes close. And John and Gena are just a wonder to watch. And if you love early eighties Molly Ringwald – this is probably the film you missed. Check it out.
42nd STREET FOREVER: XXX-Treme Special Edition
The Grindhouse doesn’t get dirtier, raunchier or as lurid as this DVD filled with over 2 hours of the most exploitive in your face sex charged trailers that you’ll ever see… unless you go to the Alamo Drafthouse on special occasions. I’ve seen things there that rival and surpass some of this…. But not all of it. This is definitely not for you babies out there. This is very hardcore. So buy at your own risk, your fragile little mind might blush or gag.
SAMURAI 7 Box Set
I only got to see the first few DVDs of this set – and regretted that I never saw the completion. Well, here’s the whole damn thing in a fantastic DVD BOX SET put out by the great folks at Funimation! So if you want a sci-fi-ized version of SEVEN SAMURAI – as told in a very Kurosawa style, had Kurosawa gone sci fi with his vision – and – oh yeah – it’s over 11 hours in length. Is that enough badass samurai robot action? Not hardly.
ROMAN
I love this film. Did you ever get to see Lucky McKee’s MAY? I feel that is the great lost modern Horror film of the past 10 years. It’s found an audience on DVD – but since that moment – Lucky McKee has continued to work – and contrary to all the hopes of how it is supposed to work for a brilliant young filmmaker once they’re discovered… he’s been abused like you wouldn’t believe. Manhandled by the system and punks all over the place. In the midst of that pain – he teamed up with the star of MAY – and decided to shoot on DV a script he wrote before MAY – but that became a big brother to MAY. This isn’t the same story – it’s the opposite in many ways. Where MAY was about a descent into madness, this is a story that could be seen as an ascent from madness. Lucky’s performance as Roman is haunting – and this is Kristen Bell before she became Veronica Mars. And you can see that in her. But I also love Nectar Rose’s performance. And most of all – Angela Bettis brings an amazing spirit to this very very no-budget film. That’s haunting, heartbreaking and beautiful in the obscene way that death and loss can be. You may hate it for it’s lack of production value – but you’ll be missing an amazing story if you do. ROMAN is a jewel in the rough. Look for it.
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will have to check it out.
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Alfonso Cuaron may be good, but a "god" he is not....
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in another DVD column, you said that there NEEDS to be another Flynn Signature Collection...and now it's here. What does it feel like to be so powerful?
Ordering...ordering...ordered. Thanks for your heads up (it was 'cause of you that I bought the last box-set). -
duhh.
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and I just can't wait to watch COM again. And seeing how they filmed that scene will be priceless.
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No joke! This film has epic amounts of ninja's...and one of the most psychodelic sword fights..brief, but mind blowing.
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That film was very good, and in fact is one of the times I have been grateful for the existance of Harry, but not the greatest of the last 10 years.
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Buy it and watch it as soon as possible. You will be blown away by the quality. I give you a few good reasons: Whitaker as good as in Last King of Scotland, stellar writing, terrific acting from the old cast, Handgrenades, Death, shakespearean tragedy! If thats not good enough: Gina Torres' (naked)ass.
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saw this on tv. i was grateful that they showed this on free tv over here. the bitter sweet ending, a coming of age story, this is what Star Wars Phantom Menace should have been.
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Saw both. Both have superb effects. However both suffered in terms of good story. Yes there were some emotional effects that both directors tried to evoke but it just wasnt there. Yes, the ninja attack in Golden Flower is and will always be remembered for its awesome power. Both movies are still below Taegukgi which I consider much more superior.
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cause that shit was BANGING the whole movie
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tho not as bad as the upcoming release of the fountain. the planned box art for that one is infuriating
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Hmmm?
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The young actress grew up and married 80s porn star Jerry Butler. Shockingly, the marraige didn't last.
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...long enough. This place is the Cult of Cuaron. Not only can he never do any wrong in the eyes of many around here, but even to suggest otherwise is supreme blasphemy.
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"In my opinion, this is my favorite Will Smith performance to date." Harry, I certainly hope that's your opinion.
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Someone needs to put a video montage of Gong Li's cleavage set to T. Rex's Bang a Gong up on youtube. not me though. I'm a busy man...
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I've already watched the series twice and now my wife is watching it with me for a third time. She loves it. Marathon style. Fucking tight.
