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A real interesting development concerning the BLAIR WITCH sequel/prequel thingee
Well color me interested. Harry here, and if you recall my last update on THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT 2 thingee, I was quite blase' about the whole deal... But that was before this bit of news. If you have seen the two documentaries, BROTHER'S KEEPER and PARADISE LOST... Then you are a BIG fan of Joe Berlinger. If you haven't... then you'll be scratching your noggin and a trying to get a handle on what the buck the fig deal is that I'm a making. As emotionally wrenching as BROTHER'S KEEPER is.... It begins a pale a bit at the horror or the reality and sadness of PARADISE LOST. Bringing one of the most amazing documentarians in to direct a narrative film that is meant to retain an air of authenticity... might just very well be the brilliant ember with which to ignite a trully brilliant narrative horror film. Or... it could just be a load of bunk... Time will tell. Here's the scooper...
Happy New Year, Harry!
Just got the casting breakdown this morning for the Blair Witch Project
sequel, and I was pleasently surprised to see Joe Berlinger listed as the
director. If this is the same guy who teamed wonderfully with Bruce
Sinofsky to bring us the riviting documentaries "Brother's Keeper" and
"Paradise Lost", then I feel like the new direction of this sequal could be
worth waiting for. I don't know if you've seen "Paradise Lost" (it was one
of Roger Ebert's top 10 of 1996), but it's an engrossing documentary about
the murder trial of 3 teenagers that also deals in a small way perceptions
of witchcraft, and actually recieved a lot of interest from the Wiccan
community. I thought the original Blair Witch was an interesting film, but
did not really care to see it continue. Now I have to admit I'm curious to
see what an experienced filmmaker like Berlinger can bring to this
"realistic mythology."
-El Guapo
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Now I was hoping that no sequel or Prequel would be made, but this guy is such a good director, this just might work. I loved the Blair Witch project as did many of you until it got too popular to be liked. I thought it was fascinating and contained three of the best performances of the year. But the simplicity made many people jealous that they didn't think of it first, and the bashing commenced. People dislike movies, granted, but the HATE for this film is unfounded. Some posters have said it was the worst film of the year...COME ON. But back to the subject at hand, I would like to see a continuation on this mythology, something more eerie and disturbing than the SCI-FI channel "in search of" rip "Curse of the Blair Witch". Something on par with Errol Morris' "Thin Blue Line".
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This documentary is a fucking landmark. As much as I disliked most of "The Blair Witch Project" (I was one of the victims of the hype), if this goes through, I will definitely see it.
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I never saw "Paradise Lost" but I'd heard of it; I'll have to rent it on DVD some time. As for the idea of a Blair Witch sequel: I loved the origional but I still think they should forget about a follow-up and move on to something else. I really REALLY have a hard time seeing how this can avoid turning into "Blair Witch II: Electric Boogaloo."
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It had nothing to do with hype. The movie plainly sucked. Watching it alone, at 2 in the morning, really trying to get myself scared....and what do I get? I get more scared of the fact i'm alone with the lights off then the movie itself. What Blair Witch had, was a good premise. The idea of the movie was pretty cool, however I'm guessing the lack of budget was just to much of a drawback to make this movie scary. Keep the handheld, but increase the visuals so that you don't exactly see what it is, but you see more than a tree branch when they say something is over there. I really tried to get myself scared, so don't say it was lack of imagination. Anyways, that is all, I hated the movie. Sure the acting was alright, it had a great idea. However a horror movie failing to be scary on any lvl gets a failing grade. (btw as if he would've thrown the map away...I mean COME ON) If you were scared, I suggest you get your manhood checked out. My 14 yr old niece, who is about as gentle as they come, was about as scared as I was.
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Without meaning in any way to be insulting to the earlier poster, I would make the point that one person's imagination can be more powerful than the next. That is why we have artists as well as artisans, musicians and mendicants, poets and policeman.
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"...for all I know, you DONT have an imagination and cant think of anything other than Freddy Krueger or something like that."
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Jan 03, 2000 11:38:21 AM CST
Do these jerks at Artesian think that lightning is going to stri
by uncapie
"Blair Witch" was a fluke. Its sad to see human beings fall into the catagory of low-grade morons when they believe over inflated hype on this and the Y2K scare! "Yahhhh, its the "Blair Witch", ma! Yahhhh,
its the end of the world, ma!" People, in general, are not stupid. In fact, they are very smart, but they can be led very easily into the chutes and whacked on the head, becoming food for the studios! "Buy this, but that! Must have, must have!" I'm sure the marketing geniuses have already got this new flick planned out. But, remember the famous words, "DON'T GO IN THAT THEATER! THAT BOOK! IT'S A COOKBOOK FOR FOOD!" -
Actually I don't think I've watched any of the freddy/jason movies since I was like like 13... and my imagination is quite strong. My complaint isn't just with Blair Witch, it's the whole horror film genre. The fact that Blair Witch might go down as the 90's scariest film is saddening. Like I said, I liked the Blair Witch idea. The handheld could've worked great, but with very few scenes at night, which weren't long enough to drive suspence, and lack of anything visual so all you hear is a bunch of screaming people yelling run, wasn't scary at all. I get the feeling I could've made something scarier if me and my friend camped out in the woods for a night... Anyways, you may critisize jason and freddy movies, for their gore and lack of plot line, which I guess is understandable. However, at least they were actually trying to SCARE people. I don't know if Hollywood execs are afraid of a multi million dollar lawsuit for giving someone a heart attack or what. But it is evidently clear to me, that every Hollywood director who tries to make a horror film is trying to please everyone, and make a generally feel good movie that nobody will be too afraid to go see. I WANT my date to be scared to see the movie, and I'll have to convince her to see it, and during the film she'll be frightened and holding on to me for protection. Not any of this let's go see Sleepy Hollow, that seems neat.(haven't seen it, but I know it won't be scary) Maybe Blair Witch will change this, and signal to Hollywood, people do still want to be scared(evidently some people found it scary) But to me, for people to be that scared by Blair Witch is just futhur evidence as to how horror films have gone down the pisser, therefore peoples standards have be reduced.
