Cool News
Segue Zagnut also looks at Stallone's THE OUTPOST
Once again, Harry here, and I do want to stress that films testing at this stage of the game are not necessarily locked down films. If it seems like I go overboard with this sort of 'warning' and explanation of the process... well it's because I find it very important that if I am to continue covering Test Screenings, I must put them in some form of context for people not familiar with the process. All one has to do is plot the journey of tests it took Coppola to sculpt THE RAINMAKER into the damn fine film it wound up being. It did not start off that way in the process. SO... I always allow room for a change in wind on films. The fact is, SOMETIMES WHEN DONE RIGHT, reshoots, rewrites, massive editing orgys, etc... They make GIGANTIC differences along with sound, color correction, etc. Not every time... but sometimes it really is helpful. So... Cut the film some slack. Right now... nearly 6 months before release the film has some problems.... Well... in a way... that's why they tested it. Now... Onto our wonderfully fresh face lean and mean Segue Zagnut. Who could literally win a Jean Claude Van-Damme look-a-like contest someday... if they held one. Well... here he is...
Head Geek
This is Segue Zagnut. I'm trying to keep an eye on movies but I don't know if I can do it. Last night I saw 'The Outpost',
Sylvester Stallone's new film with Robert Patrick, Tom Berenger, and Polly Walker. I've got good news and bad news, but
first let me address a couple of talkbacks from Harry Lime's review yesterday.
There is absolutely no Star Wars themed bank robbery that opens the film. In fact there isn't even a bank robbery and I can't
image how it would have fit in if they had. There is also no snow mobile chase at the end. Too bad because the ending is so
predictable and bad, it would have been nice if it had been fun to watch. As for the name change, I agree... ' The Outpost'
sucks. This was not a science fiction film. It would be like calling 'Cliffhanger'... 'Zero Gravity'. 'Detox', which I understand
was 'The Outpost' original name, is amazingly more appropriate and, not to mention, better.
I don't know how many writers will take credit for this film, because this movie is so obviously plagerizin.... I mean 'a homage
to'... The Thing, the Alien movies, The Shining, Se7en, Dirty Harry, and Die Hard. Sadly everyone of those films is better then
this one and that includes Alien Cubed.
Here's the breakdown: The film starts with Sly, as an FBI agent, tracking a cop killer. After two very graphic murders that hit
Sly close to home, he goes into a drunken depression. The only good moments this movie has to offer come here. In fact,
these are the scenes that play like a mix of Se7en meets Dirty Harry. Even though close to nothing in these scenes is original,
Sly is so committed to the character that it works. If the movie had stayed in this style and look it might have held my interest.
(SPOILER) In one scene that I'm sure will be much reported about, Sly tries to kill himself. The scene is great. Dark, real,
and heartbreaking. Sly puts in a star performance and shines through the tired premises.
Then the movie gets to the detox center set in the middle of some far away Wyoming snow covered mountain and there is not a
single moment of good film left. Every last second is predictable and even worse... slow. The movie pass made it sound like
Die Hard in a secluded detox center... ah.. they wish. It is more like any one of the Friday the 13th movies as we find 'new'
and exciting ways to kill off characters. Let me give some examples: People die from an ax to the head, an electric chair, a
forced drug overdose, a bullet through the eye, some kind of snow shredder and probably ten hangings that the killer never
would have had time to pull off.
Where as the beginning of the film is an almost interesting character piece, the rest is a poorly written ensemble. Sly virtually
vanishes from the lead role as we sit around and watch a mismatch assortment of reject cops complain about why they are so
fucked up. Not one of these characters feel real. Poor Robert Patrick plays a real tough cop bully who of course is all talk,
when confronted by the possibility of his own death. His last scene in the film is laughably bad.
The writer pretends to flesh out the other characters in the center, but exposition doesn't cut it. After we are forced to hear one
cops tragic story, we are forced to hear another, then another, then anoooo... sorry I just fell asleep. There is a sub plot
involving an old cop buddy that hangs around outside the detox center, that I guess was supposed to be comic relief. Instead,
it just wastes time. To tell you the truth, I could go on and on about all the problems this film has and my review would feel as
long as the movie.
So that's it for the bad news. Here's the good news: I think they can fix it. No, it will never be a great film, but I think they
could make it work as a absolutely no brainer action film that movie geeks like our own ABKing can enjoy. This would involve
cutting the entire opening from the film. Cut the buddy cop subplot. Trim the long expositions scenes in between killings. Add
back in much of the beginning of the film as flash backs for Sly character. Shoot a big snow mobile chase scene for the climax.
And if you want to go all the way, have Sly blow up the Outpost. Put that stuff together with Sly's pretty solid performance and
the gruesome graphic violence and the film is no worse then Cobra. ABKing and the like can sleep at night if you do that,
otherwise as it stands right now even he will hate it.
Please Sly, learn from Bruce. Read the script before you accept the gig. I've said too much.
Consider This.. Segue Zagnut
-
+ Expand All
-
Sorry.... I just love that song!