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I got both CHILDREN OF (FUCKING) MEN and HAPPY FEET. And while some of the features on the first one are great (the creation of the CGI baby, for instance, or the documentary), the second sucks fucking balls. I love HAPPY FEET and I honestly felt robbed. It's like one of those DVDs from when DVD was just something cool for rich people. Featureless. Come on Warner, put some love on it. It deserves it. (And for one I'd like the definitive edition right away, not months or years after). Oh and for you Children of (fucking) men lovers, do not get your hopes up for THE MAKING OF THE CAR SECUENCE. They just show the rig and the cameras, they say nothing about the action, the CGI enhancements, the choreography, etc. It's pretty much a "look at this cool as fuck camera system we put on this car". And the cover is even worse than the one they put online, it has huge letters telling all that about THE YEAR 2027 crap. Bitch, bitch, two amazing films that are worth the price of the DVD alone, no matter how much I wanted better editions. Cheers.
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You know what i think is really pretty sad, I love clive owen as an actor (just look at that performance in children of men). But he just cannot do an american accent. So everytime i see him in an american movie with that american accent it is always in the back of my mind niggling away. Its a friggin tragedy cus otherwise he's great.
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Clearly Happy Feet was not made for me. I cannot fathom how in any way shape or form penguins could be entertaining. They aren't especially funny looking, they have no birghtly colored feathers, or crazy defense mechanisms, I guess I just don't understand the facination. Also I thought Children of Men was almost as bad as Ghostrider (almost) Sheesh, what a mess of a film. There were some interesting shots in the film but really more than anything it just depressed me. If that's where we're headed let me off this crazy rock!
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...is out today, also. And in other news, Warren Zevon's STAND IN THE FIRE and THE ENVOY finally get domestic release on CD.
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Sorry about that. Carry on.
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And he's right, I still love "May" to no end.
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Yeah, it was pretty good.P.S. That corner animation matches the ads a treat, like a towel and shower curtain kind of deal. Well decorated, web designer types.
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for Susan Sarandon's topless scene.
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I've been dying to see this season. Will be going on a huge marathon. Also, some of those AFTER DARK HORRORFEST films look good.
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i think a remake of a movie from 85 is a really awesome idea. off-topic, but funny.
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Horror-wise,Hollywood is too busy eating its own insides via its asshole(herefore to be called pulling a rob zombie)with remakes and ripoffs.Guys like McKee,along with Alexadre Aja,Neil Marshall,and yes,Eli Roth are the next wave of horror filmmakers to watch.
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I'm glad it didn't win an Oscar or even a Golden Globe for that matter.
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...with ugly penguins. And the ending?
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Wasn't Ajas last film a ... dare i say it ... REMAKE???
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Id argue that movie was hardly original, seemed pretty heavily inspired by "I was a Teenage Werewolf".
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I mean, the only thing I had seen from him was Azkaban, which was pretty good, but Children of Men blew me right the fuck away. I thought it was damn near perfect, and the car scene and the big chase in the refugee camp are two of the most amazing, jaw-dropping scenes I think ever filmed. He wasn't a god before, but he just launched himself with this one.
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Craven he gets a little slack.There's ALWAYS an exception to every rule.It also happened to be a textbook example of how to approach a remake(original filmmaker involved,respect towards source material,etc.).And also,love it or hate it HAUTE TENSION was,even if by default,one of the better horror films in a while and a great showcase for a promising talent.I had acknowledged HILLS... originally in my previous post but deleted it,even though I knew someone would bring it up.I'll just have to "reimagine" my post.
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That's true, as i remember when "Children of Men" first came out. But seriously, no one is big enough to be called a "god," because that puts you above human staus.... and then you logically can't analyze a work for its true value and recommend it to others, can you?
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Maybe I'll see Roman. Kristen Bell is great.
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I won't use the word "God", but Cuaron did a fantastic fucking job with that film.
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Pull my finger.
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dammit
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Children of Men was good but not great status. The first chase scene in the car was nothing special. Yeah it looked cool but nothing more than that. The second long war scene was awesome how it was choreographed and cool cgi but nothing I havent seen in a Band of Brothers movie. Besides that the characters were bland and Clive Owen looked like he phoned it in. He was not the right person for this role in my opinion. It lacked some great dialogue or something I cant put my finger on to make the movie into an elite status. Michael Caine was awesome though.
http://tinyurl.com/pv8do -
his are some of the best films ever made.