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Well, I loved The Blair Witch Project, but I think the reason a lot of people didn't is because the film was hyped as "the scariest ever made." It wasn't. It was perhaps the creepiest film ever made, and one that scared me AFTER I left the theatre and began to think about why Mike was standing in the corner and what was happening to Heather and Josh after the camera stopped rolling. I think the film works best when seen in tandem with "Curse of the Blair Witch," the Sci-Fi Channel special which is also included on the DVD. Rather than being simply a promotional piece for TBWP, it expands on the mythology and makes it a greater viewing experience. Anyway, my point is, that to actually be scared by the movie, you have to be willing to meet it on its own terms. It will scare you, but you have to do some thinking on your own.
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I agree with the fact that this film was very much an original, but I also was *very* disappointed by it. This isn't because I have a lack of imagination, or no taste for good cinema. Someone said above that this film was a fluke, and I'd have to agree with that also. The reason this film succeeded was because the majority of people were drawn in by the very extensive hype. (you couldn't even watch a television show without seeing the characters reenact that now famous scene...)I think the reason people were so scared in the first place was because they were SO expecting a frightening movie, and made that experience themselves, regardless of the film. I, personally, was dozing off in my seat, only to be jerked awake by the shrillness of Heather's voice =]. The entire "what was that noise...?" and "what was THAT noise...?" just did not cut it for me, and the entire time I was left wanting more from the film. What's interesting is what the film makers could possibly do with a sequel...will they branch off, and have something only remotely linked to the first, or will they simply have more kids go out and get killed in similar fashions?
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While BWP wasn't the scariest film I've ever seen (Try the B&W "Black Sunday"), I thought it was still darn clever and had a lot to say about the difficulties of living in a consumer culture devoid of belief systems. (Fight Club anyone?) But, hey, that's me. The sequel could be great if it follows up with these cool themes on cultural alienation and tropes on "seeing is believing" and TV vs. nature/culture and whatnot. But, the sequel cannot be a replay of the first story and must also deepen the "myth." Even with a great director, I am at a loss as to how they'll pull it off.
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Paradise lost was one of the best docs that I've ever seen. I personally think that its a dumb move to make a sequel. I guess they don't realize that there is a serious backlash against Blair Witch. I worked in a major vid chain over the holiday and I can't count the number of times I recommended the film and got the response "That Movie sucked, I thought it was going to be scary and it wasn't" I usually look at them like they're dumb ass rednecks but hey, everybodys got an opinion. The people that actually appreciated the psychological mauling that the film provided will go in droves to see the film. But unless this film is really well done and word of mouth spreads, lightning won't strike twice. Some movies just don't need sequels, guys.
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agentcooper was right the Curse of the Blair witch (on DVD edition) also comes on the collector VHS set, I had never seen it and watched it yesterday before I watched TBWP. It adds something when you see it then watch the 'actual footage' I found it much more intriguing the second time and on the small screen (motion sickness wasn't felt this time....) But the popularity of this movie stemmed from the marketing of it. Some People thought they were watching actual footage...my roomate (admittedly not the sharpest knife in the drawer) seen the Curse of ther Blair Witch on TV and swore it was all real. It harkened back to the old hyped horror movies of the 50's (by the guy whose name escapes me) but he did such things as equip theaters with seat shockers and offered life insurance before the movie, etc.
Its not a slasher horror movie its a paranoia movie, that also mimmicked our Y2K paranoia this year.
The movie has added tie-ins which extrapolate the film, books, the Curse documentary, added things on the web site, pictures interviews with the parents, etc. it keeps growing and I hope there is a complete cycle that the bodies are found and the Blair witch is confronted in a $190 million dollar epic finale directed by James Cameron...OK, not the last part....
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God I hate that movie. Thank the lord I snuck into it and paid for another movie. The only sequel I want to see involves the cast from the first movie, and the two "directors" being slowly tortured for two hours by a serial killer.
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Jan 03, 2000 2:34:14 PM CST
It's very funny how most of you that hated the movie....
by geekbasher 3.0
Are here on the Talk backs bitching about it like you have nothing better to do. If you hated it sooooo" FUCKING " Much, why even bother clicking on news about the sequel? There are plenty of scoops Harry has thrown on the site that I don't even bother reading because I am A. Not Interested or B. Not Interested. Plain and Simple, but yet you Blair Witch Bashers will be the first in line to watch the sequel. I have seen the Paradise Lost at three in the morning, it kept me up to dawn, I was blown away by it and if it is true. I have faith in the director. Trust me, He knows his shit.
Give the sequel a break, You have to admit, the people involved, know that this was a groundbreaking movie and that in a way it did re-define alot of things, Hey it may have bored some of your asses, but for the most part, IT FREAKED ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT, including me. CAN"T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL, I don't care what anyone out there says!