On the subject of Stallone I agree that given the right material he could really shine as an actor. The majority of his films are quite watchable and if this film is edited/reshot it could be another great piece of Stallone entertainment. As for Judge Dredd I couldn't believe that Danny Cannon screwed this character up as much as he did. Sly was excellent as Judge Dredd but the film sucked because it didn't remain true to it's comic origins. Anyone familiar with the great epic stories produced by 2000ad would agree this could have been a great franchise -
Robert Patrick in another terrible role as a villain. When will people realize T2 was a fluke?
-
I got to read the script when it was Detox and they were thinking of shooting it in Vancouver (they pulled out because of the potential tax that our stupid politicians wanted to levy on out of country talent) and it was pretty bad. I thought it had potential in the right hands to be interesting, or at least entertaining, much like most action flicks, but so far, it doesn't sound great. Maybe with an edit here and a better ending there it might be okay but...
-
I have nothing more to say about THE OUTPOST except that it CAN come together nicly IF they edit it right. I hope Universal is taking note. About Stallone and directors. I agree that he should start working with A list directors along the lines of Renny Harlin. He and Sly are now a team after they make FORMULA ONE together. I would love to see Sly work with John Woo, James Cameron and all the other top names.
-
It was Sly who pushed for the changes in Judge Dredd's character, not the director Danny Cannon. Stallone was even talking about he had to change it because Dredd was 'the biggest son of a bitch who ever lived' or something like that. Isn't that the point of Dredd? And it's well-known that Cannon did not take kindly AT ALL to Sly imposing his will on the production.
-
"I know"....wasn't the greatest movie ever, but come on the directing coulda' been alot worse...If you need proof look at "I still know"....
-
The Dude just doesn't do well at picking good movies to make, he should fire whatever agents he has. I mean who ever thinks to themselves, hey lets make a touching story about a boy, his father, and oh yeah, arm wrestiling? Of course there was also the incredible choice to make cinema history with Estelle Gedty, besides being stupendously ridiculous, it wasn't funny, and then of course all the other countless dumb movies stallone has made. But hey, everyone can always reinvent their carreer, and I think he really tried with copland, which was a decent flick, i mean look at travolta, after the second look who's fucking kirstie alley, noone would have thought he could ever do serious movies again, and yet he surprised many. Of course now he may find himself making poor choices as well. Take your own advice John, (sly you listen to) 'with a clenched jaw' "You better start thinking about your carreer...Well you better start thinking about yours!"
-
So far, the two people that have reviewed THE OUTPOST say that Sly gives a good performance. That is very good news. Following up on COP LAND, Sly will turn in another solid acting job. Now, all Universal and the powers that be have to do is do reshoots and major editing to this film and it could still turn out really well. Just cut down on some of the talking scenes with the other cops in detox and pump up more on the action, mystery and suspence. I still say give THE OUTPOST a chance. 6 months from now, we could all be looking at a totally different movie.
-
Trying to keep a positive outlook on this movie is becoming very hard although I have until March to get psyched for it again. Two REALLY huge disappointments are that there is no bank robbers with Star Wars masks (damn Corona spy) and no snowmobile chase. As the Segue says, put one in. How are you gonna do this movie without a snowmobile chase? It would be a great action packed way to close things off. I guess my expectations were too high. I was expecting Sly to really make a comeback to the genre with a good story and promising director (IKWYDLS wasn't great but you can see the guy has talent). It's not looking too good anymore though. I can't wait for the trailer.
-
Change the title of Outpost to "It Should Have Gone Straight To Video", at least it's accurate and honest.The burning question is,will it be shitty or just unwatchable? Granted, some Stallone movies are pretty funny to laugh at,not with such as Cobra,and Over The Top...I'll bet ABking cheered every time Stallone turned his ballcap around
because when he did,he bacame ONE with his tractor-trailer.Or the numerous drinking games you can come up with on Cobra, such as drinking every time you see a product endorsement.If there are any other good Stallone drinking games please post. -
Accourding to Deadpool, someone who saw the first screening of THE OUTPOST, Sly's latest action thriller has a great look to it. He also says the acting is good (that's good to hear) and that most times, you never know what's going to happen next. I know THE OUTPOST might not be a perfect film now, but I believe by the time it's released, it will be. Can't wait for Stallone's return in 2000.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- G.I. JOE: RETALIATION Delayed Nine Months...Thanks To A Force More Sinister Than Cobra!! -- 214 total posts 213 posts
- THE DARK KNIGHT RISES TV Spot Has New Footage And Dialogue! UPDATED To Add Second Spot! -- 160 total posts 160 posts
- Who Is The Voice Of Batman In WB's Animated Two Part THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS? -- 154 total posts 154 posts
- Cats Beware!! An ALF Movie May Soon Come Our Way... -- 148 total posts 147 posts
- UPDATED!!! A Six-Pack Of New Character Posters For THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Forecast A Lot Of Gotham Rain And Snow!! -- 269 total posts 80 posts
- Gary Oldman Joins The ROBOCOP Remake! -- 76 total posts 76 posts
- AICN COMICS REVIEWS: INCREDIBLE HULK! DANGER CLUB! CLiNT 2.1! JAMES BOND! BATMAN INC.! AND MORE!!! -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- Baz's THE GREAT GATSBY explodes with one helluva dazzling trailer! -- 187 total posts 63 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day… the horror… the horror… -- 49 total posts 49 posts
- Zach Galifianakis Is Ignatius J. Reilly? -- 84 total posts 49 posts