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That's upsetting. I loved about 80 percent of May, and didn't really like The Woods, as it kind of just implodes on itself, and the ending is a little ridiculous, but maybe that's what he wanted.Anyway, I heard good things about Roman, and I love Kristen Bell, so I'll probably check it out.
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Jesus. I clicked into Stupidville here.
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I know! What the hell? Those continous shots had me looking for my brain in the back of the theatre. Blew it right out the back of my head. I found it, though, so don't worry.
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Let the haters go fuckthemselves while we enjoy CHILDREN OF FUCKING MEN! One asshole compares it to fucking GHOST RIDER for chrissake. (I hope he dies, seriously). The rest of you are in my cool book and I'll gladly buy you people a beer. Cheers.
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I could really use one, man. Stupid fucking Biology papers. I hate college.
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this week is rather dull.
"CoM is the 'Blade Runner' of this generation." - Give me a FUCKING break Universal. Shovel that kind of bullshit elsewhere. -
Just recently watched May on dvd and saw Children of Men at the theater and they've both received gushing reviews and I can't figure out why. May is a solid film storywise but as a modern horror masterpiece? Well, that escapes me. McKee was far better on his Masters Of Horror episode "Sick Girl". As for Children of Men, I felt that it had exceptional cinematography, was well directed and acted, but was very heavy handed with the religious overtones. Ok, I get it...she bears what could be the savior of the human race...but...there was something lacking about the film...and I think it's the ability to care about the characters...there was no (for the lack of a better word but somehow appropriate) "life" in the film...and for a piece of art that has that's topic as it's main focus, it's a problem. And while I'm on a minor rant, may I please solicit opinions as to this question: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO JOHN CARPENTER?" Not sure if anyone saw his Masters of Horror entry "Pro Life" but it was one of the dullest, most excruciating hours I have ever spent watching a dvd. But he's not totally to blame. Swan and McWeeny's teleplay was absolutely horrendous. One of the most putrid, most ridiculous travesties ever committed to the visual medium...and I sat through The Undertaker and His Pals...so I know pain.
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Was just reading some of the other posts...yes, why is he still making movies? Because the moronic public goes to see them. Cabin Fever was god awful (though Cerina Vincent can appear in anything and I might partially enjoy it) and Hostel was maybe a slight notch above (though Roth, to his minimal credit, did manage to make the film look a little more professional than his prior entry). Then again, Hollywood can understand why Wild Hogs makes money (and I can too because I have little faith in humans) and the success of 300 comes as a complete shock (my original prediction after seeing it early in the weekend was $65 mil...I wasn't too far off). Until we demand better films (and everyone's definition of "better" is different), we deserve to watch a wacky remake of Harold and Maude with Diane Keaton and Matthew McConaughey in hell...over...and over...and over.
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...see L'enfant. The Dardunnes make so much more out of so much less.
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Loved COM but like others have pointed out I HATE the fucking dvd cover.I also bought Happy Feet this morning, mainly for my wife and kid who loved it. I thought it was a'ight but the end was WAAAAAYYYY to heavy handed even for a family film.Not sure what the big deal with May is. I saw it, it was alright, certainly not memorable and nothing to herald as teh future of horror. Not even sure it was a horror film, I mean it had certain horror elements but thats about it. Now I will agree with other talkbackers who said that Neil Marshall and Alejandro Aje are the future of horror. I am not an Eli Roth hater but his films are not above B level straight to dvd fare.I was looking at the back of the Pro-Life dvd last week and the creature on the back looks the same ones from Ghostbusters.
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I think Eli needs to do a romantic comedy or something. I have come to that realization. His "horror" really isn't as good as some of the Horrorfest stuff(see Hamiltons) LOL! I liked May just to see the decent of someone into madness but I think that movies such as King of the Ants and Love Object are a little better. And COM was a good film in that it shows you great ways to make a movie mesmerizing, but the script did have too much of a religious overtone for me personally. But it was still amazing to watch.
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curious. really iam.
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I didn't mean the directors mentioned were already there,but that they have the most potential to BECOME the future.Oh,and President Evil,I think you should save yourself a bullet if you don't like it.
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The whole movie is about getting on and off busses, fascist guards asking for papers, getting in line, dealing with livestock, all while pregnant...it should have been called, "One Night at the INS".