P.s I personally think that sucks that Jodie pulled out of Hannibal. She needs to snap out of her moment and needs a hit bad!Come back to the five and dime, Jodie Foster, Jodie Foster!!! -
Just finally got around to seeing Blair Witch the other night--even though the concept was interesting, I couldn't stomach the idea of buying tickets to see it in the theater when it was shot so cheaply!
And the concept WAS interesting, but I felt that in the end it came nowhere near justifying the hype.
I am enjoying the "stuff" on the web site, though. Maybe they should have released it as a package--the videotape, and a dirty old journal that looked like someone dug it up, and some other "clues"--and let you try to figure out what happened. Of course, that would require the creators figuring that out ahead of time, and I'm not sure if that's been done. I hardly think you could make a profit with that, either...
I am ambivalent about the idea of a second film. It would have to be done without the device of the documentary, or it would become horribly redundant, but the documentary device is what made it interesting in the first place. I do have a great idea for a spoof, though: simply re-do the original, but with a couple extra cameras, being operated by actual camera crew rather than the characters. Can you imagine how silly some of those scenes would be if you could watch the characters holding these heated conversations or sprinting through the woods with those big cameras in front of their faces? You wouldn't even have to actually show the inevitable full-speed collision with a tree to make it funny! -
. . . I feel I must comment (oh, MUST you?) I thought a lot of elements in the BWP worked very well, such as using the "found video" to make the viewers identify with the characters (a 'first person' horror). Also having elements vague or unexplained (but sinister) in the storyline helped to 'ground' the movie, make it more believable (which clearly was successful-I've run into several of the 'not so sharp knives' who thought it was real.) And the pre-marketing was sheer genius! They created their own damn mythology on the friggin' web to make people think there was a 'history'! Unfortunately I think BWP fell down in parts because, while innuendo and 'bumps in the night' are great for creating a mood, you have to have SOME follow-up on the created tension. This is not to say they had to have the witch jumping out going 'booga-booga', but perhaps a blurry shape seen, or even the characters talking over what they had seen with one another. The only follow up was RIGHT AT THE END and all at once-then it was over. I also believe the elements cut (Curse of the Blair Witch-or at least a portion thereof) probably should have been left in to help with the mythology aspect-but that's just hair-splitting.~~~~~~~ Now before you attack me, I did like the movie quite a bit, and these are a little nitpicky of me, but important nonetheless I believe. I also think the film should be recogized for the landmark film it is simply for the sheer CHUTZPAH of the filmmakers for trying something so radically different in a formulaic Hollywoodland. Give em credit for trying something different or don't be complaining when every movie coming down the pike is a remake of an old TV show. Even if you thought the movie was a complete dud (which I didn't) you should at least give them an 'A for effort' and for driving the hollywood execs into a foaming frenzy.
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"Oh my God! I went to take a fucking shit behind the fucking bush and now I'm fucking back and something took a big bite out of my fucking peanut butter and fucking jelly sandwich and it left black fucking hairs all over it! Holy Jesus H. Fucking Christ! This is the scariest shit that's ever fucking happen to me! I'm so fucking scared. Mommy I'm so fucking sorry I came out in the fucking woods when you told me not to!"
"ARGHHHHHHRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
ROLL CREDITS
Blair Witch Project 3 coming soon! -
"This is not to say they had to have the witch jumping out going 'booga-booga', but perhaps a blurry shape seen, or even the characters talking over what they had seen with one another."
Actually, they *tried* to show the witch" as a vague figure in the dark during one of the evening run like hell" scenes. Do you recall Heather screaming "WHAT IS *THAT*? WHAT THE **** IS THAT?!!" while running? They had a witch figure in the distance, but it didn't show up well on film. I've heard they tried the shot twice and went without it.
There's also some (although I'll agree too little) discussion between the students about what's going on. There's also a longer discussion scene in the tent as additional footage on the DVD. -
Ok, everyone has a different opinion. You can hate the BWP because you thougt it was stupid. But if you fault a film for being too cheaply made, then you have truly lost your way. This is the most absurd criticism I have ever heard: "I can't believe I paid $7 for that cheap piece o' crap!"
Come on, everyone in America knew what the budget was since it first premiered at Sundance (at least all of America interested in film, anyway). Since when does budget have anything to with how good a film is. By this sort of logic, you should love films like Waterworld or Wild Wild West, with their insane budgets.
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That's right, I said BOTCH !
I knew about this film from last January on. I visited the websites at Haxan and Blairwitch regularly, I became engrossed with the whole mythology. When the book came out, I bought it, I watched "The Curse of the Blair Witch" and was blown away by just how authentic it all seemed.
Then, I saw the film. Big mistake ! It could've worked.......it should've worked........damn, I WANTED it to work, but as the clock ticked past the eighty minute mark, all I felt was disappointment, partly for a missed opportunity, partly bacause the hype and the build up was so, so much better than the finished product. I was expecting far more than was delivered.
Maybe that was because I (maybe foolishly) disregarded Harry's advice of last spring, where he told us all to keep away from all the buildup and the spoilers, and just to go and see the movie cold, not knowing what to expect.
Well, that's what my wife did !
While I was finding out all about it, she went with Harry's suggestion and refused to read/watch/hear anything to do with it.......she was also let down by the film !
Now we have talk of a prequel/sequel.......why bother with the prequel, we all know the mythology by now, and worse...we all know it's fake. Sequel ? It'd just invalidate the original if they tried to tie everything up. leave the ending as loose as it is, let us make our own minds up whether that guy was standing facing the wall because he'd been ordered to by the killer of the who didn't want to feel his stare, or whether he was just having a whiz, as one of my friends suggested. -
HBO documentaries has supposedly been working on an update to Paradise Lost. Rumoured that Metallica will be doing a couple of original songs for the doc and selling them as an EP to raise money for the defense of the kids in jail. BTW, those kids are innocent.