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No, it's not actually, but damn is it ever right up there, especially around these parts. Now don't get me wrong, it was still a solid enough flick, but even minus all the hype (and thankfully I saw it prior to the hype anyhow) and just taken strictly on it's own merits it always seemed to think it was a far better film than it actually was, at least in my experience. Still, opinions do vary, so...
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To be anything other than a vacuous, self absorbed, talentless, egotistical ass clown? Really? Yeah, okay, good luck with that. Because as far as I'm concerned the fucker's a bigger hack than Uwe Boll, and at least with Boll's work I can usually get a couple of laughs out of it. To me Roth is hands down the worst example of a "horror filmmaker" working today, sure, he can throw some gore onscreen, but he can't deliver it to audiences in any sort of a way that matters or has any impact whatsoever, his direction lacks any sort of tangible atmosphere or pacing, his scripts are abysmal, and his characters always seem atrociously acted under his 'careful' directorial eye. Plus on top of all that his films have 'idiotic' down to a fine art. Maybe he'll still come around, maybe that upcoming King zombie movie will prove to be a turnaround for him, especially if he's working on a script that he didn't badly cobble together himself, and is actually surrounded by talented people who can guide him in the right direction, who knows, and if he somehow manages to turn it all around and miraculously puts out something that doesn't suck like a chest wound in a vacuum then I'll credit him then, but right now, fucking hack of the highest and most repugnant order far as I'm corncerned. Still, that's just me, opinions do vary, and that's cool. Neil Marshall and Alejandro Aje on the other hand are definitely talents to watch in coming years.
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Lots of people missed out. Films like that are composed for the BIG SCREEN you dvd nut jobs.
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Can't believe you didn't include the releases of the After Dark films. I haven't seen all of them, probably won't, but some of the should warrant a mention.
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not very funny.
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When it's nothing like Blade Runner. Hate to be so obvious but where's the cyberpunk? Where's the huge megacities? Where's the flying cars?
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I love Children of Men, but it really isn't anything like Blade Runner. They're both dystopian, and that's about it. Two very brilliant, but very different films.
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It only gets worse. The rumor is that the lead will be a girl. Hmm. Seems a might bit *coughcoughGingerSnapscough* familiar. Only not as funny or scary. Not to mention a number of possible emo songs. I'm just shuddering at the very thought of that cover of "Werewolves of London".
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Eli Roth is a twat.
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...you did NOT just mention Neil Marshall and Eli Roth in the same breath, did you? Even if Roth were immortal and made 500 more movies, there's no way in hell he'd accumulate enough talent to make anything half as entertaining, funny, intense or exciting as The Descent. Or even Dog Soldiers, for that matter.
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I liked CHILDREN OF MEN. My wife hated it. My wife's sister hated it. My wife's sister's boyfriend hated it. But me...I liked it...I'd go so far as saying, a lot. That said, I don't think this is anywhere near the best film of the season or year. I don't even think it was the best film of the 3 amigos. PAN'S LABYRINTH was a much better film. On every level. BABEL wasn't quite as good, but it was close. In any event, CHILDREN OF MEN is definitely a commendable film. Just not sure it's in the classic status Harry makes it out to be. Thought the end was a bit heavy-handed for one. It also could have been trimmed slightly. It drags in places. If you haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. One thing though. Will somebody please explain to me why people are promoting this as a modern day BLADE RUNNER. Huh? I've seen BLADE RUNNER X amount of times. That means too numerous to count. And I've read the book it's based on at least twice. I don't see any correlation whatsoever between the two stories, much less the two films. Are you reaching for some kind of 'the androids' are 'the terrorists' angle? I don't get it. Is it the visuals? If that's the case, I'd compare it more to SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Or if you want more of a science fictiony feel, I'd compare it to SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE.
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when he posts stuff that clearly are narrow minded and very unfunny.Halloween - my wife didn't like it either, but I really enjoyed the hell out of it. I think it was too intense and violent in certain scenes for her. And the attachment to Blade Runner is simply a marketing ploy trying to throw out a cult classic to perk up sales.
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at least it wasn't an inner tube.
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You guys are right of course. Marketing ploy's and all that. It still gets me annoyed because I wouldn't mind seeing another movie looking like Blade Runner, with the awesome cyberpunk stuff. It was an awesome looking world that wasn't explored enough in BR. Everytime I watch the movie, I think about all the potential stories that could be told in a city like that. (Aren't there's like a billion cyberpunk novels out there?) However studios would never spend that money on something that wild again, because Blade Runner originally bombed. Plus the trendy execs probably think the look is "too 80s." Whatever that means. But somehow the movie is still awesome enough to use as a marketing tool? Huh? But if they think that the movie is strong enough to namedrop (and they've done it before, directors have too)then why can't we get some cyberpunk looking flicks? Why is BR cool for one thing, but not the other?
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Just placed an order for this bad boy, and can't wait to see all the sleaze to the max,extreme film clips!!!!!
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I agree. COM was definitely one that needs to be seen on the big screen to totally appreciate it. It explains this current backlash a little bit. That and the studio insisting on comparing it to Blade Runner. EVERY TIME a film is compared to a classic like that it's automatically going to brushed aside. Why do they fucking do it?
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I almost did a spit take on my Mac. That's pretty funny. Some people on this site have no sense of humor.
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Doc, provided the sentence is:
"Neill Marshall smashes Eli Roth in the head with a very big hammer."
See- it works. -
Futurehelp said "does the XX Grindhouse trailers have cumshots and shit". It has many, many, many cumshots. No shit though (which most are probably happy about!)
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Blade Runner. It just fucking rules.
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Give Neill Marshall the next Alien. Has to be done.
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CABIN FEVER & HOSTEL aren't as bad as people say,and that DOG SOLDIERS & THE DESCENT aren't as good as people like to say,things pretty much even out.I stand by my previous comment regardless of the empty,pretentious "critiques" of Roth's work.
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Cabin Fever is not as bad as Hostel, true- but both were hideously overhyped here and elsewhere, and both were rubbish so that is just not true. Dog Soldiers, is a great, rollicking little movie- it isn't meant to be frightening and was made for a fraction of Roth's budget. The Descent is brilliant- Are you American? because you may have seen the duff ending. I remember seeing an interview with Neil Marshall before Dog Soldiers was released where he said he wanted to revive the Hammer studios. I hope he succeeds, that would be fun. GIVE THE MAN ALIEN.
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If his movies weren't built up so much by various sources but especially their own misguided marketing(HOSTEL is NOT SAW) people would probably have a different opinion.I don't think Roth's really shown what he's fully capable of yet but there's enough to tell that the guy could really produce some excellent work.We'll just see how CELL turns out.I thought CABIN FEVER & HOSTEL were both "fun romps".I think people might be surprised.As far as Marshall is concerned,I never said anything bad regarding him,I only meant to say that he's not quite up to his "hype" yet either.Rather than ALIEN(S) I would rather see him do a full on R-rated survivalist AvP.Set in the future where that shit SHOULD take place,of course.
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Good Idea. My reasoning for giving him Alien is that he obviously can film dark confined spaces full of monsters, can clearly work tension and others. I don't blame Roth for the hype. The point I was trying to make is that Hostel and Cabin Fever were genuinly raved about at the time (There was some pretentious wanker in the Evening Standard that talked about Cabin Fever in relation to Camus)- so it was a minority that said they were bad films. I prefer Cabin Fever to Hostel, and thought he showed some potential with that. But then (difficult 2nd Album syndrome) along came Hostel. I hated it on so many levels, it was just bloody awful and there was not one single clever, innovative piece of filmaking in it. In places it was downright fucking slapdash. Example: although set in Slovakia they left the street signs in czech. Not the most important point in the film, but just indicative of sloppy filmmaking. I found absolutely nothing fun about it. Dog Soldiers on the other hand was great fun, witty dialogue, moments of comedy, a few cheap jumps (the blazingly obvious twist didn't help it) and I could really see potential in it. I also thought the Descent was one of the best films I saw in 2005.I will reserve judgement until CELL, as it could be good. I think we basically agree, barring minor quibbling- which is what the TB is for!
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at least he hasn't had the fucking temerity to remake Halloween. ROB ZOMBIE IS A CUNT
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Minor quibbles aside,we agree.Not just regarding Roth & Marshall,but especially regarding zombie.rOB zOMBIE IS THE CUNTIEST OF CUNTS!
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I hated COM. I hate the whole concept of the movie. I hate heavy handedness. Just horrid.
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...and that's Baby Mumble. The movie itself is a mess, but Baby Mumble is just so darn adorable that the Academy voters probably went, "Awwww," and immediately selected Happy Feet as the winner without regard to the quality (or lack thereof) of the rest of the film.
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...pro-environmental conservation (i.e. man = bad) message. Not that there were really any great animated features last year, anyway.
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