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As a fellow Austinite, I can't agree more about the sequel to BUSH. I'd much rather see BRADLEY: Dousing the Burning Bush or at least something Gore-y.
Wrong forum for these sentiments, I know - but you started it. I felt that a kindred soul who has to read the American Statesman kissing GWB's kiester everyday would appreciate it... -
Good. After seeing PARADISE LOST, I thought we were going to hear the same cries of injustice that followed the release of Morris' THE THIN BLUE LINE, but, sadly, no one seemed to care. Like Yossarian, I wholeheartedly believe that those kids are innocent, and would welcome any further exploration into the evidence.
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The talentless jerkoffs behind "The Blair Witch Project" should be thanking their lucky stars that "The Last Broadcast" was blocked from entering into competition at Sundance. Otherwise, filmgoers would have been treated to an infinitely more frightening and intelligently conceived experience. Way to stand up for the real talents, Knowles, you fathead. But then, this sight has become nothing more than a corporate fistfuck anyway.
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For any other Texan (and especially Austinite) out there, don't you think the countdown should've begun already on people at a national level figuring out that George W. Bush is a class-A nimrod? Has no one told the press that in Texas because of the Federally appointed governors after the Civil War, all the power in Texas belongs to the Lt. Governor, who, until recently, was a democrat elected separately from the do-nothing Bush? I mean, for the love of God, the one piece of legislation he tried to push, his tax bill, was laughed out of the legislature. GEORGE W. BUSH is a JOKE!!! I apologize, of course, to anyone annoyed that I used this as a political forum, but as a Texan and a (regretfully former) Austinite, I felt the urge to purge.
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While I give the makers of TLB credit for actually making a film on $900, I didn't find it an especially good or scary one. The "twist" that concludes the movie is flat-out inane, the acting is perfunctory at best, and its all-important trek into the woods looks tepid and half-hearted. LB is worth a look but BWP is an altogether better movie.
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Hopefully, the sequel will be nothing like the original. I hope the sequel is a mega million dollar special effects extravaganza....that REALLY scares the sh*t out of me. Because the original didn't.
I don't know exactly what everyone else saw this summer in regards to Blair Witch. Because it WASN'T scary one iota.
I must have gone to the wrong movie that day and saw an up to date live action rendition of "Little Red Riding Hood and her 2 stupid Buddies get lost in the Woods and then get killed by some unholy...unseen, unscary force!"
Yep, that's what I believe I saw.
Couldn't have been BWP.
And for all of you BWP believers...yes I tried to imagine the terror and unbelievable consequences our so called heroes were going through...I even watched it by myself over the Christmas holiday...by myself, in the dark at about 12am and it was funnier the second time around than it was the first time.
Believe me...I am an avid fan of the horror movie genre and this what doesn't come close. Watch the Exorcist...absolute terror!
Hope the next director does a better job. -
I`ll have you know, I could not BELIEVE how many idiots at school thought that "Blair Witch" was 100% real. I told them over and over that it was fake, no one believed me. I like BWP simply because it succesfully fooled tons of people!
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... is that because it did not come out this last decade, I will have to wait TEN YEARS for Moriarty to inform me if I should have liked it or not (Moriarty's "The 90's For Dummies" can be smelled currently right here on AICN).-- Everybody be cool... YOU be cool.
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It will be about seven strangers, picked to live in a creepy house in the middle of the woods. Things start to go wrong when mysterious piles of slim-jims and empty beer cans start to appear in front of peoples doors, who then mysteriously disappear. Is it an evil spirit, or has someone gone crazy?.. This is what happens when people stop being polite... and start being real.. The blair witch 2!
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I think the subjectline above says it all. Buy the DVD and you'l
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Although i too like the Paradise Lost Documentary, those kids are not innocent. (I know the lawyers for both sides) but, then neither is Byers either.
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too stupid to realise it was scary, rofl, I love it!
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It was an awesome documentary and almost visionary considering this post-Columbine atmosphere. Even now, I'm not completely sure, but it does seem like the cops shafted those kids because their tastes for fashion, music and their impoverished "white trailer park" like backgrounds made them far too tempting a group of potential sacrificial lambs. Oh, and about G.W. Bush. He's definitely NOT a joke. He could be the next president afterall, but YES our state constitution is appallingly F*CKED UP making our Governor about as emasculated as a neutered dog. Every time I hear him drill the press on how he's the "governor of the... so and so largest economy... and so on" I keep thinking the guy ran for the office solely to raise his prestige since that's about all it's good for. Actually, he's got much in common with TBWP since he's also much hyped, and some are starting to see he's not the golden boy he was cracked up to be. Both run mostly on concept too. One has the slogan "compassionate republican" and the other was pitched as the scariest movie in years. I liked them both, but just my opinion, Bush is no presidential material and Blair Witch is not the freightfest it was hyped up to be. They should both stick to what they're good at; Bush at being a ceremonial figure and Blair Witch at being a good creepy movie.
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Ok, the back and forth of BWP will never reach consensous, and that's a good thing for movies. It at least stimulated tens of thousands to share their experience with this film, I mean I haven't heard dick about Janeane Garofolo's bowling ball...but i digress. What is clear is it doesn't appear that many in talk back have seen My Brothers Keeper. I have no idea its availability but everyone I do emplore check this brilliant, galvanizing, twisted documentary of three reclusive brothers frozen in a time akin to early settlers, who literally were never educated, lived in squalor farming whatever they could, hygiene a concept not in their grasp (check out the nose hair) and thrust into a media maelstrom when two of the siblings are accused of murdering the third brother when autopsy reveals that their was semen found in the rectum of the deceased.......and the nearby townsfolk rallying to their defense culminating in an astounding you-are-there courtroom scene that is both riveting and wrenching-if not all together cathartic. The two responsible for the documentary are extraordiary craftsman and if they latch on to Blair, this alliance is genius itself and is deserving of at least an okay we'll wait to see. I thought BWP a gas since I had a tape months before its release and enjoyed enormously screening for friends which allowed me to relive the initial experience of knowing nothing at all about the film's fabrication. A sequel...I too yawned ambivilance. But this, this is akin to David Fincher signing up to do Spiderman with Ed Norton. This is worth greenlighting.
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Hey - a sequel. Perhaps this time they'll actually come up with a script ahead of time, instead of making it up as they go. When I pay seven bucks to see a movie, I'd like my dialogue to be a little more in-depth than: "I don't fuckin' believe we're lost! We're fucking up shit creek, man. And you fucking brought us to this fuckin' shithole, you son of a bitch. Oh yeah - FUCK you! No, man - FUCK YOU! No, FUCK YOU. No, no - FUCK YOU, asshole." Also, if they plan ahead of time, perhaps we'll get well defined characters too - instead of whining little girl with a camera, tall skinny guy with ski cap, and fat guy. (I couldn't remember a name out of the movie, or pick a character from a line up if my life depended on me).
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Want an example of a good script when the effects look like crap (or you cant afford them)? Go watch Jaws. Quint's story about the sinking of the Indianapolis was a thousand times more defining two hours of "No, man - FUCK YOU!". And the rest of the movie scared the CRAP out of a whole generation. Any movie that scars the psyche of a nation like that - you KNOW it's quality. -
How come people have been raving about the ending of the Blair Witch when it was a wee bit turd....when they got to the house i was waiting for this scary ending and then all of a sudden it finished and i was looking at a blank tv thinking is this film gonna come back on or has it actually finished....to say the least i was dissapointed but then again my girlfiend had her hands over her eyes towards the end so at least she enjoyed it.......
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ok, before this move came out, my friend who had been keeping up with the buzz on the internet was saying that the blair witch project was gonna be THEE movie of the summer and all this crap. I'm not one to be moved by hype, I don't pay attention to it really. So I went to the movie unbiased, and open minded. I loved it, I think it was a great experience. The live acting is a cool idea, and I think it's great that the media even allowed something different through the it's filter. Now it squeezing every last cent out of it, at which point I am no longer concerned. The movie and the hype are separate things for me. I don't care if there is a sequel, I will probably see it, but whether or not it is good doesn't change my impression of the original.
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I've received countless e-mails about this thing, was quoted by the L.A. Times (something about mindless mall zombies) and come to this conclusion - Blair Witch still rocks. Is it the best of the year? Well, no, it didn't make my top ten list, but that doesn't mean anything since 1999 turned out to be such a phenomenal year for movies. Here's a couple of things. People don't understand how they could have gotten lost if they just went in one direction. Here's some deep metaphysics for you - maybe they were. Maybe the Forest (works better in caps) looped around in some weird way so that they were trapped in its confines. Maybe they were no longer in this world, but some strange dimension of Hell. Who knows? The point is that you take what they show you, and use your imagination, or try. But some people just won't buy it. Too bad for them. I like that when I go into a movie (even some of the bad ones) I can completely immerse myself into it. I am Tyler Durden, or Tom Ripley, or John Malkovich, or those three unfortunate campers in the woods. I have no qualms about beating senseless some idiot fuck who can't keep their mouth shut in the theater, and kicking their girlfriend in the face to boot, because in the movie theater, that IS reality, and if you fuck with that, man, you're in for it. For me, that's the only way to see a movie. THE ONLY FUCKING WAY. It's when I'm outside of it that I can pick it apart to see what worked, and what didn't. There are too many movies today (Godzilla or Armageddon, anyone?) that don't want you to make that connection, or try too hard at it, or are so separated from reality (bad dialogue will do it every time) that you can't fall into it. Blair Witch put me into the rabbit hole. I feel very sorry for those that it didn't, because you missed a good time. It isn't the fault of the movie. It's yours.
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Look, we've all probably had some similar experiences with this flick. I was there with you before BWP came out, digging the cool concept and nifty website and really all-out hyped beyond belief... I was there in line on opening day at the Angelika in NYC and then quite pissed because it sold out for the weekend before I made it to the box office (damn Moviephone). So then, like y'all, I hated the movie, hated the hype for this two-bit piece of video crap (This was not a movie!) And the legions of viewers I talked to about it, upheld my opiniation of said unseen video put-on of cinema - the hardcore spookfans and geeks were all sorely dissappointed by the lack of gore and any conculsive evidence of a story line - the cerebral cahiers du cinema type folks were mostly just bored. So finally, months later, I saw it on the closing nite, in a deserted theater at midnight - and well, sorry, but I loved it, and last time I checked my head I wasn't a moron. I loved it, not because it was great movie, but something different - more a satire on indie film making and American TV Generation culture than scary, but disturbing after the fact all the same... Anyway, if you send me a quarter, I'll write you an essay on what I thought the BWP meant. As far as a sequel, it could be good. Maybe Myreck and Sanchez are not great directors, just lucky fools, but Joe Berlinger is a great documentarian, and this is what the continuation of the story and myth need - someone to further explore the thin lines between reality and representation - culture and nature - camping and being slaughtered. Is there a witch or just craziness? I don't really want to know, but I'm always craving more mystery.
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The sequel will go down much the same way any one of the "Alien" movies went down. They can clone Heather, she can tell the local marines about "acid for blood," they can deride her claims, go into the Maryland woods, read "movement all around us, man!", get their asses kicked, lose the "Sarge man! Sarge is dead!", get reduced to a skeleton crew and finally nuke the woods from space. Heather can face off with the head Witch aboard her Dodge Daytona before jettisoning it down I-95. They got my $8.50...
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Don't see it if you don't like it.
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Jan 04, 2000 3:53:43 PM CST
Desslok, why did you do that? DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE GODDAMMI
by keeper
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The article was about the possibility of this DIRECTOR. It doesn't matter one bit if you liked the original or not, this will be a completely different project, and I for one am really intrigued. Can anyone else think of a former documentary director who went on to become an incredible narrative director? William Friedkin. Director of The French Connection, and The Exorcist! If the script is good, a documentarian is the perfect choice for director. He will be so much more effective than one of these "hot" video directors (ahem, Stigmata). Horror films have so much less to do with camera movement and effects than mood and atmosphere (John Carpenter's Halloween is one big exception--so many scary moments are all about the camera). Friedkin's camera work is still amazing, but he aproached The Exorcist in much the same way as his documentray work, and it allowed the viewer to accept these extraordinary circumstances as real, on a subconcious level (much the same way TBWP did to many viewers.) Studios should tap more documentary directors for horror movies and leave the video directors to action movies.(see Speed vs. The Haunting)
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Jan 04, 2000 7:37:13 PM CST
I give them credit for conducting an interesting experiment, but
by dennis
The movie didn't break any new ground other than the premise itself. Some of the improvisation was pretty decent, but I did not believe it was real for one minute. I'm willing to suspend belief just like the next guy, but there were just too many things that struck me as being totally unreal. The two guys fishing in the stream were about the most interesting (and believable) part of the movie. The actors just weren't natural enough. Sure, they had the geeked-out-fanboy look down pat, but whenever they opened their mouths, I couldn't wait for them to close again. I wanted the witch to kill their @$$es! What a hype-fest lesson I learned THAT DAY!
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Jan 04, 2000 8:02:12 PM CST
Sorry to beat the dead horse, but was anyone else waiting for th
by dennis
I've grown up in the suburbs. Gone camping on and off throughout my life, but I'm by no means knowledgable. As a kid, I would disappear for hours exploring vacant houses, scaring the crap out of my mother. I still get scared when we go camping. I took all of this with my into TBWP and came out baffled as to why anyone would find it frightening. Totally unbelievable. #1 - Throwing away the map. Even those that like the movie probably agree with the unlikelyhood of this ever happening to people "lost" in the woods. #2 - Not following the river. Ok, I also drew the conclusion that maybe the woods themselves were evil and set them on sort of a moebious strip, but why not follow the river? If they had at least TRIED it would've even been more believeable. #3 - How about defending yourself? Personally, I'd consider starting a forest fire. Stupid, maybe, but that would've gotten SOMEONE out there. Or at least break off a few branches, sharpen that $hit up, and attack whatever is stalking you. Please, ANYTHING would've been nice. I guarantee you, when you are being hunted, you're animal instincts will kick in, and you'll do just about ANYTHING to survive. Well, anyone else feel this way?
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I've got your Blair Witch sequel right here. Me, roaming around Hollywood, looking for those three asshole actors so I can beat the fucking shit out of them. Handheld.
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Oy. Look, if the concept of BLAIR WITCH 2 doesn't thrill you, DON'T SEE IT. How many times do I have to say this? Don't bitch and moan about something you have no plans to see anyway. There WILL be other movies in theaters when it is released. Why is everyone so melodramatic on these boards when a movie they dislike is mentioned? The actors in BWP aren't just criticized for their acting skills, they're called "a$$holes" (fearing deletion, sorry 'bout the wimpiness of my quotation.) Myrick and Sanchez aren't just "people who made a movie I dislike", they're "talentless jerkoffs." Honestly- did they torch your house or something? To quote the Upright Citizens Brigade, "Everybody needs to coooool out!"
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So, Keeper - what exactly did I do? Point out that the Emperor has no clothes? Gratuitously use naughty language (Certainly no worse that the original source material)? Compare that radioactive turd of a movie to a film of quality? A film that said to itself "Hmmm, we don't have the capabilities to make our monster look REAL, so we'll show less of it and fill the remaining portion of the movie with character development?" instead of having the characters (sic) wander around in the woods shouting at each other like whining brats?
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Here, to help enlighten the (obviously under-educated in the ways of horror) BW lovers - a list of movies a hundred times scarier than this steaming pile of excrement: Alien, Halloween, Jaws, Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window (no wait - ANY goddamn Hitchcock film). Hell, you'll crap in your pants at least four times as much while watching the Smurfs than this con-job. -
Lovely sentiment. Another person saying "My word is law and you can't argue it."
I'm really getting fed up with the arrogance and hyperbole displayed on these talk backs. Let's get something straight- we're film fans, nothing more. The instant our opinions become more valid than anyone else's, someone please notify me. Until then, let's remember that there's a difference between rational film criticism and "steaming pile of radioactive dog turds!!!!!" -
I have watched horror films religiously since I was a kid. The Exorcist, Alien, Evil Dead, Night of The Living Dead, Phantasm, Halloween, even the crappy slasher flicks. I`ve seen `em all. And I loved the Blair Witch Project. I think it`s just as scary as The Exorcist. Now, I WILL say that I`m not sure how much 'filmmaking' the 'filmmakers' did on BWP. But I WILL say that all three actors did GREAT jobs. Don`t kid yourself. Considering they had no dialog, no script, no NOTHING, they did a great job. To quote the Warrior, see you in hell. Don`t even TRY to tell me that I don`t know anything about horror films because I liked BWP.
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I thought Blair Witch had it's moments. I thought it was clever, and well done considering the budget - or almost complete lack thereof. And I certainly admire the way the film was marketed. It definitely left a lot to desired in the scare department, though, and not because there wasn't a money shot of the witch. I think the film is more powerful because of that, actually, because if there had been a witch on that budget, it would have laughable, at best. I didn't think the movie was scary because I had absolutely no connection to any of the characters. I could have cared less if Heather, Josh, and Mike had their insides torn out. I found them annoying, at best. I think the sequel has potential, however, because the mythology is interesting. The Curse of the Blair Witch on the Sci-Fi channel was fucking brilliant - even better than the movie, in my opinion. And it sounds like that have themselves a decent director. Could be interesting...
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To address the whole issue of the woods and the three filmmakers' inability to find their way out: It seemed that was the point. Finding your way out of the woods SHOULD be easy. Heather even talks about that in the movie. I think the point is that the woods are in some way haunted.
I really don't understand the hatred of this movie. The condemnation of this movie smacks of knee-jerk hype backlash more than thoughtful criticism. -
I agree with everything you Witch haters said. The ones that loved it, I don't think are stupid. I'm just glad I don't know you, or live near you. For me the "movie" failed because it just got more and more unbelievable as the minutes passed. See, when your characters and story aren't working you work on your script more. You revise. Why didn't these two lucky bastards revise? BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD A FUCKING SCRIPT TO REVISE!!! Witnessing the lack of anything creative in the "movie", I conclude that THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT!!! Fact: MOST PEOPLE HATED THIS MOVIE!! Fact: The Artisan marketing team is going to hell for this one! Fact: It is absolutely an impossibility that a Witch sequel could be worse than the first one. I will sneak into the sequel, because there is that slight possibility that the impossible will happen, and that it will be worse than the first one, and at that instant the blood will spray from my eyesockets and the earth will implode in a violent second of painful relief.
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Hey, you hated the movie, cool. I can respect that,b (Hey, if you hate a movie that's not a sin) but that little ---------------- thing you do totaly screws up the talkbacks. Now, I have to scroll back n' forth and that gets annoying, so please, I'd appreciate it if you don't do it in the future.
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Or Pitt/Norton challenge the BW to get in touch with her feelings by beating the shit out of her in the basement
of that old house- The Blair Fight Club. Or the BW teams up with the Wicked Witch of the West to fight Jennifer Lopez and her ass, but Puff Daddy comes
outta nowhere to "throw down on they punkass." Or Josh just pops out of the woods one day, and says "What the fuck!?" Or maybe the Blair Witch gets a phone call late one night, and the caller says, "Hello, Sydney..."
Dunno, just some ideas. -
Keeper - sorry. Here in the talk back realm, I've started to think that everyone is out to get everyone else. Sorry for jumping on you like that. (and consider the ---- thing history. But MAN, we need some sort of paragraph break. Something to break up the long posts.
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BWP wasn't just about the movie -- a lot of its appeal was the mythology the filmmakers created on their web site long before the movie was released. That creation of the "Blair Witch Legacy" -- the 1940s killer, the witch legends, etc -- were was gave depth to the movie itself. To really consider the film you must also look at the web site and the Sci-Fi documentary as part of the experience. And in my opinion, that's why it worked as well as it did.
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Once again you're saying that if a person happens to enjoy a certain film, that makes him stupid. That's exactly the kind of mixture of condecension and hyperbole that is so repulsively abundant on TalkBack boards. Look- I've seen CITIZEN KANE, Fellini's AMARCORD, Lang's M, CASABLANCA, GONE WITH THE WIND, METROPOLIS, DAWN OF THE DEAD, VERTIGO, SOLARIS and countless other films. I'm fairly sure I know enough about film to have an informed opinion about BWP, or indeed any other work of cinema I happen to come across. My informed opinion is as valid as DeVore's, as valid as Harry's, as valid as Pauline Kael's, as valid as anyone's. You call those who liked BLAIR WITCH idiots- would you be able to say that to our faces? Or does the fact that you're at a computer give you license to ignore common courtesy?
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The exit polls on BWP said that most people(about 70%) either disliked the movie, or hated the movie. The other 30% were highschool kids. Almost everyone I know who has seen the movie hates it. I've talked to a few people that like it. They were able to get into it. I was not. I really can't recall a film I've hated more than BWP, mostly because it was wrongly hyped and because it was so poorly done. Just because it did $140 million doesn't mean it was because people liked it. It was in the news almost as much as Phantom Menace, and the ads, which were all lies were very convincing. If the movie was actually good, with the help of it's hype machine it would've done $300 million easy.
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BWP didn't really scare me. It disturbed me more than anything. Yeah, I get all the symbolism and shit, but I felt no pay-off from the ending. When I say that to people that liked this film they say, "That's the point!!" Then I say, this is a fucking movie, I want a fucking payoff. I got creeped by the psychological stuff of being lost and running around in a dark basement, but I wasn't scared, because I never really understood the danger. The movie didn't communicate the danger to me. I think for the movie to fully yank my wank they should have shown at least a brief glimpse of the BW at the end...maybe 2 or 3 frames worth...something to try and pause on with the video...SOMETHING to communicate that yes, there actually was something trying to kill them. As it was, I left the movie actually wondering if anyone died or not. I got a little spooked, but it wasn't something like "Alien" where I had to turn all the lights on at night and check the closets for any face-huggers before I went to bed. It's also one of those movies, because of the lack of pay-off, that I won't ever watch again.
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Guess none of you have heard of the subjective nature of art. Do exit polls "prove" a movie is good or bad? No, it proves what a bunch of people think of it. A film's quality is not decided by the Great Masses. It is different for each person. Therefore, there can be no final word on a film's quality. Once again, you treat opinion as fact with no thought as to the diversity of effects a film may have on a viewer. Cards from a test screening of BRAZIL suggested everything from burning the negative to making the film longer. Harlan Ellison's defense of DUNE is just as heartfelt and well-thought out as every other critic's condemnation of it. There is no "right" or "wrong" in film. There is only "I liked it" or "I didn't like it."
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I know this debate has been going on for sometime and granted I won't be one of the idiots forking my money over some overly hyped up non-scary sequel to the Blair Shit Project.
However, I'd like to know from all of you BWP fans...name me a couple of scenes in the movie that were scary? I mean I saw the movie...as a matter of fact I couldn't wait to see it on opening night. But after I saw it I felt like fresh meat in prison who had just been screwed by Bubba and his boys out of my 8 bucks!!
That's all I ask...and please don't give me the excuse that I had to use my imagination...as I stated I went in with a completely open mind, really wanting to be scared shitless....but left with a f*cking labotomy!!!
So please enlighten me and all of the others who don't believe the hype. Long live P.E.!!!!!! -
The scene where they`re in the tent and they hear stuff, and then the tent starts rocking wildly. I saw it in theaters, and I thought it was scary. Also when they hear josh screaming in the woods at night, and the buildup to the ending was really tense. The ending was lacking payoff, but I still thought it was a good way to end it. And if you think someone`s an idiot because they like a certain movie, than YOU`RE not only an idiot but a total asshole in my eyes. I wouldn`t want to meet you.
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Your comment about me is almost as funny as the scenes you described. You actually found those scenes scary? LMAO!!!!
To be quite honest as much as I was anticipating this move...I laughed through the entire movie. The comic genius of the script was incredible...I went in thinking it was a horror movie. Boy was I wrong.
If you read my last post you would have seen that I said I wanted a list of scary scenes. Please list them for me. Thanks. -
I thought it was scary, you obviously didn`t. So it`s just a matter of opinion. I`m sure some people found The Exorcist or Halloween boring or not scary. And Critic, those comments at the end of my last post weren`t really directed at you, it was for DeVore and those other guys who make the obnoxious and immature claim if you liked BWP then you`re an idiot. It`s just a friggin` movie. Opinions differ.
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Jan 07, 2000 12:01:48 AM CST
In a parallel universe you BW haters would have goatees and love
by yar's revenge
To say that the movie was not entertaining or scary is a valid criticism. However, 90% of the BWP detractors on this board sound like this: "The marketing campaign for this movie was misleading and I hate the filmakers, the actors, the web designers, the theatre owners, and myself for being suckered in to seeing it."
The irony is that if BWP had slipped through the cracks and only a handful of people saw it, then the people who decry it would be its biggest fans. You know who you are and you know it's true. -
Hi there, i'm refering to the blair witch project movie . My sister came home from the movies and said i sould go see the ''Blair Witch Project '' well i have no way getting to the movies so i just rented it the other day 01-01-00 from blockbuster. I want my money back , my mom won't watch the movie , my dad went to work and my brother is a little young for that kind of movie . So I went into my room & watched the movie , at firsted I didn't know what's going on . It was the most stupidest movie I have ever seen in my 16 years ??!! It didn't make any sense , at all , my friend went to the show and she said including herself -mostly everbody walked out the show throwing up ,, well i have to say i didn't think it was sick i thought it was STUPID
I would never recommend this movie to anybody or anything .
thank you for your time,
eeyore1920@aol.com -
People left the theatre throwing up! Was that because the footage was shaky, or because they were disgusted by the immense lack of quality that they paid $8 for?
Sorry guys, there's no good stories up so I had to bash this "movie" again. But still, I'd really like someone to name some scenes that they thought were so good. I can't think of one. Well, maybe the end when their unrealistically stupid asses finally died so I could go home.
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I'm tired of this low budget high earning cheap shit movie.Granted it was very original,but quite frankly I don't pay 8 dollars to go and see a film with a budget of a little more than what I'm paying.I wanna see cool stuff on screen dammit.Not damn snot and shakiness.(the snot was cool though).Or maybe it's just me.Cause believe me there is nothing scary about a forest.I live in one and let me tell you it is boring and peaceful as hell.
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i'm tired of over rated films that build on hype and don't deliver, if you're scared of rocks then watch blair witch, they should have concentrated on making a good film, not trying to trick everyone into believing it was real, posters, fake new cast, what about a script? these guys are hacks and i don't want to see anymore. it's a damm funny movie and not on purpose, a sequel will merely be a retread of the same grantedly unique formula, how can it possibly be anything different?
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